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MICHELANGELO’S SISTINE CHAPEL: THE EXHIBITION

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition showcases the awe and wonder of arguably one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements while allowing its visitors to experience this art from an up-close, life-sized, and never-before-seen perspective.

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How To Visit the Sistine Chapel in 2024: Tickets, Hours, Tours, and More!

Brie Greenhalgh Last Updated: August 28, 2023

The pope’s private chapel might be small, but it’s mighty. From Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling to The Last Judgement , art lovers will be awe-struck! But visiting will take some planning since you can’t just see the Sistine Chapel on its own. In this guide, we share everything you need to know about how to visit the Sistine Chapel.

Pro Tip:  Planning your visit to the Vatican in Rome? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. See our comprehensive  guide to Vatican City  for more planning resources and our  top Vatican tours  for a memorable trip.

Visiting the Sistine Chapel: What We’ll Cover

It’s no wonder millions of tourists stand in awe under Michelangelo’s ceiling every year. The Sistine Chapel holds some of the most incredibly vivid and detailed art ever to come out of the Renaissance.

You can be one of them too! We’ve put together this helpful guide to help you plan your visit to the Sistine Chapel, especially if it’s your first time. Here’s what you need to know about the tickets, hours, tours, and more.

• Opening hours and tickets
• How much time to budget
• How to get there
• What to see
• Guided tours
• Facts and History
• Places to eat nearby

Not ready to book a tour? See if a Sistine Chapel tour is worth it .

Sistine Chapel Opening Hours and Tickets

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums within Vatican City. That means you’ll need to purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums in order to see the Sistine Chapel.

The opening hours will also be the same as the museums, and they will vary seasonally and according to special events, so be sure to check the official website for up-to-date info.

What are the Sistine Chapel Hours?

• Monday to Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm
• Friday and Saturday from 9 am – 10:30 pm
• Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (only the last Sunday of the month). This is a free day. We strongly advise not visiting on this day as lines can be very long, and entrance is not guaranteed.

When is the Sistine Chapel Closed?

The Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums are closed on the following dates each year: January 1 and 6, February 11, March 19, April 18, June 29, August 15, November 1, and December 8.

They’re also closed on the first three Sundays of every month.

How to Buy Sistine Chapel Tickets:

Ticket prices vary based on the type of access you want at the Vatican. From the Sistine Chapel website, you can opt for a basic entry ticket with an audio guide, tickets with a guided tour, or an early morning guided tour.

Tickets for the Vatican Museums sell out weeks, sometimes months, in advance, so be sure to book online well in advance of your visit to avoid disappointment. The museums are one of the largest collections in the world, and there is little to no written information inside the museums. To truly appreciate the collection and take advantage of skip-the-line and privileged access, look to take a guided Vatican tour . Take a look at our article on the Best Tours of the Vatican and Why .

Full price ticket: €17 Reduced ticket : €8 Online reservation fees: €5

Want to book a tour? Check out our  best Sistine Chapel tours to take and why .

Things to know:

• It’s highly recommended to avoid visiting the Sistine Chapel on the fourth Sunday of each month since that is the free day to visit the museums. It makes for an overly crowded experience that won’t leave the best impression. It’s also best to avoid coming on Holy Week (the week leading up to Easter) and weekends during June and July.
• Since the Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, there is no speaking allowed inside. Additionally, men and women are required to cover their knees and shoulders. Be sure to wear modest clothing or bring a shawl to cover these areas; otherwise, you might be refused entry to the Sistine Chapel.
• The Sistine Chapel is located towards the end of the Vatican Museums, so it’s not possible to see it first when you enter the Vatican. Technically, there are nine miles of museums, but you won’t have to wander through it all to get there!

How Much Time to Budget

Short answer: 20+ minutes in the Sistine Chapel. However, you’ll need a couple of hours since you’ll start your journey at the Vatican Museums and explore several rooms before reaching the chapel.

