Vatican, Sistine Chapel Skip The Line Tour & Basilica Tour

The Vatican Museum is worth visiting but way overcrowded. The St. Peter’s Basilica is absolutely stunning; however we were disappointed that there was no direct access to the Basilica as we were asked to return to the meeting point for the entry voucher. As such we had to stand in line again for 25 minutes under the burning sun and beware that this is not a guided tour of the basilica.

We purchased a skip the line Vatican and Basilica tour and were happy that we were able to skip both lines as they were super long! However I was disappointed to learn that we needed to go all the way back to the meeting point at a specific time to get the basilica tickets and go in a a specific time which was not made very clear by the tour guide. Only 1/2 our group made it back! Our tour guide through the Vatican was very nice and informative however somewhat difficult to understand with her accent and the speed that she spoke. She also traveled so quickly through the Vatican and did not stop often to allow group members to find her and many of the group lost her and didn’t get the information she was sharing. We were so afraid to loose her that it took away from our experience in the Vatican. I realize it is super busy but I’d recommend she stop periodically so group members can catch up. I would have liked it much more if we received the tickets to the basilica and given instructions on how to skip the line and if she was clearer and regrouped more. Also the audio ear pieces would cut out if we were too far away from the guide and they kept falling off my husbands ear every time he looked up! We enjoyed using our AirPods and the tour on our phone in the Basilica more than the guided tour through the Vatican.

Organized. It is a walking tour that moves fairly fast. Guide was knowledgeable and friendly but she spoke very fast while walking. It is a lot to take in during a relatively short time. Didn’t get the directions correct about entering the Basilica. That took a while to resolve. The artifacts and the grandeur of the Vatican is impressive.

Our guide was extremely knowledgeable which really enhanced our experience. The time of our tour was pushed back by 45 minutes which meant we had only 15 minutes in St Peter's due to having booked another experience later in the day, which was very disappointing

Wonderful tour, excellent guide! Skip the line tour made it worthwhile. The Sistine Chapel was so beautiful!

To much time spent talking about the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel and not enough time spent see the Museum and Sistine Chapel. Additionally, the tour did not include St Peters Basilica even though it was included in tour description.

It was well organized and the guide was friendly and informative. She was passionate about the tour and topics. Great tour.

The tour said it includes the Basilica and it didn’t, they left us on our own. Also the guide in the Vatican Museums was very rude towards a person in a wheelchair that was in our group.

This was a terrible experience. We paid a premium fee for this ticket specifically for access to the basilica through the chapel. We considered buying tickets through the Vatican directly for a 1/4 the price, but as we knew our time was limited (train) , we opted to pay the exorbitant fee to bypass the line so we could enjoy the basilica. Our local tour guide deposited us at the Vatican and handed us off to an official Vatican tour guide. The Vatican tour guides are not permitted to use the passage way. So while the passage was open, we couldn’t access it. We were denied entry and forced to leave the chapel and waste and hour in line, making it impossible to enjoy the basilica. I tried to speak to the local tour guide at the beginning of the trip to confirm this but he avoided the direct questions because he knew he had screwed us and did not care. I’m so upset and angry about the deception. The tour itself was scheduled for 11:30-2:30 . By the time the tour actually started it was nearly 12:30 and it ended at 2. The Vatican tour guide was knowledgeable but too busy affecting an air of boredom to make the tour enjoyable. It was rushed and unpleasant.

The tour guide was very knowledgeable, and ensured the group stayed together. Be prepared the crowds of people can be overwhelming

We were with Antonio (who speaks Japanese) for the morning tour of Vatican City spots. Antonio brought us to spots along the route and shared interesting and exciting information. He had great energy and also seemed very passionate about the work, taking the time to ensure that the whole group knew the policies/rules to be respectful in the holy place. Antonio would also assist other travellers in the museum and churches and it was nice to see his rapport with staff in VC. I would recommend this tour for an easy way to explore VC - quick entries, great highlights and fun guide.

It was advertised that the tour was 2.5 hours, which would mean it would end at 10:30. It didn’t end until 11:30 which forced us to rush through St Peter’s Basilica and get to our next tour across town. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly but spent a little too much time time on one thing.

Breathtaking experience! Your tour start may be delayed up to an hour because of the sheer volume of people being there but it's definitely worth it!

