Skip-the-line Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel & St Peter Basilica

We purchased a guided skip-the-line tour through Headout, which included entry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. Our original booking was cancelled, so we selected 30 September at 10:00 am as an alternative. During the tour, we were informed that St Peter’s Basilica had reopened and we were taken to the entrance from the Sistine Chapel. We could clearly see other tour groups being allowed to enter the Basilica directly. However, despite our ticket specifically including entry to St Peter’s Basilica with direct access, our group was not taken inside. Instead, we were taken outside and told that we could buy another ticket and queue, with no guarantee of entry.

Our tour guide was wonderful and had a lot of history to speak of. This is an extremely crowded tour and it felt a bit like being herded like cattle. I am to understand this is normal for this type of endeavor so not much can be done about it other than schedule this in the very off season when the crowds aren’t so big. Overall, the sights were impressive and our tour guide did the best he could.

Filomena was our fantastic guide for the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. She was very knowledgeable, engaging, and had a great approach. She explained the most important artworks and places in detail, adding interesting facts, stories, and little-known details that made the tour even more fascinating. You could really tell we had an exceptional guide — other groups could definitely be a little jealous! 😎 Tours and the City provided excellent communication and clear information before the tour. Highly recommended!

Excellent tour, great communication from the tour company and Viator. Tour guide David was brilliant, superb knowledge and a nice guy. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and we covered a lot of ground. We were able to enter quickly and the group stayed together.

Be very careful when booking this tour. They charge extra for Fast Track access to the Basilica, but if you book less than 48 hours in advance, you are not actually allowed to use the Fast Track entrance. The company claims this information is mentioned under "Additional Details," but it was not displayed when I made my booking. I had screenshots proving this and contacted both the tour operator and Viator, yet both refused my request for a partial refund for a service that I paid for but did not receive. Do not pay extra for Fast Track access unless you are absolutely sure you qualify for it. There are cheaper alternatives available that do not advertise this service and ultimately provide the same experience.

The Vatican is a very crowded place. Our tour did a very good job of working with that to provide an excellent experience. The guide was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. I definitely recommend this tour

Our guide was very knowledgeable of the history of the Vatican and Rome. She provided so much information that made the tour worthwhile. You could tell she enjoyed sharing her knowledge with our group. She was also very respectful of the rules of the Sistine Chapel.

Absolutely not to be missed! Ask for Lorena as your guide. She is Italian with superb English skills and is an Archivist by profession. Her knowledge is unparalleled when it comes to anything related to the Vatican, ask her anything! She is delightful and remarkable in the way she answered our questions and explained so many things. She had our tickets waiting for us when we met her. The Vatican has a dress code, so dress modestly. No flashes on cameras are allowed and you can't take pictures in the Sistine Chapel. Our tour took the whole 3 hours, and that was even without getting to see St. Peter's Basilica because it was closed for a special occasion. I would definitely go with this group again.

It's 1 terrible experience your apps not working. We're not getting any emails and we call the number and all we get is Italian speaking

Our guide, Roberta, was knowledgeable and enjoyable She was also skillful at navigating the crowds It was easy to locate her at our meeting spot And stay with her during the tour

We really enjoyed everything we saw, but even though we did an early tour, 9 AM, crowds were horrible. We were packed into rooms, so no place for the claustrophobic. We did have headphones and could hear most of what was said. I felt like we had plenty of time in all of the areas, except for the modern art, including some Matisse and Picasso. I would’ve liked to have spent time there, but we walked through quickly. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and could answer any questions you had there were 20 in our group and it might’ve been easier if it were smaller groups.

A great tour. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Our guide Francesca was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable, it was a superb experience!

The tour was extremely informative. Our tour guide, Lorena, was pleasant, knowledgeable, and truly passionate about her work.

Viator was horrible to deal with. Moved our tour time more then once then without sending any info we show up for 9... no guide.. call them and they say it was moved to 1015 THEN a magical email and message show up 5 minutes after confirming it changed .

