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- Vatican Museums
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The Apostolic Palace: Papal residence in Vatican City
Headout is an authorized and trusted partner of the venue, offering curated experiences to enjoy this attraction. This is not the venue's website.
Explore the chapels, altars, and crypts of St. Peter's Basilica with an expert guide.
- An expert guide will lead you through the best of St. Peter's Basilica, from its chapels and altars to the sacred Papal Crypts.
- Dive into art and architecture by Renaissance greats such as Donato Bramante and Carlo Maderno in your preferred language.
- As you walk through the mosaic floors that tell the stories of saints and martyrs, keep an eye out for the awe-inspiring Baldachin by Bernini.
- You can opt for a guide in your preferred language, with tours available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
- After the tour, you can descend to the Vatican Grottoes and explore the Papal Tombs, learn about the legacy of the Clementine Chapel, and more.
Explore the chapels, altars, and crypts of St. Peter's Basilica with an expert guide.
- An expert guide will lead you through the best of St. Peter's Basilica, from its chapels and altars to the sacred Papal Crypts.
- Dive into art and architecture by Renaissance greats such as Donato Bramante and Carlo Maderno in your preferred language.
- As you walk through the mosaic floors that tell the stories of saints and martyrs, keep an eye out for the awe-inspiring Baldachin by Bernini.
- You can opt for a guide in your preferred language, with tours available in English, French, Spanish, and Italian.
- After the tour, you can descend to the Vatican Grottoes and explore the Papal Tombs, learn about the legacy of the Clementine Chapel, and more.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica with skip-the-line entry
- Expert English, French, Italian or Spanish-speaking guide
- Assistance at meeting point
- Tip: Check out Pietro Cavallini's Madonna della Bocciata fresco in the Vatican Grottoes and hear the story behind its unique name.
- Strict dress code: knees and shoulders must be covered for all guests.
- Mobile phones must remain on silent mode inside the Basilica.
- This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible. The right semicircle of Saint Peter’s Square is equipped with ramp access to the Basilica. For any special requirements, contact accoglienza@fsp.va in advance.
- Sign language guided tours are available in Italian at the Basilica. This service must be booked at least 48 hours in advance at the following email address: visiteguidate@fsp.va.
- Expect a long wait at security, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to 2 hours!
- Around religious holidays at the Vatican, parts of the tour, such as the Papal Tombs, may not be open. In this case, the tour of the Basilica itself will be extended.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Reviews
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4.0
3,535 ratings
1.9K
870
166
93
482
Guests from United States, France, United Kingdom and over 62 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
ABDEL
Jun 2025Verified booking
I really liked the cordiality of the guides and the simplicity of the tour, along with the information provided. We started a few minutes after the agreed time, but it was still excellent.
View original review in Spanish
Charlotte
Jun 2025Verified booking
Volodymyr was great. He provided lots of really interesting facts, and was keen to offer information and insights around the interests of members of our group. I particularly liked the fact that he gave quite a balanced view - of some of the corruption over the centuries, as well as pointing out the glories of the artwork, and all the time being respectful of the culture and religion.
mark
Jun 2025Verified booking
Alishba was an amazing guide, so passionate and knowledgeable. She made the tour an exceptional experience Thank you so much Alishba your an amazing lady
Andrea
Jun 2025Verified booking
The guide, Edward, who was very knowledgeable and personable, was able to engage the group in the tour, giving comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanations even for children.
View original review in Italian
Petra
May 2025Verified booking
We took the tour in a small group. The starting point was easy to find. Our guide JAD was attentive to our needs, and we appreciated his explanations.
View original review in French
Chinyelu
Apr 2025Verified booking
Good, a little disorganized and a lot of wasted time. But it was good. I went off on my own to explore, because the history can be googled or read in the library, most people already read and heard, then come to SEE it . Tour guide needs to focus on getting people inside, taking them to various biblical status, and areas, for pictures. This is not a history class, we only had 1-2hrs , but our tour guide spent 40 mins telling us stories and history outside and on the door way, While I applaud her of her knowledge, however this is not a history class, 6 of us had other tours scheduled right afterwards, so we left the tour midway to explore the Basilica on our own, including the Tomb areas underneath.
Therese
Apr 2025Verified booking
I had an incredible experience on the St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour. Our guide was absolutely amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the rich history and architecture of the basilica. I walked away with a much deeper appreciation and understanding of this iconic site. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Vatican!