The Sistine Chapel is a place you don’t necessarily want to rush. Once you enter this sacred space, it’s worth spending at least 20 minutes or more just taking in each detail in the frescoes that completely surround you. The images of the apostles on the walls are so well done that you might even think they are actually standing within an alcove of columns!

Michelangelo spared no detail in creating both the Sistine Chapel and the Last Judgement, and a tour guide will share the funny details of certain images he incorporated here.

There are benches along the edges of the chapel that you can sit on (when it’s not too crowded!) and reflect upon the artistry and sacredness of depictions here. You’ll probably be on your feet a lot, so taking a short break under Michelangelo’s masterpiece is a good idea.

Since you have to enter the Vatican Museums to get to the chapel, you’ll still need to plan for a couple of hours or so. There’s a lot to see along the way to the Sistine Chapel, from the Pio Clementino Museum to the Gallery of Maps. For more details of what you will see, check out our free guide to the most important artworks in the Vatican.

How To Get To the Sistine Chapel

It’s occasionally mistaken that the Sistine Chapel is located in St. Peter’s Basilica. In fact, the chapel’s exterior is visible from St. Peter’s Square, but the only public entrance is through the Vatican Museums. And you can’t skip from the entrance straight to the chapel due to how the museums are laid out. But really, why would you want to when there is so much to explore here?

So, to get to the Sistine Chapel, you’ll need to go to the Vatican Museum entrance located at Viale Vaticano, 103 . This is about a 15-minute walk from St. Peter’s Square and on the northern edge of Vatican City near the Prati district.

The closest metro stop to the Sistine Chapel is Ottaviano. You’ll need the red line to get here, also called Metro Line A. This line runs every few minutes from Rome Termini and past the Spanish Steps before stopping near the Vatican. If you’re staying near a metro station on the Blue line, simply ride it to Rome Termini and switch to the Red line that’s heading towards the Vatican.

When you exit the metro station, you’ll be on the corner of Via Ottaviano and Viale Giulio Cesare. Walk along Viale Giulio Cesare towards the McDonald’s about a block away. Turn left on Via Leone IV, walk for a block, then cross onto Viale Vaticano. The museum entrance will be on your left, where the long wall seems to end. It’s about a 7-minute walk.

The buses in Rome run often and are quite affordable. There are two bus stops at the Vatican entrance, depending on which direction you’re coming from. Both are called Viale Vaticano/Musei Vaticani. The only line that goes here is 49, so be sure to choose the right bus line from where you are staying. You can check the signs at each bus stop to see which line includes a stop at Viale Vaticano/Musei Vaticani.

The odds are good that you likely won’t rent a car in Rome since the streets are narrow, rules are guidelines, and GPS isn’t perfectly accurate. In that case, you might prefer to take a taxi if public transportation isn’t your thing. Tell your taxi driver “Vatican Museums,” and they’ll know exactly where to take you. If you’re in central Rome, the cost for a metered taxi ride should be under €15 for sure.

If you’re athletically inclined, you can also rent one of the many e-bikes available within the city. Simply download the app for Helbiz or Lime, locate the nearest bike or scooter, and then take off on your merry way to Viale Vaticano, 103. If you’re staying near Trevi Fountain, it’s probably a 15-minute ride to get to the Vatican. Always be mindful of cars and uneven terrain when you ride a bike in Rome since you’re not allowed to ride on the sidewalk!

Rome is a large city, and the Vatican is located a little further than many of Rome’s main sites. If you’re staying near the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, or Rome Termini, it’s a 40-minute walk or more to get to the Vatican. In that case, using a taxi or the metro is probably best to save your energy for walking at the Vatican. But if you’re located in Trastevere, near Spanish Steps, or in the Prati district, you can walk there in under 30 minutes.

What To See at the Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is filled entirely with frescoes—almost literally from floor to ceiling. There are over 300 people included in scenes from biblical history and beliefs. What you might not know is that Michelangelo wasn’t the only painter here. Luca Signorelli, Cosimo Rosselli, and many others also contributed their expertise.

Here are a few key things you should look for as you stare in awe at these incredible paintings. You can read about these paintings and more in detail here .

