General Information
All our tour meeting points and tours start at the same place.
Once you have purchased a tour with us, you will receive an instant booking confirmation, including all the relevant information about the meeting point.
Please make sure that you arrive at the meeting point at least 15 minutes prior the tour departure and that you check in at one of our front desks inside our offices (Unless you choose a tour option where you meet your tour guide directly).
Please consider that Rome has a vast public transport system, lots of traffic and the City might be quite confusing for first time visitors. We recommend to look up our meeting points on google maps when planning the visit in advance and allow time for traffic and or unforeseen stoppages. (Our advice is to use the Metro as there is no traffic underground)
Tickets & reservations
All our tour options include entrance- and reservation fees (if required)
Skip – the – line access
“Skipping the lines” means that we pay an additional reservation fee on top of the ticket price in order to prebook a privileged and expedited entrance for a group or individual traveller; this means entering the monuments before everyone without a ticket or skip-the-line tour. We do not have any control of how the single institutions/museums are organised, therefore occasional unexpected delays is out of our control.
Booking confirmation
Once you have booked a tour with us, you will receive instant booking confirmation with all the important information you need to know.
Accessibility (wheelchair and walking disabilities)
Please note that all our group tours are NOT wheelchair accessible. Visitors with walking disabilities can not opt for a group tour either- as it is virtually impossible to keep up with our tour guide.
In this case we highly recommend choosing the option of a private and more personalised tour. Our tour guide can adapt to your circumstances and choose a more comfortable route by avoiding stairs and go at a pace most adapted to your needs. For further information or queries please contact us at info@vaticanmuseumtours.com or go directly to the private tour options on our Website.
Cancellation policy
Please follow this link in order to see our cancellation policies: http://www.vaticanmuseumtours.com/cancellation-refund-policy/
Refund policy
Refunds will be given in case of any tour cancellation instigated by us, or in case of unexpected closures of the monuments (not including St. Peter’s Basilica).
We also refer to our “100% customer satisfaction guarantee”: http://www.vaticanmuseumtours.com/cancellation-refund-policy/
Late arrival or no show
If you don’t show up or arrive late for the tour (the meeting point is 15 Minutes prior departure), you will NOT be refunded. In this case your alternative options will be dependent on the availabilities of tours/ tickets and/or our discretion. We will do our best to see you onto an alternative and accommodating tour.
Cancellation and Refund Procedure:
You can submit the refund request via email at info@vaticanmuseumtours.com by sending your booking confirmation, payment invoice, or money receipt (depending on how you have paid) and by adding a detailed explanation for your cancellation reason.
The refund request then will be answered and (if reasonable) processed promptly. We will not be responsible if the email fail to reach, but if you don’t receive an answer within two business days, you shall call the MayaToursRoma office immediately at 0039 388 6338522.
NOTE: We cannot grant refunds more than 30 days after completion of tour date.
Discount Coupon
You can use our special discount coupon (when available), by going to the “book now” option. You will find the “Apply Promo or Voucher” button on the top left hand side corner, then simply enter the promo code name.
Bringing a pet.
Pets unfortunately are not allowed in any of Rome’s main attractions or museums, including the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum.
Vatican tour rates and discounts
Adults: The adult rate applies for anyone over 18.
Seniors: Unfortunately, there are no senior citizen discounts at the Vatican.
Students: A student discount applies for students under the age of 26, in possession of a valid student ID (national or international) and a valid ID with proof of age (if not shown on the Student ID).
Children: Discounts apply for children from the age of 6 to 17 years.
Children under the age of 6 are free and do not need to be mentioned when booking a tour with us online.
All children need to be in possession of a valid ID with proof of age.
Passports
Although entering a new State, you do not need to bring or show your passport in order to enter the Vatican.
St. Peter’s Basilica opening times
The Basilica opens every day at 7am to 7pm from April to September and at 7am to 6pm from October to March.
Unexpected closure of St. Peter’s Basilica
On rare occasions St. Peter’s Basilica may spontaneously close for religious services, mass preparations or ceremonies.
