Vatican Museums

A jaw-dropping Papal collection of art and artefacts.

TravelCurious Tip

Try to avoid visiting on Saturdays and Mondays when the museum is at its busiest, and buy skip-the-line tickets if you can.

Popes and pagans

The Vatican Museums are located behind St. Peter’s Square and comprise a complex of eight pontifical museums, filled with a breathtaking range of treasures. They began as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius in the early 16th century, and were among the earliest art collections to be made open to the public.


There is an abundance of ancient Roman sculpture – one of the largest collections in the world – depicting gods and Emperors (who often claimed to be gods) and many animals of religious or cult importance. It may seem strange that the Catholic Church has such a large collection of pagan icons, but many Popes have been attracted to Classical art and literature, particularly during the Renaissance.


All this, and Heaven too

The museums of course hold many ancient Christian artefacts, and there are sections dedicated to areas as diverse as Egyptian sarcophagi, Hebrew inscriptions, Chinese numismatics and Etruscan pottery. There is a bounty of paintings, statues, uniforms, frescoes, maps, mosaics (even micromosaics!) and tapestries - too much, in short, to see in one day.


Apart from all this, visitors wishing to see the spectacular Sistine Chapel can access it through the Vatican Museums. Beware, though - it gets extremely busy. You will find yourself shuffled along or slowed down with the movement of the swarming crowd. However, if you try early in the morning or later in the afternoon you will likely have a more leisurely experience.


It’s a good idea to join a tour group in order to get the most out of the galleries, as there are not many information points along the way - though there are many gift shops throughout the museum where you can buy information books and souvenirs. Refresh yourself with a cool drink in the peaceful Vatican Gardens at the end of your visit.

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Rome
St. Peter's Basilica
The most important church in the Catholic world, and without doubt the most impressive.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is a chapel in the Apostolic Palace, in Vatican City and the official residence of the pope.
Pinecone courtyard
First Main Courtyard in Vatican
Pieta' by Michelangelo
The Pietà or "The Pity" (1498–1499) is a work of Renaissance sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarroti, housed in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
St. Peter's Square
Designed by Bernini, St Peter's Square is a stunning colonnaded piazza leading up to St. Peter's Basilica.
Bernini's Baldachin
St Peter's Baldachin, or Baldacchino

Related Tours

Vatican & Colosseum in a Day: Private Full-Day Walking Tour

Experience the magic of Rome with a fully guided walking tour of the most popular highlights of the Eternal City and discover the Colosseum, the historic centre and the Vatican Museums in a day with entrance tickets included.

On your private full-day walking tour, you will:


  • Walk in the footsteps of Gladiators as you explore the Colosseum, the largest standing amphitheatre in the world;
  • Learn about the emperors who built the Flavian Amphitheatre and the opening 100 days of games;
  • See the iconic Triumphal Arch of Constantine, built by Constantine the Great in 315AD;
  • Explore the ruins of the Roman forum, the downtown of Ancient Rome;
  • See the major highlights of Rome’s Centro Storico (historic centre) including the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Piazza Navona;
  • Stop for lunch in one of your guide's favourite haunts (lunch not included in the cost of the tour);
  • Hop in a taxi across town to visit the Vatican Museums;
  • Tour the highlights of the magnificent Vatican Museums, including the Pinecone courtyard, the Laocoön, Galleries of the Maps and Tapestries, and the amazing Raphael Rooms;
  • Marvel at the works of Michelangelo Buonarroti in the Sistine Chapel - the grand finale!;
  • End your tour on the Balcony of the iconic St. Peter's Basilica, after which you are welcome to continue exploring the Basilica at your own leisure.


Discover the religious, historical, and cultural significance of Rome, once the Caput Mundi (head of the world) on this magical full-day privately guided tour.

Walk in the footsteps of slaves and emperors, gladiators and Vestal Virgins, cardinals and artists as your expert guide weaves together the stories that have made Rome the Eternal City.

Relish walking into the Colosseum and step out onto the stage – the most famous monument of the ancient world. Learn about a day in the life of an ancient Roman as you stroll through the Forum admiring the temples and basilicas still standing after two millennia.

Then plunge into the friendly hustle and bustle of ‘modern’ Rome as you walk around the historic centre, taking in such iconic sites as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona and the mighty Pantheon – the largest man-made cement dome with an oculus in the world. And it was built in the second century!

After a pit stop for lunch, hop in a taxi across town where your guide will lead you through the hallowed halls of the Vatican Museums to wonder and marvel at the masterpieces from antiquity and those extraordinary, god-like rivals of the High Renaissance: Michelangelo and Raphael.

On exiting the Sistine Chapel your tour will end on the iconic balcony of St Peter’s Basilica, after which you will have time to explore the Basilica at your own leisure.