Mary
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and patient. She easily moved us through the crowd.
Gary
May 2025Verified booking
Great guide. Very knowledgeable. Meeting point logistics tricky due to the conclave.
Jeremiah
Jul 2025Verified booking
Outstanding guide took the group seemlessly through Saint Peter's. She allowed a couple short breaks and provided tons of information. As a religion and history teacher, learning new content is one of the best parts of traveling.
Catherine
Jun 2025Verified booking
I thought our guide was fantastic. She covered all the basic information and add lots of interesting facts! The tour was very inclusive. I highly recommend it!!
Lisa
Jun 2025Verified booking
All staff were very friendly. They had to contact us before due to the Vatican closing for a special service. They rearranged this well. The express tour gave us all the information we needed. It was great that the tour provided direct access & we didn't have to queue to get into the Vatican. Once the tour was over you could stay inside for as long as you wanted.
Vinay
Jun 2025Verified booking
We were in general line. tour mentooned seperate fast entry but it was general long queue. Tour guide emglish /accent was not very clear, it was not engaging at all. Got bored. Lot of people ledt kn between.
Vicki
Jun 2025Verified booking
Alex was an amazing tour guide. He knew the history of the Vatican and gave very detailed information. I enjoyed the stories and jokes! It was a great experience.
Christine
Jun 2025Verified booking
Roberta was our tour guide and she was excellent! Our children, 7 year old twins, enjoyed the tour because she found little ways to incorporate them while giving the rest of the group- all adults- all the wonderful history. I would recommend this tour, but specifically this guide! 🥰
Maria
Jun 2025Verified booking
We had an excellent lady as a guide. Very communicative in excellent English and had a very good knowledge of the subject. Headout travel highly recommended.
Lasse
Jun 2025Verified booking
I can recommend Headout to everyone. Excellent guide. We were kept well informed of the last minute change of our meeting point.
Cherry
Jun 2025Verified booking
Online booking was fast. Direction to the Office and meet up with the tour guide was simple and clear. Shout out to our tourguide Kelly, made the experience more memorable.
Psyche
Jun 2025Verified booking
Skipping the line made my entrance fast and easy. I spent 5 hours in awe at the incredible historic and artistic works of art. I could easily spend another 5 hours if I get to Roma again.
PATRICIA
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide was exceptional! We did the tour in English with Stefano and he was passionate about what he was telling, willing to answer questions, attentive to the group of around 10 people and, above all, he knew everything and explained it with knowledge and enthusiasm.
View original review in Portuguese
Emanuela
Jun 2025Verified booking
We had an excellent guide who was very professional and thorough. He was able to lead us by selecting the most significant aspects but also creating strong curiosity and expectations for later visits to other sites. Very positive experience.
View original review in Italian
Jesus
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our tour Guide was excellent. He explained everything so well. He gave such great details. We just loved the experience. Thank you so much for the experience.
Thalia
Jun 2025Verified booking
We had a German-speaking tour of St. Peter's Basilica today with our guide Anna - a young lady who really enriched our experience. You can feel her love for the city of Rome in every word and she passes on this passion 100%. Thanks to her enthusiasm and knowledge, the tour was an unforgettable experience for our entire group. If you are planning a German-speaking tour of St. Peter's Basilica, we can heartily recommend this tour operator - and especially the lovely Anna.
View original review in German
Cattleya
Jun 2025Verified booking
It was easy purchasing a ticket The experience with the guide is amazing. We were stuck for almost 1 hour and just standing on the line because the St. Peter's Basilica security service or management blocked the way and they forgot to let us in so we shouted at them for letting us not inside while the other side of the visitors continue to go inside. It is not of course the guide's fault but better when we can really skip the line with the use of tour guide app.
Marina
Jun 2025Verified booking
The guide in Italian, a very nice and professional architect, I don't remember his name well maybe Edoardo or something like that, cmq very good.
View original review in Italian
Guided Tours
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and exclusive entry to the basilica via a hidden passage.
- Everything you get: Skip the ticketing queues and follow your expert guide through the Vatican Museums, including the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, and more. Get all the context you need before stepping into the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s masterpieces. Enter St. Peter’s Basilica directly—skipping the 2-hour queue—through a special passageway from the Chapel.
