Rome: Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Tour with Dome Climb

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Rome: Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Tour with Dome Climb

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Explore Rome's Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on a guided tour with skip-the-line tickets. Enter St. Peter's Basilica and climb to the top of St. Peter's Dome for unobstructed views of the city.

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Highlights

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 a
Headsets to hear your tour guide clearly

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 Michelangelo Buonarroti, as your guide helps you to discern between myth, fact, and popular Hollywood fiction regarding this majestic work of art.

Includes

St. Peter’s Dome entry tickets Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line entry tickets Guided tour Headsets to hear your tour guide clearly

Important Information

There is a strict dress code at the Vatican. Shoulders and knees must be covered for both women and men
There is an obligatory security check at St. Peter's Basilica, this cannot be avoided. Our tour is timed to enter the Basilica before the crowds, but some time waiting to pass through security is inevitable.
On the days immediately surrounding religious holidays at the Vatican, alterations to tours may be necessary due to partial closings of areas usually included in this tour. In the event the Papal Tombs underneath Saint Peter's Basilica should be closed, the tour of the Basilica itself is extended
Due to the route covered and the means of transportation used, it is not possible to participate in this tour using a wheelchair, scooter, or other aid
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