Get more from your visit with a great guide and special access

Give the Papal Palaces the attention they deserve on our Highlights of the Vatican Museums & St. Peter's Basilica Tour. As well as visiting some of the most beautiful and interesting works of art in Rome, this tour also focuses on the bigger picture: art, power and politics in the Vatican City.

Find out firsthand how magnificent St. Peter's Dome is

Begin your exploration at St. Peter's Basilica with your guide diving into the masterpieces that are Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini's Baldachin, learning the stories of their creation and importance to the Vatican's language of communication. Here you'll also have special access to the St. Peter's Dome elevator, skipping the first 320 steps up to the terraces. Marvel at the dome mosaics, and if you chose you can climb the last steps to the awe-inspiring views of Rome from the cupola.

Skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums

In order to make the most of every moment, we give you privileged entrance at the Vatican Museums. This allows you to skip the notoriously long general access line, which, during high season, often stretches for hours. We’ve also carefully chosen the finishing point of the tour so you can either spend more time inside the Sistine Chapel or explore the Museums at your own pace.

Our expert guides will bring the Vatican’s dramatic past to life. From the Raphael Rooms, to the statue galleries and the unmissable Sistine Chapel, you'll see the best the Museums have to offer whilst hearing the stories and context behind the art.

Small groups of 20 or fewer keep it casual and engaging

This tour will never have more than 20 people on it, making it smaller and more intimate than many other tours on the market, giving you fantastic access to your expert guide. All of our guides are knowledgeable, passionate storytellers who are specially trained to give you a real sense of the drama and power that has played out in these very halls.

This small-group Vatican Museum Tour ensures that you get the best from your Vatican visit, seeing beyond world-famous masterpieces to appreciate the bigger picture.