PLEASE NOTE: The order of the itinerary may change based on ticket availability.

Vatican & Sistine Chapel: Family-Friendly Private Half-Day Tour

Explore the world-famous Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel with a private guide and learn about Vatican City and the history of the papacy through its extensive collection of art, archaeology and anthropology artefacts gathered by the Popes over the centuries.

On your family-friendly private tour, you will:

  • Enjoy the personalised attention of a private tour guide, who will tailor the tour to your family’s interest, to make it engaging for children and teens;
  • Visit parts of the museums not usually seen including the Egyptian Museum, and the Carriage Museum;
  • Explore the Egyptian gallery, to see well-preserved mummies and learn all about Egyptian funerals;
  • See the amazing carriage pavilion - which still smells of old leather and horses, see centuries-old carriages used by Popes on ceremonial occasions and old horse liveries and uniforms; 
  • Walk down the halls of busts and statues, filled with ancient statues of gods, heroes, and wealthy Roman men and women, to learn all about life and fashions in ancient Rome;
  • See the famous Laocoön and Apollo statues;
  • Walk the galleries of Candelabras - filled with ancient statues, the Raphael Tapestries, and the dazzling 16th century frescoed Maps;
  • Marvel at the astounding works of Michelangelo Buonarroti as you enter the Sistine Chapel;
  • See if you can find some naughty jokes that Michelangelo hid in his art - that the pope didn't see - but your guide will show you;
  • End the tour inside the Vatican Museums, where you can grab something to eat at one of the family-friendly pizzerias, and keep exploring at your own leisure, or exit the museums with your guide. 


Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, yet one of the most culturally rich places on earth! The Vatican Museums are home to some of the world's most admired and valued works of art - many of which are frescos and so immovable - such as the Sistine Chapel.

Your private, family-friendly tour will ensure you see all the usual highlights of the Vatican Museums, but also some areas not often seen on guided tours that will really engage your younger family members, such as the Carriage Museum and the Egyptian Gallery.

The Carriage Museum still smells of horses and is where you will see a huge array of ceremonial carriages, sedan chairs - and the more modern pope mobiles! The Egyptian museum contains fascinating funereal relics of ancient Egypt - including a well-preserved mummy.

You'll also see famous statues such as the Apollo and Laocoön in the Belvedere Courtyard, before walking down the long galleries of the Raphael Tapestries and dazzling Gallery of the Maps.

Finally, enter the Sistine Chapel - the awe-inspiring work of Michelangelo, and perhaps the most remarkable masterpiece in the entire history of art.

Your guide will explain the meaning, symbolism, and brilliance of Michelangelo's work, pointing out a few hidden jokes that Michelangelo - who often fought with the pope - left in the frescos! 

The Best of the Vatican and St Peter's Basilica: Private Tour

On this tour of the home of the Catholic Church, you will have the opportunity to visit the important landmarks with major significance to Catholics. Hear about the tumultuous history of the Church and the colourful popes who reside behind these sturdy walls.

On your private tour, you will:

  • Discover the Highlights of the Vatican Museums, including the Pinecone courtyard, The Laocoön, the Room of the Maps, and Raphael Rooms;
  • Marvel at the works of Michelangelo Buonarroti, including the Creation of Man and the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel, the ‘Sculpture of the Pieta' in St. Peter's and of course the magnificent Dome of the Basilica;
  • Explore St. Peter's Basilica, the largest church in the world, and see the precious marbles and artworks, including Bernini's famed Baldachin!;  
  • Your tour ends at St Peter's Square, where you can keep exploring at your own leisure. 


Vatican City is considered the centre of the Roman Catholic Church and is undoubtedly one of the most historically and culturally rich cities in the world. As the world’s smallest independent state, situated in the centre of Rome, Vatican City is home to the Swiss Guards – tasked with protecting the Pope; St. Peter’s Basilica – the centre of the Catholic world; St. Peter’s Square – a large plaza situated in front of St. Peter’s Basilica; Sistine Chapel – the official residence of the Pope; and Vatican Museums – home to paintings and sculptures collected by the Popes for hundreds of years.

The stunning St. Peter’s Basilica is the centrepiece of Vatican City, and its huge dome can be seen on the Roman skyline from most points in the city. Although not the mother church of the Catholic Church, it is its largest and holiest shrine and an important place of pilgrimage.

Then, your comprehensive tour of Vatican Museums will whisk you through the entire complex. Begin with a stroll through the impressive Belvedere Courtyard, before exploring the many rooms and galleries of the museums. Explore the Gallery of Tapestries, and the Gallery of Maps, and be mesmerised by Michelangelo’s great frescoes inside the Sistine Chapel.