- Why choose this: This shortcut takes you straight from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter’s Basilica, saving you hours of waiting. With over a millennium of history, St. Peter’s is packed with must-see treasures, and your guide ensures you don’t miss the iconic rooms and hidden stories you'd likely miss on your own.
- Upgrade: Choose a semi-private tour with a small group (max 10) for a deeper, more exclusive experience across all three Vatican sites. Or start your day in a serene setting with early access—beat the crowds and reach the Dome’s summit for spectacular views.
Explore all three Vatican highlights with skip-the-line access to the Museums and exclusive entry to the basilica via a hidden passage.
- Everything you get: Skip the ticketing queues and follow your expert guide through the Vatican Museums, including the Gallery of Maps, Raphael Rooms, and more. Get all the context you need before stepping into the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s masterpieces. Enter St. Peter’s Basilica directly—skipping the 2-hour queue—through a special passageway from the Chapel.
- Why choose this: This shortcut takes you straight from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter’s Basilica, saving you hours of waiting. With over a millennium of history, St. Peter’s is packed with must-see treasures, and your guide ensures you don’t miss the iconic rooms and hidden stories you'd likely miss on your own.
- Upgrade: Choose a semi-private tour with a small group (max 10) for a deeper, more exclusive experience across all three Vatican sites. Or start your day in a serene setting with early access—beat the crowds and reach the Dome’s summit for spectacular views.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entry
- St. Peter's Basilica Access
- Expert English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide
- Semi private tour with a max group of 10 (as per option selected)
- Early morning tour with St. Peter's Basilica and Dome climb (as per option selected)
- Headphones
Exclusions
- Gratuities
- Entry to St. Peter's Basilica Dome
- Names on tickets must match a valid photo ID. Double-check the details at checkout for a smooth entry.
- Your ticket includes a specific entry time. Arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot.
- Knees, shoulders, and back must be covered for all guests.
- While the tour is not accessible to wheelchair users, the Vatican Museums offer free wheelchair hire and free entry for visitors with mobility impairments (certified invalidity exceeding 74%) and a companion if required.
- When in Sistine Chapel, silence is mandatory and photography is prohibited. Guides will provide all necessary and interesting details before entry.
- Expect a considerable wait at the security line, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to an hour!
- Please be aware that during the Jubilee Year, certain areas of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, may be inaccessible due to religious ceremonies or unforeseen circumstances. St. Peter's Basilica may also experience unannounced closures. The closure of any museum section does not entitle visitors to any refund.
- St. Peter’s Basilica may be closed on Wednesday mornings and afternoons due to the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square. If you’d like to attend, book an exclusive invitation with guaranteed seating.
- With the Jubilee underway, all entrances to St. Peter's Basilica are restricted. Therefore, in order to secure access, it will be necessary to complete the reservation no later than 5 days before the experience.
- You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
Reviews
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4.4
18,780 ratings
12.5K
3.6K
1.1K
628
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Guests from United States, France, United Kingdom and over 95 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
NIYAZI
Jun 2025Verified booking
The audio thing does not work good. I had difficulty about hearing. The guide is good and I thing very necessary. Before getting tickets be sure to read all of the information about tour, what you need to and do not need to do. Very crowdy so be ready to this
Lawrence
Jun 2025Verified booking
The tour was great. The tour guide was amazing and really knowledgeable. The price was worth it for skipping the ques for the Vatican Museums alone as they were hours long and we bypassed them all and walked in straightaway. The only reason I gave it good rather than awesome was because of the amount of people allowed into the museums itself. This isn't the fault of the tour guide obviously but it meant the experience was less enjoyable in the 30 degree heat because there simply were too many people
Kirsten
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide, Vincenzo, was wonderful. Very funny and knowledgeable. I don't think you can enjoy touring the Vatican without a guide and skip the line. 100% worth it!
Nicholas
Jun 2025Verified booking
Skipping the line was absolutely amazing!!!! The tour guide was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable wonderful tour would not have been the same without her!
Diana
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our guide Maria Theresa was amazing! She was very knowledgeable in aspects of the tour. She went out of her way to make sure that the whole group of 17 was taken care of. She had her eyes on everyone throughout and wouldn't let anyone get left behind. With the crowds and other tour croups pushing through she did an exceptional job of communicating with us to keep us together. She gave everyone a potty break in the middle if we needed it. I would highly recommend this tour guide and the company as they all are professionals.
