special vatican tours

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Best Vatican tours: Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica

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Touring the Vatican is one of the top things to do in Rome. But deciding which tour to choose can be overwhelming. We’re here to help you find the best Vatican tour for your trip.

Article contents

Summary of recommended tours

We’ve provided a complete analysis of the best Vatican tours available in this article. This includes dates and times available, duration and other useful information. Here is a summary if you’re the kind of person who wants quick answers.

Best standard tours

• Walks of Italy – Complete Vatican Tour  (small groups up to 20 people)
• Liv Tours – Skip the line Highlights of the Vatican tour (small groups up to 6 people – 5% off with code – UntoldItaly)
• CityWonders – Skip the line tour of the Vatican (larger groups)
• Vatican official – Standard Vatican tour (provided by the museums – historic focus)

5% discount on small group tours with Liv Tours. Discount applied at checkout when you click this link  or use code ‘UntoldItaly’

Best early access tours (beat the crowds).

• Walks of Italy – VIP Key Masters Tour (open the Sistine Chapel at 6.00am – small group tour) – this is the earliest and most exclusive tour
• Walks of Italy – Alone in the Vatican (small group and early access from 6.30am)
• Liv Tours – Alone in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums (small group with early access from 6.30am, includes breakfast in the Pine Cone Courtyard)
• Walks of Italy – Pristine Sistine – best first access with the general public tour

*Note, in 2024 the Vatican Museums changed it’s early entry policy to allow only a handful of visitors access prior to 8am when doors are open to the general public. Places on these exclusive tours are extremely limited

What to see on a Vatican tour

First, let’s clear up exactly what ‘the Vatican’ is so you can decide which parts you wish to tour. The Vatican is in fact an independent city state within Rome ruled by the Pope – the head of the Catholic church. It is the smallest country on Earth with an area of 0.44 square kilometers and population of just 1,000.

The main areas to visit inside the Vatican City are:

• St Peter’s Basilica including cupola (dome), tombs and square – more info
• Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel – the world’s greatest art collection with works by Raphael, Giotto, Caravaggio and of course Michelangelo
• Vatican Gardens – arguably the most beautiful gardens in Rome with stunning views of St Peters, grottoes and lawns

Most Vatican tours will include visiting both St Peters and the Vatican Museums as part of their package. The gardens can only be accessed by a separate tour usually combined with a tour of the Vatican Museums (but not St Peters).

Why take a tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peters

There are two main reasons to join a tour of the Vatican – experience and convenience.

With over 6 million visitors a year, the Vatican Museums and St Peters are among the most popular attractions in Rome and the world. And rightly so. Their collection of art is mind boggling in scale and value. And the historical importance of the buildings is almost unparalleled.

Unless you are a highly educated art historian, there is no way you will know what to look for among all the glitz and walls dripping with priceless paintings. And unfortunately, the information provided by the museums is disappointing.

Visit with a guide and they will be able to point out the most important pieces and their symbolism and significance. Not to mention the major events that have taken place between those walls.

You will spend at least 2 – 3 hours visiting the Vatican no matter how you approach your visit. This is because it takes that amount of time to move through the buildings. That being the case, it makes sense to have an expert guide you through the highlights.

Tours start in the Vatican Museums skipping the long lines for tickets and use a special entrance to St Peter’s from the Sistine Chapel to avoid the separate lines for the Basilica. So if you are not on a tour or have not pre-purchased tickets you will need to line up twice to see both main areas of the Vatican.

Prefer to visit without a guide?

Make sure you buy skip the line tickets prior to your visit to avoid waiting in lines – around 2-3 hours during peak periods.

You can buy tickets for the Vatican Museums on the official site here or if you are having trouble using the site or they are sold out you can buy Vatican  Museums skip the line tickets with authorized ticket seller GetYourGuide here .

St Peter’s is a separate entrance. Buy tickets to skip the line at St Peter’s here .

What to look for in a tour of the Vatican

By law, all guides operating in the Vatican must hold a license that can only be obtained by a very strict examination process. So you know that any guide you tour with will have a thorough knowledge of the details, dates, and facts of the art and buildings you visit.

Your choice really comes down to timing, group size, inclusions, length and style and price of tour. Generally, the size and length of tour will determine the price, however, you also pay extra for exclusive experiences.

• Timing – early morning and evening tours are available and are strictly limited so you will have fewer crowds to contend with
• Group size – if budget allows, try to book a tour with a group size less than 20. Any more than this and you’ll be struggling to hear (despite headsets) or engage with your guide
• Inclusions and itinerary  – basic and express tours of the Vatican focus on the highlights of the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel, Gallery of Maps, Michelangelo’s masterpieces, Pinacoteca Courtyard) plus St Peter’s interior. Longer tours will take you to the Underground Crypts, the Carriage Pavilion and Nero’s bath
• Length – the shortest tours available are around 2 hours and you can also join full day tours of the Vatican.
• Budget – basic tours start at around €40 for large group tours while you can pay between €300 – €500 per person for a private tour of the Vatican

Worth Noting

• We have not found a tour that includes visiting St Peter’s dome. If you want to ascend the dome you will need to buy a ticket at the basilica office at the conclusion of your tour
• If you find yourself waiting in line for tickets and wishing you had booked a tour, please do not join one of those offered by the scammers that work the crowd. They are not recommended – expensive and basically just entry tickets (if that!)

The best Vatican tour companies

Here are some of the most popular operators and our assessment of how they differ. There are literally hundreds of tour operators working in the Vatican so we have chosen the best for different types of travelers.

• Walks of Italy – working closely in partnership with the Vatican Museums to create unique and engaging experiences for English speaking visitors, the Walks of Italy offerings Pristine Sistine and VIP Key Masters tours are outstanding 
• Vatican official tours – The Vatican Museums tours are generally the least expensive option but note that group sizes start at 16 people. Expect a focus on religious history and the church. Their Art and Faith tours are focused on the relationship between art and religion in the context of the history of the Catholic Church in Rome – view all official Vatican tours
• Liv Tours – this Rome based company is known for their very small group and private tours and knowledgeable guides who are expert at adjusting tours for their guests’ interest and knowledge level – view all Liv Tours Vatican tours PLUS 5% off with code ‘UntoldItaly’ 

Best Vatican tours

We chose the best small and larger group tours of the Vatican offered by the tour companies mentioned above. We used our own experience and cross checked this with ratings on tours on TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide and other media. This is updated on an ongoing basis so we can bring you the best tours available.

Please note – If you are visiting on a Wednesday, your tour group will not be able to enter St Peter’s basilica due to the weekly Papal Address. In this case, the tour will include additional galleries of the museums.

If you are looking for a private Vatican tour please skip forward to the section below.

Standard tours of the Vatican

Most tour operators offer a standard 2 – 3 hour Vatican tour that includes highlights of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s. These tours start at the same time the museums are open to the general public.

Your tour includes skip the line for tickets and have a dedicated guide escorting you and explaining the art and history.  But, there is no escaping the crowds, unfortunately. You will however be able to use the group entrance into St Peter’s avoiding a half hour walk back to the main entrance and line for the basilica.

Early morning Vatican tours

We think that early access tours are the best way to experience the Vatican. You can see the priceless artwork in relative solitude as you pay a premium to enter without the crowds. If these tours are within budget then we strongly suggest choosing the earliest tour available.

