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3 hours 30 minutes
Mobile ticket
Get early morning access into the Vatican Museums to admire countless works, and beautiful courtyards! Together with a truly small group of only 6 participants max, or in your very own private group, you will be able to avoid the big crowds and quietly enjoy these wonderful masterpieces. The Vatican Museums is on everyone’s Rome itinerary so you can imagine it gets quite full, quite quickly. This tour guarantees the personalized and intimate feel that is only possible with our truly small group size, or in your very own private group. We believe that having an intimate experience makes ALL the difference! With your expert local guide, make your way through the vastness of the Museums, with the greatest highlights of the Papal art collection, the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Pinecone Courtyard, and of course the exceptional Sistine Chapel. Finish with the incredible Saint Peter's Basilica.
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Important Notice Jubilee Year 2025: As part of the 2025 Jubilee celebrations, from December 24th, 2024 to January 6th, 2026, St. Peter’s Basilica may experience unexpected partial or complete closures. In the rare event that the Basilica cannot be visited, rest assured that your tour experience will remain exceptional. Your guide will seamlessly adapt the itinerary to include alternative highlights, ensuring the full duration and quality of your tour. Please note that, in accordance with our Terms & Conditions agreed upon at the time of booking, partial or full refunds cannot be issued due to Basilica closures.
Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
Vatican management maintains the right to delay the opening of the Sistine Chapel for religious reasons, in this case the guide will modify the itinerary and extend your visit of the museums to ensure you make the most of your time before access to the Sistine Chapel is permitted.
Photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel and all other artwork can only be photographed without flash.
Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during while inside the chapel is strictly forbidden. Therefore, your guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the Sistine Chapel before entering and will be able to answer more questions once you have left the space.
St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, your guide will provide a revised itinerary including more of the Vatican Museums. No compensation is granted in these circumstances.
Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this small group tour. To ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican
Access to the Raphael Rooms is contingent upon crowd conditions, timing constraints, and guard-regulated routes. Including them may not always be feasible. In these cases, your tour guide will exercise discretion to adjust the itinerary, ensuring a comprehensive experience.
Not recommended for travelers with mobility issues
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Skip the long ticket lines
Private Option of this tour is Available!
Tour in a Safe and Semi Private Group of 6 people
Learn from a Professional Local Expert Guide
Enjoy Early Morning Entrance to the Vatican Museums for a quieter experience
Food and drinks
Gratuities (optional)
Vatican Museums
With the luxury of our truly small group size of 6 people max, or in the personalized intimacy of your very own private group, you will be guaranteed to get the very most out of your Vatican experience. This way you can easily navigate through the countless masterpieces with an expert guide, ask all the questions you wish, and have the guarantee of a personalized experience. We trust this makes ALL the difference! Walk through the heavily decorated Gallery of the Candelabras and enjoy the trompe l’oeil in the Gallery of the Tapestries. After you learn about the impressive Gallery of the Maps, continue to the exquisite Raphael Rooms. With your professional expert tour guide, you will be sure to see all the highlights as well as hidden gems! You will not only learn the fantastic history of the powerful Popes but will also delight in the bits of gossip and other little-known stories about life in Vatican City.
Stanze di Raffaello
The Papal art collection at its best in the Raphael Rooms
Semi-Private Tour
Private Guide: Book this option for your own private group and enjoy a complete Vatican tour with a Private Guide for you only.
End your exclusive VIP tour with a delightful breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard.
Duration: 2 hours: Join the Vatican’s Key Master to unlock the empty galleries and the Sistine Chapel in total privacy. St. Peter's NOT included
3,567 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
TJ S,
Sep 7, 2025
- Viator
Our guide Elizabeth was incredible, her passion and knowledge made our experience seemless and memorable. With the vast collections available to view she guided us through the highlights of the collections and provided so much information but without being overwhelming. Would highly recommend.
Katherine S,
Sep 7, 2025
- Viator
Definitely worth the price to help avoid the major lines, the Vatican is still very crowded and you will have to wait in lines, but having a guide and paying for a private tour was worth the money. Our guide, Lorenza, was amazing. Very informative, and we learned a lot more than we would have had we gone on our own.
amaugle89,
Sep 6, 2025
- Viator
This is a great tour. We had a fantastic guide and being able to get right in was critical to beating the crowds. Truly made the experience better.
Rick C,
Sep 6, 2025
- Viator
Francesco was great, met us outside the Vatican Museum,got us quickly through the security checkpoint and we were first in many museum galleries. All along the way, francesco took our group photo in front of a number of significant works of art. We made it to the sistine chapel with only forty or so people in it. Francesco did an excellent job preparing us for what we would see inside the sistine chapel as tour guides are not allowed to speak inside, he left us in there for approximately twenty minutes to soak it all in before leading us down the tour guide only exit. This exit led that's down the people, only exit and pass some swiss guards. Then we's, we're quickly ushered through the "Sin-forgiving" jubilee your doors and into the basilica of Saint Peter. Within the basilica Francesco continued to explain that details of the artwork, architecture and history within the basilica. Before leaving the basilica, he gave us the option of attending catholic mass and then finish the tour departing, Saint Peters square. Throughout francesco, it was very accommodating of bathroom breaks and hydration needs of our group at five. He was very helpful in making Roman restaurant recommendations, while we waited in security lines. This tour was by far the best way to see the Vatican museum. Sistine chapel and saint peter's basilica without spending days and days, hours, and hours, i'm bringing your own textbooks. Be ready too, move quickly trusting your guide to show you the most important pieces in this extensive collection. This is not a meandering, slow museum experience, that's still worth every penny and the early morning wake-up.
ANNMARIE H,
Sep 5, 2025
- Viator
Donata our guide was wonderful! I would attend any other tour she leads. We met at the exact place at the exact time and they were there to meet us.
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