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Help quickly advice/decision on Vatican-Bramante Staircase and Chapel of Nicholas V guided tour

Hello fellow travelers,

I find myself in a bit of a pickle and would love your insights. Unfortunately, I couldn't secure 5 tickets for an English guided tour on June 28, despite my best efforts. However, there's an alternative option to purchase tickets for the Bramante Staircase and Chapel of Nicholas V tour. This tour includes access to exclusive areas not open to the general public. I would like to make a decision quick as I don't want to miss out on this tour.

As a Catholic family with three daughters aged 19, 16, and 12, faith holds significant importance for us. While this guided tour is a bit pricey, it promises a unique experience, allowing us to explore the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and other attractions included in the general ticket. Moreover, it grants access to two additional areas, which intrigues me.
Has anyone embarked on this particular tour before? What are your thoughts and experiences? Your feedback would greatly assist us in making an informed decision.
Thank you all for your continued support and guidance.

Warm regards,
Linda

Information for the guided tour from the Vatican website:
Guided tour granting access to areas of the Museum typically closed to the public.
Admission ticket included.
The tour itinerary covers:
Pio Clementino Museum
Gallery of the Candelabras
Gallery of the Geographical Maps
Gallery of the Tapestries (Renaissance art)
Raphael Rooms
Sistine Chapel
Opening of Bramante Staircase and Chapel of Nicholas V (Areas closed to the public)
Includes:
Entrance ticket
Guided Tour**

Posted by
24 posts

Does anyone have any advice from my question above. From what I cut and paste directly from the vatican website does it sound like St. Peter's bascilla is included in the ticket price?

Posted by
8145 posts

From googling this I would suggest that St Peter's Basilica is not included. Apart from anything else experience suggests that anything not explicitly stated as included isn't.

But also looking at what seems to be the same tour- https://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33/vatican-museums-sistine-chapel-bramante-staircase-tour-t608268/

it says clearly that entrance to St Peter's is NOT included.

Short of e-mailing or calling whoever is running your tour (or finding someone on this forum with personal experience) that is clear enough to me, personally.

Posted by
16623 posts

Linda, given the price of this tour and that you haven't had a response to your question, I'm guessing very few who participate on this forum have taken it. What's confusing to me is that they call it a guided tour yet list a Guide Service of € 300,00 as optional. That's in addition to individual admission tickets, pp €1,50 for headphones and € 500,00 fee for opening the normally closed two areas. What that "optional" fee is for isn't clear, and I guess I'd contact the Vatican for additional clarity? If it's optional, is it a guided tour or not if you decline payment of that fee?

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To your question about the basilica, no, it isn't in the "Includes" list so you'd be on your own for the church.