Rome
Top activities in Rome

VIP Vatican Breakfast: Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour

Badge of ExcellenceRoma, Italy

From USD 119.12

Select Date and Travellers

Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Rome Tours
All Rome Tours
Audio Guides
Kid-Friendly
Likely To Sell Out
Unique Experiences
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Enjoy a VIP experience at the Vatican with this semi-private morning tour that includes breakfast on site. You’ll explore the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public so you can admire famous sights like the Sistine Chapel in a more intimate atmosphere before finishing with skip-the-line access to St Peter’s Basilica through a reserved entrance.
  • Explore the Vatican before members of the general public
  • Enjoy an Italian-American breakfast buffet
  • Visit the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica through a fast-track entrance
  • Enjoy an intimate tour experience with a small group

Why Travellers Choose This Tour

Visiting the Vatican is a must-do experience in Rome, and this tour is a unique way to do it. Beat the crowds and start your tour with a breakfast right in the heart of the Vatican Museums complex.

What's Included

  • Professional English-speaking guide
  • Buffet breakfast inside the Vatican Museums
  • Guided tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Semi-private groups of 13 people or fewer
  • Headsets to hear the guide clearly
  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Via Tunisi, 4
    Via Tunisi, 4, 00192 Roma RM, Italy

    At the bottom of the steps across the street from the Vatican Museums entrance. The steps are located between on the corner of Viale Vaticano and Via Tunisi. The closest Metro stop is Line A (Ottaviano – Musei Vaticani). Our City Wonders coordinators wear blue City Wonders jacket or polo shirts.

End point

  • St. Peter's Basilica
    Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City

What To Expect

In the early morning, meet your guide at the Vatican Museums before the site opens to the public. Depending on the option selected when booking, you’ll be escorted to either the Pinecone Courtyard or the Vatican cafeteria for breakfast, followed by your exclusive tour of the Vatican’s many iconic attractions, from the Sistine Chapel to the Gallery of Maps.

Both tour options end at St Peter’s Basilica, which you have access to via a VIP entrance. Inside, prepare to be wowed by art like Michelangelo’s Pieta sculpture and Bernini’s Baldacchino canopy. When your tour ends and you say goodbye to your guide, you are welcome to stay inside St Peter’s Basilica.

See the Itinerary section below for details about the two tour options.

Vatican City

3 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Sphere within a Sphere

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Vatican Museums

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sistine Chapel

30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • A dress code is required to enter to the museums. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
  • Near public transportation
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Saint Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
  • On Wednesdays, due to the Papal Audiences, access to St Peter's Basilica is not possible until 1pm
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveller Photos

See more

Traveller Tips

Don't do the normal tour, get this tour with the VIP experience, it' worth the extra and getting up early.
Worth the extra cost to get in before the hordes.

