Visit the Vatican Museums’ galleries and avoid the crowds with skip-the-line tickets on a guided tour. Benefit from access to the restricted Cabinet of the Masks with an art historian guide.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible—book your spot and pay nothing today. Learn more
Duration 3 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide: Spanish, English, Italian, French, German

Highlights

See the Cabinet of Masks, a restricted room that many people miss
Enjoy a guided tour of the Vatican Museums with an art historian guide
Admire the statue of Laocoön and His Sons and walk around Nero’s Bath
View fascinating art in the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries
Gaze up in awe at Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel

Full description

Discover the richly decorated halls of the Vatican Museums on a guided tour. Explore this immense collection of the world’s most renowned Roman sculptures and Renaissance art, seeing the Cabinet of Masks, the Gallery of Maps, the gallery of Tapestries, and the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel.

Wander through the exhibits and see the statue of Laocoön and His Sons, one of the most famous ancient sculptures depicting the fall of Troy from Virgil’s book, The Aeneid.

Admire Nero’s Bath, before moving into the Cabinet of Masks with your art historian guide. Take your time to study the masks in this room, usually a restricted area to visitors. Learn about these pieces of art inspired by ancient Greek history, starring the goddess Aphrodite.

Follow your tour guide through the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries, gazing in awe at the works of Dante and admiring tapestries made of silk, wool, and gold and silver thread.

Save the best for last, ending your tour in the breathtaking Sistine Chapel. Soak in the atmosphere of Renaissance genius, looking upon the ceiling painted by Michelangelo himself. View the world-famous fresco of The Creation of Adam.

Includes

Tour guide and headsets
Entry ticket to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Entry ticket to the Cabinet of Masks

Food and drink
Tips

Not suitable for

People with mobility impairments
Wheelchair users

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

You are required to bring and wear a mask
All participants must also bring a valid form of ID (e.g. passport, driver's license, identity card, student card, etc)
All participants who are over 12 years old must present either proof of full vaccination or proof of a Covid-19 infection within the last 6 months
All participants are required to bring and wear FFP2 masks. Blue surgical masks will not be accepted

Meeting point

Meet your guide at the entrance of the Hotel Vespasiano in Rome.

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Important information

What to bring

Passport or ID card
Comfortable shoes
Camera
Water

Not allowed

Pets
Shorts
Short skirts
Sleeveless shirts
Umbrellas

Know before you go

All visitors must pass through airport-style security
This tour will take place rain or shine

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4 /5

based on 4 reviews

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You definitely skip the line, which is great. The tour guide was funny and very knowledgeable. However, although the tour says 3h, you want to account for at least 4h, because they are likely to run over time and they cannot explain the sistine chapel inside - they explain it outside and then you go in and see it on your own time. plus with extra time you can explore a bit more of the museums (e.g. Raphael rooms, Egyptian area)

April 19, 2022

April 16, 2022

very knowledgeable guide but spoiled by the sheer volume of visitors

April 12, 2022

Vatican City: Vatican Museums with Cabinet of Masks

Vatican City: Vatican Museums with Cabinet of Masks

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