The Vatican Museums allow a very limited number of people each day in to the galleries at 6:00am with the “ clavigero ” or key keeper of the Museums. You can join this unforgettable tour led by the wonderful team at Walks of Italy – more info and booking instructions here . Note – this applies to the museums only and does not include access to St Peter’s. If you would like to read our complete review of this experience – visit this page

LISTEN: to our Vatican Museums Tips and   Highlights podcast episode with Walks of Italy co-founder Stephen Oddo

Complete Vatican tours

If you’re an art and history lover it is fair to say that 2-3 hours will barely scratch the surface of the 54 galleries and 20,000 works on display. These early start tours ensure you see the highlights as well as some of the lesser known treasures in the museums such as Nero’s bath, the Borgia apartments, Pinacoteca Vaticana and 16th century double helix Bramante staircase which inspired the modern version of the same name. Visit the Vatican Museums ticket office to learn about openings of special galleries and sections of the Museums.

Family friendly tour of the Vatican

Do you want to take the whole family to tour the Vatican Museums? We suggest giving this a lot of consideration especially if you have very young children. They will need to do a lot of walking, often in hot and stuffy rooms and remain silent in the Sistine Chapel.

If you do decide to go, booking a family friendly tour is a great idea. Your tour will be tailored to the interests of children and your guide will assist in keeping your kids entertained so you can enjoy the experience too.

Liv Tours offer a fun family friendly interactive tour in the Vatican designed especially for families. This is a great way to introduce your children to the history and stories behind this precious art collection.

Special Vatican tours

Evening vatican museum tours.

During the summer months the Vatican Museums open from 19:00pm to 23:00pm on Friday evenings. With limited numbers allowed into the galleries you can enjoy them without the crowds and in the cooler night air. This exclusive experience will no doubt be a highlight of your trip to Rome.

Note – this experience does not include visiting St Peter’s basilica so you would need to go there separately

Recommended night Vatican tours

• Vatican Museums official [group size up to 30]  – click for info
• Walks of Italy [group size max 15] at 19:30pm – click for details

Claim your 5% discount on small group tours with Liv Tours.   Click here and use code ‘UntoldItaly’

Vatican Garden Tours

The Papal gardens are among the finest in Europe that are centuries old. A stroll through the gardens reveals sculptures, fountains and stunning views of the basilica. They are an oasis away from the chaos of the city beyond.

A tour of the gardens will help you appreciate the history and stories behind the many works of art within the gardens and their significance to the Catholic church. There is a replica of the sacred Lourdes grotto in France as well as monuments and statues collected by and dedicated to former popes.

An advantage of doing a tour of the gardens is that it also includes admission to the Vatican Museums. And yes, you skip the lines. No tour is provided in the museums, however.

Vatican Scavi tours

If you have a particular interest in Christianity and history, there could be no bigger thrill to see what is said to be the tomb of St Peter the apostle, deep below the basilica that bears his name. Only 250 people per day are allowed into this sacred area as part of escorted 90 minute tours run by the Vatican. Tour groups are small with only 12 people visiting the excavation site and tomb.

You need to book this tour months in advance by following the instructions on the official Vatican excavations office page . Please note – children under 15 years may not go on this tour. You may not take photos on the tour.

Private Vatican tours

Would you prefer a fully private tour of the Vatican Museums? Private tours are a great way to enjoy the Vatican at your own pace and to see those things you really want to see. Starting at around €350, they can also be more cost effective if you are traveling in a larger group. We recommend  Liv Tours for private Vatican tours.

Useful information for visiting the Vatican

Both the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s basilica are religious sites. Men and women should cover knees and shoulders as a sign of respect. You may be refused entry if you are not suitably attired.

During the hot Roman summers you might like to bring a light shawl or scarf as an alternative to wearing clothing that covers your shoulders.

Tours are not offered on Sundays when the museums are either closed or open to the public for free admission.

Tour itineraries do not include St Peter’s basilica on Wednesday due to the usual Papal audience in the piazza.

The best day to do a standard Vatican tour is probably Tuesday when you avoid the extended long weekend European visitors.

If you want to do an early morning tour choose from Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday.

Night tours of the Vatican are only available on Fridays from April to October.

Yes, it is a condition of entry that all people entering the Vatican Museums and St Peters pass security checks. Don’t worry, these lines move quickly

Yes, cloakroom facilities are found near the entrance to the Vatican Museums and there is a separate cloakroom for St Peters. Both are free of charge

Yes, you can take photos (without flash) in most areas except the Sistine Chapel where photography of any kind is not allowed. Flash photography is forbidden in all areas as it may damage the artwork

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12 Best Vatican Tours – Discover the Vatican Art and History

With so much to see and do, exploring the landmarks of the Holy See can take quite a lot of time. This is why we sourced the top private Vatican tours and gathered them in this article. This will make it easier for you to decide how much you can visit as well as how much time you will have for the rest of Rome’s attractions.

Some of the most exclusive private tours of the Vatican Museums are the Key Master’s tour run by Take Walks and Alone in the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums by LivTours. But other VIP tours also allow you to enter the famous Vatican galleries before the big crowds and enjoy the masterpieces with fewer people and more silence.

Find the best Vatican and Sistine Chapel tours for your needs so that you don’t miss anything, enjoy knowledgeable, expert explanations and save time with fast-track VIP access.

Table of Contents

Top Vatican Private Tours For Every Budget and Traveler

Whether you are looking for a group tour or a more private experience, we are sure we have found the perfect Vatican guided tour for you. These Vatican tours are great whether you are an independent traveler or you like organized holidays and whatever your budget is.

VIP Key Master’s Tour: Open The Sistine Chapel, top Vatican private tour

This is probably the single best Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel private tour because you will enter before anyone else. You will actually enter before they are even open and walk together with the Key Master as he performs his daily ritual of opening the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.

The tour takes two hours and has a limited number of 20 participants. You will be visiting all the most famous landmarks of the galleries including Raphael’s Rooms, the Gallery of the Candelabra, the Gallery of Maps and of the Tapestries, and the Octagonal Courtyard all in complete silence with your guide and an official Vatican guide.

Once at the Sistine Chapel, the Key Master will allow guests to turn the key to open the famous monument.

Click here to check the price and to book

Alone in the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums, one of the best private Vatican tours

Hands down, the best private Vatican tour I took was the one offered by LivTours. Alone in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums delivers exactly what it promises: it will be only you and your guide.

This is a great experience because you can visit the galleries at your own pace, you can actually hear your guide and you can ask all the questions you want.

Read everything about my private Vatican tour experience

Complete Vatican Tour, one of the most popular Vatican tours

Among the Vatican City tours, this lasting 3 and a half hours is one of the most complete.

The experience starts with an in-depth Vatican Museums private tour where an expert will give you the chance to observe the most famous sculptures, tell you the stories behind the place and obviously take you on a fascinating tour of the Sistine Chapel.

With an average of some 20,000 visitors per day, the Museums are no doubt among the most popular not-to-miss experiences for whoever travels to Rome.

But as well as a must, they can also be overwhelming and it’s easy to miss important masterpieces. This is why the Vatican Museums’ guided tours are so important.

This is a fully skip-the-line Vatican tour as you will enjoy a fast-track entrance to both the museums and St. Peter’s Basilica , one of Rome’s most famous churches , saving you a huge deal of time.

Click here to check the price and to book.

Vatican Highlights: Guided Tour of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

This Vatican Museum private tour lasts five hours and leads a maximum of 20 people.

One of the most complete Vatican tours, it kicks off in St. Peter’s Square visiting the Basilica and climbing its majestic dome. Once you took in all the art and history behind these immortal places, you are next to the Vatican Museums.

This skip-the-line Vatican tour allows you fast-track access to one of Rome’s top museums and busiest landmarks. It starts in the afternoon when the crowd is not as big as in the morning so you will also be able to enjoy the Sistine Chapel more relaxed.

