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The 5 best vatican tours of 2024.

Guided Vatican tours can make the experience less overwhelming and more enjoyable.

The Best Vatican Tours

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Key Takeaways

• Guided tours can help you make the most of your visit to Vatican City.
• Ticket prices can vary considerably depending on the tour group size.
• Anticipate crowds regardless of when or how you visit, as many tours offer early entry, after-hours and/or skip-the-line access.

One of the most famous landmarks in the world, Vatican City draws more than 5 million people each year, which means that no matter when you visit, you can expect massive crowds. Along with the crowds, the sheer size of this sovereign city-state in Rome can make a visit to Vatican City feel overwhelming.

If you're feeling intimidated by the experience, consider one of the following small-group Vatican tours, guided by local experts who can both explain the history of the Eternal City and help you navigate the crowds.

What a Life Tours – Skip-the-line Vatican Small Group Tour

Price: Adults from $87; kids from $82 Duration: 3 hours

One of the best tours in Rome , this small-group option includes skip-the-line tickets to all the museums as well as St. Peter's Basilica . Tourgoers are also given headsets so they can better hear their guide. Recent visitors praise the knowledgeable tour guides for helping them maneuver the museums, as well as ensuring guests are comfortable (finding a shady reprieve on a hot summer day, for example).

Tours depart from the What a Life Tours office ( Via Santamaura 14B ) at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Tickets for children ages 5 and younger are free.

What a Life Tours also offers skip-the-line access that omits the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, as well as local food tours and tours of the Colosseum .

Check prices & availability on:

The Best Rome Colosseum Tours

Laura Itzkowitz April 17, 2024

The Roman Guy – Vatican After Hours Tour with Sistine Chapel

Price: Adults from $124; kids from $100 Duration: 2 hours

Instead of early entry, this tour offers after-hours access to the Eternal City on select weekends in the summer months. Tours depart at 5:30 p.m. from Caffé Vaticano . Guided by a local expert, you'll see the Vatican museums, galleries, Raphael Rooms and School of Athens before the tour concludes at the Sistine Chapel. Recent reviewers highly recommend this tour, pointing to the tour guides' breadth of knowledge and the ability to experience Vatican City with fewer crowds.

The Roman Guy offers a number of other local tours that include visits to the Colosseum and Catacombs of Rome as well as food tours (and tours that combine some or all of the above).

Liv Tours – Vatican & Sistine Chapel Small Group Tour

Price: Adults from $140; kids from $124 Duration: 3 hours

This intimate tour is limited to just six people, making the experience more personal and enjoyable. Your tour guide will take you to through the famous galleries, the Julius II apartments, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Recent tourgoers say they could see a difference in this tour versus the other Vatican tours. They also note how kind the tour guides are.

Tours, which are available during a wide variety of time slots each day, start and conclude at Caffé Vaticano , right across the street from the entrance to the museums.

Other experiences offered by Liv Tours include a Jewish Ghetto & Travestere Tour, cooking classes and tours designed for kids.

Private Tours of Rome – Vatican and Sistine Chapel Private Tour

Price: Adults from $364; kids from $87 Duration: 3 hours

Explore the Vatican with a professional historian on this private tour. Recent travelers say they're so glad they chose to visit the Vatican on a private tour, noting how much they enjoyed hearing the guides' personal stories about the museums and the pope.

Tours depart from Viale Vaticano at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

If you're looking for a private tour of other attractions, Private Tours of Rome offers a variety of options. It also offers shore excursions, with pick up and drop-off at your ship in Civitavecchia.

Through Eternity Tours – Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Sistine Chapel: Essential Experience

Price: From $1,345 Duration: 6 hours

If you're short on time and/or prefer to see several Rome attractions at once, this jam-packed tour is a great option. During the six-hour excursion, you'll see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum , Trevi Fountain , Piazza Novana and the Pantheon before visiting the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square (and then moving on to other sites). This tour includes optional headsets and skip-the-line access at all ticketed attractions. Recent travelers say the tour guides make this experience especially fun.

This full-day tour starts at 9 a.m. in front of the Angelino "ai Fori" dal 1947 restaurant and concludes in St. Peter's Square. It's typically offered Monday through Saturday. While babies and toddlers up to age 2 are permitted free of charge, this tour is not recommended for children.

Through Eternity Tours offers a number of other guided experiences in Rome, including an Angels and Demons tour based on the bestselling book. The company also offers shore excursions and day trips to Tivoli, Florence and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Vatican is a sovereign city-state recognized under international law. Its government includes the pope and the departments of the Roman Curia that help him exercise his responsibilities.

In short, yes. Vatican City is considered an independent nation-state and is the world's smallest such entity.

Yes, and there are a variety of ticket options you can purchase on the Vatican's website . However, many travelers opt for a guided tour to see the highlights with the help of an expert. Plus, many Vatican tours include stops at other attractions in Rome.

All visitors must dress appropriately for a place of worship. Shorts, hats, miniskirts, sleeveless tops, low-cut tops and garments that show the knees are not permitted. Guests dressed inappropriately will not be allowed inside.

When choosing your outfit, remember to wear comfortable walking shoes . Any visit to Vatican City requires a lot of walking.

