Vatican Museums, St Peter’s, and Gardens private group tour ticket

It is remarkable how the Vatican Museums have for centuries housed some of the world’s most exquisite treasures, art pieces, and religious relics despite the vagaries of time.

Contrary to popular notion, the Vatican Museums isn’t just one museum but a collection of 26 museums—including the most famous of them all, the Sistine Chapel.

Traversing through all these museums, encompassing 54 galleries and a mind-boggling 1400 rooms, can seem nothing less than daunting even for a seasoned traveler.

This is why a private tour—as opposed to a regular guided tour—could be worth considering if you want a more intimate and immersive experience at the Museums.

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Ticket highlights

Fast-track entrance to the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica
A special permit from the Vatican Governorate Office to visit Vatican Gardens
Live tour exclusively in English with an expert guide
The total duration of the 3-attraction-tour is 5 hours
Headsets to hear your guide out amidst all the din at the Museums

Ticket description

This private group tour ticket brings you all three attractions—Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Gardens that are usually closed to the public—on a platter, making it an absolute bang for your buck.

You can opt for a paid pickup from any of the 200+ points mentioned on the ticket page or proceed directly to the meeting point opposite Guily’s Cafe, Via Santamaura.

This 5-hour tour begins at the Vatican Gardens, and your special pass allows you to admire this exclusive part of the Vatican up close. Strolling through the Garden’s lush greenery also offers you a glimpse into the daily life behind those imposing Vatican walls.

The second part of the tour includes the Vatican Museums and the magnificent Sistine Chapel. Your guide will tell you stories about the Museums and how they came to be.

Once you are done with the Gardens and Museums, head to the iconic St. Peter’s Basilica. You will be given a special passage to enter the Basilica, generally reserved for the official Vatican tour guides. Your guide will lead you underground to visit St. Peter’s Tomb and the tombs of the other Popes.

The tour officially ends at St. Peter’s Square with a description of Bernini’s Tuscan Colonnades.

Note: This ticket does not include access to the Dome inside St. Peter’s Basilica

Ticket details

Group of 10 visitors (irrespective of age): €288

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Cancellation policy

This ticket is not applicable for a refund or reschedule even if you cancel your ticket in advance

Itinerary map

Guily’s Cafe (meeting point)
Vatican Gardens entrance
Fountains and Virgin Mary grottoes
Bramante’s Belvedere Courtyard
Vatican Museums Line 3 entrance
Pio Clementino Museum
Raphael Rooms
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter’s Basilica
Vatican Grottoes
St. Peter’s Square

Planning a visit to the Museums? Here’s all you need to know about the attraction’s dress code, its three entrance lines, opening and closing hours, the amenities within the Museums, how to reach the Vatican, and special tours like the Vatican Museums early morning and late evening tickets, Castle Gandolfo, and Vatican Grottoes & Necropolis tickets.

What you shouldn’t miss during this private group tour

Vatican Gardens Fountains: Among the 100+ fountains here, the nautical-inspired Fontana della Galera and intricate Fontana dell’Aquilone are masterpieces that richly deserve your attention

Lourdes Grotto and Marian Shrines: There are no less than 16 Vatican Gardens shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Out of these, the Lourdes Grotto remains the focal high-point of what is often called the Pope’s private Eden

Berlin Wall: Surprise! A portion of one of the Cold War’s most iconic structures, the Berlin Wall, is housed in the Gardens. This is one of the first spots you visit while on a Vatican Gardens tour

Pio Clementino Museum: Regarded as one of the most important and largest sections of the Museums, it houses artifacts and donations made to the Vatican

Sistine Chapel: The main reason why everyone visits the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel is a testament to the genius of Michaelangelo

Vatican Grottoes: Situated directly beneath St. Peter’s Basilica—and on level with the first basilica Emperor Constantine built in 4 AD, the Grottoes are home to numerous papal tombs and sarcophagi

Instructions

Make sure you arrive at least 15 minutes before your booked time slot
Your guide will be waiting opposite Guily’s Restaurant on Via Santamaura Street
Show your smartphone voucher to the guide
You will be escorted inside the attractions and provided with a hard copy ticket

Address: Via Paolo VI, 29, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

Metro: Line A heading in the directions of Battistini, Ottaviano, or Cipro stations

Timings: Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 7 pm (last entry 5 pm)

Friday to Saturday: 8 am to 8 pm (last entry 6 pm)

Sundays: Closed (except for the last Sunday of the month)

Dress code: Shoulders and knees shouldn’t be exposed; avoid sleeveless tops, low-cut

tops exposing the midriff, miniskirts, shorts, and hats

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This customized 4-hour tour—available only on Fridays and Saturdays—includes an English-speaking guide, private door-to-door transfers, and skip-the-line access to the Museums’ inner rooms. You also get to spend a chunk of your time admiring Michaelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel. There are five time slots available for this tour—6 pm, 6:30 pm, 7 pm, 7,30 pm, and 8 pm.

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