The Original Entire Vatican Tour & St. Peter's Dome Climb

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Instant Confirmation

4 hours

Vatican City

Basic Information

Magpie ID: KTWVOL

Category: Tours & Sightseeing

Trip difficultly: Moderate

Max Group Size: 20

Currency: USD

Language: English

TimeZone: (GMT+01:00) Rome

Booking Cutoff: 0 hours before start time

Highlights

Tour the Vatican literally from top to bottom with this exclusive guided tour
Get up close and inside Michaelangelo’s majestic dome and experience a view of Rome like no other
Visit the “Vatacombs,” the eerie resting place of former popes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica 
Let the countless masterpieces of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel leave you speechless

Included

St. Peter's dome climb to the top of Michelangelo's cupola
Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica covering all the major works of art
Tour of little-known papal sarcophagi beneath St. Peter's Basilica, also known as the "Vatacombs"
Skip-the-line access and guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Headsets to hear your tour guide clearly

Excluded

Food and drinks
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities

Commentary

Guide: English, Spanish, French, Italian

Summary Description

The original all-inclusive Vatican City experience, featuring a climb to the top of St. Peter's Dome for an incredible view of Rome followed by our award-winning tour of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel.

Description

Meet your expert Vatican guide by St. Peter's Square and leave Rome behind you as you cross into Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica just as it opens to the public. Once inside, get ready to take in the most spectacular views of Rome as the elevator carries you up to the terrace level of the basilica (or walk if you prefer and earn yourself a gelato later)! Suddenly the “tiny” mosaics you saw detailing the circumference of the dome from the ground level will appear massive in their golden splendor right before your eyes.

At the terrace level you can decide whether to relax and take in the view or climb the remaining 320 steps up to the summit, where the breathtaking view of Rome and beyond is simply unparalleled.

As what goes up must come down, you'll then descend with us into the lower level of the basilica to experience the “Vatacombs,” where former popes lie in ornate caskets and effigies crafted by the most celebrated artists of the centuries. Next on this adventure will be an in-depth visit of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Catholic church in the world, which includes world-renowned masterpieces by Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini.

Enjoy a short break and a snack before we reconvene for skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums, arguably the most important collection of art in the world. Your guide will accompany you through the museum to navigate its more than 1,200 galleries while emphasizing the Rooms of Raphael, the Ancient Roman and Greek pieces in the Belvedere Courtyard, and the Gallery of Maps while ensuring that you stay on track with an eye on the ultimate prize: the Sistine Chapel.

Much of this tour will be dedicated to the Chapel, from its commissioning to the finishing touches applied by none other than Michaelangelo Buonarroti, as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this majestic work of art.

Start / End Location

Start Location: 1 Largo del Colonnato, Largo del Colonnato, RM

Start Location Notes:

Start Location Direction:

End Location: Piazza Papa Pio XII, Piazza Papa Pio XII, Roma

End Location Notes:

End Location Direction:

Points of interest

Know before you book

Max group size 20 people
The final ascent by foot to the dome summit requires climbing 320 somewhat steep steps in a confined area. People suffering from claustrophobia or any other health conditions that could pose a problem should strongly consider remaining at the terrace level.
Anyone uncertain about climbing to the top may wait on the terrace level
Due to the route covered and/or the means of transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid. Please contact us to inquire about customized tour options for guests with mobility challenges.
Prefer to book a private tour instead? Contact us for details.

Know before you go

Check-in on site at St. Peter's (full details will be sent with your tour confirmation)
Shoulders and knees must be covered for both men and women
Wear comfortable shoes and bring a bottle of water for this tour
Due to the special events and ceremonies associated with the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025, access to St. Peter's Basilica might be restricted. These closures are decided by the Vatican and are outside our control
Powerbanks are not allowed inside the Vatican museums. Please leave them at the cloakroom or at our office before the visit.

Cancellation

Cancellation Policy: standard
Cancellation Cut-off: 72 hours
Cancellation Notes: Tours depart rain or shine unless otherwise specified. All cancellations must be received in writing to [email protected]. The cancellation policy for this item is as follows: Cancellation with 72+ hours notice: full refund Cancellation with less than 72 hours notice: no refunds or exceptions will be made Failure to reach the meeting point on time (no-show) is equivalent to cancellation with less than 72 hours notice. *If you've chosen the Hassle-Free Cancellation policy during checkout, cancel your tour anytime up to midnight of the day before it begins for a full refund, excluding the Trip Protection fee. Remember to notify us of your cancellation in writing before midnight (Rome time) on the night before your tour.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions:

CROWDING/PARTIAL CLOSINGS: During peak season and on the days surrounding national and/or religious holidays, extreme crowding can be expected at the Vatican, leading to increased wait times to pass through security checks despite our Tour Operator priority access. While this is beyond our control, we do our best to minimize any inconvenience.

St. Peter’s Basilica requires a (usually brief) security check to enter, and this cannot be avoided. While we do our best to inform guests beforehand if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible. In these cases, we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Tours depart promptly at the scheduled time, while public transport throughout Italy can be unreliable. Allow plenty of time to get from your accommodation to the meeting point, or contact us to arrange for a private transfer. No refunds will be granted for failure to arrive at the meeting point on time.

Tours depart rain or shine unless otherwise specified.

View complete terms and conditions at www.italiatours.com/terms.

Additional Information

Not wheelchair accessible
The final ascent by foot to the dome summit requires climbing 320 somewhat steep steps in a confined area. People suffering from claustrophobia or any other health conditions that could pose a problem should strongly consider remaining at the terrace level.
On days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, tour changes may be necessary due to partial closings of normally included areas
If the papal tombs beneath St. Peter's Basilica are closed, the tour of the basilica itself will be extended and no refunds made
Bring a small bottle of water with you for the dome climb
Maximum 20 travelers on this tour
Tour departs rain or shine

Dress Code: There is a strict dress code at the Vatican. Shoulders and knees must be covered for both women and men.