Christine
Jun 2025Verified booking
The crowds were very heavy for the jubilee but our guide was wonderful in directing us and keeping us focused on the important details on the museum and Basilica!
Annett
May 2025Verified booking
The tour guide was very well organized, punctual, very entertaining and in addition to his technical and historical knowledge also liked to have a humorous joke along the way. The group was very pleasant with 10 people, it always moved quickly so that we could see everything and also ask what we wanted from this tour. Thank you very much. We are very happy to recommend this tour.
View original review in German
Stephen
May 2025Verified booking
Everything that was mentioned in the tour we saw. Our guide Olga explained so much to the in-depth knowledge & history of The Vatican & sacred places. The crowds were overwhelming but Olga was able to guide us safely to the best vantage points
Felipe
May 2025Verified booking
Very complete visit, the meeting point very easy to locate. I would have liked to have been able to enjoy a little more of the Sistine Chapel, but there were many people and we passed quickly. Otherwise everything was great !!!!
View original review in Spanish
Tiffany
May 2025Verified booking
Absolutely loved our guide, Antonio that also speaks Japanese. He was knowledgeable and passionate about his tours. He knew the end and outs making it unforgettable.
Chloé
May 2025Verified booking
Very good guide bravo! However, we didn't have time to go to St Peter's Basilica, even though it was included in the ticket.
View original review in French
Anna
May 2025Verified booking
We visited the Vatican Museums with an exceptional guide named Marco and we were really thrilled with the experience. Marco was very well prepared, clear in his explanations and very passionate: he was able to convey to us the importance and beauty of the works of art in an engaging and never boring way. Thanks to him we were able to better appreciate the richness of the Vatican Museums, and the whole tour. We highly recommend this guided tour, especially with Marco: he made our day unforgettable!
View original review in Italian
Lori
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about both the history of all sites but also about how to effectively navigate the journey through the spaces during such an extremely crowded time. Due to the jubilee crowds we had some delays, and our tour ran long. She did not rush through the museums, nd gave us the complete tour anyway. Seeing that some on the group were getting tired, she sought out places to sit and rest, and was more concerned with everyone's health and happiness than ending on time. A native Roman, the depth of her knowledge, her personal perspectives, and her passion were amazing! Since the sistene chapel was closed, she spent 20 minutes using picture handouts to talk through the meaning of the art inside. The climb to the dome was my favorite part - to be inside seeing the mosaics and the perspective of such a grand church from above were incredible!
Vanessa
Apr 2025Verified booking
Our guide Theresa was simply great! She told and explained everything so well. The whole tour was super nice and absolutely recommendable.
View original review in German
Harriet
Apr 2025Verified booking
Fantastic tour! It's worth it to skip the queues and have a guided tour with a small group. Wonderful experience which I would reccomend to anyone and will absolutely do it again.
Helen
Apr 2025Verified booking
Our guide, Francesca, was funny and easy to listen to. She brought the history to life with her stories and kept us all interested at what was a very busy time in the Vatican. The Vatican museums and gardens were stunning, the Sistine Chapel was breathtaking and St Peter's Basilicia was beautiful. Francesca's stories about the art in the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's antics were the highlight for me.
Erin
Apr 2025Verified booking
Our tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's basilica was amazing. The crowds were crazy but our tour guide kept us together and helped us get where we wanted to go. Her information was great and she was entertaining.
Harry
Apr 2025Verified booking
The guide was phenomenal !!! So knowledgeable, so invested in the history, and importing that to the group. Her timing, for ingress and egress to specific areas was so beneficial to the whole experience.
Vanessa
Jun 2025Verified booking
Enjoyed it very much. Very busy though. That can't be helped though. Your guide was very informative.
Flor
Jun 2025Verified booking
Punctual start, centrally located, very friendly guide and accurate information. A nice experience
View original review in Spanish
Gala
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our Guide Fredrico (Fred) was amazing. Incredibly knowledgeable and passionate.
Liguori
May 2025Verified booking
Knowledgeable guide, very attentive and helpful.
View original review in Italian
Ayvazyan
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide, Federico Grande was great. We pass the line in about 5 min. We saw and heard a lot of interesting.