All visitors are required to go through a security check to enter the museums, and there are a variety of items that you may not take inside:

• Luggage: Bags, backpacks and the like must not exceed 40 x 35 x 15 centimeters (16 x 14 x 6 inches); if they're too big, they must be checked in the cloak room (free of charge).
• Umbrellas: If necessary, these can also be checked in the cloak room.
• Video cameras: Non-flash photography is permitted in all areas except the Sistine Chapel.
• Food and drink
• Weapons and firearms

The Vatican is easily accessible from different sections of Rome.

Metro: You can take the metro to either the Cipro or Ottaviano stop on Line A (orange line) to be dropped near the Vatican Museums.

Bus: If taking the bus, multiple routes drop off near St. Peter's Basilica.

Taxi: You can also opt for a taxi or walk into St. Peter's Square.

Additionally, there are parking garages outside of Vatican City if you want to drive there, though driving in Rome is generally not recommended, as there are many areas where driving is restricted and you could be fined. Traffic in Rome can also be brutal, especially during the summer. Plan to arrive at the tour departure point at least 10 to 15 minutes prior to your scheduled tour time.

The Vatican museums are open Monday through Saturday.

From March 2024 onward, hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The museums are closed on Sundays, with the exception of the last Sunday of the month and certain holy days throughout the year, including Christmas. Final entry to the museum is approximately two hours before closing.

St. Peter's Basilica opens at 7 a.m. year-round, closing at 6:30 p.m. in the winter months and 7 p.m. from April through September.

Be sure to check if there are any museum closures ahead of your visit.

You might also be interested in:

• The Best Hotels in Rome
• The Best Places to Visit in Italy
• The Best Italy Tours and Small Group Trips

Tags: Tours , Travel , Vacations , Vatican , Europe Vacations

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The Tour Guy   Reviews

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Reviews 2.9.

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Great tour company

Not sure which tour was better- getting into the Vatican early or taking the train to Florence to see the David! The Tour Guy planned everything for us right down to the progressive food tour, The guides were very knowledgeable and even pointed out some things no one in the group knew. We have another trip planned in 2026 will definitely use them for all our tours again.

Date of experience : February 05, 2024

Made Our Trip Memorable!

We booked multiple tours in Rome and each one was outstanding. The catacombs, the foodie tour and especially the early access to the Vatican. All the guides were friendly and knowledgeable and on time, we had ZERO issues! Bucket list items checked off, we will book more tours when we go to London.

Date of experience : May 16, 2023

Great experience on land and water!

We used The Tour Guy experiences in Amsterdam last year. We’ve booked tours in Italy and France from them before, and decided to try out the canal tour and1/2 day bike tour. Booking was a breeze and communication leading up to and the day-of the tour was great! The canal tour did not disappoint, but the bike tour was our favorite. Beautiful day and new bikes, route was very manageable, and we had an extremely knowledgeable guide. Would 10/10 recommend both!

Date of experience : June 11, 2023

Do not use this tour company

We booked a tour with this company, at the Louvre in Paris, and no tour guide showed up. We contacted the company, waited an hour, no tour guide ever showed up, and so we had no tickets to get in. We spent four hours waiting for the next chance to get into the Louvre. They said they would refund the tickets, but we felt like that simply was not enough as we lost a half day of a short vacation in Paris, we had to change other plans, etc. Another company tour guide was there, but he could not get our tickets so we could not join his tour group. Would never, ever book a tour with this company again.

Date of experience : April 17, 2024

We booked a tour in Rome with the Tour…

We booked a tour in Rome with the Tour Guy. When my husband had a medical emergency and we couldn’t go on the trip, they would not refund our money for a paid tour. I understand cancellation policy but not for a medical emergency. Will never use then again

Date of experience : March 25, 2024

STAY AWAY FROM THE TOUR GUYS

We had booked a tour of Windsor Castle for the last day of our vacation in London. I received all of my vouchers and also received the confirmation email the day before the tour. We meet the tour bus at the designated date and time. We boarded the van and come to find out The Tour Guys had overbooked the van. The tour guide then reviewed her list and we were not on it. So even though I had my vouchers and my confirmation email we were told to leave the van and they drove off to Windsor Castle leaving us stranded on some street corner in London. I tried calling their offices but no one answered. It being the last day of our vacation we missed Windsor Castle. STAY AWAY FROM THE TOUR GUYS!

Date of experience : June 17, 2023

Colosseum tour

We had a 3 hr tour of the Colosseum and Palatine hill with Luigi which was amazing. He was so knowledgeable. Excellent!

Date of experience : March 14, 2024

Book with awareness.

Book with awareness. We booked a once in the lifetime trip to see the colosseum in Rome, January 2024. We carefully selected a noon timeslot knowing that we arrive in Rome that morning and can't possibly make 8am. 30 days prior to the tour we received a reschedule for an 8:15 tour. This is impossible for us to meet but the company has zero flexibility - even though they have an 11am tour still advertised! We now don't have a colosseum tour booked - and the company is refusing a refund or reschedule!

