Highlights of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel Tour | Semi-Private

Important Notice: Jubilee Year 2025
As part of the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, St. Peter’s Basilica may experience unexpected partial or complete closures. In the rare event that the Basilica cannot be visited, rest assured that your tour experience will remain exceptional. Your guide will seamlessly adapt the itinerary to include alternative highlights, ensuring the full duration and quality of your tour.

LivTours Vatican & Sistine Chapel Highlights Tour is an ideal way to experience the Vatican Museums, including Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. With your expert guide and groups no larger than 6 travelers, you will have a complete overview of access to one of the world’s largest art collections.

This semi-private tour allows you to fully enjoy your Vatican experience in a more intimate environment with your guide. Learn little know stories and facts of the popes and artists commissioned to create these world famous pieces. Your tour takes you through the Vatican highlights, showing art from over 2000 years ago from antiquity to Renaissance.

• Enjoy a semi-private tour of no more than 6 people max with reserved entrance
• Discover the masterpieces of the Vatican Museum with your expert guide by your side
• See works by Bramante, Michelangelo, Bernini, Bramante & Raphael on one tour
• Visit the world's largest Christian basilica, known as the resting place of St Peter
• See the world's most prized artwork up close with anecdotes of millennial old history

Your Vatican & Sistine Chapel tour begins with direct access to the Vatican Museums, meaning no waiting in line. Once inside, experience the wonders of the Pinecone and Octagonal Courtyard, and marvel at the iconic Belvedere Torso. Stroll through the Round Room and admire the Constantine coffins of the Greek Room, taking in the rich history and artistry of the Vatican.

Your expert guide will take you to see the Gallery of Tapestries where you will walk the halls of handcrafted tapestries by Pieter van Aelst’s School which were created from drawings by Raphael’s pupils. Next, it is on to the Gallery of Maps, just imagine, wall-to-wall hand-painted maps from the 16th-century giving you an idea of what the geography looked like back then. From there you will visit the recently restored Raphael Rooms which are sure to take your breath away. Admire The School of Athens, one of Raphael’s master works, and learn about the historic greats and some contemporaries he carefully placed within this painting.

After this, it’s time to head over to see one of the stars of the tour – Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. Admire the 8,000 square feet of this masterpiece standing in its center surrounded by paintings. After the Chapel and all its glory, your tour guide will take you towards your final stop, St. Peter’s Basilica* where you will enjoy exclusive access to the most immense and ornate Catholic church in the world. Visit one of the most stunning pieces of art in the basilica, Michelangelo’s statue of the Pietà, depicting the Virgin Mary holding her dying child in her arms. Another must-see work of art is Bernini’s alter canopy, which is made of an astounding 100,000 pounds of gilded bronze.

This comprehensive tour will give you an idea of the grandeur of Vatican City and the artwork it holds.

To end, your guide will leave you inside Saint Peter’s Basilica, allowing you ample time to continue your exploration of the Papal Tombs, and even climbing to the top of the Dome.

• Reserved Vatican entrance tickets
• Fully guided experience
• Groups of maximum 6 people
• Pinecone and Octagonal Courtyard
• Belvedere Torso
• The round room
• Constantine coffins
• Gallery of Tapestries
• Gallery of Maps
• Raphael Rooms*
• The School of Athens painting
• Sistine Chapel
• Michelangelos ceiling & Last Judgement
• St Peters Basilica*
• Berninis bronze alter canopy
• St Peters square

• *Access to the Raphael Rooms is contingent upon crowd conditions, timing constraints, and guard-regulated routes. Including them may not always be feasible. In these cases, your tour guide will exercise discretion to adjust the itinerary, ensuring a high-quality experience
• *St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, your guide will provide a revised itinerary including more of the Vatican Museums. No compensation is granted in these circumstances.
• *Saint Peter’s Basilica is closed on most Wednesdays mornings due to the weekly Papal Audience. If you book this tour for a Wednesday the time inside the Vatican Museums will be extended.
• Important Notice Jubilee Year 2025: As part of the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, from December 24th, 2024 to January 6th, 2026, St. Peter’s Basilica may experience unexpected partial or complete closures. In the rare event that the Basilica cannot be visited, rest assured that your tour experience will remain exceptional. Your guide will seamlessly adapt the itinerary to include alternative highlights, ensuring the full duration and quality of your tour. Please note that, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions agreed upon at the time of booking, partial or full refunds cannot be issued due to Basilica closures.
• Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
• There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
• Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during your visit inside is strictly forbidden, therefore your guide will give you an explanation of the Sistine Chapel beforehand during your tour, in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering the chapel.
• Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
• Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this small group tour. In order to ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
• IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican.
•  Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.

All LivTours Semi-Private Group Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour guide. Our commitment to maintaining our uniquely tiny group sizes can sometimes be a little tricky, mathematically speaking. For example, we want to ensure that traveling families and friends can tour together so on rare occasions we may add one or two guests in order to not split groups. On that same note, you may also find yourself on tour with less than six people! We thank you for your understanding and flexibility.

 

 

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By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.