Best Sistine Chapel Tours for 2025

Vatican City is one of the most well-visited places in the world. It’s overflowing with art, history, and spirituality. Without a doubt, the centerpiece of this magnificence is the Sistine Chapel and the gorgeous paintings that adorn its ceiling. Here we’ve put together a list of some of the best tours of the Sistine Chapel.

Pro Tip: It’s easier to organize your trip when you have all your resources in one place. Create a browser folder and bookmark this post along with our dedicated guide to Vatican City for more planning resources, our top Vatican tours for a memorable trip, and how to visit the Sistine Chapel.

Top Sistine Chapel Tours at the Vatican

Whether you just want to see Michelangelo’s stunning ceiling or you want to experience more of what the Vatican has to offer, these tours are some of the best ways to see the Sistine Chapel ceiling and have a memorable trip to Rome. We offer a lot of different options, so be sure to check out all our Vatican and Sistine Chapel tours.

Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3.5 hours)
Skip the Line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3 hours)
Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica Private Tour (3 hours)
St. Peter’s Dome Climb and Sistine Chapel Combo Tour (5 hours)
Exclusive After Hours Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (2 hours)

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Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3 hours)

This is one of our best-selling tours and for good reason. With privileged entrance, you’ll be able to enter the Sistine Chapel before the crowds show up.

This is a sacred space, so you’ll have to stay quiet and dress appropriately, but it’s certainly worth it. The gorgeously adorned paintings above are a sight to behold. And once you’ve had your fill of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, you’ll be led through the Vatican’s excellent galleries.

It includes a stop in the Borgia Apartments, Gallery of the Tapestries, and the Raphael Rooms, painted by the Renaissance master Raphael.

Highlights:

3 hours
Enter the Vatican one hour before the public
Exclusive access to the Gallery of the Masks

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Skip the Line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3 hours)

Just because you don’t want to get up early doesn’t mean you have to miss out on what the Vatican has to offer.

On this tour, you’ll have flexible start times throughout the day to explore the Sistine Chapel. While they won’t be able to speak once they’re inside, your guide will reveal the fascinating story behind this masterwork.

You’ll also be led through the Vatican’s finest collections, including a stop at Nero’s Bath, a 25-foot bathtub made from extremely rare red marble in the Pio-Clementino Museum.

Your tour includes the Vatican Galleries of Maps, Tapestries, and Candelabra as well as the Raphael Rooms and Borgia Apartments.

Highlights:

3 hours
Multiple start times throughout the day

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica Private Tour (3 hours)

Hoping to explore the massive Vatican Museums in a more intimate way with a private guide? We have the perfect tour! With start times throughout the day, this tour explore all the most important areas of the Vatican Museums with a passionate guide reserved just for your group.

You’ll be able to interact more with your guide and even tailor your visit to suit your interests. Want more time in a certain area? Just let your guide know, and they’ll accommodate you. Private Vatican tours are the way to go if you want that personal experience.

Highlights:

3 hours
Private guide and tailored experience
Multiple start times throughout the day
Main Vatican galleries and Sistine Chapel
Special entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica

See tour itinerary, price, and description

St. Peter’s Dome Climb and Sistine Chapel Combo Tour (5 hours)

Want to combine multiple attractions at the Vatican for a lower price? Then book this combo tour that takes you through the best Vatican galleries, the Pio Clementino Museum, and the Raphael Rooms. Of course, you’ll also have time at the marvelous Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s work.

But before you explore the Vatican, this tour starts with a guided tour of St. Peter’s with the Papal Crypts included. Then it’s time to climb the dome at St. Peter’s Basilica. Get ready for the best view of Rome! It’s the best combo tour to see the best of Vatican City.

Highlights:

5 hours
Skip-the-line at St. Peter’s Basilica
Elevator to first level of dome climb
Views from St. Peter’s dome
Skip-the-line at the Vatican
Main galleries and Raphael Rooms
Sistine Chapel

See tour itinerary, price, and description

See the Vatican in exclusive Access Tours

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Vatican tour is worth it.

Exclusive Sistine Chapel After Hours Small Group Tour (2 hours)

The Vatican Museums are a must-see, but battling crowds under the harsh glare of daylight? No thanks. Step inside after hours, when the doors close to the public, and experience the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums in a rare, crowd-free atmosphere.

With a small group and an expert guide, you’ll explore the Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, and the Sistine Chapel with plenty of breathing room—just you, the masterpieces, and centuries of history.

As the city settles into the evening, Michelangelo’s frescoes take on an ethereal glow, untouched by the daytime rush. Whether it’s your first visit or a long-awaited return, this exclusive night tour offers a completely different way to experience the Vatican. Why fight the crowds when you can have the Vatican almost to yourself?