Experienced tour guide who provided a lot of local stories. The tour is 2.5 hours which is perfect for us. However Vatican Museum is massive and definitely requires more than 2.5 hours to appreciate.

Experience was good but a bit rushed as there was delay during the start of the experience. Guide was knowledgeable but without the rush it would have been a better experience.

Be prepared to walk, wear good shoes, there is a lot of people in Vatican City, you will see a lot very quickly, keep moving and keep up with the guide. Bring a water bottle you can fill it in the city, use the bathroom when you get there, bring a small bag is more, you go through security as of you were going into an airport. There is a small gift shop inside with good prices. Book the tour, skip the line, get the history!!!!

Francisco had some challenges as our tour guide. First we had too many people in the tour. People kept getting separated from the rest of our tour and we had to just stand and wait on Francisco to find them. I would recommend he limit himself to 6-8 people at most. The tour was almost too much information. We finally ask Francisco, where the end of the tour would be so that we could get through the Sistine Chapel and finish the tour. Also there was three hours of standing and walking with little time or place to sit. It was exhausting. I will say the"skip the line" was very helpful as it was very crowded and the normal lines were awful.

Really clear explanations of what and where we were. Be prepared for lots of walking up and down stairs and of course the crowds.

Francesco was an amazing guide: knowledgeable, friendly and full of fascinating stories! highly recommend :)

Excellent tour of the Vatican during a busy Christmas holiday! Tour was a great pace and included important information for understanding/appreciating the Vatican - highly recommend!

Please be aware that this is not a skip the queue tour. We are currently in a queue that is just as long as the normal one and it is not what is advertised. The extra money is not worth the Service.

Notify on your website if tour operator has tickets. Not possible to download them on computer. Thank you

It was a wonderful tour and Donatello was an amazing guide! She was most informative and made the tour interesting and completely enjoyable.

Our guide, David, was very good, but this was a very challenging tour for older folks. It is a lot of walking with almost no opportunity to sit down (unlike a lot of museums). There is a massive amount to see (and masses of people) and it might be better to break up visits to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel unless you're up to over 3 hours of walking and standing. This is not a reflection on the tour provider, but is important to consider before booking.

It was a very long tour and was very exhausting but the end result was worth the wait. Seeing the Sistine Chapel was the ultimate experience. Such a magnificent sight. I would do it again. But there should be a good explanation about the amount of time it takes.

It was a positive experience but I caution those who struggle with large crowds and large group tours. The skip line was a benefit but there was still some waiting just not as long as those waiting in line to get into the museum. The audio devices are just okay and are required for groups with more than five. While they guide was English speaking, there is a definite accent and at times can be difficult but more so because of the listening device. The museum portion was interesting but not what I was most interested in. The Sistine Chapel and Basilica is where I would have like to spend the majority of the tour. I tried to find and purchase an early access tour before the museum opened but it was already sold out.

The longest, most packed, busy, hot tour of all. Literally my least favorite of our whole trip. Not worth paying for a guided tour. Do it yourself so that you can go as fast or as slow as you want

With such a huge crowd, having the opportunity to skip all the lines is priceless. The experience was magnificent, this is a tour that you don't wanna miss.

Maria was very knowledable, especially regarding the art. Others in the group didn’t appreciate that in her.

The tour was very informative. The tour guide was amazing. She told us about the historical information and also answer the groups questions. I will book again with family when I back..

We had an amazing tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica with Francesco. He was knowledgeable, passionate, and a great storyteller. Even with the heat and crowds, the tour felt smooth and enjoyable thanks to his pacing and energy. The skip the Line access was a huge plus, especially at St. Peter’s Basilica, making the whole experience seamless and stress-free. Highly recommended, grazie Francesco

Thank you guys for this amazing experience in the Vatican and St Peter Basilica! From the first moment it was all easy: meeting point, the entrance and the skip the line was amazing 😊 Also the guide Francesco was just wow - easy to follow (also for the kids that were in the group) ! The Sistine Chapel was amazing! I would repeat the experience 100%