Date of experience : December 12, 2023

Stay away from tour guy

Seeing the youtube videos we jumped and booked semi day tour of paris. Apparently the guide had cold and wasnt wearing a mask. And was so disorganised that had forgotten to charge the batter of the speakers. Also she wasnt knowledgeable to many of the questions the group asked. And had the audacity to leave us hanging in the middle of the tour. A very bad taste in mouth

Date of experience : January 03, 2024

We didn’t got any help when trying to…

We didn’t got any help when trying to find the guide in Paris. We had a contact number to the guide but it was the number to the office of this company, and a person in another country answered and could not help us. Since this was “our fault” as the company said, we could not get any refund, not even a partial. The ticket was for 4 people to the palace of Versailles, so this was a really large amount which we paid to the company, to provide us a guided visit. When we complained, they didn't even gave us the opportunity to get a new visit somewhere else, or any kind of service to not loose a good customer. So unprofessional and really, really not nice!

Date of experience : May 28, 2023

Legends and Lore Tower of London DISAPPOINTED!!😢

We booked the Legends and Lore Tower of London and it was a complete waste of time and money. We arrived 10 minutes early as per the instructions at the meeting point. The voucher stated a representative holding a The Tour Guy sign would be there. But she wasn’t holding a sign and only asked people if they were there for a tour. We said yes and then she asked if it was with The Tour Guy. She confirmed a few others. But was missing two. We waited a bit but again, not holding a sign would make it impossible for someone to find the guide. Because of this we departed 8 minutes late and had to rush our way through the massive crowds at Parliament Square to the boat tour which had already left without us. So we had to wait 30 minutes for the next one. It’s actually a public taxi boat and made other stops like a bus would. So 90 minutes later we arrived at Tower of London. Instead of taking us straight inside to start the tour, proceeds to tell us other things about the area. By the time we entered the Tower of London, it was now almost 2 hours into the tour. The rest of the tour was all outside. She did not take us inside any of the buildings. The highlight for many is The Crown Jewels and she acknowledged that. When we got to that building she stated “oh how lucky there’s no line up” and then kept us another 20 minutes outside showing us pictures from the book she had on things we would have learned inside. We then noticed a line up starting to form so we left the group to not waste anymore time. I feel like we got very little out of this tour on the actual Tower of London. After we finished seeing The Crown Jewels we joined the last Beefeater tour which is free with admission to Tower of London and got much more out of that. The audio self-guided tour I believe would have been a better option than The Tour Guy.

Date of experience : March 09, 2024

DO NOT BOOK UNTIL YOU READ THIS

DO NOT BOOK I booked and paid for a trip 5 months ago and when I arrived in Florence for the trip I was turned away at 7am saying the tour company had no record of my tour. The tour guide do not care. Refunded my $230 but $230 is irrelevant compared to the $3000+ my trip cost me only to be ruined by TTG. MASSIVE RISK USING THIS WEBSITE

Date of experience : September 25, 2023

Refunds only as credit voucher/gift…

Refunds only as credit voucher/gift card! No cash refund. Once you book a tour you're hooked, even if the tour is cancelled! You won't get your money back.

Date of experience : July 31, 2023

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Roaming With The Roman Guy—a Tour Review

As the time grew near for our first tour with The Roman Guy (now known as The Tour Guy), I grew increasingly excited. I’ve found tours to be a great way to learn—as long as the guide is knowledgeable, experienced, and passionate. The Roman Guy guides were all of the above. As a history professor with over a decade of teaching experience, I know that the deepest level of learning occurs when the person conveying the message is enthusiastic and impassioned. Our guides, Jowita, Leah, and Raffaella, showed a true love for the city’s sites that made our Rome sightseeing memorable, fun, and educational. Both our Colosseum and Vatican tours, although briskly-paced, gave time for photos and to rest periodically. Thanks to our awesome Rome guides, I saw some of the world’s greatest treasures and best things to do in Rome while not wearing myself out.

Colosseum Dungeons, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill Tour Overview

We passed by the impressive Arch of Constantine on our way to the peaceful and picturesque Palatine Hill. Originally home to the palatial estates of Roman nobles, their gardens and some structures still exist. Always knowing the best place for a photo opportunity, Jowita led us to a viewing area that provided aerial context of the Roman Forum. We then descended to the Forum where our guide’s experience and knowledge proved invaluable. Along with a book showing us the way ruins looked in their heyday, Jowita made the Forum come alive as she verbally reconstructed ancient Rome to us. She reminded us how colorful it would have looked with different hues of marble and paint. As there are very few placards or markers in the Colosseum, on the hill, or in the Forum to denote what you are seeing, a guide frees the traveler from stumbling around the stone streets with their nose in a guidebook. Jowita contextualized everything we were seeing and told us fun stories that brought the past to life. Having been to all of these places, I found the tour really elevated my experience and made seeing them even better. And I didn’t think that was possible, as I adored them the first time! Once you are inside the Forum or Palatine Hill you can go back and forth between the two. I would suggest bringing a snack in your bag if you want to keep exploring. Also, make sure that you bring a bottle of water—there will be opportunities to refill it and you will likely get thirsty as this tour features a lot of walking and numerous steps.

