Key Takeaways
- Guided tours can help you make the most of your visit to Vatican City.
- Ticket prices can vary considerably depending on the tour group size.
- Anticipate crowds regardless of when or how you visit, as many tours offer early entry, after-hours and/or skip-the-line access.
One of the most famous landmarks in the world, Vatican City draws more than 5 million people each year, which means that no matter when you visit, you can expect massive crowds. Along with the crowds, the sheer size of this sovereign city-state in Rome can make a visit to Vatican City feel overwhelming.
If you’re feeling intimidated by the experience, consider one of the following small-group Vatican tours, guided by local experts who can both explain the history of the Eternal City and help you navigate the crowds.
Editor’s Pick: What a Life Tours – Skip-the-line Vatican Small Group Tour
Price: Adults from 99 euros (about $108); kids from 94 euros (around $102)
Duration: 3 hours
U.S. News independently paid to send Laura Itzkowitz, a freelance journalist based in Rome, on this tour to provide readers with an unbiased, first-hand perspective of what to expect. What a Life Tours – Skip-the-line Vatican Small Group Tour was selected by our team as an Editor’s Pick thanks to its popularity and favorable user reviews.
While the Vatican Museums are one of the must-see attractions in Vatican City (the city-state surrounded by Rome), they can can be overwhelming to navigate. After all, the site contains 26 museums, various chapels and numerous galleries. The engaging guide leading this skip-the-line tour wasted no time bringing us to the highlights, starting with the Pinecone Courtyard and ending at St. Peter’s Basilica. At the basilica, we saw Michelangelo’s Pietà and the guide explained why it’s the only work the artist actually signed.
Along the tour, you’ll see masterpieces from the Vatican Museums’ collection. Highlights include the ancient statue of Laocoön and his sons; the Belvedere Torso, which inspired Michelangelo; Greek Cross Hall; and the Round Hall, which contains a monumental bronze statue of Hercules. The Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries and the Gallery of Maps – where the guide shared interesting facts about Italy in the 1600s – are other focal points, as is the Sistine Chapel. Since talking isn’t allowed in the Sistine Chapel, the guide explained Michelangelo’s frescoes at the beginning of the tour. Our guide had a great sense of humor and a deep knowledge of the artworks, which was impressive. However, she didn’t bring us to the Raphael Rooms; you may want to book a different tour if this is a priority for you.
Tours depart from the What a Life Tours office (Via Santamaura 14B) Monday through Saturday; the first tour starts at 9:30 a.m. What a Life Tours also offers skip-the-line access that omits the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as local food tours and tours of the Colosseum.
Laura Itzkowitz
- No more than 12 people can join the tour at a time.
- To capture perfectly framed photos of St. Peter’s Basilica, stroll down Via della Conciliazione after the tour.
- If you’re hungry after the tour, head to Ristorante Arlù, a family-run eatery nearby that’s been open since 1959. Be sure to ask for a table outside on the charming cobblestone street if the weather is nice.
- The neighborhood surrounding the Vatican, Prati, is a great place to shop, especially along Via Cola di Rienzo. Stop by Castroni for espresso and other gourmet foods or il Sellaio di Serafini for a handmade leather bag.
Check prices & availability on:
The Roman Guy – Vatican After Hours Tour with Sistine Chapel
Price: Adults from $124; kids from $100
Duration: 2 hours
Instead of early entry, this tour offers after-hours access to the Eternal City on select weekends in the summer months. Tours depart at 5:30 p.m. from Caffé Vaticano. Guided by a local expert, you’ll see the Vatican museums, galleries, Raphael Rooms and School of Athens before the tour concludes at the Sistine Chapel. Recent reviewers highly recommend this tour, pointing to the tour guides’ breadth of knowledge and the ability to experience Vatican City with fewer crowds.
The Roman Guy offers a number of other local tours that include visits to the Colosseum and Catacombs of Rome as well as food tours (and tours that combine some or all of the above).
Check prices & availability on:
Liv Tours – Vatican & Sistine Chapel Small Group Tour
Price: Adults from $140; kids from $124
Duration: 3 hours
This intimate tour is limited to just six people, making the experience more personal and enjoyable. Your tour guide will take you to through the famous galleries, the Julius II apartments, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Recent tourgoers say they could see a difference in this tour versus the other Vatican tours. They also note how kind the tour guides are.
