Rome and Vatican

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour

3-hour museum tour

Partially accessible

kid-friendly tour

After passing through the Vatican Walls, you will get to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. You will be blown away by the most fascinating museum in the world.

We have selected for you the most famous works of art belonging to its huge collection, which covers almost 4,000 years of history (from the Egyptians to the modern age). Starting from the Court of the Pigna, you will enjoy a scenic view over the Vatican Gardens; the tour will proceed with the visit of the Pius-Clementine Museum which houses important pieces of ancient art such as the Laocoon, the Apollo of the Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso.

 Delving deeper into the collection, you will go through the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of the Maps. Finally, you will be taken to the Sistine Chapel, which was entirely frescoed by the masterful hands of Michelangelo.

Tour gallery

Some of the most representative pictures of this tour

Itinerary

Discover the main stops of this tour

Pius-Clementine Museum

Pius-Clementine Museum

This museum, named after the two popes who oversaw its foundation, is today the nucleus of the pontifical collections of classical sculptures, among which stand out for importance and prestige the Laocoon, the Apollo of the Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso.

Raphael's Rooms

Raphael's Rooms

The four rooms known as the Stanze of Raphael formed part of the apartment situated on the second floor of the Pontifical Palace that was chosen by Julius II as his own residence. The same Pope commissioned Raphael and his school the frescos that decorate the Stanze.

Borgia Apartment

Borgia Apartment

The Spanish Rodrigo Borgia, elected pope with the name Alexander VI, lends his name to part of the residence used during his papacy. The Borgia Apartment consists of six monumental spaces that now house part of the Vatican Museums’ Collection of Contemporary Art.

Collection of Contemporary Art

Collection of Contemporary Art

Along an itinerary that passes from the Borgia Apartment to the Sistine Chapel, the extensive Collection of Contemporary Art includes works by important figures such as Van Gogh, Bacon, Chagall, Carrà, de Chirico, Fontana, Burri and Matisse. An entire room dedicated to the latter, hosts a unique ensemble of works created by the artist for the Chapelle du Rosaire in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in Provence.

Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Official residence of the pope and still today the site of the papal conclave, it has become famous for the beautiful frescoes that decorate the ceiling and The Last Judgment on the back wall, both carried out by Michelangelo. Besides him, other skilled painters worked here during the 15th century, creating the series of frescos depicting the Life of Moses and the Life of Christ which decorate the lateral walls: the team included Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Pinturicchio, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Cosimo Rosselli and Luca Signorelli.

Tour information

Some useful information for your experience

What’s included

Expert and licensed guide, entrance ticket, full on-site assistance, sterilized earphones (from 5 people upwards).

Availability

Suggested start time: 9.30 am / 2.00 pm. Not available on Sunday.