In these last minute/second cases, we are unable to provide discounts or refunds but we will provide you with a more detailed tour inside the Vatican Museums.
In this rare case you might have to come back on another day and visit the Basilica by yourself.
Tickets to St. Peter’s Dome
St. Peter’s Basilica itself is free.
The tickets for the Dome of St. Peter’s are not included in the tour price (price €8 stairs & €10 lift)
The Dome can be visited from 8am to 6pm from April until September, and from 9am to 5.15pm from October until March. (please be aware of the Papal audience on Wednesdays).
Papal Masses
The weekly Papal Audience on Wednesday’s usually starts at 10.30am (due to the summer heat it might occasionally start at 10.00am). The audience lasts 30 min – 1h. and tickets are free.
The Audiences are quite regular but there are times when the Pope may be on a Pastoral Visit around Italy or overseas or he may be on summer holidays during the month of August, in which case the Audiences will not go ahead.
For more Information please have a look at http://www.papalaudience.org/schedule
Dress code inside the Vatican
A modest dress code is required to enter the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica. Knees and shoulders must be covered for both, men and women. If you fail to comply with these dress requirements, you may be denied entry. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is recommended for Rome in general.
Radio – headsets
Radio-headsets inside the Vatican Museums will be provided if the tour has more than six tour participants in the group.
The radio headsets are property of the Vatican. We are obligated to exclusively rent from them and therefore do not have any quality control over them. When a headset doesn’t have quality sound, you are kindly asked to let the guide know, in order to be provided a replacement.
Accessibility (wheelchair and walking disabilities)
Please note that our Vatican group tours are NOT wheelchair accessible. Visitors with walking disabilities shall not opt for a group tour as well, as it might be hard or impossible to keep up with the pace of the tour guide.
In this case we highly recommend choosing a private tour option, where the guide can adjust to the circumstances, choose a more comfortable route by avoiding staircases and adapt to your own pace.
By choosing a private tour inside the Vatican Museums, it is possible to hire a wheelchair directly from the Vatican for free, if required. Please note that the route inside the Museums is different to the one at St. Peter’s Basilica and will not be included in the tour. It is possible to see the Basilica before or after your tour by yourself (Note: visitors with walking disabilities have the opportunity to enter the Basilica/Museums without waiting in line).
Backpacks and forbidden items
We recommend to travel light when you are visiting the Vatican Museums. Backpacks that are bigger than 40 x 35 x 15 will have to be deposited at the checkroom upon entering the Museums.
The same goes for any sharp items, such as umbrellas, pocketknives, tripods or selfie sticks.
Firearms, food, alcohol and glass bottles are forbidden inside the museums, but make sure you bring plenty of water, especially during hot summer days.
Cloakroom
The checkroom of the Vatican Museums is free of charge and managed by the Vatican.
Please note that when choosing a Vatican tour (of any kind), the ending point will usually be at St. Peter’s square, in which case you have to consider a 20 min walk in order to go back to collect your left items.
Staying longer inside the Museums after the tour
Staying longer after the tour is possible. Please make sure you let the guide know before you leave the group and let the guide explain, how to have direct access to St. Peter’s Basilica after your visit.
Colosseum tours & General Information
Colosseum tour rates and discounts
Adults: The adult rate applies for anyone over the age of 18.
Seniors: Unfortunately, there are no senior citizen discounts at the Colosseum.
Children: Child discounts apply for children between the ages of 6 -17 years old. Children under the age of 6 are free and do not need to be mentioned when booking a tour with us online.
Storage
Please note that there is no storage room at the Colosseum. We recommend not bringing heavy items such as backpacks or bags. The lighter the better.
Dress code
There is no dress code for the Colosseum. We generally recommend wearing comfortable shoes, sunscreen and a hat for hot summer days.
Arena/ Dungeons/ Underground
Unfortunately we do not offer these types of tours yet, but due to popular demand we are currently working on providing these tours for you in the near future.