EVELYN
May 2025Verified booking
Very interesting tour we did, it allowed us to take pictures and explore the beautiful place.
View original review in Spanish
Robert
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide was awesome. Skip the line was great
Gain insights into the art, history, and spiritual legacy of St. Peter’s with a licensed guide—and climb the Dome for stunning views over Vatican City.
- Everything you get: Explore the interiors of the basilica with a local expert guide who brings context to its sculptures, mosaics, and sacred spaces—including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the Papal Crypts in the Vatican Grottoes. Then, ride the elevator partway up the Dome and climb the final stretch of stairs to reach the top, where panoramic views of Vatican City and Rome await.
- Why choose this: The Basilica is vast, layered with centuries of history and symbolism. Instead of wandering without context, this tour gives you structure, stories, and expert insight—plus access to one of its most iconic experiences: the climb to the top of the Dome.
Gain insights into the art, history, and spiritual legacy of St. Peter’s with a licensed guide—and climb the Dome for stunning views over Vatican City.
- Everything you get: Explore the interiors of the basilica with a local expert guide who brings context to its sculptures, mosaics, and sacred spaces—including Michelangelo’s Pietà and the Papal Crypts in the Vatican Grottoes. Then, ride the elevator partway up the Dome and climb the final stretch of stairs to reach the top, where panoramic views of Vatican City and Rome await.
- Why choose this: The Basilica is vast, layered with centuries of history and symbolism. Instead of wandering without context, this tour gives you structure, stories, and expert insight—plus access to one of its most iconic experiences: the climb to the top of the Dome.
Inclusions
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and Dome with entry
- Expert English, Spanish, French, German or Italian-speaking guide
- Access by elevator to the base and stairs to the top
Exclusions
- Entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Entry to the Necropolis / St. Peter’s Tomb / Scavi
- The Dome is not suitable for wheelchair users or those with vertigo or claustrophobia. Even with elevator access, 320 steps must be climbed to reach the cupola.
- Knees and shoulders must be covered for all guests.
- These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.
Reviews
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4.2
7,222 ratings
4.4K
1.5K
332
194
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Guests from United States, France, United Kingdom and over 83 countries have loved this experience
What our guests say
ABDEL
Jun 2025Verified booking
I really liked the cordiality of the guides and the simplicity of the tour, along with the information provided. We started a few minutes after the agreed time, but it was still excellent.
View original review in Spanish
Kathrin
Jun 2025Verified booking
The guide was great and has a lot of experience - he has lived in Rome for 30 years and has many life stories to tell. A very funny and entertaining tour with the necessary background knowledge 😊👍👍👍👍👍
View original review in German
Charlotte
Jun 2025Verified booking
Volodymyr was great. He provided lots of really interesting facts, and was keen to offer information and insights around the interests of members of our group. I particularly liked the fact that he gave quite a balanced view - of some of the corruption over the centuries, as well as pointing out the glories of the artwork, and all the time being respectful of the culture and religion.
mark
Jun 2025Verified booking
Alishba was an amazing guide, so passionate and knowledgeable. She made the tour an exceptional experience Thank you so much Alishba your an amazing lady
Steven
Jun 2025Verified booking
Booking the tour was seamless and efficient. From the moment the tour started to when it ended, we enjoyed every part of it. Our Guide (Kelly) was so helpful, fun and informative. She brought the whole group together really quickly making us all feel like a little multi country family. She went out of her way to make all participants of the group feel very much included. The detail that was shared and the pace we went through the tour was perfect. Kelly's explanation of everything made our visit to the Vatican that much more special.
Ruth
Jun 2025Verified booking
The lady who gave us a lot of information about St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican State was very knowledgeable and extremely friendly and never tired of answering even the last interesting question. A "feel-good tour"!
View original review in German
Irzi
Jun 2025Verified booking
Super-friendly guide, to the point in her explanations and full of anecdotes. Mastered her subject and was extremely efficient. Remarkable VAV in all aspects of the tour.
View original review in French
Victor
Jun 2025Verified booking
Superb visit despite the crowds due to the basilica being closed in the morning. The guide was perfect, full of anecdotes and attention to detail, conveying his passion and love for this monument. The climb up to the dome was well worth it, with its magnificent 360° view of Rome and Vatican City. The only downside is that the meeting point is poorly signposted, as it's a guide with a flag that shouldn't be blue. And it would be simpler to have a bus stop for the meeting point or a reserved room.