We had an unforgettable experience on our Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica tour, all thanks to our exceptional guide, Francesco. From the moment the tour started, Francesco impressed us with his deep knowledge, captivating storytelling, and genuine passion for history and art. He skillfully guided us through the crowds, always keeping us engaged with fascinating anecdotes and insightful commentary. His use of an iPad to share extra visuals and details made the entire experience even more immersive and enjoyable! Even though it was extremely crowded and hot (which is to be expected during peak season), Francesco kept the group focused, comfortable, and informed throughout. The skip the line access was absolutely worth it and helped us make the most of our time without wasting a minute! The tour was not only informative but also incredibly smooth and well paced. Ending with skipthe line access to St. Peter’s Basilica truly completed the experience, making it feel like a seamless, comprehensive journey through one of the most remarkable places in the world. Highly recommended!

Lorena knows her facts and the history of Vatican museums . She was funny, pleasant and our family enjoyed her as a tour guide

Extremely informative... the guide was wonderful, friendly and very knowledgeable and couldn't have been more impressed thank you! 5*

There are amazing things to see on this tour. But, to us, it felt rushed. And it was so crowded. Once you finally reach the Sistine chapel with the crowd, it took the sense of wonder way. If you take this tour, go early.

It is busy at the Vatican, but very worth the experience. Our guide was funny and informative, we would totally recommend doing this tour.

Francesco was extremely knowledgeable and brought real meaning to the paintings, maps, sculptures, and pottery to which he introduced us. We could not have asked for a better experience! Thank you, Francesco!

First, our tour guide was the best—extremely knowledgeable, kind, and patient. I thoroughly enjoyed touring the Vatican Museums, learning a bit about the artists, and seeing the Sistine Chapel (words don’t do it justice)!

My favorite tour in Rome with Lorena! The Vatican is a must if go to Rome and so is a tour guide. Lorena is very passionate and made the tour fun! I’d recommend to anyone.

We were looking forward to our Vatican tour when disaster struck. My phone with the tickets ran out of juice just as I was about to show them to our tour guide Francesco. No tickets, no entry. But Francesco remained cool as a cetriolo as he processed everyone else's tickets while assuring us he'd find a solution. In the nick of time he found a willing member of the tour party with a mobile and had our tickets emailed to her. Minutes later we were in the Vatican. Relief! The tour didn't disappoint. Francesco knew his stuff as we went from one room to another marvelling at the seemingly unending plethora of religious old masters. To be honest, by the time, more than two hours later, that we reached the holy grail, the Sistine Chapel, we were suffering burn-out! The ceiling and panels are so overwhelming we just couldn't take it all in. But hats off to Francesco for saving the day for us, and for being such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide.

Clara was amazing. The depth of her knowledge of the Vatican was incredible. Fabulous tour! We will definitely use Tours of the City again.

This was an excellent tour. Our guide, Filo, was most interesting and informative and gave us options of what we particularly wanted to see, for us this was the Rafael Rooms. Her English was good and she was very open to questions. We would recommend this company without hesitation.

Francesco was an incredible guide and was extremely knowledgeable. 10/10 Would recommend this tour and tour guide and will book with this group again in future!

This was such a fun experience! Communication was super easy and we met outside of the entrance to the Vatican museum. Our tour guide was Silvia and she was super chill and explained everything and answered all of our questions. She also gave great recommendations for things to do after the tour ended. Being able to go inside the Vatican museum as part of the tour and be able to skip the long line everyone else waited in was totally worth it!

The tour helped us skip the line and save time, the tour guide is knowledgeable but with heavy accent. It’s difficult to understand her sometimes.

This tour did as promised ; we really skipped the line at the entrance to the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter’s Basilica! Our host was very attentive and knowledgeable.Although the tour runs within a time frame,we didn’t felt rushed! Definitely a must if you want to navigate the museums but still make it count. Going from the Sistine Chapel straight to Saint Peter’s Basilica without any lines was great.