Beat the crowds for an exclusive tour of the Vatican

DESCRIPTION
The final destination of your tour will be the grand St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church ever built and one of the holiest and most significant sites in the Christian world. Learn the little-known details of the basilica’s history from your guide and get an intimate look at Michelangelo’s famous Pietà, one of his early sculptures depicting the body of Jesus across Mary’s lap after the Crucifixion. When your tour ends, feel free to take additional time to explore on your own. Whether you go down into the crypts, climb up St. Peter’s dome for the spectacular views of Rome (both at an additional expense), or simply call it a day, this tour will leave you with a full experience of the Vatican in the least-crowded way. 

This is a private tour. This means that you will have an informative, English-speaking guide at your complete disposal. This way you can take the tour at your own pace and spend as much time as you need to fully appreciate these precious landmarks and all they have to offer. 

No need to worry about how you will reach the sites, one of our drivers will pick you up at your hotel in Rome and take you directly to the Vatican Museums where you will meet your guide.

DURATION
➢ 4 hours 

WHY CHOOSE THIS TOUR
➢ Begin your tour of this popular site a full hour before the main crowds arrive
➢ Discover the museum galleries in the morning, while they are mostly quiet
➢ Navigate the Vatican Museums’ vast complex of rooms, learning about their masterpieces of artwork and history from your expert English-speaking guide
➢ A top-quality private tour with an intimate touch, programmed especially for you
➢ Gain special access to St. Peter’s Basilica so you don’t have to wait in line. There you can continue your tour by observing the basilica’s monumental altar and Michelangelo’s Pieta among other beautiful works. Feel free to spend additional time inside St. Peter’s Basilica after your tour has ended. 

HIGHLIGHTS
➢ Explore the world-famous Vatican before normal opening hours
➢ Visit the Sistine Chapel while only a few others are inside
➢ See top Vatican highlights like the Apollo Belvedere statue, Raphael Rooms, and Galleries of Maps, Candelabras and Tapestries, all with an informative private guide
➢ Marvel at the sheer size of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest ancient basilica in the world, and bypass any long waits at the entrance with pre-purchased skip-the-line tickets
➢ Gain special access to St Peter’s Basilica through a fast-track entranceway 

INCLUDED
➢ One-way transfer from your accommodations in Rome to the Vatican Museums in a luxury air-conditioned Mercedes vehicle
➢ Cold bottled water on board
➢ Informative English-speaking Vatican guide
➢ Skip-the-line access to St Peter’s Basilica
➢ Local taxes 

NOT INCLUDED
➢ Food and drinks
➢ Pre-arranged tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
GENERAL INFORMATION
➢ Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel are closed on Sundays
➢ Please note that St Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel may be closed without prior notice.
➢ There is a strict dress code at the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. Women may wear long or capri pants, while skirts and dresses must be at least knee length and shoulders must be covered. In very hot weather a shawl or large scarf/Pashmina can be draped around the shoulders for visiting the sites. Bare shoulders, shorts, and short skirts are not permitted. Men may wear long pants and short or long sleeved shirts. No shorts, sleeveless shirts or baseball caps inside the religious sites.
➢ Backpacks, tripods and big umbrellas must be left inside a coatroom upon entering the Vatican Museums. To reduce any disruption for your group, we recommend you leave these items behind for your tour.
➢ Due to circumstances beyond our control St. Peter's Basilica and other religious sites may be subject to unscheduled last minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an extended tour of the Vatican Museums, or an appropriate alternative.
➢ This tour involves a fair amount of walking, comfortable shoes are recommended.
➢ This tour is NOT wheelchair or stroller accessible. The Vatican Museums do, however, provide wheelchairs in their main lobby free of charge. You can easily pick one up at the entrance before starting your own independent visit. If you are looking for a guided tour with wheelchair access, we recommend our private tours as they include a guide that can lead you along accessible routes. 
➢ For tours taking place on Wednesdays, there is a possibility that St Peter's Basilica and St Peter's Square will be unavailable due to the weekly Papal Audience during which access to St Peter's Basilica is closed. As an alternative we can offer you an extended tour of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you would like to ensure that St Peter's Basilica and Square are included in your tour, please DO NOT select Wednesday as your tour date. 

PRICING
➢ Pricing may be subject to change based on availability and season, so we recommend booking as promptly as possible in order to lock in the published pricing. 
➢ All rates listed above do not include taxes (+10% VAT). 
➢Reservations are guaranteed by credit card. Credit card data is used only to secure reservation and is not charged unless otherwise stated. 
➢ Final payment is to be settled at the end of service in cash (euros), by Euros traveler’s check or credit card (Visa/Mastercard). Please be aware that payments by credit card will incur a 6% convenience fee.