• Creation of Man (ceiling)
• The Last Judgement (wall at the entrance)
• Handing the Keys to Peter (lateral wall)
• The Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden (ceiling)
• Legacy of Moses (lateral wall)
• The Flood (ceiling)
• The Last Supper (lateral wall)
• Baptism of Christ (lateral wall)
• Banishment from the Garden of Eden (ceiling)

Guided Sistine Chapel Tours

Planning how to visit the Sistine Chapel must include decisions about how early you want to get there to avoid crowds, especially in the busy summer months. The best time of year to come to the Vatican (or Rome in general) is later in September or October. You’ll have a richer experience without so many tourists, and the heat will not be so oppressive.

We have several popular tour options that include exclusive access, early entry, or even after-hours entry. Not sure which one to take? Check out our article, ‘The Best Tours to Take of the Vatican and Why? ‘

Exclusive After Hours Sistine Chapel With Aperitivo

Looking for that truly exclusive opportunity to enjoy the Vatican and Sistine Chapel? This might just be what you need. With a late afternoon entry to the Vatican, you’ll be led with your small group through the highlights. Then, you’ll step into the Sistine Chapel along with no more than 100 other people (usually at least 2,000 during the day)!

Your guide’s stories about this magnificent ceiling will come to life as you experience quiet time in the Sistine Chapel that few ever will. Afterward, enjoy a drink with us during your aperitivo in the Pinecone Courtyard.

See tour itinerary, price, and description

Colosseum, Roman Forum & Vatican Highlights Combo Tour (8 hours)

This tour is for the art-history buff, visiting the majority of the Vatican Museums, including the Pinacoteca, Sistine Chapel, and more. You’ll even have time in the Cabinet of Masks, which is an area reserved specifically for guided tours. Your guide will share plenty of stories and information to engage and inspire even novice art lovers.

Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel (3.5 hours) 

This is our most popular Vatican tour. It covers all the must-see sights for visitors, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. It’s good for art lovers and anyone who wants to see a ton but doesn’t want to be too mentally exhausted by the end of the visit. A major benefit of this tour is that we have an 8 a.m. entrance time, which is an hour prior to general admission and gets you in when it’s less crowded.

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

If you want more available entry times throughout the day, then opt for this tour. It’s a great low-price Vatican tour that covers most of the main attractions, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. With multiple start times, you can fit your visit into the rest of your plans in Rome. The price is also hard to beat from a top-quality tour company.

Exclusive After Hours Sistine Chapel Tour with Aperitivo (3.5 hours)

If you want to see the main galleries in the Vatican and understand them but don’t want to get caught up in every detail, this is for you. We have an 8 am option that beats the crowds, along with other start times. It’s a small group tour and great value that’s also our fastest way to see the best of the Vatican Museums.

Vatican Night Tour with Sistine Chapel (2 hours)

To avoid crowds, you need to plan an early or late trip to the Vatican. This after-hours guided tour lets you experience the Vatican’s best museums without the heat and crowds. After enjoying the quiet of the Sistine Chapel, you’re free to explore the rest of the Vatican on your own before it closes. This tour is only available on weekends, so plan in advance to secure your reservation.

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

Facts and History About the Sistine Chapel

A few lines of facts and history can’t do justice about the history of the Sistine Chapel, and it’s main creator, so browse this article written by a licensed Vatican guide to learn more. But here are just a few interesting things to know about the world’s most famous chapel.

• Construction of the Sistine Chapel took place from 1473-1481.
• You can see the roof of the bland exterior of the chapel when you stand in St. Peter’s Square. The boring brick walls are a stark contrast to the paintings inside!
• The interior walls of the church were painted before Michelango’s ceiling by many artists, such as Pietro Perugino, Sandro Botticelli, Biagio D’Antonio, Cosimo Rosselli, Luca Signorelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, and more.
• Michelangelo learned under the tutelage of Domenico Ghirlandaio.
• Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to paint the Sistine ceiling in 1508, even though Michelangelo wasn’t a painter so much as a sculptor.
• These frescoes were his first attempt at painting in that medium.
• He had to build scaffolding 60 feet high to reach the ceiling, which was subject to whatever seasonal temperatures there were.
• It took four years to complete the ceiling, which was controversial over the use of so many naked figures in a sacred chapel.
• Michelangelo was asked to return at the age of 61 and complete another painting, which became the Last Judgement and is the other masterpiece to enjoy in the chapel.