“Privileged Entrance” Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour Overview

Having been to the Vatican Museums before, I knew just how crazy entry lines could be (and that was with a reservation). I also knew how packed the Sistine Chapel could get (not that any amount of people could deter from its breath-taking beauty). I was incredibly excited, therefore, to skip the lines and get dedicated time in the Sistine Chapel—before the masses arrived. Using visuals, our guide, Raffaella, explained some of the more notable parts of the paintings we would see. Then, our group went hurriedly…but thoughtfully…through the Hall of Maps and Tapestry Gallery to have twenty minutes in silence in the Sistine Chapel. I didn’t think that anything could make the Sistine Chapel better, but having the place devoid of the crowds upped the ante and enhanced my experience. After the Sistine Chapel, we went back through and toured the museum. The Vatican Museums are vast and filled with treasures. It was nice to have Raffaella curate the museums for us and show us some of her favorite highlights. After a couple of hours, we cut through the Sistine Chapel (it never gets old) to get to St. Peter’s Basilica. With general entry having started, we could see how privileged indeed we had been. The chapel was filled with people.

Our tour ended in St. Peter’s Basilica where Raffaella took a nice photo of my husband and I in front of Bernini’s canopy under Michelangelo’s dome. St. Peter’s Basilica is one of the largest churches in the world and is filled with beautiful objects of art from Renaissance and Baroque “greats.” Raffaella showed us around the church and offered to stay after the tour to answer more questions. She also helped me find the Swiss Guard—their whimsically colored Renaissance uniforms contrasted their sometimes violent past and serious position as papal defenders. The vastness and richness of the Vatican can almost overwhelm, but Raffaella made it manageable and, more importantly, explained the significance of what we were experiencing. Side note: you’ll be walking over a lot of marble so wear cushioned shoes.

Favorite Aspects of the Tours

There were many great aspects to both tours, but three of my favorites were the guides’ knowledge , the camaraderie created within the group, and the insight into Rome that The Roman Guy provided.

Knowledge —I pride myself on being a life-long learner and, boy oh boy, did I learn. From the special little details that were shared—did you know that Michelangelo used lapis lazuli to create the vivid blues in the Sistine Chapel?—to broader narratives, the guides showed a mastery of their domain. The tours put the sites into historical context, especially important for the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill tour where so much of what we explored was in ruins. Although I had visited these places before and have studied ancient Rome fairly extensively, I learned a lot more from listening to Jowita. I was never quite sure if what I thought was a specific ruin was actually the structure I thought it was. The Roman Guy freed me from the guesswork and enriched my travels. Our guides seemed to know an answer for every question. And I think I asked some pretty obscure ones!

Camaraderie —Our guides creating a sense of camaraderie by asking us where we came from and having us introduce ourselves. We were no longer strangers. In one of our tours, it so happened that two of the tour goers lived about an hour and half away from us in Michigan. The rest were from outside the States. Traveling can feel quite solitary! Even when part of a couple, it can be difficult not speaking the language fluently. You may feel left out of the conversation…wondering where to eat and what to do. You might start to crave interaction with people other than your partner, but find that the language barrier obfuscates your efforts to make friends. The Roman Guy tours gave us the chance to be part of an intimate group with an “insider.” Our guides were able to navigate difficult waters for us by talking to site officials on our behalf. They gave us tips on their city—it was obvious they didn’t want us to have a bad experience in their beloved Roma. Raffaella taught me how to spot an artisan gelateria and gave me the name of one by my hotel. It was nice having a friend to help me out.

City Insight —Another invaluable aspect of The Roman Guy is the city insight they provide. After we booked our tours, The Roman Guy sent us a list of restaurants to eat at so we could avoid tourist traps and savor all the wonderful delicacies that Rome has to offer. I was frequently in touch with Lorna—their “social butterfly”—who answered all my tour questions and seemed genuinely excited about making sure our Roman vacation was perfect. This meant answering questions beyond those strictly related to the tours. She even provided logistical advice about how best to get from our hotel to one of the tour starting points and how long it would take. When she realized that we would be traveling by train from Florence on that day, she even suggested what time our train should arrive in order to give us enough time to get settled at our hotel, grab a bit to eat, and sight-see on a leisurely walk to the Colosseum. The Roman Guy wanted my time in that city to be as pleasurable as possible.

Some Memorable Things I Learned about Ancient Rome and the Vatican

• Although the Colosseum was free, everyone had to have a ticket and the numbers above the gates (you can still see their faint outlines) denoted where to enter. The passages, called vomitorium, could spew out attendees (between 50,000 and 80,000) quite quickly.
• The colorful marble that had decorated the Roman Forum, Colosseum, and Palatine Hill was looted over the centuries…some of it was “borrowed” by the Vatican where one can see it now.

• Raphael (quite the ladies’ man) often painted himself into his works, as well as other greats that he admired. Although other Renaissance artists were originally portrayed in his “School of Athens” fresco, he wasn’t going to include Michelangelo (quite an introvert), but after he saw the beauty of the Sistine Chapel he gave him a prominent and powerful character.
• Falling is prohibited! Signs around the Vatican portray prohibited actions, such as showing too much skin, taking pictures in the Sistine Chapel, and…falling!

I found booking the tours to be a breeze through their nicely laid-out and easy to navigate website . The website shows each tour’s duration and level of difficulty, which is handy for those who may not want a lot of exercise or those who are looking for more activity. The Roman Guy hosts tours in Rome, Vatican City, Florence, and Venice, and also has many day trips too. I’m sure all their guides are as fabulous as Jowita, Raffaella, and Leah. Having enjoyed their tours so much, I would love to try out one of their Italian vacations—especially the ten-day “Italian Vistas” trip!

