Take a stirring journey through art and religious history with skip-the-ticket-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Avoid the long ticket lines and then enjoy your visit at your own pace.  Wander through the Greek Cross Gallery to see elaborately-carved sarcophagi that might just contain the earthly remains of some of antiquity's famous kings and queens. Peek at the Cabinet of the Masks, or tour the Sala degli Animali to see a virtual menagerie of fantastic beasts, real and imagined. Walk the Upper Galleries, including the Gallery of Maps, to see how cartographers depicted the world through the ages. See masterpieces by Renaissance masters in the Raphael Rooms, and rest for a while in the Borgia Apartments. Then, it’s time to marvel at Michelangelo’s exquisite Sistine Chapel, the crown jewel of the Vatican, and perhaps even of all the world’s art treasures.

See Vatican City's top attractions on a sightseeing tour where you don't have to wait in line. Discover the treasures of the Vatican Museums with a guide or on your own. Take in the beauty of the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo's incredible artworks. Explore the Vatican Gardens with an audio guide. Meet near the Vatican Museums and enjoy fast-track access to Europe's most renowned art collection. Dive into the art world with an expert guide or explore on your own, depending on the option chosen. Take in the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and more. Admire the impressive collection of classic sculptures at the Pio Clementino Museum. Wander the halls of the ornate and elaborate papal apartments, including the Raphael Rooms and Borgia Apartments. Finally, step into the world of Michelangelo as you uncover the secrets of the Sistine Chapel. Continue to the Gardens of Vatican City and receive your audio guide. Learn about the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Apostolic Palace, and the Governor's Palace. Admire St. Peter's Basilica from a unique perspective and immerse yourself in this peaceful hideaway. Or choose the option that includes the Vatican 360 experiences gives you 360 access to the Vatican City and Castel Gandolfo Starting off at the Vatican Museum, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Europe’s most renowned art collection. Accompanied by an expert guide, enjoy fast track entrance and dive into the history of the Art world. Admire the impressive collection of classic sculptures in the Pio Clementino Museum. Wander the halls of the ornate and elaborate papal apartments, including the Raphael Rooms and the Borgia Apartments. And finally, step into the world of Michelangelo as you uncover the secrets of the Sistine Chapel. Once you’ve had your art fix, it’s time to explore the Vatican Gardens. Stretching an impressive 57 acres. Enjoy the picture-perfect landscapes and uncover the impressive garden architecture that draws influence from both the baroque and renaissance era. After spending the morning at the Vatican City, it’s time to head out of town by train to explore the Papal Palace at Castel Gandolfo, about an hour north of Rome. Pick up your audio guide at the welcome desk and start your journey through the Apostolic Palace. First up, enjoy the museum and experience the intricate work of the clergy up close as you pass by historical papal gowns and the impressive display of the Pope’s portable throne. Then, it’s up to the Papal apartment. Step into the true home of Christianity as you admire the Pope’s clock parlour, music gallery, the Swiss Hall, and even the Holy Father’s library. The all-access Vatican experience wraps up with a tour of the Barberini gardens. There you’ll not only enjoy stunning panoramic views, but also a complimentary picnic with locally sourced porchetta and wine.

Benefit from priority entrance at 8 AM, away from the daily crowds. You will visit Vatican Museums’ must sees such as Gallery of Candelabra, Gallery of Maps and Gallery of Tapestry and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's paintings.. After your visit to Vatican Museums, you will be escorted by Vatican guard to the Vatican Station, where you will take the special train that connects Vatican City with Pope Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo. You will enjoy a panoramic ride of the Roman Countryside and reach in about 30 minutes the charming village of Castel Gandolfo renown for the Pope's' residence and for the delicious local food served by local restaurants. You will visit the Baroque Barberini Gardens on an electric bus with your audio-guide and access also inside the Pope's Palace with beautiful rooms decorated with precios art-crafts and with the Popes Portraits representing many important Popes including the Pope Julius the II who commissioned the Sistine Chapel to Michelangelo. You will receive a flexible return ticket that will allow to spend some free time in Castel Gandolfo enjoying the local shops and food and the panoramic view over the Lake.