View original review in French
Andrea
Jun 2025Verified booking
The guide, Edward, who was very knowledgeable and personable, was able to engage the group in the tour, giving comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanations even for children.
View original review in Italian
Jan
May 2025Verified booking
The church itself was amazing, but our guide topped it with an engaged, huomoristic and very interesting tour. We really learned a lot from him and we all had a great experience and it was worth all the money.
Jyotsna
May 2025Verified booking
We loved the overall experience and our tour guide was awesome and very knowledgeable. She explained everything patiently and thoroughly. We highly recommend this tour.
Catherine
May 2025Verified booking
We had a very nice tour, especially the guide was very, very nice, knowledgeable, very well read and above all friendly. You could ask him questions, he explained everything, took a toilet break and always kept an eye on his group!!!! I would recommend such a tour!!! It's really worth the money. There was so much going on, yet he kept calm and kept on explaining. We took away so much from this tour, including the history.....If you do a tour like this on your own you don't get this information at all. Thank you very much
View original review in German
Servais
May 2025Verified booking
Our guide Frédérico was sensational. With great explanations. We lived in the moment. And, above all, in beautiful French.
View original review in French
Petra
May 2025Verified booking
We took the tour in a small group. The starting point was easy to find. Our guide JAD was attentive to our needs, and we appreciated his explanations.
View original review in French
Dusdal
Apr 2025Verified booking
Many thanks for the experience! A big compliment to our guide. She was very knowledgeable and articulate. Everything seemed very professional and customer-friendly.
View original review in German
Sandra
Apr 2025Verified booking
We had Michaela as our guide and we were more than impressed with her. There were a total of 18 young people in our group who stayed attentive until the end thanks to Michaela's manner. A thousand thanks to Michaela for this wonderful experience.
View original review in German
Kimberly
Apr 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. What I didn't like was that it said it was a 2 hour tour and it was to start at 8:25 which it did however one of the most things I was looking forward to was the dome climb. Since the description said 2 hours I felt comfortable scheduling another tour at noon. We were still in line at 11:15 for the climb and we had to miss what I was really looking forward to to make sure we made our next tour. I would suggest in your description that the dome climb isn't until the end of the tour and that your tour can last upwards of 3-4 hours long. Since that was one of my highlights of your tour description we then went back after our other tour and then had to pay more to do the dome climb.
Chinyelu
Apr 2025Verified booking
Good, a little disorganized and a lot of wasted time. But it was good. I went off on my own to explore, because the history can be googled or read in the library, most people already read and heard, then come to SEE it . Tour guide needs to focus on getting people inside, taking them to various biblical status, and areas, for pictures. This is not a history class, we only had 1-2hrs , but our tour guide spent 40 mins telling us stories and history outside and on the door way, While I applaud her of her knowledge, however this is not a history class, 6 of us had other tours scheduled right afterwards, so we left the tour midway to explore the Basilica on our own, including the Tomb areas underneath.
Agnes
Apr 2025Verified booking
We had an unforgettable tour. Even though we thought we had booked an audio tour, we absolutely did not regret the guided tour. Alexandra is a very enthusiastic guide with extensive knowledge about St. Peter's and the Vatican. Her English is very good! Also highly recommended for visitors who have been to St. Peter's before!
View original review in Dutch
Therese
Apr 2025Verified booking
I had an incredible experience on the St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour. Our guide was absolutely amazing and extremely knowledgeable about the rich history and architecture of the basilica. I walked away with a much deeper appreciation and understanding of this iconic site. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting the Vatican!
Kilani
Jun 2025Verified booking
It was very interesting a must visit !! The guide Valerio was super cool and very polite he explained every detail
Mary
Jun 2025Verified booking
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and patient. She easily moved us through the crowd.
CHEN
Jun 2025Verified booking
Awesome , my pleased to be here and wish everyone a good, peace fortune
UDHAYAKUMAR
Jun 2025Verified booking
Fantastic and Tour guide Alexandria was exceptional
Sara
May 2025Verified booking
This experience is perfect for learning about the history of this wonderful basilica and the wonderful Rome
View original review in Italian
Vatican TicketsApostolic Palace
Make the most of Rome
Plan your visit to the Apostolic Palace
Timings
Location
Tickets
Rules
You can visit the attractions of the Apostolic Palace between 8.30am and 4.30pm. The Vatican is not functional on Sundays.