The Roman Guy takes care of all the reservations and ticket buying. This is a very nice service for travelers—it’s like having a personal assistant! Also, for many of their tours, you are able to skip the lines—as was the case with the two that we took. Having guides navigating behemoth sites is particularly helpful saving both time and energy. In short, for those who enjoy getting VIP treatment, like fun tours with experienced guides, and want to feel connected to a city, the Roman Guy tours are for you. Have a great time on your next Italian adventure!

Are you looking for a fun small-group tour in Europe or the United States? Roaming Historian is an affiliate of The Tour Guy . They offer unique experiences, small groups, special access, and exceptional guides. Use our affiliate link, Tour Guy , or visit our page dedicated to them to learn more about the Tour Guy .

Rome Tours: https://thetourguy.com/tours/rome?partner=2

Disclosure: Although The Roman Guy provided me with complimentary tours, I paid for my husband to attend and was thereby able to undergo the process as a regular customer. All views and opinions expressed in this blog are always my own.

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I like the option of forwarding (email) your insights to a friend. I have been to Rome before but friend Jackie and I intend to return next summer? Here’s an opinion. Loved your comments about guides. Forwarded to Jackie but did not see a spot to indicate to Jackie why I was forwarding it. I sent her a separate email to explain….no big deal but would have been nice to comment to her in the initial forward. So glad you had a positive experience with your guides…going local is SO important with travels.

Thanks for the feedback, Karen! I’ll check into it and see what’s up.

Hi Karen, I checked with the engineers at WordPress (who host my site) and they say, unfortunately, that the ability to add a message is only available through the social media buttons. At least I was able to make them aware that this is an issue and doesn’t make for easy sharing via email. Thanks for letting me know; I usually cut and paste the URL so I had no idea that the button didn’t allow for a message. Take care. Amy

Hey, Amy. Thanks for the follow-up. How else can we improve upon technology. You’re doing a terrific job as a wandering historian. Love your posts. Keep it up….traveling, that is!!!

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How to See the Vatican without Battling Other Tourists

It was 7:30 on a chilly winter morning in Rome and we were speed walking to the Vatican Museum entrance. Running slightly late, as always, but we had to stop for quick cappuccinos and croissants. We needed our energy for the next three and a half hours for a complete immersion in the amazing art and history housed in the Vatican Museums.

One of our favorite experiences during our Rome trip was a Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with the Roman Guy . The tour begins at the entrance of the Vatican Museums a full hour before the Vatican opens. Privileged Entrance means that we can enter before the other tours get in! The Vatican sees almost 30,000 visitors daily on average, maybe 20,000 in the winter. Every minute in the hour before everyone else counts!

Our guide, Monica Carosi, wowed us with fun facts about Michelangelo even while we were in line for tickets. She continued to wow us during the tour by bringing us to each and every spot before the crowds hit. Her instincts were uncanny, probably borne out of her two decades of experience.

Monica introduced us to Gianni Crea, the head key-keeper of the Vatican Museums , responsible for opening the doors of the museums. Do you know how many keys he uses every single day? 2797! We also got to see and hold the keys to the Vatican! This was probably my favorite moment of the tour, an experience I would have never had without Monica and the Roman Guy.

We then made our way to the Fontana della Pigna, basically a large pine-cone from the 1st century BC in the middle of a courtyard. I probably don’t need to mention that we were the only group there so we could photograph it and admire it to our hearts content! The modern globe across the courtyard which reflects St Peter’s Dome is a striking juxtaposition of ancient and modern.

After feasting our eyes on the pinecone, we walked from one beautiful room to the other, looking at the Vatican’s collection of statues, paintings, beautiful tapestries and ancient scrolls.

When you are at the Vatican, don’t forget to look up! Often, the most wonderful and intricate paintings are on the ceiling!

We learned that marble statues with extra art painted on them like the spots on this leopard are rare.

We also learned that there is only one statue which actually has eyes. They reused the the glass from the eyes of other statues to make the windows at the Vatican! ‘Reuse’ seemed to be the motto of the Romans, who also took marble from the Colosseum for the Vatican, a door from the Pantheon and scores of other materials from historical places.

Another interesting fun fact was that the ‘modesty fig leaves’ were added quite recently, so as not to offend the visiting Yasser Arafat thirty years ago!

As a travel blogger, I loved the room with the maps the best! Especially this map of the Italy of the past!

The corridor with hanging tapestries was amazing too, especially the particular tapestry of Jesus whose eyes follow you as you walk along. Monica explained that this magic has to do with the shifting perspectives due to the woven silk, wool, silver and gold. It catches the light from all angles!

The Raphael Rooms are also fun. On the walls are frescos by Raphael where he painted a scene with the faces of his buddies. The picture here shows his depiction of Michelangelo, who he seems to have looked up to as a mentor rather than a rival.

Monica also showed us a Jewish star on the tiled flooring. At the time, Jews and Christians lived in harmony in Rome.

The Sistine Chapel left me speechless. Even now, it’s hard for me to find the words to write about it. Complete silence is mandated in the Sistine Chapel. This is an amazing rule! It leaves you free to admire Michelangelo’s art in peace, even though there are thousands of other people there in reality. There are benches lining the sides. I recommend you sit there and just breathe for a few minutes. It’s the perfect meditation!