Reviews

4.5
1,247 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
0
0
0
0
0
Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 1,247 reviews
Disappointed how staff handled us
Ramona_M, June 2023
I’m was very disappointed with the folks running this tour! I was told by my host (landlord) that it would take 20 minutes to walk to Vatican. We left 40 minutes before. We arrived at 800 and I texted the tour director that we were looking for her. At 804 we found the tour group and they told us they left and we were out of luck . I explained that we were at the top of the steps looking and that I texted them. But they said sorry they left and you can’t go to meet up with them. After calling viator and explaining this and that they didn’t know if we could get in another tour but without breakfast. After waiting 2 hour they got us on a regular tour. Paid full price of half the tour
Fantastic experience
Nikki_C, June 2023
Dining in the vatican grounds was an amazing experience. Would highly recommend this experience excellent value for money
It was fantastic seeing the Vatican
mariannahass, June 2023
Climbing the dome, I know it wasn’t part of the tour but it was something on my bucket list. We wished we have learned more about the history and not so much about art.
Great way to visit Vatican
Kathy_D, June 2023
This tour was worth it simply because of the crowds and lines. Directions were clear and they were precise with their times- our tour guide was very knowledgeable and great with her story and fact telling. We really enjoyed it!!! Only area I would request is the breakfast could have been better.
Great Experience
Frederick_F, June 2023
Stefania was an excellent guide. She was extremely helpful and knowledgeable as we moved from the breakfast, through the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. She made the effort to share relevant history / details as well as guidance as we moved along. Her help to enter St. Peter's Basilica was so key since we could not enter while the Pope was giving his audience outside until after 1 PM. Starting with a nice breakfast with so little of the crowds allowed for an insightful yet spiritual experience.
Learned a lot
Staci_B, June 2023
We enjoyed seeing the Sistine Chapel. Our guide knew a lot of facts but didn’t seem to enjoy her job
Response from Host, June 2023
Hello Staci_B, Thank you for sharing your feedback on your VIP Vatican Breakfast: Sistine Chapel & St Peter's Basilica Guided Tour. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed seeing the Sistine Chapel and that your guide provided you with a wealth of information. We apologize if your guide did not appear to enjoy her job during the tour. We strive to ensure that our guides are not only knowledgeable but also passionate about their work and committed to delivering an engaging and enjoyable experience. Your feedback is important to us, and we will address this matter internally to ensure that our guides consistently demonstrate enthusiasm and enjoyment while guiding our guests. We appreciate your support and hope that despite this minor issue, you were still able to appreciate the beauty and significance of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. If you have any further comments or if there's anything else we can assist you with, please don't hesitate to let us know. We value your feedback and hope to have the opportunity to provide you with an even better experience in the future. Best regards, Edgar J. Communications Manager Feel free to follow us on social media to stay connected with our travel experiences. 
Facebook: City Wonders Twitter: @City_Wonders Instagram: citywonderstours
Not worth the money.
Richard_T, June 2023
The Vatican itself was amazing but we had done this tour before and recommended it to our friends, and then were extremely embarrassed and disappointed by the quality of the tour this time. It was very hard to find the tour guide on arrival there were so many people in the area nominated. Having found our group we all went off to the breakfast which we easily could have skipped for more time at the Vatican. The breakfast was not nearly as good as a couple of years ago when we went on this tour the first time, it was much poorer quality, there were lots of people and the actual food was cold when it arrived. It felt like a caffateria atmosphere. The tour was rushed, went to a lot less places in the vatican than before, and again, the crowds meant that we didn't see things close up and properly. The first time we went there were few people, the guide took us right past all sorts of interesting art and gave a really good commentary. I imagine it was hard for the guide this time with the surrounding crowds. She kept losing people and had to keep an eye on her group squashed in amongst everyone else. The whole point of doing the breakfast tour is that it is before the crowds come in, and you get to see things quietly and close up. This was no different to any of the other tours that can be done during the day anywhere with hoards of people.
Response from Host, June 2023
Hello Richard_T, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback regarding your VIP Vatican Breakfast: Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour. We genuinely appreciate your opinion, especially as someone who has experienced the quality we strive to provide. We apologize for any disappointment and embarrassment you felt during this tour. Your concerns about the tour guide, breakfast quality, and the overall rushed experience are important to us, and we will address them promptly. We value the opportunity to work closely with the Vatican to ensure that the breakfast experience is restored to its previous quality. We understand that the atmosphere and the opportunity to explore the Vatican peacefully are crucial elements that make this tour special. We will also address the issue of overcrowding to ensure a more enjoyable and personalized experience for our guests. Your feedback will be shared with our team, and we will take it into account as we work towards improvements. We appreciate your loyalty and recommendation of this tour to your friends, and we are truly sorry that the quality did not meet your expectations this time. Thank you again for sharing your experience, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more satisfying visit in the future. Kind regards, Edgar J. Communications Manager Feel free to follow us on social media to stay connected with our travel experiences. 