The tickets used to “skip the line” wasn’t really skipping the line because while we were in the electronic tickets line, we still had to wait 20 minutes. Yes, 20 minutes is better than hours but not ideal if the ticket clearly says you’re going to skip the line. Also, once inside, our tour guide Maria Elena, was not very engaging and super monotone. Ultimately, we ended up blocking her out and simply just moving with the group since we had their audio box.

I also booked a guided tour of the Colosseum with them. We couldn't have made a better choice for the Vatican Museums. The office is very close to the museum entrance, and despite the crowds, we were able to get in right away with our guide. I will definitely use them for other tours.

Thank you so much for the Amazing experience!!! The tour absolutely fantastic, the guide was extremely knowledgeable and charismatic and the staff working at the front desk was really kind. Definitely recommend!

Great tour and absolutely worth it. Skipping the long lines made a huge difference, and the guide was knowledgeable and engaging. A perfect way to visit the Vatican without the stress.

The tour was extremely well organized and truly enjoyable. Our guide Simona was fantastic and passionate, which made the visit even more special. The meeting point was easy to find and conveniently located, and the staff was kind, professional, and well prepared. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to fully appreciate the Vatican Museums without stress!

My 1st time in Vatican and I chose no line entrance with a guide. After Jubilee I heard it is now less crowded so I was so happy to choose February. We were in a small group with my mother. We enjoyed the experience. Guide was not only informative but also making a joke when he sense we are a bit tired of walking so he did his job excellent. The check in was also fast and they provided us with radio headsets to hear the guide clearly while guide used microphone to talk. This made it easy for us to enjoy everything in Vatican museum while listening all the information. I definitely recommend!

Wouldn’t attempt entry without a guide! Chaos. Our guide navigated us through crowds with good insights into the art history of the chapel.

Had such an excellent experience and a fantastic guide, Laura Antonucci!! Laura has great depth of knowledge and shared some very unique facts on our tour that otherwise we would’ve never known. 100% recommend.

Lots of walking. Amazing experience. Local guide was very knowledgeable. Smooth and organized check-in.

The Vatican is very crowded. Office for start of tour not very recognizable from the front. Confusing to find

It was my first with Viator. I did not get what I book… they offer only part of trip.. hardley response to my complain. They did not offer any compensation .. I booked with other company later and paid myself again

We chose the tour because it was shorter at two hours than most tours. We wanted to see the Basilica and Sistine Chapel. However this tour spent two hours before we even got to Sistine Chapel, then ended and sent us to see the Basilica on our own. We did not follow the itinerary. We most of the time hearing about the artwork. We got no information about Vatican City itself. Also our tour guide spoke English with a very thick accent. Between that and the not great speakers for our ears given to us in the museum, we couldn’t hear very well. Our teenagers lost interest from the start.

Our tour guide was Daniella and she was amazing. She really shined sharing the Roman history of the Vatican. Stopping and explaining and always ready to answer questions. She brought excitement and appreciation of the many artifacts. We left filled with wonderful memories

The guide was hilarious and made the trip into a stage play with all the Roman characters. Great tour

Emailed your company that my date was booked wrong no response and would not rebook my trip . When I arrived they would not give me a different tour and stated I had to contact Viator . Basically stole my 200 hundred dollars . Will never book again I paid for a tour and received zero tour beware .

Lucy was very knowledgeable and nice at the same time! She took us everywhere as promised! The price was good value for the money!

Excellent experience w/early entry and skip the line. (Highly recommend early entry option to summer travelers to avoid heat of the day.) Guide Francesco provided excellent information, kept group together/moving and was considerate of timetable.

Very organized company. We did the early morning tour with Antonio (the one who knows himself as the Antonio who can speak Japanese lol). He was very friendly, professional, funny, and informative. He commented on the most important things as we made our way through each site and he showed a real enthusiasm and passion for sharing his knowledge. Thank you, Antonio!

We had an excellent guide, Laura, who did really well to navigate us through the crowds. She was very informative and we enjoyed the tour immensely. Thank you for a great time!

We visited the Varican Museum & Sistine Chapel. Our guide was very friendly, had a lot of knowledge, however the information we recieved seemed a bit disorganized. Be careful what tiem you book the tour for as by the time we finished we missed the entrance to the Basilica.