You will go past sculptures of the likes of the Laocoon, found in 1506 in Esquilino Hill and now kept in the Statues Courtyard (Cortile delle Statue) after Pope Julius II bought it. Identified as one of the masterpieces of the sculptors of Rhodes as described by Pliny the Elder, this beautiful statue represents the death of Apollo’s priest, Laocoon. He tried to warn the Trojans from taking in the wooden horse left by the Greeks, before being killed by the gods Athena and Poseidon. They, instead, were favoring the Greeks. Which caused the fall of Troy, the fleeing of Aeneas and the following founding of Rome.

You will explore famous areas such as the Gallery of the Tapestries, of the Maps, of the Candelabra, and Raphael Rooms for his beautiful frescoes. You will also stop at famed sculptures and learn stories and anecdotes behind the creation of the masterpieces and the life of the artists.

The journey will end at the most famous attraction of the whole museum, the Sistine Chapel.

St. Peter’s Basilica Tour With Dome Climb and Crypt

All you wanted to know about St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome’s largest church and one of the main landmarks of the Holy See, is included in this excursion entitled to be considered one of the best Vatican tours.

This comprehensive St. Peter’s Basilica tour by Walks lasts 2 and a half hours and reveals all the secrets behind the art and history of one of the world’s most famous Catholic churches.

This Vatican guided tour starts in Saint Peter’s Square early morning. After learning about the Swiss Guards and some tips on what is to see from the dome, you will take the elevator and climb some 320 steps to reach the top.

Once back down, your St. Peter’s Basilica tour carries on inside the basilica itself. You will learn about the history, the symbols, and the incredible artwork, including Bernini ‘s canopy altarpiece and Michelangelo’s La Pietà sculpture.

That’s not all. Your early-morning Vatican tour will take you also to the Crypt where the Popes are buried.

Since you will be accompanied by an expert Vatican tour guide, this will save you plenty of time to discover other parts of the Holy See as well as the other attractions in Rome’s city center.

VIP Early-Access Vatican Tour With Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

In this early-morning Vatican tour, you will enjoy the Sistine Chapel an hour before everyone else so you will skip the line at the beginning and also within the service as you will use a restricted door between sites.

I’ve been to the Vatican Museums three times, and the first two I got swept by a crowd of thousands of tourists. Of course, I liked it and stared in awe at the immortal masterpieces all the way, but one of my strongest memories was that no minute would go by without me stepping over someone or the other way around. This is why a tour when the museums are still closed to the public.

Before opening times you will also go through other important monuments of the Vatican Museums , such as the Gallery of Maps, of Tapestries and Raphael Rooms. When the general public starts entering, you will finish off the tour of the Vatican Museums and get to St. Peter’s Basilica through special access.

This Vatican small group tour is for a maximum of 14 people to give you a better opportunity to view the artwork in silence and tranquility.

Early-morning Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica Express Tour

If you still want to enter earlier but prefer a shorter tour, this is for you. It lasts two hours and you access the Museums with a fast-track entrance 30 minutes before opening hours.

With your group of a maximum of 20 people, you will enjoy a silent visit to the Vatican Museums and then access St. Peter’s Basilica through a restricted-access door.

This is much faster than the tour mentioned above. Yet, it still allows you to visit the two main landmarks of the Vatican and learn the art and history behind them. Perfect if you are short in time or for families with small children.

Click here to check the price and to book .

Vatican Night Tour of the Vatican Museums With Sistine Chapel

One of the favorite Vatican evening tours, your experience will start after closing time and will include only 15 people.

This Vatican VIP tour includes the Papal Palaces, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. You won’t be heading to St. Peter’s Basilica because by this time it will be already closed for the night.

This is a Vatican Museum tour only, so you will visit and learn everything about its history and art with the perk of not being disturbed by the crowds.

Fast Entrance Vatican Tour With Sistine Chapel

The Roman Guy tour company, too, runs a late tour of the Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel. You will enter after closing time when the crowd is gone so that you can admire peacefully and in silence the huge collection of treasures on the path leading to the Sistine Chapel.

Among the other rooms, on the way, you will stop at the Gallery of the Maps, Raphael Rooms, just to appreciate his talent along with the rivalry with Michelangelo, and the Gallery of the Candelabra, a feast of marble artwork. In the end, the room everyone looks forward to, where the tour ends, the Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Gardens Minibus Tour with Vatican Museums Entry

Alongside the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, this tour will give you entrance to the Vatican Gardens. By booking this experience, you will have skip-the-line entrances included as well as audioguides, but not a live tour guide showing you around, so you will be quite independent.

You will tour the Vatican Gardens by minibus and the audioguide available in all languages will explain all the marvels you will be seeing, from the Renaissance and Baroque artwork to the English gardens.

After that, you can end your tour at the Vatican Museums which you will also tour on your own.

St. Peter’s Basilica Dome to Underground Grottoes Tour

First, in this Vatican tour, you will be climbing St. Peter’s Dome and the Basilica where your guide will help you spot all the artwork and ornaments, from the marble decorations to the bas-reliefs, sculptures, mosaics and gilded stucco work.

This is a truly fascinating Vatican tour as you will see the walls of the original 4th-century basilica. Right next to it, there is a fantastic archaeological site , the ancient Roman necropolis that hosts the real tomb of Saint Peter, which I doubt is included in this tour.

Included in the tour is the entrance ticket to the top of the Dome and a professional guide.

READ MORE: Do you want to know more about the Vatican’s main church and its fascinating history? Check out our post on the interesting facts behind St. Peter’s Basilica .

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Fast-Track Ticket Options

While I always suggest a guided Vatican tour to fully comprehend the huge wealth of artwork as well as the history behind those buildings, some might just prefer a more independent experience.

If you prefer, from the Get Your Guide website you can purchase only Vatican skip-the-line tickets to enter without having to queue for hours.

Once inside, you won’t have a guide but it will be a self-guided tour. When booking, you can choose the option of including an audio guide.

FAQ about the Best Vatican Tours

Is the vatican skip-the-line worth it.

If you ask me, definitely. A Vatican skip-the-line ticket can save you plenty of time that you can use to visit some other Rome landmarks . If you are staying for only one day or two days in Rome , this time will be particularly precious since especially in the high season (summer and around Christmas) queues can last for several hours.

What is the best day of the week to visit the Vatican?

The Vatican is quite busy every day, but if you have the chance to pick a day of the week, I would probably skip Saturday and Sunday. Also, on the last Sunday of each month, the entrance to the Vatican Museums is free, so it’s a great time to visit if you are sure to arrive early in the morning and if you have enough time to queue because the line can get very long.

Do I need to buy Vatican tickets in advance?

Buying your Vatican tickets online in advance is always a good idea as often these include also a fast-track entrance.

How long does a Vatican tour take?

Two hours is enough for a basic tour of the Vatican Museums to see the main landmarks, while if you want to visit more, you might need an extra hour. For a more complete Vatican tour, some 4 to 5 hours might be necessary even if you are with a professional guide, also depending on how many places you will visit. For St. Peter’s Basilica, you should carve out at least an hour and another hour to climb the Dome.

Is there a dress code for the Vatican?

Yes, to enter the Vatican you need to follow a modest dress code . Women can’t enter wearing shorts or mini-skirts and both men and women can’t wear sleeveless t-shirts.

Can you bring a backpack to the Vatican?

Yes, but to enter the Vatican Museums you will need to leave your backpack in their cloakroom.

Don’t miss our guide to eating near the Vatican!

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Best Sistine Chapel Tours in Vatican City in 2024 with Special Access and More

Sean Finelli Last Updated: January 8, 2024

Vatican City is one of the most well-visited places in the world. It’s overflowing with art, history, and spirituality. Without a doubt, the centerpiece of this magnificence is the Sistine Chapel and the gorgeous paintings that adorn its ceiling. Here we’ve put together a list of some of the best tours of the Sistine Chapel. 