Best time To visit
- Off-seasons are a very good time to visit, with less heat and no chaos.
- Wednesdays are quite packed at the Vatican Palace as a lot of tourists head to attend an audience with the Pope. But it is a great time to visit the museums.
The Palace is situated within the Vatican City walls.
- By Train: From the Roma Termini station take the RE 12524 towards Civitavecchia or RE 4134 towards Pisa Centrale and alight at St. Pietro.
- By Bus: Take bus 40 or 64 from Roma Termini. Bus 40 stops at Piazza Pia, and bus 64 stops at Terminal Gianicolo or Holy Spirit Hospital.
- By Metro: Take Line A to the Ottaviano-S. Pietro station. From here, it’s just a 5-minute walk to St. Peter’s Square.
- By Tram: Take line number 19 to Piazza del Risorgimento.
- Standard Entry Tickets: With these tickets, you can enjoy access to the Vatican Museums & the Sistine Chapel.
- Skip-the-line Tickets: Bypass long queues and enter the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with these tickets. Depending on the ticket, you might even enjoy access to St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Guided Tours: A guided tour will allow you to skip the lines with an expert guide.
- They follow a strict dress code. If you are not dressed appropriately, you will be denied entry.
- Video cameras, umbrellas, banners, signs, and sharp objects like knives, are not allowed inside.
- Phones must be kept in silent mode. The use of phones is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.
- Visitors are allowed to take photographs for personal and domestic use only. Photography is prohibited in the Sistine Chapel
Structure of the Apostolic Palace
Arranged around the Courtyard of Sixtus V, the Apostolic Palace is a series of self-contained buildings consisting of a recognized outer structure.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is the best known amongst the Palace chapels and is named in honor of Sixtus IV. The Chapel is well-known for being a venue for the gathering of the College of Cardinals, used for the election of each successive Pope. Here, the cardinals elect a successor to the traditionally first pope, St. Peter, who is traditionally buried in the crypts near St. Peter’s Church. The Chapel is famous for its frescoes by various Renaissance artists during the era.
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Raphael Rooms
The Raphael Rooms are a suite of reception rooms in the Apostolic Palace, which is now a portion of the Vatican Museums, in Vatican City. These rooms are popular for their frescoes, done by a team of artists who were guided under Raphael. Commonly known as the Stanze, situated above Alexander’s Borgia Apartments, the Raphael Rooms were the apartments intended for Pope Julius II. He decided to redecorate the interiors of the rooms entirely, possibly to outshine the apartments of his predecessor.
Borgia Apartments
The Borgia Apartments consists of a suite of rooms that were for the personal usage of Pope Alexander VI. The apartments were decorated lavishly with frescoes and used iconic themes from medieval encyclopedias, to add meaning and to celebrate the divine origins of Borgias.
The rooms are a part of the Vatican Library and Museums. Currently, these rooms are used for the Vatican Collection of Modern Religious Art, by Pope Paul VI in 1973.
Clementine Hall
The Clementine Hall, also called the Sala Clementina, was created in the 16th century in honor of the third Pope, Pope Clement I, by Pope Clement VIII. Just like the other apartments, the Clementine Hall also consists of numerous large collections of artifacts and frescos, that make the Clementine Hall a famous structure in itself. It is used by the pope as a reception room and sometimes as a site of various ceremonies and rituals. It is in the Clementine Hall that the body of the pope lies for private visitation by officials of the Vatican until it is moved to St. Peter's Basilica or the Basilica of San Giovanni.
Who lives in the Vatican Palace?
The Apostolic Palace is home to the Pope and numerous officials involved in religious and administrative functions. It functions similarly to a state residence, managing the Vatican's various responsibilities.
Paintings inside Vatican Palace
The paintings in the Sistine Chapel are the most prominent works of art in the Apostolic Palace.
You can spot The Vision of The Cross (in the Hall of Constantine) and The Fire in the Borgo in the Raphael Rooms.
The Pinacoteca room houses notable works such as The Crucifixion of St. Peter.