A passionate guide who knows her subject very well!!! Experience a bit wasted by the world and other groups

About three hours of an immersive experience walking among the wonders of the Vatican museums is an experience I would recommend to everyone. Thanks also to the professionalism of the guide who accompanied us and the fact that in this period the museums are (thankfully) quite empty, we were able to fully enjoy the visit.

Third experience with this agency after Venice and the Colosseum, all great! The Sistine Chapel was perhaps what enchanted me most about this trip, the guide David told us incredible stories about the Church and those beautiful places, another experience that will remain in our hearts!

Excellent experience we had! The Vatican Museums are worth a lot, plus the guide was excellent because it is easy to get lost with everything there is to see and know.

The visit is essential to discover this wonderful place that takes your breath away. Having greatly enjoyed the visit of the Colosseum, I decided to book for the Vatican, always so enthusiastic!

We loved the experience! Everything was very well organized and the access without lines was a great plus. The Sistine Chapel and Basilica are impressive, and the guide explained everything in a simple and enjoyable way. Definitely a visit that is totally worthwhile. Super recommended!

Completely wonderful, the Vatican Museums are totally worth it, I recommend going with a guide because there is really a lot to see. The guide was super nice and gave us lots of information without being boring

I did the guided tour of the Vatican and it was a very well organized experience. From the start the staff was available at the meeting point, with good support and clear explanations. Skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel really makes a difference, especially considering how many people there normally are. The guide was one of the strongest points of the tour: professional, with a lot of knowledge and a way of explaining that makes the visit interesting and easy to follow. The tour is complete and the pace is adequate, without feeling rushed. In my case I also included the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, which closes the visit very well. Overall, it is a well-run tour, with good service and a solid experience to get to know the Vatican without complications.

We had the great chance to make this visit with Simona! She shared her knowledge with us with passion. This visit will remain etched in our memory. thank you very much Simona 🫶

We had reservation for Vatican museums and after the queue we are told that we have to go 2 blocks down to withdraw the ticket.

Guided tour very informative and complete with the Palatine tour. Without a guide, several elements of history elude us.

Puntualità e professionalità. Danilo, la guida, molto preparato e pieno di aneddoti che ti rendono le tre ore e più ancora più piacevoli. Tutto perfettoe da consigliare

Positiv war, dass wir die Warteschlange großteils überspringen konnten, und eine nette, engagierte Führerin hatten. Negativ war: - dass wir wie Vieh auf dem Weg zur Schlachtbank durch Vatikanische Museen und Sixtinische Kapelle durchgeschleust wurden, was sowohl den Gebäuden bzw. Kunstwerken als auch uns gegenüber unwürdig war. - dass viel zu viele Besucher zeitgleich eingelassen wurden, was sich nur durch Geldgier seitens des Vatikan erklären lässt, und man nur hoffen kann, dass nie eine Massenpanik ausbricht. - dass die Angestellten des Museums einen permanent angeschriehen haben (auch in der Sixitinischen Kapelle), z. B. "Weitergehen", "Nicht stehen bleiben", "Keine Fotos" etc. - dass der meiste Teil der Führung durch die Museen dafür draufging, den zugewiesenen Zeitslot für den Eintritt zur Sixtinischen Kapelle zu erreichen. - dass man in den Museen quasi nichts gesehen bzw. erfahren hat, da es nur ein Geschiebe und Gedränge war. - dass wir willkürlich durch einen Seitenarm des Museums geleitet wurden und die Stanzen des Raffael aufgrund Zeitmangel dadurch nicht gesehen haben. - dass die Führung leider auf Englisch statt auf Deutsch stattgefunden hat, da der deutsche Guide kfr. erkrankt war und wir dadurch umgebucht wurden. Zusammenfassend kann man sagen, dass man die Vatikanischen Museen und die Sixtinische Kapelle nur mit einer kleineren privaten Tour außerhalb der Öffnungszeiten besuchen sollte, falls möglich.

Le guide était très bien et très compétent; par contre la qualité audio était déplorable lors de la visite ; je n'ai pu entendre toutes ses explications. quand on paye pour une visite guidée c'est un peu ennuyeux quand même