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.
Semi-Private tours and experiences are guaranteed six participants max.
Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)
Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English
Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system
Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions
Your Vatican & Sistine Chapel tour begins with direct access to the Vatican Museums, meaning no waiting in line. Once inside, you will begin learning about its amazing art, seeing the wonders of the Pinecone and Octagonal Courtyard, and the Belvedere Torso. You will stroll throughout the Round Room and admire the Constantine coffins of the Greek room.
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.
LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry. LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism and how LivTours is contributing, click here.
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.
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.
