All Vatican City Tours & Excursions in 2026

There are plenty of high-quality tours and experiences in Vatican City. According to previous travelers, here are the best tours to book right now:

• Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Ticket With Greeter

• Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peters Basilica Guided Tour

• Skip-the-Line Private: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's

• Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Tickets

• Private Vatican Experience With Sistine Chapel & Raphael's Rooms

Yes, guided tours in Vatican City are worth it. Instead of waiting to get inside St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, you'll skip the lines with your guide and hear valuable historical insights that you'd miss during an independent visit. Tours cover the artistic masterpieces inside the basilica and Vatican Museums, but they also help you escape the crowds and explore other parts of Vatican City that other travelers overlook.

Per one customer who booked the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour, "Wonderful experience! There is so much to see and take in, but our guide did an excellent job of highlighting the must-sees while maneuvering through the expansive museum. We zipped right through the lines, despite massive throngs of people. St. Peter's is absolutely stunning—don't miss going below to the grotto. Highly recommend this tour and experience."

Prices vary for Vatican City tours. Audio guides start from US$10, but they don't include admission to ticketed sites such as the Vatican Museums. Tours of St. Peter's Basilica, which is free to visit on your own, start at US$50, while guided skip-the-line visits to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums go for upwards of US$80. Private Vatican City tours cost at least US$250.

A popular tour at the lower end of the price range is the Skip-the-Line: Vatican & Sistine Chapel Ticket With Audio Guide. The US$50 package includes fast-track tickets to the Vatican Museums at the time of your choice, though you'll explore the Sistine Chapel independently with an audio guide. More expensive tours, such as the Skip-the-Line Private: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's tour for US$425, let you jump the line for St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums—and ask your private guide as many questions about the artwork as you like.

Vatican City walking tours highlight the wealth of artwork inside the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. You'll admire Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and La Pietà sculpture, as well as Gian Lorenzo Bernini's architecture in the grand St. Peter's Square. Depending on your tour, you may also climb to the top of the basilica's cupola or join the papal audience.

Consider an all-day or multi-day tour to pack in as many sights and activities as possible. For example, the Best of Rome: Vatican & Colosseum Guided Tour takes you on a full-day excursion not only to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, but also to Eternal City headliners such as the Roman Forum and Colosseum—with visits to the arena floor and gladiator gate.

Vatican City is very compact, so you’ll be able to see its main attractions in half a day. To avoid long wait times, book a skip-the-line tour of the highlights inside St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. After your visit, you’ll have the rest of the day to take a food tour in neighboring Prati or sightsee in the historic center of Rome.

According to travelers, these are the best attractions in Vatican City:

• Vatican Museums

• Sistine Chapel

• St. Peter's Basilica

• St. Peter's Square

• St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro)

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Vatican City.

There are tons of great trips that let you explore multiple places in Vatican City and Rome. According to traveler reviews, these are the best day trips to book right now:

• Best of Rome: Vatican & Colosseum Guided Tour

• Celebrate Ancient Jubilee in Rome in the 4 Papal Basilicas

View all of Viator's top Vatican City day trips.

You don't have to spend a fortune to have a great time in Vatican City. Here are some of the best Vatican City activities under US$25:

• Vatican: Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel Skip the Line Tickets

• Vatican City: Skip-the-Line Access to St. Peter's Basilica

• Skip-the-Line St. Peter's Basilica and Papal Tombs Entry Ticket

• Rome: Join the Papal Audience with Pope Leo XIV

• St. Peter's Square & Basilica Vatican Walking Tour With Audio Guide

Couples will find plenty of romantic tours in Vatican City. Here are some of the top activities to book now, according to previous travelers:

• Fast Track Tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tickets

• Entry Tickets Sistine Chapel And Vatican Museum

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tickets

• Tasty Prati and Vatican Neighborhood Wine and Food Tour

View all of Viator's top romantic tours in Vatican City.

There are tons of Vatican City activities that you can enjoy in the fresh air. Here are some of the top outdoor tours to book right now:

• 4-Hour Private Customizable Tour of Rome by Golf Cart

• Private Golf Cart Tour Rome – Comfort, Privacy & Custom Routes

• Private Golf Cart Tour in Rome-4 Hours

View all of Viator's top outdoor activities in Vatican City.

According to travelers, these are the top museums and cultural attractions in Vatican City:

• Vatican Museums

• Sistine Chapel

• St. Peter's Basilica

• La Pietà

• St. Peter's Baldachin (Baldacchino di San Pietro)

View all of Viator's museum tickets and passes in Vatican City.