Where To Eat Nearby

The Vatican Museums have a few self-service eateries and several snack bar options as you wander the 9 miles of museums. The main restaurant, which is similar to a cafeteria, is at the top of the escalators near the entrance. Don’t expect amazing food here, but it’s enough to refuel when you’re hungry. Otherwise, there are a few great options we recommend not far from the Vatican. You can check out our full guide to the best restaurants near the Vatican here.

Bonci Pizzarium | €€ | Great option for pizza, fresh bread, and suppli (rice balls), though there’s limited seating

Hostaria Dino E Toni | €+ | Traditional trattoria we love that’s casual and offers a variety of dishes from pasta to beef

Where To Stay in Rome

Rome has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the magnificent Eternal City in the best neighborhoods.

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New exhibit lets you see the Sistine Chapel up close, in America—and on a budget

This summer, the “Creation of Adam,” one of the Vatican’s most extraordinary works of art, is leaving Rome—sort of. A traveling exhibition that showcases high definition photographs of Michelangelo’s 34 frescoes is visiting several cities in the continental United States.

The exhibit, called “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition,” is touring North America, with stops planned in Portland, Indianapolis and Albuquerque, among other cities. The exhibit offers visitors the unique perspective of viewing Michelangelo’s famous artwork closer than he could have ever imagined.

“Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” is touring North America, with stops planned in Portland, Indianapolis and Albuquerque, among other cities. 

I saw the show in May in Hartford, Conn., where the hot, sunny weather added to the illusion that I was briefly visiting the Italian peninsula instead of the Connecticut Convention Center. The photographs are life-sized and thus easier to study than the original frescoes in Vatican City. They are all visible without craning your neck and bumping into the tourist or pilgrim behind you.

Unlike the Sistine Chapel, which is bathed in natural sunlight, the photographs are hung against black curtains, which makes all of the colors more vibrant. The subjects’ proximity makes their gazes more intense.

The self-guided exhibit delves into details of each fresco, in addition to examining how the pieces as a whole connect to and complement one another. The spoken commentary is like a good homily, in which the priest explains why the Scripture readings were selected and how they fit together for that particular Mass.

Although each photograph is numbered, visitors can start anywhere and proceed however they wish. The Sistine Chapel’s centerpiece, “Creation of Adam,” is immediately to the left of the entrance. But God waited until the sixth day to create Adam, so I started on what would be the Sistine Chapel’s perimeter. There I was greeted by the painting of the young woman holding an open scroll and intently looking over her shoulder at the entering visitors. The placard in front of the image identifies her as the “Delphic Sibyl,” who looked into the future at the Greek god Apollo’s temple in Delphi. Even though the curators have brought her down to the floor from her original position high up on the ceiling, you still have to look up to her. You can almost see the thoughts working behind her eyes and half expect her to put down the scroll in her hand at any moment.

Along the perimeter of the room there are 12 photos that showcase seven Hebrew prophets and five sibyls. Both sibyls and prophets bear a prophecy about Jesus Christ, ranging from his incarnation to his ultimate sacrifice. Even a sibyl from Apollo’s shrine in Greece holds a prophecy. Walking by each of them, you can see the subtleties of the range of emotions—curiosity, worry, sadness—in their reactions to what they foresee about Jesus’ life and death.

Among the sibyls and prophets, there are several photographs showing Michelangelo’s depictions of the distant ancestors from Christ’s family and the line of David. They are seated, crouching and lying down, almost always in groups of three, reminiscent of the Holy Family. The mothers, although anonymous, occupy a central position in the artwork.