Spend the day exploring the vast collections of the Vatican City with a full-day experience ticket to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and Vatican Garden. Then head to Pontifical Residence in Castel Gandolfo with a round trip from Vatican train station. Skip the long line to Vatican Museums with a special entrance at 8:00 am, Visit the Museums with help of an audio guide. The staff of the Vatican Museums will be on hand to provide information on how to maximize your tour, whether you want to see the private rooms painted by Raphael, the work of ancient cartographers in the “Galley of Maps” or exquisite tapestries by some of Raphael’s students in the “Gallery of Tapestries.” Prepare to be awed by Michelangelo’s frescoes as you enter the Sistine Chapel. Then, take a walk through the lush Vatican Gardens with an audio guide. Take a special electric train to transfer to the Pontifical Villas at the Castel Gandolfo. Explore the residence with an audio guide and discover priceless works of art and botanical treasures in the Barberini Gardens. Known as the “Second Vatican,” the Pontifical Residence was designed by the Swiss-Italian architect Carlo maderno for Pope Urban VIII, and has served as a summer retreat for various popes since the 17th century. 8.00 am: skip-the-line entry and visit of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with dedicated audio guide; 10.00 am: transfer on foot through the Vatican Gardens with dedicated audio guide; 11.00 am: departure from the vatican city railway station by electric train to Albano Laziale and transfer to the Pontifical Villas by dedicated shuttle;12.30: visit by ecological vehicle on rubber of the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas with dedicated audio guide;1.30 pm: end of the visit and exit from the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas. free time 4.30 pm: meeting at the entrance of Villa cybo (Via Massimo D'Azeglio); 4.30 pm and 4.45 pm: transfer with dedicated shuttle to the Castel Gandolfo railway station; 17:24: departure of the train from the Castel Gandolfo railway station; 18:20: arrival at the Roma San Pietro railway station

Start your day bright and early as you meet your tour guide at the Vatican Museums. Skip the line and enter 45 minutes before the general public with your special access ticket. After going through a brief security check, proceed inside to begin your tour starting with the best galleries. Follow your art historian guide along the tour route which includes the Gallery of the Tapestries, the Gallery of the Candelabra, and the Gallery of the Maps.  Then, learn about the history and process Michelangelo used to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel before entering to see it yourself. Continue to the Vatican Gardens, where only special tour groups are allowed to visit. With your exclusive Vatican Gardens tickets, breathe in the tranquil air of this mini paradise. After your Vatican Gardens tour, enter Vatican City’s only train station to board the train to Castel Gandolfo. Once the site of Emperor Domitian’s Villa, the Barberini Gardens boast beautifully-designed hedges situated amidst flowers, fountains and Ancient Roman ruins. Your guide will tell you stories about the history of the gardens and the many points of interest located within. Once you’ve explored the lush scenery of the Barberini Gardens, the tour will break for lunch (included with the tour). Sit down to a sumptuous spread of locally-sourced, organic Italian meats, cheeses, olive oil, tomatoes, and pasta. Then, have the opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, the Pope’s summer residence. Now a museum open to the public, enjoy exploring the Palace’s many rooms, art galleries, and collection of cars driven by former popes. Use your round-trip train ticket to return to Vatican City and conclude your memorable experience.

The Vatican is a treasure chest of magnificent art galleries, historical treasures, exquisite gardens, and hidden wonders. With this well-thought-out itinerary, you’ll not only experience the full grandeur of the city-state but go beyond its borders to see the palaces where Popes have traditionally summered. You'll meet your guide at the entrance to the Vatican Museums and skip the long queues. An official Vatican guide will lead you through some of the most impressive works on display. You’ll gain insight into the stories behind the huge art collection as you see the Gallery of Maps, the Octagonal Courtyard, the Raphael Rooms, and many more. The pinnacle of this journey, of course, is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - a truly sacred artistic experience. Admire the ceiling that took five years to complete - your guide will have prepared you with all the intricate details to look out for. Next, it’s time to take a breath of fresh air in the Vatican Gardens. Entry is strictly limited to those on guided tours (like this one), and it's easy to see why. Hectares of lush forests, medieval monuments, classical sculptures, and landscaped gardens will stretch out before you. Your guide will be on hand to supply anecdotes of the Vatican’s past as history blossoms to life before you. After the Gardens, you’ll arrive at the Vatican Rail Station. This station was only re-opened by Pope Francis in 2015, and there’s only one train per week. You’ll take a trip on the Pope's private train, the scenic hills rolling by as you begin the second part of your day. Before you disembark, you’ll see one of the most beautiful hill towns in Italy appear before you. Castel Gandolfo has long been a retreat for Popes during the summer months. With your expert guide, you’ll enjoy a welcome fit for a Pope in the form of a buffet lunch of local produce and fresh ingredients following a visit to Villa Barberini. Such a special experience needs time to sink in, so we’ve allowed plenty of time after lunch for you to explore the town of Castel Gandolfo yourself. Included in your day is an audio-guided tour of the Papal Palace, where you can visit recently opened rooms including the Pope’s private chapel and bedrooms. Or perhaps you prefer to take a scenic walk, enjoying the views over the lake. Whatever the case, you’ll come away with a unique experience of this charming town.