Pro Tip:  It’s easier to organize your trip when you have all your resources in one place. Create a browser folder and bookmark this post along with our dedicated  guide to Vatican City  for more planning resources, our  top Vatican tours  for a memorable trip, and  how to visit the Sistine Chapel .

Top Sistine Chapel Tours at the Vatican

Whether you just want to see Michelangelo’s stunning ceiling  or you want to experience more of what the Vatican has to offer, these tours are some of the best ways to see the Sistine Chapel ceiling and have a memorable trip to Rome. We offer a lot of different options, so be sure to check out all our Vatican and Sistine Chapel tours.

• Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3.5 hours)
• Skip the Line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica (3 hours)

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica Private Tour (3 hours)

St. peter’s dome climb and sistine chapel combo tour (5.5 hours), exclusive after hours sistine chapel tour with aperitivo (3.5 hours), skip the line vatican tour with local trastevere food tour combo (8 hours).

• Vatican at Night Tour with Sistine Chapel (2 hours)
• Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens, and Pope’s Summer Home Day Trip (11 hours)

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Vatican tour is worth it .

Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3 hours)

This is one of our best-selling tours and for good reason. With privileged entrance, you’ll be able to enter the Sistine Chapel before the crowds show up.

This is a sacred space, so you’ll have to stay quiet and dress appropriately, but it’s certainly worth it. The gorgeously adorned paintings above are a sight to behold. And once you’ve had your fill of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, you’ll be led through the Vatican’s excellent galleries.

It includes a stop in the Borgia Apartments, Gallery of the Tapestries , and the Raphael Rooms , painted by the Renaissance master Raphael. On top of that, you’ll have skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica through a special entrance.

Highlights:

• Enter the Vatican one hour before the public
• Skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica
• Exclusive access to the Gallery of the Masks

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Skip the Line Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3 hours)

Just because you don’t want to get up early doesn’t mean you have to miss out on what the Vatican has to offer.

On this tour, you’ll have flexible start times throughout the day to explore the Sistine Chapel. While they won’t be able to speak once they’re inside, your guide will reveal the fascinating story behind this masterwork. 

You’ll also be led through the Vatican’s finest collections, including a stop at Nero’s Bath, a 25-foot bathtub made from extremely rare red marble in the Pio-Clementino Museum .

Your tour includes the Vatican Galleries of Maps, Tapestries, and Candelabra as well as the Raphael Rooms and Borgia Apartments. And finally, explore St. Peter’s Basilica.

• Multiple start times throughout the day
• Special entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica

Hoping to explore the massive Vatican Museums in a more intimate way with a private guide? We have the perfect tour! With start times throughout the day, this tour explore all the most important areas of the Vatican Museums with a passionate guide reserved just for your group.

You’ll be able to interact more with your guide and even tailor your visit to suit your interests. Want more time in a certain area? Just let your guide know, and they’ll accommodate you. Private Vatican tours are the way to go if you want that personal experience.

• Private guide and tailored experience
• Main Vatican galleries and Sistine Chapel

Want to combine multiple attractions at the Vatican for a lower price? Then book this combo tour that takes you through the best Vatican galleries, the Pio Clementino Museum, and the Raphael Rooms. Of course, you’ll also have time at the marvelous Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo’s work.

But before you explore the Vatican, this tour starts with an early morning dome climb at St. Peter’s Basilica. You’ll beat the heat and the crowds for the best view of Rome! Then enjoy a guided tour of St. Peter’s with the Papal Crypts included. It’s the best combo tour to see the best of Vatican City.

• Skip-the-line at St. Peter’s Basilica
• Elevator to first level of dome climb
• Views from St. Peter’s dome
• Skip-the-line at the Vatican
• Main galleries and Raphael Rooms
• Sistine Chapel

For the most exclusive access to the Sistine Chapel without paying for a private tour, you’ll probably want to book this one. You have a later entry with a guided tour of the Vatican Museums.

The best part is that the Sistine Chapel closes to the public but your small group will have access with no more than 100 other tourists! Normally, there are an average of 2,000 people in this chapel, so it’s a seriously huge difference!

Your guide will make this awe-inspiring experience even more memorable having prepped you with tales of its creation. Finish off with an aperitivo of your favorite drink in the Pinecone Courtyard!

• Skip-the-line at the Vatican Museums
• Guided Vatican tour
• Exclusive entry to the Sistine Chapel without crowds
• Aperitivo in the Pinecone Courtyard

From foodies to history buffs, everyone loves this tour. It has everything you’re looking for in a Vatican experience. You’ll get skip-the-line access to the Vatican, so you won’t have to wait in the long line for hours like the general public. 

Included on this tour are plenty of Vatican highlights, such as skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica. Here you’ll see another of Michelangelo’s masterpieces: La Pieta . For many, this sculpture is just as impressive as the Sistine Chapel frescoes that you’ll have just seen.

  After you’ve seen it all in the Vatican, your tour has only just started. With a local guide, you’ll take a tasting tour through the hip neighborhood of Trastevere . This includes a visit to an authentic Roman bakery for pizza, and a stop at a vendor’s cart for some filetto di baccala and popular street food in Rome. 

After you’ve whet your appetite, it’s time to sit down for a delicious authentic Roman dinner, washed down with local wine and limoncello. Once you’ve had your dessert of organic gelato, it’s time to say ciao to your guide before enjoying the Roman nightlife on your own. 

 Highlights:

• 8-hour tour
• Skip-the-line access to the Vatican
• Tour of Vatican highlights
• Local food tour through Trastevere
• Four stops for authentic Italian food and wine

Vatican Night Tour With Sistine Chapel

Arriving in Rome late? More of a night owl than an early bird? Then this night tour of the Vatican Museums is perfect for you. Starting later in the day means you’ll also arrive after most of the crowds have left.

You’ll get a guided tour of the Pio Clementino Museum to see amazing pieces like Laöcoon and Sons and Nero’s 25-foot red marble bathtub. Then explore the Gallery of Maps, Tapestries, and Candelabra to see ancient works from Greece and Italy.

Finish up at the Sistine Chapel where it will be a quieter experience without so many people there. It’s a great way to end your evening in Rome before heading off for a delicious dinner.

• Sistine Chapel with fewer crowds

Sistine Chapel, Vatican Gardens, and Castel Gandolfo Day Trip (11 hours)

This might be our most thorough tour and it’s perfect for anyone looking for a full-day experience of the Vatican. With skip-the-line access, you’ll enter the Vatican well before the public.

Your guide will describe the four years of Michelangelo’s intense work on the Sistine Chapel that made this masterpiece a reality. Then, you’ll have plenty of time to examine the awe-inspiring frescoes for yourself. 

You’ll also get exclusive access to the Vatican Gardens. These tickets are in extreme demand, but we’ve worked hard to secure your visit. This special place has about 100 fountains—these gardens are absolutely breathtaking! 

After checking out the Vatican city highlights, you’ll board a train with your guide to visit the pope’s summer home: Castel Gandolfo. Few take the opportunity to see this gorgeous castle and its gardens.

After you’ve had the chance to see it all, you’ll be treated to a delicious buffet lunch of local cheeses and meats. It’s one of our most special tours and our customers love it! 

• 11-hour tour, transportation included
• See the Sistine Chapel before the public
• Exclusive access to Vatican Gardens
• Train to Castel Gandolfo
• Authentic Italian lunch included

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  Vatican Guide for more info.

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The Complete Vatican Tour With Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica

5774 reviews

Why take this tour?