Facebook: City Wonders Twitter: @City_Wonders Instagram: citywonderstours
Vatican on Monday
dena_c, June 2023
Our tour guide Anna was very knowledgeable and kept us informed. Definitely enjoyed this tour and also recommend the Sistine Chapel!
Great guide but huge crowds
Trina_P, June 2023
City wonders tour guide was great and explained things very well! My main complaint was the difficulty finding the group when we got there and this is not as “exclusive” as it seems. For being early access, there were still huge crowds.
Awesome! Loved the whole experience.
Monica_U, June 2023
Sistine chapel was beautiful and amazing. Tour guide was very acknowledgable and definately knew her stuff.Would love to know if the Pope gets to actually enjoy the gardens. Rooms were warm, wear light clothing, comfortable shoes and bring water.
Vatican City Tour
Susan_C, June 2023
Had a great experience with our tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and did a great job re-creating historical events.
Nice way to start the morning
Jodi_A, June 2023
The tour was well organized and the guide was great. Breakfast was lovely with great fresh orange juice and a variety of baked goods, meats and eggs. The grounds are beautiful and starting early was perfect. This tour is worth it as you skip the lines. That’s huge…. But, this is not a private tour. There were at least 80 people with 20 in a group, and other tours included at the same time. When you finish breakfast, the halls of art are full of people and in the Sistine Chapel was PACKED with people. We did not have a tour of the Basilica because the guide showed us the entrance and left. That was disappointing as it’s advertised as a tour of the Basilica too. As long as you know what you are getting, do the tour. Don’t expect it to be private before the public comes in!
Vatican early arrival for the win
Jasmine_H, May 2023
I had been to the Vatican once before, but it was the first time for my husband. The tour was amazing and so thorough. Getting to pass the lines and be on premise before it opened was key.
Informative Beautiful and Spiritual
Maria_L, May 2023
Timing of this tour is perfect nice and early before the crowds Guide was very knowledgeable however her English could have been slightly better? I missed a bit of the info Also wish I would have realized that tour guide did not accompany us through the basilica as well. Only through the museum and the Sistine chapel. It was very good in any case Very glad I did it
The Best
Bobby_D, May 2023
Mickey was fantastic! He may be the best guide we’ve ever had. The experience and access were great.
Great breakfast, amazing views!
Rachael_N, May 2023
Our tour guide was very funny, didn't go to fast or too slow and gave us the perfect amount of really entertaining information.
AVOID AT ALL COSTS!
ashleighm2113, May 2023
Do not do this trip, it is a complete con. We paid £195 for the two of us and we could have done skip the line and walked around ourselves for hardly any money at all. The VIP breakfast was not as advertised - it is not a buffet of food. It was a plate of food to share between two people of inedible cold food. (Scrambled eggs, frankfurter, bacon that was mainly fat and cured meats, no vegetarian options). You had the option of getting some pancakes and yoghurt but that was it. I asked for some toast which I was told no to even though it states that this is provided. Drinks such as coffee and orange juice were provided after the 5 minute meal. Tables werent cleared in a timely manner so there were seagulls on the tables and there isnt a lot of tables to clear. This was so dissapointing. There is 9 miles of museum in The Vatican but we did a small snippet of this. Our guide was knowledgable and clearly loved her job but we missed out on so much because we did a small section. You do not get a guided tour of the Basillica as advertised so dont expect that. This means you just wonder around not having a clue about any of it. It was dissapointing to see that there were lots of other groups getting their guided tour. Contacted the organisation City Wonders Ltd who offered a weak apology, no refund of any kind - basically saying that false advertising and taking a large sum of money for it is ok. I would say just buy the skip the line ticket with another group.
Vatican breakfast in the garden
Sabrina_H, May 2023
Some in our group had been prior but most not. Our guide was amazing and her information really added a depth to what we were seeing. I loved the explanation of the Sistine Chapel before going in. She also was very accommodating to find elevators when possible for some of us. Highly recommend Paola.
A day in Rome
SAM_K, May 2023
The tour guide was excellent he really was knowledgeable , the breakfast is not worth the extra $ and your jammed packed in the museum but the key factor to is you get to skip the line at Saint Peters that saves a whole day in line .
Must visit when in Rome
Veena_P, May 2023
Doriana’s knowledge of the Vatican is wonderful. Without her we would have been lost. The Sistine Chapel is a must see.
...

Compare Similar Experiences

1 / 3
Current
No Photo
VIP Vatican Breakfast: Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica Guided Tour
1,231
3 hours
Free Cancellation
From
USD 119.12
No Photo
Private Vatican Museums Tour with Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
497
2 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
From
USD 163.38

Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought

Explore Similar Things to Do

Attractions in Roma, Italy

Help CentreCustomer CarePrivacy PolicyAbout ViatorNewsViator blog
© 1997-2023 Viator, Inc.
Terms & Conditions