While you stare at the ceiling, which is Michelangelo’s masterpiece, think of this fun fact. Michaelangelo did not actually paint the underwear covering the private parts. Daniele da Volterra added it in later for modesty. This earned him the nickname of ‘Il Braghettone’ or pants maker!

Please note that you are not allowed to take pictures in the Sistine Chapel. Do not disobey the rules, I saw plenty of tourists who tried to sneak in pictures get reprimanded.

The Papal Conclave (election of the new Pope) has been held in the Sistine Chapel since 1870. Monica pointed out to us the door to the Room of Tears. This room earned its name because each new Pope who is led to the room after his election has burst into tears upon entering.

Our tour culminated in St. Peters Basilica. We could enter the Basilica from a private door behind the Sistine Chapel, by-passing the gigantic line outside. Monica showed us the Holy Door which the Pope breaks down and opens every twenty-five years. If you pass through the door, you can be cleansed of all your sins. Unfortunately for us, the Holy Door was not open so we entered through another one. As usual, we got to St. Peter’s statue just before the line started to touch his feet. Notice how his right foot is completely worn down from centuries of pilgrims touching it!

St Peters Basilica is majestic. There are so many beautiful things in this space, that I don’t think I could take them all in even if I spent hours there! However, my favorite was Bernini’s sculpture on the tomb of Pope Alexander VII. The details of the figure of Death with his hourglass and the beautifully folded stone are magnificent!

We regretfully said goodbye to Monica at St Peters. Even her goodbye came with a useful tip that the water from the water fountains all over Rome is completely drinkable! So carry your water bottle around with you and refill to your hearts content.

After the tour, you have the option to climb up St. Peters Basilica, or see other parts of the Vatican. However the 3.5 hours with the Roman Guy were comprehensive enough for us. They say that if you spend 1 minute in front of each art work in the Vatican Museums, it would take you four years to get through it! We were so grateful to have experienced and learned so much in 3.5 hours!

Our eyes, hearts and brains were completely satiated, so we set off to satiate our stomachs! Note that everything immediately around the Vatican is super touristy. According to Monica, some of those restaurants even serve microwaved food! Please save yourself from this disgusting trap, and walk a little further along.

On our way out, we saw the mile long line snaking along the entire courtyard. We felt even more thankful for the Roman Guy’s Privileged Entrance tour after seeing that!

We ate lunch at Pinsa m’ Po recommended by my friend Anja from The Mint Story . It’s a cute little pizza shop on a side street! The bread was probably the most delicious we’ve ever had. They also had fresh chilies to grind on to the pizza, rather than chili flakes. As a connoisseur of red chilies, I can attest that this was the best kick of spice! We shared a coke and reminisced on our favorite parts of the tour.

To summarize, the Privileged Entrance Tour with Sistine Chapel by the Roman Guy is a must-do in Rome because

• You can enter the Vatican one hour before anyone else and hence see most of the rooms crowd free
• The group sizes are small so you get plenty of 1:1 time with your guide
• The guides are amazing, ours was a trained art historian with twenty years of experience leading Vatican Museums tours
• You get to meet people like the key-keeper of the Vatican Museums and hold the keys to the museums!
• The guides share so many interesting tidbits you would otherwise never guess
• You get to skip the giant line to St Peters Basilica by going in through the side entrance right after the Sistine Chapel.

We were guests of the Roman Guy for this tour, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. I highly recommend booking the Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel to beat the crowds and get the Vatican rooms to yourself for at least a few minutes!

I’ll post a detailed Rome itinerary soon, but meanwhile check out this guide to the Etruscan tombs of Tarquinia if you want to immerse yourself in more of the history around Rome!

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I’ve been to the Vatican before, but your post is making me think I need to re-visit. Great tips, and those photos — gorgeous! 🙂

Aww thank you!! I really feel so lucky we were able to take this tour – I definitely would not have appreciated the Vatican otherwise!

Great Photographs and write up. Have decided to plan a to visit Rome and Vatican next year! Thanks for the great tips and insights will certainly make sure to take the ” The Roman Guy ‘ Tour.

Yes I highly recommend it!! Best first time visit to the Vatican

We toured the Vatican museums in 2014 and were crushed by the crowds! Going back to Rome this Summer – our hotel terrace has front row view of St Peter’s Square! I will definitely try to book this privileged tour with The Roman Guy. Can never get enough of Rome…

Ah, hope your trip is amazing!! The hotel sounds wonderful, and since you are so close to the Vatican, I’m sure it’ll be easy to get to the Privileged Entrance tour bright and early 🙂 I’m so jealous, wish I had another Rome trip planned!

Vatican City Tours almost always disappoints most of the tourists simply because it remains the most crowded place in the whole of Rome. Therefore, it is essential to prove more into the seasons of Rome in order to avoid too many people.

Yes, that is true. However, we visited in the low season but still the Vatican was totally packed by 8 am. This is why I suggest the early tour which starts before the Vatican even opens to the public!

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A tour of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City

• Tour Account ›
• Travel Forum ›
• Travel Forum
• Walks: Pristine S...