• Skip the line at the Vatican Museums with pre-reserved group entrance tickets, saving hours of waiting
• Visit the three most essential areas of Vatican City - the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica
• Enjoy a specially designed route highlighting all the works you wanted to see and a few surprises you won’t expect
• Stand in utter awe under Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and learn the incredible stories behind its frescos
• Skip the line into St. Peter’s Basilica for a full guided tour including Bernini’s incomparable altar and Michelangelo’s "Pietà"
• With only 20 people (or fewer), a comfortable headset and an expert guide, your experience will be intimate and surpass your expectations
• Sites Visited
• Vatican Museums
• Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• St. Peter’s Square
• Raphael Rooms
• Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön & His Sons
• Pinecone Courtyard
• Gallery of the Candelabra
• Gallery of the Maps
• Gallery of the Tapestries
• Tour Includes
• Local English-speaking guide
• Skip-the-line ticket for Vatican Museums
• Skip-the-line access into St. Peter’s Basilica

Take a walk through the Palaces of the Pope

Total customer reviews: 5774, latest reviews.

Meeting Point

Please meet your guide in the plaza outside of Antico Café Candia, Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM, at the bottom of the stairs. The closest Metro station is Cipro. Your guide will be in the center of the plaza holding a green Walks sign.

Please meet 15 minutes prior to the tour start time.  

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Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Small Group Tour

Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award: Top 5 Cultural Experiences - Worldwide

Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Award: Best Cultural Experience - #1 Tour Worldwide

• Discover the marvels of the Vatican on  TripAdvisor’s Number One Tour in the World . Be mesmerized by Michelangelo’s world famous Sistine Chapel and Last Judgement and hear the stories behind this wonderful art-work. Then wonder at the treasures inside St. Peter’s Basilica , from Michelangelo’s Pietá to Bernini’s enormous bronze altar.
• With our Reserved Entrance , you can head straight into the Vatican to explore the museums without wasting any of your precious vacation time.
• Tours are limited to 20 people with an expert, English-speaking, art historian as your guide that will bring the artwork to life using headsets to allow you to hear seamlessly throughout the tour.

Enjoy your Vatican Tour experience

What's included.

• Reserved Access to the Vatican Museums
• All entrance & reservation fees
• Access to the Sistine Chapel
• Skip-the-Line Access to St. Peter’s Basilica
• Audio headsets so you can always hear your guide
• Small groups of 20 people or less

Sites Visited

• Vatican Museums
• Sistine Chapel
• Gallery of Maps
• Gallery of Tapestries
• St. Peter's Basilica
• St. Peter's Square

No One Gets You in Faster

Visit the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica on this exclusive and fully guided walking tour of up to 20 passengers. With our Reserved Entrance, you can head straight inside and explore without wasting any time - you’ll also discover the stories about the characters that walked these corridors before you as artists and Popes.

No One Gives You More Access

Inside, your guide will take you out to the Vatican Gardens balcony for your first glimpse of the dome of St. Peters Basilica before strolling through the ancient statues and modern sculptures of the Pinecone Courtyard. As there is no talking allowed in the Sistine Chapel your guide will prepare you here for the many fascinating details you otherwise might miss on your own.

To reach the Chapel, your guide will lead you along the Hall of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries and through the Gallery of Candelabra.  These works of art will come to life as you follow your guide’s commentary on your dedicated audio earpiece. At the  Sistine Chapel , take some time to pick out the rich details on the walls and ceilings – from Michelangelo’s boneless self-portrait to the shields representing violent bible stories.

After learning all about the chapel’s rich renaissance history, we’ll use our Skip-the-Line Access again, to enter  St. Peter’s Basilica . Bypass the long lines as your guide provides an overview of this magnificent church. Here, you will see Michelangelo’s ‘Pietá’ which portrayed Mary as being as an eternal young mother. Spend some quiet time in this vast place of worship beneath the tallest dome in the world. When you finish, you are free to remain inside St. Peter’s Basilica to experience more of this amazing church at your leisure or return outside to St. Peter’s Square to admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion and the basilica’s heavenly façade.

In just 3 hours, we’ll introduce you to the artistic treasures of the Vatican in an enjoyable and hassle-free manner. From the enormous Vatican Museums to Michelangelo's ground-breaking frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, you will see how the Popes used art and culture to spread their message. You’ll leave not just appreciating the Vatican but having understood it too. 

Check out our full list of Vatican tours .

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Important Notes

• Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. Knees, shoulders, and backs must be covered.
• Please note that in case of unexpected closures of some of the areas inside the Museums, the guide may have to modify the itinerary slightly.
• On Wednesday mornings St. Peter's Basilica may be closed to the public due to the Papal Audience taking place in St. Peter’s Square. Customers who wish to visit St. Peter’s Basilica are advised to travel on another day. Saint Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Cancelation Policy

• Please be advised that some tour options are subject to a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected departure time.
• Please be advised that some tour options are non-refundable, with no cancellations or date changes allowed due to pre-purchased tickets.
• It is mandatory to bring a valid ID or Passport for security checks, and entry will not be granted without proper documentation. Thank you for your cooperation.
• Book Direct: Best prices always guaranteed.
• Multilingual Customer Service: Talk to us, we are here to help.
• No Hidden Costs: All taxes and fees included.

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• We focus on the little details and anecdotes that make City Wonders so special

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Vatican Museum Tours - How to pick the best one?

By Elyssa Bernard

December 21, 2023

Wondering which of the many Vatican Museum Tours is right for you?

There are so many options, so h ow do you decide which one to take?

Vatican Museum Tours - Why it's so hard to choose

One of the questions I get most often is "How do I decide which Vatican tour to take?"

I know there are a lot of choices.

There are early morning tours, small group tours, tours that include Saint Peter's Basilica, the  Necropolis of Via Triumphalis  or the Vatican Gardens . . . And even then, there are a lot of different companies that offer the same or similar tours. 

So how do you choose?

I'm going to break down the different TYPES of tours, and then give you links to book the best ones of each type.

On this page about Vatican Museums tours, you'll find:

• Is it worth taking a Vatican tour?

Tours through the official Vatican website

• Standard Group Tours of Vatican Museums
• Vatican Museum Tours before Opening Hours
• Super-speedy Tours of Vatican Museums  - head straight for the Sistine Chapel and bypass the rest
• Small/ Semi-private Group Tours of Vatican Museums
• Vatican Museums on Friday or Saturday Night
• Private Tours of Vatican Museums
• Vatican Gardens and Vatican Museum Tours Combo
• VIP Vatican Museum Tours with out-of-hours viewing of Sistine Chapel
• Tours that include the Vatican + Colosseum
• Do it yourself - build the Vatican tour you want!

Vatican Museum Tours - Is it Worth Taking a Tour?

I love to visit the Vatican Museums on my own because I can take as long as I want, and linger over a painting or a room if I feel like it.

But that is partly because I am lucky enough to live here and be able to visit often.

I've also taken part in pretty much every Vatican tour out there, and love that experience also.

Now the question is, is it worth taking a tour to visit Vatican Museums?

In my opinion, absolutely yes.

Here's why:

• Easy -  Your tickets will be bought and ready, nothing for you to do but show up.
• Focused -  With the vast amount of art to see in the Vatican Museums, having a guided tour can help you to focus on just some of the most important sections and pieces.
• Just the right amount of sight-seeing -  On a guided tour, you will keep your visiting time to a limit, and won't overdo or exhaust yourself trying to "see it all."
• Help with your questions -  When you have a guide, there is someone to answer your questions as they pop up. This happens to me all the time and I find myself asking museum guards (who may or may not know the answer), or trying to look things up on my phone. It's considerably nicer to have a knowledgable guide who can tell you (correctly, and in person) just what you want to know.
• Don't miss a thing! -  On a guided tour, you will no doubt see things you would have overlooked on your own. This also happens to me a lot in Rome, and every time I take a guided tour with an expert, I learn something new. The first time I went to the Vatican Museums on my own (years ago), without a guide, I breezed past the  Laocoön sculpture because I didn't even know what it was, let alone to look for it!