Next I visited the central panels of the ceiling, which feature stories from the beginning of the Book of Genesis: God separating the light and the darkness, the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, and the Flood, to name a few. Creation and conflict builds up in large swaths of earthy colors.

These photographs hang from the ceiling at a slight angle, but still close to the visitor. There are seats available for easier viewing and contemplation. The center panel in the Sistine Chapel is the “Creation of Eve.” Unlike Adam in the “Creation of Adam,” the mother of humankind is not yet fully created. Her eye sockets are black and she stares at God almost lifelessly. It is a detail easily overlooked when viewed from a distance, but glaringly obvious when seen from close up, as this exhibit makes possible.

I ended my visit with the “Last Judgment.” The towering artwork, in which Jesus directs his angels to raise up and cast down souls, is located behind the altar in the Sistine Chapel. Angels hold a small book listing the names of those going to heaven, and a larger, wider book of those going to hell—a grim review of the human race. It is a predominantly blue painting; the skies that dominate the work are clear except for about a dozen heavily populated clouds, where angels and saints gather.

Mary, dressed in blue and pink, sits next to her son. She looks down with sympathy and advocates for souls. Out of all the photographs, “Last Judgment” has by far the most seats provided for viewers. It is a dense piece with a lot to examine. The damned look with horror at the demons waiting for them below. People stumble as they arise from the dead, others visibly sigh with awe and joy as their ascent is aided by angels. I imagine viewers of the painting scanning the crowd next to Jesus, looking for their favorite saint.

Unlike the other photographs that all focus on ancient history, “Last Judgment” is the only one that depicts the future, specifically the viewer’s future. That is worth sitting down and thinking about for a moment.

The unique opportunity to see Michaelangelo’s artwork at ground level enables the viewer to appreciate all the details—the Sybil of Delphi’s gaze into the future, the incomplete Eve’s sooty eyes, and Mary’s plaintive expression during the Last Judgment. It is a personal and engaging experience as the subjects draw you in to contemplate the most dramatic and epic events in the life of Christ and all creation.

Michelle Smith is an advancement associate at America Media. She has a master’s degree in world history from New York University and a bachelor’s in history and classical studies from Villanova University.

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About The Exhibition

Tickets & special events, standard access, practical info, opening hours, tickets price, accessibility, age requirement.

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Photo tour history.

This globally successful exhibit has been all around the world from Shanghai to Chicago, Phoenix, Berlin, Vienna and more. To view, just hover over a green dot to reveal the city and click to reveal a photo gallery.

MICHELANGELO’S SISTINE CHAPEL

THE EXHIBITION

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition showcases the awe and wonder of arguably one of mankind’s greatest artistic achievements, while allowing its visitors to experience this art from an Up-Close, Life-Sized, and Never-Before-Seen perspective.

With special expertise and care, the ceiling paintings from the Sistine Chapel have been reproduced in a truly unique way using licensed high definition photos. Brought to life using a special printing technique that emulates the look and feel of the original paintings, visitors are given a chance to engage with the artwork in ways that were never before possible: seeing every detail, every brushstroke, and every color of the artist’s 34 frescoes. Each image is accompanied by informative signage, and audio guides are available to rent for an even more in-depth experience.

This globally successful exhibition is an innovative and unique interpretation of Michelangelo’s timeless masterpiece. Whether visitors have already been to the Sistine Chapel or not, everyone can admire the artwork up close, at their own pace, and with the ability to capture photographic memories of this iconic work.

Please CONSULT OUR FAQ TO FIND THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTIONS BEFORE Contacting US For all issues and questions about tickets, please email [email protected] or call 646-849-6917

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For all issues and questions about tickets, please email  [email protected]  or call 646-849-6917. 

All tickets are non-refundable. Ticket non-refund terms and conditions are agreed to before purchase. In special circumstances, we may be able to help reschedule your ticket to another date and session that has not already sold out. Please contact us for more information. Be sure to include your ticket order number.

Official tickets for Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition can only be purchased on Fever. Tickets are not available on any other website or ticketing platform.

No, your contactless tickets will be validated directly in the Fever App.

