--- title: Private Vatican Highlights Tour - Skip The Line lang: en type: tour city: Rome country: Italy price: 512 currency: EUR price_unit: per_group availability: bookable rating: 4.92 reviews: 49 duration_minutes: 180 languages: [en] rank_in_category: 57 of 138 (Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-09-12 data_updated: 2026-10-12 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/private-vatican-highlights-tour-skip-the-line/ --- # Private Vatican Highlights Tour - Skip The Line **Guidekin's take:** A private guide for up to four people through the Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's, priced per group rather than per head at €512 per group/vehicle, which is what makes it cheap for a family. Entrance fees are paid to the guide on the day and are not in the price, nor are headsets. If the Basilica closes, the tour ends in the chapel. In our comparison: #57 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview We are proud to offer the least expensive Private Vatican Highlights Tour available! You will visit all of the must sees of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica on this 3 hour tour. Book with us and we assure you of "great fist class service with an exciting guide" who you can understand your needs. As this is truly a one-of-a-lifetime experience, its best to have a Private Vatican Tour so that you are not being rushed by a group tour and so that you can explore at your own pace. With more then 2000 years of Art, History and Religion, there is no better way to explore the Vatican than with our professional English speaking private guides. ## Before you book - Meeting point: The tour meets at the bottom of the… - Entry ticket not included: buy it separately - Starts 09:00, 13:30, 14:00: 3 departures a day - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Non-refundable: no free cancellation **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €512 per group/vehicle - Duration: 3h - Rating: 4.92/5 from 49 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Operator: Maximus Tours - Group: Private tour, your party only - Guide languages: English - Tickets: Admission not included, pay on site - Start times: 09:00, 13:30, 14:00 - Booking: mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-09-12 ## Reviews 4.92 from 49 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 48 of 49. - 5 stars: 46 (94%) - 4 stars: 2 (4%) - 3 stars: 1 (2%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 0 (0%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers value knowledgeable, adaptable guides; some find too little time left for the Sistine Chapel or basilica. **Praised:** - Knowledgeable guides explain Vatican art and history clearly - Tours adapted to family interests and preferred pace - Engaging explanations keep children and teenagers interested - Smooth entry that avoids lengthy admission queues - Patient support for guests with limited mobility **Complaints:** - Heavy crowds inside the Vatican, even on a private tour - Some praise the pace, while others find too little time left for the Sistine Chapel or St. Peter's Basilica Written by Guidekin from the 49 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2019-02-28 to 2026-09-28); last checked 2026-10-03. ## What's included - Professional guide - Private tour - Guaranteed to skip the long lines - Local taxes ## Not included - Entrance fees - Payable directly to the guide on the day of the tour. - Combined Vatican Museums + St. Peter's Basilica entrance fee - Free - Under 6 years - Radio Headsets - Compulsory after 5 people (rental fee of €3/person) - Gratuities (optional) ## Itinerary 1. **Vatican Museums** (1h 40m) - We first visit the largest collection in the world, the Vatican Museums. In these museums we will see the Gallery of the Maps, Tapestries, Old Papal Apartments and the Rooms of Raffaele. 2. **Sistine Chapel** (20m) - Once in the Sistine Chapel we get to enjoy the fruit of Michelangelo's intensive labor. Mainly the 'Creation of Man' on the ceiling, and the 'Last Judgement' on the alter wall. 3. **St. Peter's Basilica** (45m) - Once in the Basilica we will get the chance to see the tombs of past Pope's, Michelangelo's Pieta, the central alter and baldachino designed by the famous architect Bramante. No visit to the Basilica would be complete without looking into the awe-inspiring dome, also built by... 4. **St. Peter's Square** (15m) - The tour will finish looking over St Peter's Square with a full explanation of the piazza, the special markings throughout it, and the saints and martyrs looking over it. ## Schedule - Runs: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat - Departures: 09:00, 13:30, 14:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-09-12 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations. ## Meeting point The tour meets at the bottom of the stairs located on Via Tunisi. These stairs are directly across the street from the entrance of the Vatican Museums. The meeting point is at the bottom of the stairs, look for your guide holding a sign with your name, and/or a sign with Maximus Tours. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJPRU-mmNgLxMRosQvhLExZGU Ends: The tour will end at St. Peter's Basilica. ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Public transportation options are available nearby - All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - St Peter's Basilica is a holy place of worship and it is not subject to the rules of the Vatican Museums. The Basilica can often close with little or no notice due to religious events and in this case the tour will conclude in the Sistine Chapel. - All youth / students aged 18-25 years must present a valid photo student ID and document with date of birth. Students below the age of 18 will only be asked to show proof of age. If you do not arrive with the proper documents, the Vatican will not honour the reservation and a new full price ticket must be purchased. - A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements - Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. - A moderate amount of walking is involved. ## Cost for your party | People | Total | Per person | |---|---|---| | 2 | €511 | €256 | | 4 | €511 | €128 | Cheapest option for that party size from the operator's current price tiers; the calendar shows the exact figure for your date. Shared tours in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours start at €8 per person. ## Compared with other Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #57 of 138** | €512 per group | 3h | 4.92 (49) | private | | [Private Vatican Highlights Guided Tour with Sistine Chapel](/italy/rome/tours/private-vatican-highlights-guided-tour-with-sistine-chapel/?format=md) | €250 | 3h 15m | 4.99 (1713) | private | | [Rome: Complete Early Morning Vatican Tour / Small Group](/italy/rome/tours/rome-complete-early-morning-vatican-tour-small-group/?format=md) | €99 | 3h 30m | 4.94 (2821) | shared | | [Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Tour with Max 6 People](/italy/rome/tours/express-early-morning-sistine-chapel-tour-with-max-6-people/?format=md) | €148 | 2h | 4.98 (513) | shared | Ranked #57 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €8 to €4913, median €136; typical length 3h. 57 of 138 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/vatican-tours/?format=md ## More in Rome - All Rome tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/private-vatican-highlights-tour-skip-the-line/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md