And if you take a more special kind of guided Vatican Museums Tour , like a private, small-group, out-of-hours tour, then it can make an even bigger difference.

Vatican Museums Audio-Guide

You may also decide to skip the Vatican Museum tours, and visit on your own with an audio-guide.

This can be a good compromise, because you will get more information than you can from the little printed info-cards next to some of the pieces in the museums.

I still would recommend a human guide because they are better able to bring the whole thing to life for you, and are there to answer questions.

If you do decide to use the Vatican Museums Audio-Guide, you can book this when you pre-book your Vatican Museums tickets through the Vatican website, or, you can opt to get the audio-guide once you enter the museum.

Vatican Museum Tours - Which One is Right for You?

One of the most frequent questions I get is, which Vatican Museum tours do you recommend?

And of course, there is not one right answer: this depends on what you are looking for, how much time you have and want to commit to, and your budget.

All Vatican Museum tours include skip-the-line tickets, a visit to the Sistine Chapel , and a licensed tour guide  (someone who is knowledgable and who is legally allowed to take you on this tour.)

Most tours are offered in English or Italian.

You can usually book a guide in other common languages too, such as Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, etc.

There are also a few options for pre-booking special tickets, without a tour.

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What happens when you book a tour of the Vatican Museums using the official Vatican Museums website ?

First, you will pay less, as there is no tour agency or middle-man.

Second, you will be assigned a tour guide who is directly employed by the Vatican Museums.

What is the difference between booking a tour of the vatican through the vatican website and a tour agency?

All guides who give tours of the Vatican Museums must be licensed guides and they must have permission from the Vatican Museums to give tours there.

The difference between a Vatican Museums employee/guide and an outside guide may simply be in the quality of the guide.

I must say that I have taken tours with Vatican Museum employees/guides, and some of them have been fantastic.

But you just never know.

No matter what tour you book, unless you hire a private guide that you either know or who has been recommended to you, you have no way of knowing what that guide will be like.

Reasons to choose booking with the Vatican Museums or with a tour company

Sometimes, tickets and tours may not be available on the Vatican Museums website but you might find more availability for tickets and tours on a certified reseller such as Tiqets, Get your Guide, or Viator.

Or, perhaps you have heard about a specific tours company or tour, such as Walks of Italy, who offer two of the most popular tours of the Vatican Museums, Pristine Sistine, and the Vatican Key Master Tour in which you get to open the museums.

Read on to discover more tour options, and the differences between the different types of tours you'll find, both on the Vatican website and on outside tour company sites.

NEW FOR 2024!

The archeological area of the Vatican Necropolis of Via Triumphalis is now open for visitors.

This is an ancient Roman burial site that is within the Vatican walls and before now was very difficult to get access to.

You can only enter as part of an official Vatican tour group, and tickets need to be purchased through the official website .

This is an entirely separate visit, so you will not have access to either St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums.

Click here to watch my YouTube video about it and see what it's like!

Vatican Museum Tours - Skip the Line Group Tours

One of the most popular of the Vatican Museum tours is the group tour .

You skip the line of course, and have a knowledgable guide so you don't have to think about what to see or where to go.

All of these tours  include the Sistine Chapel , usually ending there.

St Peter's Basilica Shortcut

You can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

The shortcut is open from 9:30 am - 5 or 5:30PM, and it's ONLY accessible to tour companies or private guides that you book OUTSIDE the Vatican Museums website.

The Vatican Museums does not have any ticket or tour that includes the shortcut.

This means that you won't have access to the shortcut during the  KeyMaster tour , the  Extra Time tour , or any other tour that does not specifically include the basilica.

If you book any tour of the Vatican Museums, you can check the details to see if it finishes in the  Sistine Chapel  or the basilica.

Click here to view a map of Vatican City  (it will open in a new page.)

When you take a group tour, you will have what's called "whisper" headphones, so the guides can speak in a normal tone and you can easily hear them.

As of January 1, 2024, all group tours will be limited to 20 people.

The best part about this kind of group tour is the price.

This is the least expensive option of the Vatican Museum tours.

Visit the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the public on this special access tour.

There are many options even for taking a group tour.

Click the below to book a group tour of the Vatican Museums that includes:

• Only the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (and not St. Peter's Basilica - just access, but no tour)
• The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica (this is an excellent tour because you skip ALL the lines, even the priority lines, AND you get a tour of the Basilica)
• Handicapped access (most tours do NOT accommodate wheelchairs , so you need to pick one that specifically DOES. This tour covers the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel but not St. Peter's Basilica.)
• The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and The Pinacoteca (The Pinacoteca is the Vatican Museums Paintings gallery - most tours skip this but it is amazing, full of masterpieces, and worth the time if you have it! The Basilica is not included on this tour, but you can visit on your own without queuing.)
• The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica with Hotel pick-up/drop-off 

A word about "skip the line"

Of course one of the benefits of taking a tour is the possibility to skip the line.

You can skip the line even without a tour, simply by pre-booking your tickets.

HOWEVER, you should know that nobody can skip the line for security, and when Rome is really crowded, as it is nearly all the time lately, you may find a bit of a wait to get through security.

So prepare yourself for that, and also plan to arrive a bit earlier than your entry time to give yourself plenty of leeway in case of long security lines.

Vatican Museum Tours - Early Access

The Vatican Museums open at 8AM Monday - Saturday. (There can be different closing times depending on the time of year.)

However, it is possible to gain early access to the Vatican Museums.

There are two things you need to know about this kind of tour:

• There are a LOT of companies doing this , so you will not have an exclusive visit (although of course there will be a lot FEWER people than during the morning rush.)
• In order to get the advantage of seeing the Sistine Chapel before the crowds arrive, you will need to rush through the rest of the Vatican Museums on your way there, missing most of the major works of art along the way. Either the tour will go back through so you can see the rest of the museums at a slower pace, or, if the tour itself does not offer this, you can do it on your own. In either of these cases, you will wind up in the Sistine Chapel a second time before you finally exit.)

That said, it will still feel like a special experience to get in there before the crowds fill in.

Also, many people do want to "just" see the Sistine Chapel, so this helps to keep the visit short if you want to.

For a more exclusive experience, jump down to this section .

As of January 2024, it will only be possible to gain early access to the museums by booking a tour.

Previously you could book early access entrance tickets, but these have been removed with the extension of the opening hours from 9AM to 8AM.

Open the Vatican Museums and turn on the lights of the Sistine Chapel!

One of the most special tours I ever took was with the Key Master of the Vatican Museums .

We literally went through the museums and opened them up and turned on all the lights.

You can book this through Take Walks and I assure you it will be one of the most amazing things you've ever experienced!

Before Hours Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel and Basilica Tour

With this 3-hour tour, you will go with group of around 15 people into the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public. 

Click here to book this Early Access Group Tour of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.

The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican , Colosseum , Trevi Fountain , Pantheon , Piazza Navona , Spanish Steps , Castel Sant'Angelo , and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers .

Speedy Express Tours of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Maybe I should have put this one at the top of the page.

One of the most common questions I hear about the Vatican Museums is:

Can I just go see the Sistine Chapel ?

I've answered this before (the answer is no) and even with a tour that guarantees this, you really cannot. 

There is an "express route" to the Sistine Chapel from the entrance of the Vatican Museums, which skips the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementine Museums, the Egyptian and Etruscan wings.

