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Rome: Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Tour with Dome Climb

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$158.99 /person
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About the activity

Explore Rome's Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Enter St. Peter's Basilica and climb to the top of St. Peter's Dome for unobstructed views of the city.

  • Free cancellation
    Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
  • Instant confirmation & Mobile tickets
    Receive your ticket right away. Use your phone or print your voucher.
  • Live guiding
    English
  • Duration
    5 hours
  • Includes
    • St. Peter's dome climb
    • Vatican Museums skip-the-line entry tickets
    • Sistine Chapel skip-the-line entry tickets
    • Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
    • Catacombs tour
    • Headsets to hear your tour guide clearly
    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Food and drinks
Highlights & Description

Highlights

  • St. Peter’s dome climb to the top of Michelangelo’s cupola
  • Guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica covering all the major works of art
  • Tour of little-known papal sarcophagi beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, also known a
  • Headsets to hear your tour guide clearly

Description

Meet your expert Vatican guide by St. Peter’s Square and leave Rome behind you as you cross into Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica just as it opens to the public. Once inside, get ready to take in the most spectacular views of Rome as the elevator carries you up to the terrace level of the basilica (or walk if you prefer and earn yourself a gelato later)! Suddenly the “tiny” mosaics you saw detailing the circumference of the dome from the ground level will appear massive in their golden splendor right before your eyes.

At the terrace level you can decide whether to relax and take in the view or climb the remaining 320 steps up to the summit, where the breathtaking view of Rome and beyond is simply unparalleled.

As what goes up must come down, you’ll then descend with us into the lower level of the basilica to experience the “Vatacombs,” where former popes lie in ornate caskets and effigies crafted by the most celebrated artists of the centuries. Next on this adventure will be an in-depth visit of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic church in the world, which includes world-renowned masterpieces by Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini.

Enjoy a short break and a snack before we reconvene for skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums, arguably the most important collection of art in the world. Your guide will accompany you through the museum to navigate its more than 1,200 galleries while emphasizing the Rooms of Raphael, the Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard, and the Gallery of Maps while ensuring that you stay on track with an eye on the ultimate prize: the Sistine Chapel.

Much of this tour will be dedicated to the Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michelangelo Buonarroti, as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this majestic work of art.

Good to know before you go
  • Dress comfortably, shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women.
  • There is an obligatory security check at St. Peter's Basilica, this cannot be avoided. Our tour is timed to enter the Basilica before the crowds, but some time waiting to pass through security is inevitable.
  • On the days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, alterations to tours may be necessary due to partial closings of areas usually included in this tour. In the event the Papal Tombs underneath Saint Peter's Basilica should be closed, the tour of the Basilica itself is extended
  • Due to the route covered and/or transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid.
  • Due to events and ceremonies associated with the 2025 Jubilee, access to St. Peter's Basilica might be restricted. Such closures are beyond our control.
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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the cancellation policy for this activity?
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
2. When will I receive the confirmation of my booking?
You will receive an email notification right after your successful payment. If you don't see it in your inbox, check your spam or junk mail folder. When the payment is completed you have the option to download your ticket directly.
3. Are mobile tickets enough or do I have to print them?
Tickets don't need to be printed. You can show your ticket from your smartphone as a PDF.
  • Adults
    18-99 years
  • Children
    6-17 years
  • Infants
    0-5 years
May 2025
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