Access to the Vatican Museums 15 minutes before other tour operators and 1 hour and 15 minutes before the general public
Gratuities
Guide’s name was Marie (short version of her name). She was phenomenal, very informative, very respectful of anyone needing extra time, she went above & beyond to make our experience a wonderful one. I would highly recommended this tour. We did get in front of the crowds & saw everything advertised.
Those with limited time to explore the Vatican can't miss the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. Until now, an express visit for these two highlights was impossible due to long lines and crowds. With our Exclusive Partner’s Early Access, a two hour long escorted visit to the Chapel and Basilica is a reality. As the first group to step inside with a 15-minute head start on other groups and a 1 hour and 15 minute head start on the general public, you’ll also experience the Sistine Chapel in the best conditions.
Meet your tour escort just outside before official opening hours. You’ll notice the lines starting to form despite the fact the Museum doesn't open to the general public for another hour and 15 minutes. Even “Skip the Line” tour groups are already lining up. We’ll walk straight inside 15 minutes before everyone else, and use our head start to head straight for the Sistine Chapel, where we’ll be the first group to enter. On the way in, your tour escort will provide you with a description and then you are free to take in its beauty on your own. Inside Michelangelo’s magnificent chapel, the serene atmosphere created by the absence of crowds will give you the precious minutes to enjoy it as the Pope does.
After you have seen the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgment, it’s time to move on to St. Peter’s. Your tour escort will lead you through the side access to the Basilica directly from the Sistine Chapel, avoiding the long lines that form outside. On the way over you’ll enjoy an introduction to the Basilica and the amazing sights you’ll encounter there. As you step inside, its beauty will blow you away. Here you’ll see Michelangelo's 'Pietà' and Bernini’s 96-foot-high baroque canopy.
After you have explored the main level of the Basilica, your tour escort will lead you down to the Papal Crypts in the space between the 4th century Basilica and modern-day St. Peter’s. At the conclusion of the visit, your tour escort will lead you outside to Bernini’s architectural masterpiece: St. Peter’s Square!