But you still have a lot of museum to get through before you make it to the Sistine Chapel, so even without visiting any of the above, and bee-lining to the chapel, it will still take you at least 30 minutes just to walk there quickly, without stopping to look at anything. 

That said, there are tours that help you do this.

In the section just before this one, about Early Access Vatican Museum Tours , you have options for going in before opening hours.

In theory, these could also be considered as fast tours, since you do go directly to the Sistine Chapel.

But with the above, you are also given the chance to go back and take more time in the museums.

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Normally I would urge you to visit the rest of the museums, as they are chock full of some of the world's most amazing and beautiful art.

But maybe you have really limited time, or who have been to the museums before and want to re-visit just the Sistine Chapel.

So, you can book an Express tour:

Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with option to add on St. Peter's Basilica .

Your guide will provide explanations of the Sistine Chapel, but as you are sort of speeding through the rest of the Vatican Museums, you won't get detailed explanations of what you're walking past.

Vatican Museums - Small Group Tours

In the section above, there is a link to a small group, exclusive tour.

That tour goes inside the Vatican Museums early, before they open to the general public.

It's an amazing experience and I highly recommend it! (More about this below.)

If you're looking for an excellent truly small group Vatican Museums tour, click here.

Their small-group tours are max 20 people, but when you go to choose your date, you can see they also offer even smaller groups or private tours (which costs a bit more but may be worth it.)

Ready to plan your trip?

Vatican Museums - Private Tours

Taking a private tour is exactly what it sounds like: this is a fantastic option if you want a completely private, personal tour, with the guide focused just on you.

Of course, if you are a family or group of 4-6 people, it becomes more affordable.

Click here to book a private tour (minimum 2 people), of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums + Vatican Gardens Combo Tour

The Vatican is home to some amazing gardens , which are beautifully kept and landscaped.

But they are in two places: one is just behind St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

The other is in the summer residence of the Pope, Castel Gandolfo .

You can easily book the Vatican Gardens tour through the Vatican Museums website .

It includes entry to the Vatican Museums but no tour or guide.

If you want, you can book this through an outside agency so you get a more complete tour experience.

See below for options.

Tour of Vatican Museums and Vatican Gardens in Vatican City

With this small-group tour, you will first visit the Vatican Gardens.

After visiting the gardens, your group will head inside to tour the Vatican Museums, finishing inside the Sistine Chapel.

Click here to book a Vatican Gardens + Vatican Museums combo small-group tour.

Currently unavailable - stay tuned for the updates!

Visit to Vatican Museums and Gardens in Castel Gandolfo

If you have a full day to dedicate to this, and want to experience something really special, a whole world of tranquility, quiet and beauty, away from the hustle and bustle of Rome, this is a wonderful tour.

It allows you to skip the line and visit the Vatican Museums, then walk through the Vatican Gardens and get on a train that will take you just half-hour outside Rome to the summer residence of the Pope: the stunning Barberini Gardens at Castel Gandolfo , only recently opened to the public.

Click here to book your full day Vatican Museums + Vatican Gardens at Castel Gandolfo tour . 

(Note this option does not include a visit to Saint Peter's Basilica.)

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VIP Vatican Museum Tours with out-of-hours Viewing

There are a good selection of Vatican Museum tours that offer early morning entry to the museums (see above.)

This means that although your group is going in before the normal opening time, you will also be going in with all the other tour groups doing the same thing.

Which means it is not quite as exclusive as it sounds, even if it's definitely less crowded than going at opening time (which is why it's actually a pretty affordable tour, usually costing less than 100€ per person.)

If you're really looking for an exclusive visit to the Vatican Museums out of hours, here are a couple of options:

VIP: Sistine Chapel Private Viewing and Small-Group Tour of the Vatican's Secret Rooms

Visiting the Vatican Museums after hours and seeing the secret rooms was one of the best tours I ever took.

You can read more about it on my dedicated page .

VIP Vatican Museum Tours - After Hours Private Viewing of Sistine Chapel

For a really special experience, book a VIP tour , that features  after-hours viewing.

You really do have a much more exclusive experience than the groups going before the Museums open.

Most Vatican Museum tours do not offer this option, so you will have the Sistine Chapel almost entirely to yourselves.

Click here to book your VIP tour of the Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel Private Viewing.

And for an even more exclusive, private, truly after-hours tour, you can book this one.

Tour the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum on the same day

While I normally don't recommend this, sometimes a day is all you have, and you really want to fit in these two Rome must-sees.

You can try to do this on your own, but if you want to make the most of this day, especially if you are doing this as a shore excursion, I really recommend doing it as a guided tour.

Click here to book visit my page about this, for more details .

Click here to book a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum in one day .

You can also book a night tour of the Colosseum at certain times of the year, so you could see the Vatican Museums during the day and then do this night tour.

Do it yourself - build the tour YOU want!

If you are still not sure which tour to book, you can  visit this tour booking page where you can choose the length of the tour, the time of day, and the maximum group size you want  (the smaller the group, the more it costs per person.)

Click the "filters" button and go through and check the boxes you want, and you'll see all the tour options available according to your criteria.

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Special Vatican Tours

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Discover the areas of Vatican Museums usually closed to visitors!

The Vatican Museums and the Chapel of Nicholas V

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Visit the Vatican at your own pace, hassle-free experience

Vip early entrance vatican guided tour.

If there is one place in the world that holds a powerful amalgam of artistic, historical, religious, and political value that is within the open borders of the Vatican City. Besides being home to the Pope and the official site of the Catholic Church, the so-called Holy See, hosts some of humanity’s biggest artistic accomplishments. The Vatican’s architectural and artistic masterpieces attract daily a large influx of tourists. As the official Vatican Museums tour provider we offer guided tours that will get you in not only faster but also earlier. With our early morning tour, you will experience the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica at the most peaceful time. You will explore the secrets of the largest and busiest complex of museums in the world with no crowds.

› Get premium access and admission tickets to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

› have the museums to yourself with early entrance at 7:30 am, 90 minutes before the general public, › benefit from the knowledge of a dedicated english-speaking guide with extensive expertise of the vatican, › flexibility of choice, you can be part of a small-group tour of no more than 12 people or choose the private option, peaceful, quiet and hassle-free experience.

Due to the high number of enthusiastic tourists, the museums can get very busy at times and this can jeopardise your experience. This special time slot that we provide ensures a greatly enhanced experience as it is available to only a few lucky tourists. You will practically feel like you have the museums all to yourself which will allow you to pay detailed attention to the masterpieces. Equally important when visiting the museums is having a precise itinerary. This is because the museum’s corridors are very labyrinthine and host over 7 kilometres of art. To avoid wasting your time wandering through the corridors not knowing where is what, it is advised to be in the company of an expert and our guides know these museums like the inside of their pockets! They also hold encyclopaedic knowledge of the artefacts and will provide you with little-known facts about their creators and much more!

What parts of the museums will you visit?

We have carefully crafted a special itinerary that will take you to see the main parts of the museums. With this tailored tour, you will visit the famous Gallery of the Candelabra. This place takes its name from the majestic candelabras that divide this gallery into six sections. The sculptures are all arranged following symmetrical criteria compatible with the architecture of the six fabulously designed rooms. This place contains artworks found throughout the country, from the time of the Roman Empire to modern-day. From there you will explore the Gallery of Tapestries displaying the work of Raffaello Sanzio. This exhibition is completely protected from sunlight in order to best preserve the tapestries. Each of these massive tapestries displays different powerful Catholic stories and myths. You will also explore the Gallery of Maps where you can gain an understanding of what the world was thought to look like centuries ago, at a time when cartography was undergoing its own renaissance.