Walks: Pristine Sistene versus the Roman Guy

Hi, I am looking for a Vatican Tour and both of the companies have received positive reviews. Is a 7:45am tour early enough to put a dent in the crowding (mid-May)? Also, it appears that Walks is now owned by City Experiences (by Hornblower). Do you think that will impact the quality of the tours? I also have contacted several private tour groups but they don't seem to offer anything that a small group does not. Thank you.

I have done tours with both, and they are very similar. In fact, our guide with Walks told us that she also works for The Roman Guy. Many of the guides must be freelance workers. However, I did find the Roman Guy tours (the company not the guide) more responsive if I had questions. That being said, either company would probably meet your needs. Doing the early Sistine is the key because you will experience the Sistine Chapel with very few people and quiet! It is well worth it!

Doing the early Sistine is the key because you will experience the Sistine Chapel with very few people and quiet! It is well worth it!

The question here is if those former early-entrance tours even exist under the new extended museum hours. Even the Vatican doesn't sell a tour which allows access before the new general-entry time of 8:00 AM. As the new hours just went into effect on Jan, 1, I'm interested in seeing reviews of tours sold by companies which imply access before the public crowds but haven't read any yet. Of course "crowd" could also have a different definition in January as in May. Let's just say that there are some unknowns here?

Given the shift in the opening hours and the (apparent) lack of tours allowing access before the general public is admitted, I question how accurate the prior positive reviews are in predicting future satisfaction.

That's what I was getting at as well, acraven. It would be great to see some firsthand accounts of advertised "early entrance" tours conducted AFTER the Jan 1 change. That said, both companies mentioned have had good reputations for a long time...an issue with cancelling some Colosseum underground tours in the 11th hour aside.

But referencing Sharon's comment again about the Pristine Sistine tour providing a less mobbed experience in the chapel, that wasn't this poster's experience:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/disappointing-experience-with-walks-of-italy-s-sistine-pristine

Thank you so much! Your posts were the first I heard about the updated hours and the end of early access tours. Numerous tour comapnies I researched were still calling the tours early access as of yesterday. Do you know if there will also be an end to the "skip the line" special access for tours?

I'm not sure how much easier it is to get into the Museums if you're on a tour. With a regular (timed) entry ticket, you're in a separate line outside the building. I arrived before my scheduled entry time, and I wasn't in that line very long at all.

When you get inside the building, you have to swap your ticket voucher for an actual ticket (this being Italy). It's sort of a scramble system as you line up at your choice of ticket window; I may have been in line for about 10 minutes at that point. That's where being on a tour might be a bit faster, because the guide may already have obtained all the tickets the group needs to get through the turnstile. I remember seeing signage in that ticket lobby for a Get Your Guide meeting point. However, in the whole scheme of things, I didn't find the time it took me to get into the Museums particularly unreasonable. The problem is the crowding once you get inside.

Same as what acraven has told you: As far as I know ALL pre-purchased tickets and tours are "skip the line" as they're timed entry (for a specific date and entry time.) The only really long queue is the one for people who haven't purchased tickets/tours in advance.

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Emma Stone Responds to Theories She Called Jimmy Kimmel a 'Prick' During Oscars 2024 Telecast

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Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt Reveal What Their Kids Think of Each Other

Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling are continuing their The Fall Guy press tour abroad!

The co-stars walked the red carpet together at the Paris premiere on Tuesday night (April 23) at UGC Normandie in Paris, France.

Ryan and Emily were joined by director David Leitch and his producer wife Kelly McCormick .

That same day, the actors appeared in an interview that debuted on The Today Show .

Keep reading to find out more…

“My kids call her Mary Poppins. They’re like, ‘Are you working with Mary Poppins today?’ ‘Yes, I am,’” Ryan said about Emily .

For those who don’t know, Ryan shares daughters Esmeralda , 9, and Amada , 7, with longtime partner Eva Mendes .

Emily revealed that her kids, who she shares with husband John Krasinski , love Ryan because of Barbie .

“They love him so deeply. Actually, my oldest one — It’s the first movie she has expressed any interest in, and it has nothing to do with me. It’s all about Ryan ,” she said.

Ryan replied, “I think it’s Ken, really.” Emily then said, “It’s Ken. They’re fascinated with what his hair looks like in real life. That was a question I got a lot.”

FYI: Ryan is wearing Gucci . Emily is wearing a Loewe dress, Manolo Blahnik shoes, and Tiffany & Co. jewelry.

Emily Blunt shared on TODAY that her kids are super interested in Ryan Gosling: “It’s all about Ryan." Gosling also shared that his kids call Blunt ‘Mary Poppins.’ pic.twitter.com/1ASvUB6Mdo — TODAY (@TODAYshow) April 23, 2024

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Guy Kinnings elected Chairman of the International Golf Federation

Guy Kinnings, the Chief Executive of the European Tour group, has been elected as the new Chairman of the International Golf Federation (IGF).

Following the latest Board meeting conducted on Wednesday, 10 April, at Augusta National Golf Club, Kinnings will now serve in the role through 2027, inclusive of the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics Games.

Antony Scanlon, Executive Director of the IGF, said: “We are pleased to have Guy serve as the Chairman of the IGF Board, and alongside IGF President Annika Sörenstam, they will provide leadership and guidance as we continue to encourage the international development of the sport of golf.

