Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia
Visit Vatican Museums on a private tour with skip-the-line entry and premium transport
Figuring out the long-distance transfer from Civitavecchia port to the Vatican can be a major challenge. Maximize your time in Rome with our private Vatican shore excursion. Eliminate complex public transit and guarantee your group comfortable round-trip transportation and skip-the-line entry tickets. You'll spend 4.5 hours with a private guide, allowing you to personalize the pace of your tour and ask questions while focusing on the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.
What You Get With This Tour
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Round-trip port to Rome transfer
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Private expert English-speaking guide
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Skip-the-line Vatican Museums tickets
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Guided Sistine Chapel visit
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St. Peter’s Basilica access
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Guide tips
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Lunch
Tour Itinerary
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1
Meet your driver at Civitavecchia Port
Depart from Civitavecchia Port at 9:30 AM. You'll board a comfortable transfer for a smooth, scenic drive into Rome, arriving near the Vatican at approximately 11:00 AM. Start your day knowing all the details are covered. -
2
Vatican Museums guided entry
Arrive near the Vatican and meet your local Rome guide outside Caffè Vaticano. With skip-the-line tickets, you'll immediately bypass the long public queue for an efficient start to your 4.5-hour guided art immersion, beginning promptly at 11:00 AM. -
3
Museum Highlights (Pio-Clementino, Galleries)
Your expert guide leads you through the museum's essential collections. See iconic classical sculptures like the powerful Laocoön and His Sons and the Apollo Belvedere in the Pio-Clementino Museum, then cross the stunning Gallery of Maps. -
4
Raphael Rooms & Sistine Chapel
View the Renaissance genius of the Raphael Rooms, standing beneath masterpieces like the School of Athens. The guided portion ends with a silent visit to stand below Michelangelo's ceiling in the Sistine Chapel (guided visit ends at 1:30 PM). -
5
Free time for lunch or exploration
Enjoy one hour of free time from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM in the Vatican area. Use this time for a quick lunch or independent exploration. Your guide will coordinate the meeting point for the final afternoon stop. -
6
St. Peter’s Basilica visit
Meet your guide for a visit to St. Peter's Basilica at 2:30 PM. Inside the largest church in the world, you’ll discover iconic works such as Michelangelo's tender Pietà and the colossal, shimmering bronze canopy of Bernini’s Baldachin. -
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Departure from Rome
After the Basilica visit, meet your driver for departure from Rome at 3:30 PM. You’ll feel satisfied from a day of history and culture, ready for an easy drive back to the coast. -
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Your tour finishes at Civitavecchia Port
The transfer concludes upon arrival back at Civitavecchia Port at 5:00 PM, ensuring you are back on board with plenty of time before your ship’s departure. Feel the relief of having seamlessly seen the Vatican’s magnificent treasures without the hassle.
Additional Information
Good to know:
Accessibility: As this is a private tour, the itinerary can be adjusted to be wheelchair or mobility accessible. Please contact us, after making the booking, to make the proper arrangements.
Dress code: As the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel are deeply religious sites, everyone must cover their knees and shoulders. Guests who do not meet the dress code may be refused entry by security officials. No hats please.
Tour Changes: St. Peter’s Basilica is closed on Wednesday mornings until 1:30pm, due to the Papal Audience. Tours during this time will not include basilica entry. Tours during special Jubilee events may also experience a closure of St. Peter's Basilica.
Please Note: The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, so visitors are not allowed to speak inside the chapel. Your guide will explain what you'll see in advance and provide you with a map or handout for reference before you enter.
Time Adjustments: The itinerary of a private tour can be adjusted to your needs. Please reach out if you do not see a start time that fits for your party. We would be happy to check with our ticketing team to see if we can accommodate you.
Bags: Please don't leave any items or bags in the van. Although this is a private tour, the van being used may change throughout the tour.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the driver can depart on time.
Your 7.5-hour tour includes:
Expert English-speaking guide (4.5 hours in Rome)
Round-trip transfers between Civitavecchia and Rome
Skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums
Guided tour of Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica
Private Experience
What to bring:
Comfortable shoes (for extensive walking)
Camera
Covering for knees and shoulders
Government-issued ID
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
Your tour departs from Civitavecchia Port at 9:30 AM. Exact meeting instructions and the specific location will be provided by your cruise line or tour operator.The tour ends upon arrival back at Civitavecchia Port at 5:00 PM.
Is this tour family friendly?
Yes, this tour is family friendly. Since the tour is private, the guide can tailor the pace and focus to better suit the interests of children in your party.
What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?
As this is a private tour, the itinerary can be accommodated to be wheelchair or mobility accessible. Please reach out to us at support@thetourguy.com, after making the booking, to make the proper arrangements.
What happens if it rains?
This experience operates in all weather conditions. The majority of the tour is indoors within the Vatican Museums and the Basilica, so weather shouldn't impact your visit to the key sites.
Is there a dress code to enter the religious sites on this tour?
Yes, there is a strict dress code. Both men and women must cover their shoulders and knees completely before entering the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. No hats please. You risk being refused entry to these sacred spaces if you do not comply.
