Vatican Tour: St. Peter's Dome, Basilica, and Sistine Chapel
4.8
1,741 Ratings
Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale

Experience an exclusive full tour of the Vatican, including a climb to the top of St. Peter’s Dome for a panoramic view of Rome. Fast track access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel included.

Duration: 4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • St. Peter’s Square - Meet your expert Vatican tour guide on the threshold of St. Peter’s Square and make your way across marble paving to the steps which wind up and around the dome. There are 551 in total so of course this is too much exertion for most. We take the elevator part of the way which cuts the step count by a sizable 171, leaving 380….
What's Included
  • Comprehensive tour of St. Peter’s Basilica and its masterpieces
  • Exclusive St. Peter’s Dome climb with panoramic views of Rome
  • In-depth Sistine Chapel visit, exploring Michelangelo’s frescoes
  • Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums with an expert guide
  • Access to the rarely-seen Papal Sarcophagi, known as ‘Vatacombs’
  • Explore renowned sculptures in the famous halls of the Vatican
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

A surprisingly small number, less than 1%, of guests visiting the Vatican, make the climb to the top of St. Peter’s Dome. Recognizing this unique spectacle, we offer an exclusive tour, starting with a meeting with our experienced Vatican guide at St. Peter’s Square. Holy stairways, along with a lift, transport you to St. Peter’s Terrace, presenting a…

Location
Largo del Colonnato, 1
Largo del Colonnato
Meet at 7:45 AM for 8:00 AM departure by the Tiare fountain (Fontana delle Tiare), just beneath Largo del Colonnato and in front of the pillars which run around Saint Peter's Square. Your guide will be holding an ItaliaTours signboard. Google maps
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(1741 Ratings)
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566chrisp566
Apr 23, 2025
Wonderful Tour - This was a wonderful tour. Our tour guide Sondra, was fantastic. She was very friendly and knowledgeable and presented facts and information in a very interesting and enthusiastic way. She did such a great job in highlighting the people, places and history of The Vatican so that we really understood what a beautiful and amazing place it is. The dome climb was fun and provided a spectacular view of Rome.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabethc1617
Mar 25, 2025
St. Peter's Basilica an incredible dream come true. Thank you Chiara! - My husband and I traveled to Rome for our one-year wedding anniversary, and I had booked a tour in advance. I wasn’t expecting much beyond some interesting information about the places we were visiting. However, Chiara Antonelli exceeded all our expectations. From the punctual 7:45 AM meetup to the seamless organization of the tour, everything was perfectly executed. Chiara’s positive attitude and professionalism made the experience exceptional—honestly, it was the best tour I’ve ever had. Even my husband, (who isn’t the easiest person to impress), was very happy on the pacing and information of the tour. She skillfully kept the group organized, even when an older gentleman was unable to climb to the dome. She handled the situation with grace and care. We didn’t have to wait in line at the basilica entrance, thanks to the flawless organization. Chiara’s extensive knowledge of the basilica enhanced our experience, making it all the more enjoyable. The basilica itself is awe-inspiring, but when you have the right guide to provide context, it truly elevates the experience. We also visited the Vatican Museums, where Chiara expertly guided us through the most significant pieces. The tour ended at the Sistine Chapel, which was, of course, mind-blowing. Thank you Chiara for what you do, I hope you get to take that vacation this summer! Much love from your Miami friends, Sergio and Elizabeth! xoxo P.S. Please note this is a 2-part tour. There is a break at around 11am and the full tour does not end until roughly 1:30pm. Plan accordingly.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_c
Mar 24, 2025
St. Peter's Basilica an incredible dream come true. Thank you Chiara! - My husband and I traveled to Rome for our one-year wedding anniversary, and I had booked a tour in advance. I wasn’t expecting much beyond some interesting information about the places we were visiting. However, Chiara Antonelli exceeded all our expectations. From the punctual 7:45 AM meetup to the seamless organization of the tour, everything was perfectly executed. Chiara’s positive attitude and professionalism made the experience exceptional—honestly, it was the best tour I’ve ever had. Even my husband, (who isn’t the easiest person to impress), was very happy on the pacing and information of the tour. She skillfully kept the group organized, even when an older gentleman was unable to climb to the dome. She handled the situation with grace and care. We didn’t have to wait in line at the basilica entrance, thanks to the flawless organization. Chiara’s extensive knowledge of the basilica enhanced our experience, making it all the more enjoyable. The basilica itself is awe-inspiring, but when you have the right guide to provide context, it truly elevates the experience. We also visited the Vatican Museums, where Chiara expertly guided us through the most significant pieces. The tour ended at the Sistine Chapel, which was, of course, mind-blowing. Thank you Chiara for what you do, I hope you get to take that vacation this summer! Much love from your Miami friends, Sergio and Elizabeth! xoxo P.S. Please note this is a 2-part tour. There is a break at around 11am and the full tour does not end until roughly 1:30pm. Plan accordingly.
Review provided by Viator
Kieran_h
Mar 21, 2025
Fun day at the vatican - 2025 will be very crowded at the Vatican. Ideally split this trip in two and go at the earliest time for each. That said the guide was incredible and patient.
Review provided by Viator
Allan_k
Feb 28, 2025
Viator tour A+ - I would give this tour a grade of A+ especially if you are of the faith. Even if your are not St. Peter´s is great. We think too many travelers are fixated on the Sistene chapel, we loved ALL of the mosaics. We have been to the Louvre, British Museum, Prado and the Egyptian museum- the Vatican museum puts them to shame.
Review provided by Viator
897russellm
Feb 26, 2025
wonderful - Our tour of the Vatican and St. Peter's Dome climb was excellent. She was very knowledgeable and considerate. I would recommend this tour.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marie_d
Feb 20, 2025
Massimo is very... - Massimo is very knowledgeable and funny. There is so much to see, and not enough time, but he hit all the highlights.
Review provided by Viator
Belinda_n
Apr 3, 2025
The tour was broken out... - The tour was broken out into two parts. First the Dome Climb/St. Peters, then a short break and you meet back up for the Vatican. I wish we had more time at the Vatican, it felt a little rushed but I understand that they were trying to stay within the time of the booked tour. Great experience for folks trying to get it all done in a day.
Review provided by Viator
Michael_c
Mar 14, 2025
Great Tour for the physically fit - This tour offers an impressively comprehensive experience of Rome's iconic sites. The guide was knowledgeable and friendly, providing excellent historical context throughout. However, I strongly recommend against this tour for anyone with mobility limitations. The tour requires extensive walking and standing, which isn't adequately explained in advance. Going to the top of the Vatican is not for the faint of heart or anyone suffering claustrophobia. We experienced some confusion transitioning between sites, particularly from the Vatican to the Sistine Chapel, where our guide moved ahead without waiting for a slower member of our group, leaving us temporarily disoriented. The Sistine Chapel portion felt overcrowded and rushed - though this seems unavoidable given its popularity rather than being the fault of our guide. Despite these challenges, we're ultimately glad we took the tour for its educational value and the incredible sites we were able to experience.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Review provided by Viator
Olivier
Mar 15, 2025
SCAM! SCAM! TRUFFA! - Scam to avoid, ticket sales 10 times more expensive and no service . Scam to flee ticket sales 10 times more expensive and no service. Truffa da evitare, biglietti sold 10 volte più cari e nessun servizio
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