--- title: Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica lang: en type: tour city: Rome country: Italy price: 20 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.62 reviews: 15437 duration_minutes: 180 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 130 of 138 (Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-03 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/tours/skip-the-line-group-tour-of-the-vatican-sistine-chapel-st-peter-s-basilica/ --- # Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica **Guidekin's take:** The budget door into the Vatican: skip the line entry to the Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica with a storytelling guide, from €20 per person and with 15437 reviews behind it. Check the option, two of them drop either the Basilica or the Museums. The Pope can close the Basilica at short notice. In our comparison: #130 of 138 in Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview A holiday in Rome without visiting the Vatican is like a day at the beach without swimming in the sea. See the best of the Vatican museums and gain direct entrance with skip-the-line access to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, while our excellent guides entertain you with stories that go with each masterpiece. This budget-friendly tour is the best value for money for travelers that are interested in 1) seeing the museum’s highlights 2) meeting a new friend or two through your group and 3) skipping the lines (trust us, with over 6 million tourist spilling into the museum every year, you'll want it!) Disclaimer: you will be entering the Vatican museum during one of the busiest times of the day. While the tour provides skip-the-line access, the crowds in the museum vary from day to day and some delay with security can be expected (it would be misleading for other tour operators to not tell you this!) ## Before you book - Meeting point: The meeting point is located in Borgo Pio, - Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk - 42 start times: between 07:50 and 15:35 - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €20: ages 0 to 5 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €20 per person for the ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR option; other options up to €175 - Duration: 3h - Rating: 4.62/5 from 15437 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Vatican Tour - Group: Shared tour · private option available - Guide languages: English - Tickets: Admission included - Start times: 42 start times between 07:50 and 15:35 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.62 from 15437 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 90% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 13837 of 15437. - 5 stars: 12609 (82%) - 4 stars: 1228 (8%) - 3 stars: 692 (4%) - 2 stars: 413 (3%) - 1 star: 495 (3%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the guides' knowledge and queue access; reports differ on whether the Basilica visit includes a guide **Praised:** - Clear explanations of the art, architecture and Vatican history - Engaging storytelling and patient answers to questions - Skipping entrance queues is widely seen as worthwhile - Guides who navigate the crowds and keep the group together **Complaints:** - Heavy crowds in the museums and Sistine Chapel - Some feel rushed past exhibits, while others find the pace comfortable - Some expected a guided Basilica visit but explored independently, while others had a guide - Some bypass queues, while others still face waits in the heat despite the skip the line booking Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2026-09-25 to 2026-10-03); last checked 2026-10-03. ## Tour options Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page. | Option | Price | Guide languages | Details | |---|---|---|---| | ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR | €20 / person | English | NOT included: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel INCLUDES Tickets & Tour:: ST.PETER'S BASILICA Duration: 1 hour Meeting Point: Via Plauto 17A, 00193 Roma, Italy | | Skip-the-Line Group Tour of the Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica | €49 / person | English | English Tour & Tickets | | Vatican English Tour & Tickets | €60 / person | English | English Tour and Tickets SKIP-THE-LINE Tickets & Tour Duration: 3 hours Includes: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Meeting Point: Via Plauto 17A, 00193 Roma, Italy | | Exclusive PRIVATE Vatican Tour | €175 / person | English | Skip-the-Line Tickets Included: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Exclusive Private Guide: Enjoy a dedicated licensed Vatican guide exclusively for your party. Duration: 3 hours | ## What's included - Admission tickets to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and/or St. Peter's Basilica - Entry/Admission-Vatican Museums (NOT included if you book the option: ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR) - An expert tour guide with over 10 years of experience. Excellent story teller. - Entry/Admission- Sistine Chapel (NOT included if you book the option: ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR) - Guaranteed skip-the-line access - Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica (check below to see which option does not include it) ## Not included - If you book the “Museums & SISTINE CHAPEL Tour” option it does NOT include St. Peter’s Basilica. - If you book “ONLY ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR” option it does NOT include the Museums & Sistine Chapel. - Gratuities (Tips) ## Itinerary 1. **Borgo** (40m) - Meet your tour guide at our office, located in the oldest neighbourhoods of the Vatican, Borgo Pio. Following a self introduction by your guide, you will walk through the charming shops of the Borgo, as he/she shares some local tips for eating and site seeing in Rome,... 2. **Via Della Conciliazione** (pass by, no stop) - Admire the flags and surrounding embassies as you walk through this street, which serve as the primary access point to St. Peter's Square, and by extension, to the Vatican City itself. 3. **St. Peter's Square** (20m) - We arrive at St. Peter's Square, which is marked by a towering Egyptian obelisk and enveloped by columns and statues of saints. Hear about the history of the square and the legendary artist Bernini who designed it. Fun fact- the Pope addresses crowds from his apartment window... 4. **Citta del Vaticano** (15m) - En route to the museum, you will get to see and hear about how residents of the smallest city in the word go about their day to day life (including getting their mail!) Snap a pic of the Swiss guards- the pontifical bodyguards in their distinctly Renaissance uniforms. Our... 5. **Vatican Museums** (45m; admission included) - Be prepared to hear about stories as your guide walk you through an astonishing collection of Roman and Greek statues, the gallery of tapestries, and a gallery of maps depicting 16th century Italy. 6. **Sistine Chapel** (15m; admission included) - Admire Michelangelo's famous works, including the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement. This spectacular fresco evokes lifelike images within the mind, vividly portraying stories of mankind in the biblical era. Note that the museum requires visitors to observe silence and... 7. **St. Peter's Basilica** (15m) - You will be brought in front of St. Peter's Church, where a special entrance will allow you to enter directly from the museum and bypass the long queue out in the square. Got questions? Ask you guide before parting ways! ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Departures: 42 start times between 07:50 and 15:35 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point The meeting point is located in Borgo Pio, near St. Peter's square. The exact address is Via Plauto 17/A. IMPORTANT: Please check your booking for the start time of the Vatican ENGLISH tour. Arrive 20 minutes before at the meeting point ( Via Plauto 17A ) for check-in. Thank you ! Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:EiRWaWEgUGxhdXRvLCAxNywgMDAxOTMgUm9tYSBSTSwgSXRhbHkiMBIuChQKEgn9HHpmZ2AvExFeBe6mksCImhARKhQKEgmJNn9nZ2AvExFrouN2ZdtGsw ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Public transportation options are available nearby - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Unforeseen events= The Vatican is its own country and therefore the Pope can decide also last minute to close St. Peter’s Basilica for ad hoc events. It is a very rare event during the year but it is possibile and we will do our best to inform you. If it is too late to inform you, our guide will extend the tour in the Vatican. Not to worry that the incredibile collection of Vatican Museums and the masterpiece of Michelagelo in the Sistine Chapel will still be included. - Most of our tours include the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. However, there are two specific options with different inclusions. You will find below: - Museums & SISTINE CHAPEL Tour – Includes the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel but does NOT include St. Peter’s Basilica. - ST.PETER'S BASILICA TOUR – Includes St. Peter’s Basilica but does NOT include the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. ## Compared with other Vatican, Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Tours | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #130 of 138** | €20 | 3h | 4.62 (15437) | shared | | [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 #130 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/skip-the-line-group-tour-of-the-vatican-sistine-chapel-st-peter-s-basilica/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/rome/?format=md