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Adventure

Rome: Entire Vatican Museums Tour and St. Peter's Dome Climb

4.7  / 5
1278 reviews
Activity provider:ItaliaTours
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Adventure

Rome: Entire Vatican Museums Tour and St. Peter's Dome Climb

Activity provider:ItaliaTours
4.7  / 5
1278 reviews
Likely to sell out

From US$ 110 per person

Likely to sell out

Explore Rome's Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Enter St. Peter's Basilica and climb to the top of St. Peter's Dome for unobstructed views of the city.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Reserve now & pay later
Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Duration 5 hours
Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide
Spanish, English

Experience

Highlights
  • Step back in time while exploring the Vatican Museums from top to bottom
  • Enter Michelangelo’s majestic dome and take in sweeping views of Rome
  • Walk through the resting place of former popes beneath St. Peter's Basilica
  • Marvel at the countless masterpieces of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
  • Admire intricate interiors inside the Gallery of Maps and Cabinet of the Masks
Full description

Meet your expert Vatican guide by St. Peter’s Square and leave Rome behind you as you cross into Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica just as it opens to the public. Once inside, get ready to take in the most spectacular views of Rome as the elevator carries you up to the terrace level of the basilica (or walk if you prefer and earn yourself a gelato later)! Suddenly the “tiny” mosaics you saw detailing the circumference of the dome from the ground level will appear massive in their golden splendor right before your eyes. At the terrace level you can decide whether to relax and take in the view or climb the remaining 320 steps up to the summit, where the breathtaking view of Rome and beyond is simply unparalleled. As what goes up must come down, you’ll then descend with us into the lower level of the basilica to experience the “Vatacombs,” where former popes lie in ornate caskets and effigies crafted by the most celebrated artists of the centuries. Next on this adventure will be an in-depth visit of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic church in the world, which includes world-renowned masterpieces by Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. Enjoy a short break and a snack before we reconvene for skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums, arguably the most important collection of art in the world. Your guide will accompany you through the museum to navigate its more than 1,200 galleries while emphasizing the Rooms of Raphael, the Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard, and the Gallery of Maps while ensuring that you stay on track with an eye on the ultimate prize: the Sistine Chapel. Much of this tour will be dedicated to the Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michelangelo Buonarroti, as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this majestic work of art.

Includes
  • St. Peter’s Dome entry tickets
  • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line entry tickets
  • Guided tour
  • Headsets to hear your tour guide clearly
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Food and drinks
  • Tips
Not suitable for
  • People with mobility impairments
  • Wheelchair users

Select participants and date

Participants

Date

Meeting point

There are two meeting points: the Tiare fountain and the Sebastiano Veniero 19; please read below about when to arrive at each meeting spot. • Meet at 7:45 AM for a prompt 8:00 AM departure by the Tiare fountain (Fontana delle Tiare), just beneath Largo del Colonnato and in front of the pillars which run around Saint Peter's Square. Your guide will be holding a When in Rome Tours signboard. If you are facing St. Peter's Basilica, follow the pillars to the right until you come to the fountain. • At 11:15 Meet at Via Sebastiano Veniero 19. Across the street from the Vatican Museum entrance, you will see a broad staircase. At the bottom of the stairs, turn right. Walk a few steps forward to find Number 19, where a When In Rome Tours/ Italia Tours representative will be waiting for you.

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Important information

Not allowed

  • Shorts
  • Weapons or sharp objects
  • Short skirts
  • Sleeveless shirts

Know before you go

  • There is a strict dress code at the Vatican. Shoulders and knees must be covered for both women and men
  • There is an obligatory security check at St. Peter's Basilica, this cannot be avoided. Our tour is timed to enter the Basilica before the crowds, but some time waiting to pass through security is inevitable.
  • On the days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, alterations to tours may be necessary due to partial closings of areas usually included in this tour. In the event the Papal Tombs underneath Saint Peter's Basilica should be closed, the tour of the Basilica itself is extended
  • Due to the route covered and the means of transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid
Likely to sell out

From US$ 110 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.7 /5

based on 1278 reviews

Review summary

  • Guide
    4.9/5
  • Value for money
    4.6/5
  • Service
    5/5

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This tour was amazing it was everything we expected and more! The tour guide was wonderful ☺ and the easy access of skipping ques was great especially for the Vatican museums as we probably wouldn't have gone without the group tour. Would recommend this tour it was great 😄

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September 21, 2023

J
Jane – United KingdomVerified booking

Helpful?

Fantastic tour. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and gave an excellent balance of information and answers to our questions. The climb to the top of the dome was an amazing experience. The whole tour was worth every penny - in fact we would even do the same tour again!

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September 20, 2023

J
Julia – United KingdomVerified booking

Helpful?

Our guide Nadia was wonderful, very knowledgeable and very attentive . She explained very patiently with us and even helped us to enter to the Basilica through skip the line. Thank to Nadia our experience at the Vatican Museum was special. Thank you very much

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September 19, 2023

O
Odile – IsraelVerified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 292010

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