Early Bird & Group Tour: Secrets of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's
On this tour of the home of the Catholic Church, you will have the opportunity to visit the important landmarks with major significance to Catholics. Hear about the tumultuous history of the Church and the colourful popes who reside behind these sturdy walls. 

  • Explore the Vatican Museums - home to some of the most renowned classical sculptures and masterpieces from the Renaissance. 
  • Enjoy a stroll through the impressive Belvedere Courtyard.
  • Marvel at some of the finest pieces of artwork at the Gallery of Tapestries and the Gallery of Maps.
  • Learn the history behind the impressive collection of sculptures, carvings, frescoes and paintings.
  • Skip-the-line and be mesmerized by Michelangelo’s two great frescoes at the Sistine Chapel – The Creation and the Last Judgement.
  • Immerse yourself in the hidden gems of the museums, exploring rooms which are closed to the public at all times. This includes the Room of the AnimalsGallery of Statues, and the Cabinet of Masks.
  • Step foot in the largest and most important Catholic Church in the world – St. Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican City is considered the centre of the Roman Catholic Church and is undoubtedly one of the most historically and culturally-rich cities in the world. As the world’s smallest independent state, situated in the centre of Rome, Vatican City is home to the Swiss Guards – tasked with protecting the Pope; St. Peter’s Basilica – the centre of the Catholic world; St. Peter’s Square – a large plaza situated in front of St. Peter’s Basilica; Sistine Chapel – the official residence of the Pope; and Vatican Museums – home to paintings and sculptures collected by the Popes for hundreds of years. 

Your comprehensive tour of Vatican Museums will whisk you through the entire complex. Begin with a stroll through the impressive Belvedere Courtyard, before exploring the many rooms and galleries of the museums. Explore the Gallery of Tapestries, the Gallery of Maps, and be mesmerised by Michelangelo’s great frescoes inside the Sistine Chapel. This VIP-style tour will also give travellers access to the hidden gems and secret rooms of the museum, which aren't typically open for public viewing. You will have exclusive access to the Room of the Animals, Gallery of Statues, and the Cabinet of the Masks. 
Vatican Museums & The Sistine Chapel: Private 2.5 hr Walking Tour

Discover the dazzling treasures of the Vatican Museums, including world-famous antiquities, frescoes by Renaissance maestro Raphael, and of course the magnificence of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel on this private 2.5-hour tour. 

 

On your private tour you will: 

 

  • Explore the Vatican Museums in Vatican City – the smallest country in the world, home to the Catholic Church and the Pope himself;
  • See all the major highlights of these extensive museums with fascinating commentary from your guide; 
  • Admire some of the world’s best-known classical sculptures such as the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoön;
  • Learn all about the Renaissance of Ancient Greece and Rome;
  • Marvel at the skill of the Gallery of Tapestries and the exquisite Gallery of Maps;
  • Learn the fascinating, complex, and sometimes scandalous history of the papacy;
  • Enjoy the masterpieces by Raphael in Pope Julius II’s private apartments and learn all about the life and times of the Warrior Pope
  • Hear all about the famous rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo;
  • Stand beneath the awe-inspiring frescos on the Sistine Chapel walls and admire the Last Judgment by Michelangelo on the whole altar wall;
  • End inside the Vatican Museums to continue at your own leisure or exit with your guide.

Vatican City, located in the heart of Rome, is an independent city-state, and the smallest country in the world. It is the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and the traditional home of the Pope.

The Vatican Museums with its hallowed halls and galleries, lined with world-famous priceless artefacts, antiquities, and art, is also home to works by the two Renaissance maestros and rivals Raphael and Michaelangelo.

Your highlights tour of the Vatican Museums will whisk you through the galleries ensuring you see the most renowned pieces. You will see the Belvedere Courtyard with the Appollo Belvedere and Laocoön sculptures, explore the Gallery of Tapestries with designs of the life of Christ by Raphael and the exquisitely frescoed Gallery of the Maps.

You'll hear all about the life and papacy of Pope Julius II who commissioned Raphael to paint his private apartments and Michaelangelo to paint the Sistine Ceiling. Your guide will show you the Raphael Rooms with the School of Athens fresco that would set a new standard in the art world, followed finally by the truly awe-inspiring and magnificent Sistine Chapel with those astounding frescoes painted by Michelangelo in his thirties and later his sixties.

Admire the Creation of Adam on the Ceiling and the perfection of the human form with the 392 bodies in the Last Judgement. Most of us have seen reproductions of the Sistine Chapel, but nothing beats the real thing!

Your guide will give you fascinating in-depth explanations, stories, and analyses of Michelangelo's life and masterpieces.

Your tour ends inside the Vatican Museums.

Please note this tour does not visit St. Peter's Basilica. It ends inside the Vatican Museums, allowing you to spend as long as you wish inside to get food and keep exploring at your own leisure. 

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