Book Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica Tickets in Advance
Book your tickets online for the best prices and skip-the-line access
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine chapel are extremely popular attractions and the queues can be very long during busy times such as Easter or Christmas, so it’s a good idea to book your tickets online in advance. There are also skip-the-line and guided tours which will allow you to visit the church without having to wait in line.
A guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel will take you around the various exhibits with a dedicated audio earpiece, giving you an in-depth look at some of the world’s most beautiful artworks. These tours are available to suit all budgets and come in both private and group options.
Climb the Dome
La Pieta
Visiting St Peter’s tomb
The burial site of St Peter is right under the basilica and a visit to it is included as part of a guided tour of the church. It’s a very special moment and it’s an experience that you should not miss!
Make sure you cover your knees and shoulders to enter the basilica. Otherwise, you might be turned away!
When to go to the Vatican
Crowds at the Vatican are usually less busy in November and January. December and Easter (late March to mid-April) are the busiest times of the year, so be prepared to queue for hours if you want to see the church.
A lot of people don’t realize that there are other ways to access St Peter’s basilica than by visiting the main church entrance. You can also get into the basilica by purchasing tickets for a tour that visits the Sistine chapel first and then enters the church via a special entrance to give you more time to explore its interior and the incredible Renaissance architecture of the church.
Getting into the Basilica *directly from the Sistine chapel is an option that many other tours don’t offer, so it’s a great way to avoid the queues and enjoy the architecture of the church at your own pace.
The Basilica itself is a magnificent work of Renaissance architecture and is home to some stunning sculptures by artists like Michelangelo, Donato Bramante, Carlo Maderno, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The main attraction is ‘La Pieta’, the 1499 marble statue of Mary carrying the body of Jesus, but there are other incredible works to admire as well.