Book Tickets to Sistine ChapelApostolic Palace of Vatican | Site of administrative functions of the Holy See
Apart from being home to the Pope, the Apostolic Palace serves many functions. The Palace is used for performing several administrative meetings of the Vatican in terms of political, social, and economic aspects as a State. The palace has within it beautiful gardens, museums, a library, and more. Hence, this structure has become one of the top tourist attractions in the city of Rome, Italy.
Due to its dual nature as being the home to the pope as well as the site of administrative functions of the Holy See, it has assumed the same stature as the White House. It is a space that exercises various economic, political, and social responsibilities as a State. The term Apostolic Palace has, hence, come to be used as a metonym for the papacy itself, and not just the physical building.
Frequently asked questions about the Apostolic Palace
What is the Apostolic Palace?
The massive Apostolic Palace is the Pope’s place of residence. It's also home to various apartments, museums, offices, public and private chapels, to name a few amongst the lot. The Palace is inclusive of rooms such as the Sistine Chapel as well as Raphael’s room famous for its paintings and architecture. The Palace serves as a space to perform the religious and administrative functions of the city.
Where is the Apostolic Palace located?
The Apostolic Palace is situated within Vatican City, just northeast of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Who lives inside the Apostolic Palace?
The Pope resides in the Apostolic Palace. It is also home to various Vatican officials and staff who manage religious and administrative functions.
Can I enter the Apostolic Palace?
Yes, around 20 rooms of the Apostolic Palace are accessible to the public, including notable areas such as the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and Borgia Apartments. Some sections, like the Sala Regia and Cappella Paolina, are not open to the public.
How far is the Apostolic Palace from St Peter's Square?
The Papal Palace is hardly two minutes away from St. Peter’s Square.
When was the Apostolic Palace built?
The construction of the Apostolic Palace (the Vatican or Papal Palace) in the Vatican City, was done between 1471 and 1605.
Why was the Apostolic Palace built?
It was built as a replacement for the Lateran Palace, which served as the primary residence of the popes for over a millennium. The new Palace was intended to enhance the papal residence and administrative capabilities.
From happy customers
Abdel
Panamagiu, 2025
I really liked the cordiality of the guides and the simplicity of the tour, along with the information provided. We started a few minutes after the agreed time, but it was still excellent.
View original review in Spanish
St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
Mark
United Kingdomgiu, 2025
Alishba was an amazing guide, so passionate and knowledgeable.
She made the tour an exceptional experience
Thank you so much Alishba your an amazing lady
St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
Kathrin
Germanygiu, 2025
The guide was great and has a lot of experience - he has lived in Rome for 30 years and has many life stories to tell. A very funny and entertaining tour with the necessary background knowledge 😊👍👍👍👍👍
View original review in German
St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
Steven
Australiagiu, 2025
Booking the tour was seamless and efficient. From the moment the tour started to when it ended, we enjoyed every part of it. Our Guide (Kelly) was so helpful, fun and informative. She brought the whole group together really quickly making us all feel like a little multi country family. She went out of her way to make all participants of the group feel very much included. The detail that was shared and the pace we went through the tour was perfect. Kelly's explanation of everything made our visit to the Vatican that much more special.
St. Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
Mary
giu, 2025
+ 1 more
Crowds were expected, didn't expect to extend our walk/tour for more than 2hrs. So if you have a booking with with tour time, make sure you will allocate enough to move from one place to another eg 2hrs.
Overall, we had a good experience & learned so much.
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Tickets
Kirsten
United Statesgiu, 2025
Our guide, Vincenzo, was wonderful. Very funny and knowledgeable. I don't think you can enjoy touring the Vatican without a guide and skip the line. 100% worth it!
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica
Nicholas
United Statesgiu, 2025
Skipping the line was absolutely amazing!!!!
The tour guide was absolutely fantastic. Very knowledgeable wonderful tour would not have been the same without her!
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica
Iker
Spaingiu, 2025
The visit to the Vatican Gardens has been a unique experience, I went with my fiancée and we wanted to return once again and do it walking now because it is such a beautiful place that makes you want to spend more time observing every detail, the trip in the open bus is super good if you have an agenda to visit more things in Rome, because you can tour the gardens with ease, plus with the guide in multiple hate to choose the experience becomes more dynamic. We recommend it 100%
View original review in Spanish
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Reserved Entry Tickets with Vatican Gardens Open Bus Tour