Tours, which are available during a wide variety of time slots each day, start and conclude at Caffé Vaticano, right across the street from the entrance to the museums.
Other experiences offered by Liv Tours include a Jewish Ghetto & Travestere Tour, cooking classes and tours designed for kids.
Check prices & availability on:
Private Tours of Rome – Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Tour
Price: Adults from $364; kids from $87
Duration: 3 hours
Explore the Vatican with a professional historian on this private tour. Recent travelers say they’re so glad they chose to visit the Vatican on a private tour, noting how much they enjoyed hearing the guides’ personal stories about the museums and the pope.
Tours depart from Viale Vaticano at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
If you’re looking for a private tour of other attractions, Private Tours of Rome offers a variety of options. It also offers shore excursions, with pick up and drop-off at your ship in Civitavecchia.
Check prices & availability on:
Through Eternity Tours – Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Sistine Chapel: Essential Experience
Price: From $1,345
Duration: 6 hours
If you’re short on time and/or prefer to see several Rome attractions at once, this jam-packed tour is a great option. During the six-hour excursion, you’ll see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Novana and the Pantheon before visiting the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square (and then moving on to other sites). This tour includes optional headsets and skip-the-line access at all ticketed attractions. Recent travelers say the tour guides make this experience especially fun.
This full-day tour starts at 9 a.m. in front of the Angelino “ai Fori” dal 1947 restaurant and concludes in St. Peter’s Square. It’s typically offered Monday through Saturday. While babies and toddlers up to age 2 are permitted free of charge, this tour is not recommended for children.
Through Eternity Tours offers a number of other guided experiences in Rome, including an Angels and Demons tour based on the bestselling book. The company also offers shore excursions and day trips to Tivoli, Florence and beyond.
Check prices & availability on:
Frequently Asked Questions
The Vatican is a sovereign city-state recognized under international law. Its government includes the pope and the departments of the Roman Curia that help him exercise his responsibilities.
In short, yes. Vatican City is considered an independent nation-state and is the world’s smallest such entity.
Yes, and there are a variety of ticket options you can purchase on the Vatican’s website. However, many travelers opt for a guided tour to see the highlights with the help of an expert. Plus, many Vatican tours include stops at other attractions in Rome.
All visitors must dress appropriately for a place of worship. Shorts, hats, miniskirts, sleeveless tops, low-cut tops and garments that show the knees are not permitted. Guests dressed inappropriately will not be allowed inside.
All visitors are required to go through a security check to enter the museums, and there are a variety of items that you may not take inside:
- Luggage: Bags, backpacks and the like must not exceed 40 x 35 x 15 centimeters (16 x 14 x 6 inches); if they’re too big, they must be checked in the cloak room (free of charge).
- Umbrellas: If necessary, these can also be checked in the cloak room.
- Video cameras: Non-flash photography is permitted in all areas except the Sistine Chapel.
- Food and drink
- Weapons and firearms
The Vatican is easily accessible from different sections of Rome.
Metro: You can take the metro to either the Cipro or Ottaviano stop on Line A (orange line) to be dropped near the Vatican Museums.
Bus: If taking the bus, multiple routes drop off near St. Peter’s Basilica.
Taxi: You can also opt for a taxi or walk into St. Peter’s Square.
Additionally, there are parking garages outside of Vatican City if you want to drive there, though driving in Rome is generally not recommended, as there are many areas where driving is restricted and you could be fined. Traffic in Rome can also be brutal, especially during the summer. Plan to arrive at the tour departure point at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time.
The Vatican museums are open Monday through Saturday.
From March 2024 onward, hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The museums are closed on Sundays, with the exception of the last Sunday of the month and certain holy days throughout the year, including Christmas. Final entry to the museum is approximately two hours before closing.
St. Peter’s Basilica opens at 7 a.m. year-round, closing at 6:30 p.m. in the winter months and 7 p.m. from April through September.
Be sure to check if there are any museum closures ahead of your visit.