“Guy brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our Board and coupled with his history at Le Golf National from the 2018 Ryder Cup, he will play a vital role as we approach the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.”

Kinnings said: “I am extremely honoured to accept this role with the International Golf Federation as we continue to develop our sport globally and embrace the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

“I have known Annika and Anthony for a number of years, and I look forward to working together, alongside the individual member Federations and Tours, to showcase the inclusive nature of our game and to show the world that golf is a wonderful sport for all.”

Kinnings takes over as the IGF Chairman from former European Tour Group Chief Executive Keith Pelley, who recently joined Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd in Toronto, Canada.

A law graduate from the University of Oxford with more than three decades experience within the golf industry, Kinnings joined the European Tour Group prior to the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in France and as Executive Director – Ryder Cup and has overseen the growth of the biennial contest’s Worldwide Partner programme. He also had overall responsibility for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome – the most successful edition to be staged in Europe.

Additionally, Kinnings served as the European Tour Group’s Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Commercial Officer, overseeing the growth of the Tour’s commercial operation. Alongside the DP World Tour’s Board and the Executive Leadership Team, Kinnings helped secure the Strategic Alliance with the PGA TOUR in 2020 and was also central to the agreement with DP World to become title partner of the European Tour group’s main Tour at the start of the 2022 season.

Early in his career, Kinnings was a member of IMG’s legal team in London in 1989 prior to moving to its golf division in 1991 where he worked with and managed some of the world’s leading players in the professional game. He went on to become IMG’s Senior International Vice President and Global Head of Golf, leading the company’s worldwide golf business, comprising both clients and events, as well as managing its key relationships with all governing bodies and brands involved with the sport.

Walker keen to build on momentum at Saadiyat Beach

Euan Walker is looking to build on his strong performance at last week’s Abu Dhabi Challenge as he prepares to tee it up at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in the UAE Challenge, the second of back-to-back Challenge Tour events in the UAE.

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Scottie Scheffler finishes the job at RBC Heritage. Here's how to put his 10th career PGA Tour win in perspective

A dd this arcane bit of knowledge to the list of superlatives you've already heard about Scottie Scheffler: From his first win on the PGA Tour to his 10th, he needed just 50 starts, which is faster than a relative slowpoke named Tiger Woods. He unlocked that achievement on Monday morning at the weather-delayed RBC Heritage, playing the final three holes in one over—including a safe bogey on 18, which was his first hole over par since the second hole on Thursday—to secure his latest win in a stretch so scintillating that it's becoming harder and harder to describe.

How about this: He's the first player since Bernhard Langer in 1985 to win the Masters and then win the following week. He’s also the first since Woods in 2006 (PGA Championship, WGC-Bridgestone) to win the week after any major victory. That may sound like a musty historical stat without much meaning, until you start to understand the mental strength it signifies. Winning a major is supposed to be a mentally taxing event, particularly at the end of a stretch of big wins like Scheffler had pulled off, from Bay Hill to the Players. On Thursday, when he made his double bogey on the second, it seemed like he may be experiencing a hangover at long last. Instead, he put the mistake in the past, torched Harbour Town for a 65 and 63 on Friday and Saturday, and then cruised to a 68 in his interrupted final round, winning by a comfortable three-shot margin.

Forget his actual physical ability; this guy is a psychological fortress.

"I think mentally the last month or so has been as good as I've been in a long time," he said after he finished on Monday. "And I think that's why I'm seeing some of the results, just staying in it doing the best I can...a lot of that stuff is easier said than done, but I'm proud of how I've been mentally the last bit."

He has become such a consummate winner that he didn't even need his "usual prep work" heading into the Heritage; he had plenty of fuel in the tank to eventually lap the rest of the field. That's what happens when you lead everyone in two separate Strokes Gained categories—off the tee and approach—and stay above average in putting, aka the patented Scheffler Victory Formula.

About that field … there was some terrific golf being played, even though so much of it felt irrelevant in Scheffler's shadow. It wasn't irrelevant; at least not to them. Sahith Theegala, bunched up with several others at 15 under at the start of the morning, came out and made a critical birdie on 16 to separate himself from the pack and secure a solo second-place finish. J.T. Poston went the other way after opting to wait to finish the 18th on Sunday night; he missed a five-footer for par on the green, and dropped to 14 under, leaving Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark in a tie for third at 15 under. Poston finished in a tie for fifth with Justin Thomas, Patrick Rodgers, and Scheffler's final round partner Sepp Straka.

But Scheffler once again towered over them all, and perhaps the only man higher than him all week was his caddie Ted Scott, who was literally higher when he leaped into the air on the 18th green expecting a chest bump from Scheffler, only for his player to stay planted to the ground, watching him with a mystified grin. Scott should recover easily from this temporary embarrassment; if you assume normal pay rates, Digest's Jamie Kennedy calculated that he's made more than Rory McIlroy this year .

Those are the perks of working with the best player in the world—a title that, nice as it sounds, might not be descriptive enough for what Scheffler has accomplished. At age 27, on the verge of being a father, he's somehow surpassed merely being first among contemporaries; at this point, it's no longer controversial to argue that he's the best we've seen since Woods himself.