The beauty and complexity of the Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is renowned for being decorated with what many perceive as the most spectacular masterpiece in human history, Michelangelo’s frescoes that cover the ceiling. The Sistine Chapel ceiling helped Rome overtake Florence as the supreme cultural capital of Italy. Thanks to the special time-slot provided by this tour, you will be able to walk around and admire the frescoes in complete silence. The experience will be much more insightful when the place is not crowded. The chapel is covered in beautiful and noble colours in the famous shades of ochre, umber green, Sangiovanni white, and ultramarine blue. The central part of the ceiling is divided into 9 panels portraying stories from the Book of Genesis such as the awe-inspiring Division of Light from Darkness, Creation of the Stars, of the Waters, of Adam, of Eve and finally the Creation of the Original Sin. Michelangelo’s genius has to be admired in silence but your assigned guide will give you a description of what you are about to experience before entering the chapel and will handle your questions once out.

Religious art at St Peter’s Basilica

This tour encompasses all the attractions of the Vatican, including a visit to St Peter’s Basilica,* a unique example of Renaissance architecture and Baroque art and a symbol of huge significance to Christianity. You will enter the Basilica through a special-access corridor, skipping the long general-access lines. The creation and décor of the Basilica involved the most brilliant engineering and artistic minds of the time. Tourists of all faiths visit the Basilica to discover and admire the creations of the geniuses of Michelangelo and Bernini. You will discover Michelangelo’s Pietà, an extremely moving sculpture depicting the lifeless body of Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary. Under the same roof, there is Bernini’s Baldachin, a massive sculpted bronze canopy that sits above St. Peter’s tomb. The Baldachin is not only jaw-dropping, but it is a prime example of the style that flourished around Europe at the beginning of the 17th century, Baroque. At the end of the tour, you can explore more at your own pace.

Small-Group Tour

You can join this early entrance guided tour, as part of a group of no more than 12 people. Being part of a small-group when touring the Vatican can be a fun yet more personal experience since the size of the group is small. Your assigned guide will accommodate everyone on the tour and answer everyone’s questions. Our guides are highly experienced at keeping such groups engaged and entertained and they will provide top insider knowledge on the monuments. This option is more budget-friendly while not giving away the benefits of having a guide to accompany you as you discover the Vatican. On top of that, it has proved to be a great option for tourists who do not mind the presence of other like-minded and culture-hungry travellers who are all enthusiastic about discovering the Vatican.

Private Tour

Newlyweds, families, first-time tourers, or couples and friends who prefer more privacy or are simply looking for more authentic travel experiences, may often think that having a guide to yourself is better than sharing one. With this premium option, you decide who joins you on this tour. Needless to say that you will benefit from the undivided attention of your guide and that you can also benefit from flexibility of itinerary. With this choice you will experience the Vatican in a very time-efficient and seamless way, where you can spend more time on the galleries that appeal to you the most and less time in others, you will see the Vatican at your own pace. You can also choose this option and upgrade it to include pick-up from your accommodation. This option promises a much more comfortable, efficient, and authentic experience!

This tour runs from Monday to Saturday and it includes St Peter’s Basilica every day except on Wednesdays. The Basilica is an active Church and on Wednesdays it is closed until 1 PM due to the weekly Papal audience. Instead, you will spend more time discovering the hidden gems of the Vatican Museums. Rest assured that your guide will give you an introduction of the Basilica and the art inside so you know what to look for if you wish to visit later. Moreover, when visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and/or the Vatican Museums, you are kindly asked to respect the city’s dress code, which implies having your knees and shoulders covered.

Witness the fabulous art and architecture in the museum of museums

© COPYRIGHT 2023 IWF SRLs, VIA SATRICO 7, 00183 ROME, ITALY, P.IVA 15741651002

DETERMINAZIONE PROVINCIA DI ROMA – LICENZA NUMERO 478323 DEL 28/05/2021 R.E.A. RM 1611120

• +39.366.22.020.40
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• Piazza della Città Leonina, Rome

This website is not the official website of the Vatican Museums. It is run by IWF Srls and works with attractions and tour operators to provide incredible experiences at the touch of a button.

Vatican Museums Night Tour with Sistine Chapel

• Experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after hours, when the palaces are at their most peaceful.
• See world-famous masterpieces—from the Sistine Chapel to the Raphael Rooms—away from the crowds.
• Head straight into the Vatican with privileged entrance, allowing you to spend more time exploring and less time waiting.

Tour description

Avoid the crowds on our vatican night tour, with plenty of space to fully appreciate every masterpiece..

Few visitors are aware of the Vatican Museums’ extended opening hours throughout the summer months. On this special Vatican night tour, you’ll share its galleries and apartments with only those in the know. In echoing, elaborate halls and galleries, your expert Vatican guide will bring the church’s fascinating history to life—from St. Peter’s martyrdom to the modern Vatican City.

Explore the best of the Vatican collection, including the Sistine Chapel, in peace and quiet.

During your Vatican night tour, your guide will take you to see some of the finest ancient sculptures and Renaissance art in the world, including Raphael’s "School of Athens", the Hellenistic "Laocoön", and the beautiful "Belvedere Torso"—a stunning sculpture that influenced a young Michelangelo’s work. You'll be able to get up close to these world-famous pieces, a major perk of visiting the Vatican at night and with minimal crowds!

The pièce-de-resistance of your experience, of course, is the Sistine Chapel: the Pope's very own private chapel. In the evening light and with fewer tourist hordes, you’ll find it easier to pick out the details in Michelangelo’s famous frescoes. You’ll be well prepared to appreciate these works after spending time with your expert guide, listening to the stories and secrets hidden within the art.

Enjoy the company of a small group and privileged access for a hassle-free experience on your Vatican night tour.

Since your group will have a maximum of just 15 people, it'll be easy for you to interact with your guide and ask them any questions you have. A good thing too, since we’ve spent years building the perfect team of Vatican guides, choosing the best art historians, architecture buffs, and storytellers.

Experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel outside of the stifling heat of the Roman summer on our limited edition Vatican night tour, offering you a rare view of the Papal Palaces after bedtime.

Sites visited

Verified guest reviews, oct 15, 2023.

If you have no agenda and no idea about the Vatican Museums this evening tour may be for you. We never actually entered until nearly an hour after tour started, as the guide spent a considerable time explaining what to expect in sistine chapel. We ended up going by so much so quickly, as opposed to having that extra hour in the museum itself. You are then hustled out as the museum closes, so if you want to linger or spend more time and get better bang for your buck, take an earlier tour or just do the audio tour on your own and spend time where you want to.

Oct 07, 2023

Excellent tour! Our guide was Christina. She is a native of the area with extensive knowledge and a captivating passion about the art and architecture we were seeing. She was kind and patient and I learned so much in a short time. I highly recommend this tour and would take it again.

Oct 01, 2023

Vale was very knowledgeable, but it was at times difficult to keep up with her. Our 2 and 1/2 hour tour was over in less than 2 hours.

This tour was fabulous. Angela was a great tour guide and, on a hot day, did her best to keep us out of the hot sun whenever possible. We learned so much and would not have gotten as much out of visiting these sights if we did them on our own.

We took this tour for the reason of advertisement of quieter time off hours for the Sistine Chapel. During the tour we were told we would have time at the Sistine Chapel but as soon as the guide dropped us off, we were rushed out due to it closing at 7:30. This is a huge miss for the tour company and false advertising since the staff said it always closes then. Also the tour said max 15 people and we were over 20 despite 8 people not showing. Our tour guide was excellent but the tour is not as advertised, which is not her fault. So disappointing.

Know before you book

Similar tours, alone in the vatican: exclusive vip access vatican museums & sistine chapel tour, pristine sistine™ early entrance small group vatican tour, the complete vatican tour with vatican museums, sistine chapel & st. peter’s basilica.

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