Please refer to Practical Info section for parking locations.

All ages welcomed!

Yes, the selected venues and exhibits are wheelchair accessible.

It is recommended that you arrive within the time stated on your ticket, but you can arrive within the next 30 minutes.

Your ticket will still be valid, but you may be required to wait until there is space in the following times slots.

Outside food & beverage, anything that may disturb other patrons.

The Experience

A life-size, up-close, never-before-seen perspective of the genius masterpieces!

The average visit lasts between 1 to 1.5 hours. Although this is a ticketed and timed event, all tickets will be honored as space allows.

This exhibition will take place at 100 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013, USA

 It will be held in an indoor venue.

Weekends are traditionally the busiest days, so expect large crowds then.

Yes there will be concessions on site for purchase.

Yes! Photos for personal use are permitted and encouraged, but please do not use a flash, tripod, or selfie stick. For any professional or filming requests, please contact SEE Global Entertainment, the producers of the exhibit.

Our goal is to be in as many unique spaces as possible, and we customize the layout of the exhibit in relation to the local architectural environment (total space, ceiling height, existing structures, etc.). All shows are a unique and meaningful experience featuring 33 of Michelangelo’s iconic ceiling frescoes and the Last Judgment, educational signage, an optional audio guide for rent, a video theater, and social media friendly photo opportunities

Since the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel is curved, these reproductions are as close to the original size as possible.

Our mission was never to copy the entire chapel, so bordering elements such as the Ignudi angels and other framing devices are not included. It was necessary to crop some of the images in order to fit them into the display design, but rest assured: all key images from the ceiling are included.

Local regulations for COVID safety will apply.

The exhibition adheres to local regulations regarding mask requirements

Miscellanous

Sorry, no outside food or drink is allowed.

Yes, parents with strollers are always welcome. Your baby will have one of the best views in the house!

The exhibit is produced by  Special Entertainment Events (SEE ), a L.A.-based exhibition production company which acquired the worldwide rights to the fresco reproductions from Bridgeman Images. The photographs were taken post-restoration of the ceiling; in some cases, color enhancement was necessary to match the images for consistency.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition. A life-size, up-close, never-before-seen perspective of the iconic masterpieces.

Brought to you by SEE Global Entertainment (SEE®), a family of companies representing the finest in themed entertainment specializing in global touring exhibitions.

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ⓒ 2024 SEE Global  Entertainment®. All rights reserved.

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• Top Attractions
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Sistine Chapel

Regarded as Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) is a jaw-dropping attraction you must see at least once in your lifetime.   

The Sistine Chapel is one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican City , of Rome, and of the world in general. It's known as much for its decoration, as for being the temple in which popes are chosen and crowned.

The construction of the building was carried out between 1473 and 1481 during the mandate of Pope Sixtus IV , to whom it owes its current name. The architect responsible for the construction was Giovanni of Dolci and it's the only work that he is remembered for.

The most striking thing about the Sistine Chapel is not its architecture, but the frescoes that completely cover the walls and the ceiling. Some of the most important artists who worked in the chapel are Botticelli, Perugino, Luca, and Michelangelo .

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel

All of the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel are the work of Michelangelo , who spent four years painting the vault between 1508 and 1512.

If there is one thing that stands out from among the images on the ceiling, it's the nine stories from Genesis that occupy the central area : The scenes from the Drunkenness of Noah to the Separation of Light from Darkness are represented.

The Creation of Adam

Without any doubt, The Creation of Adam is the best-known image from the Sistine Chapel . It's located in the central part of the vault and represents the story from Genesis in which God gives life to Adam.

The Final Judgment

Located over the high altar and with some magnificent dimensions (13.7 by 12.2 meters), Michelangelo’s other masterpiece , The Final Judgment, is found. It's a fresco that represents the Apocalypse of St. John.

Decorating the apse occupied five years of Michelangelo’s life, between 1536 and 1541 . It was an assignment of Pope Paul III to cover the murals that existed to that point.

Skip the lines

If you're visiting the Sistine chapel, you'll have to visit the Vatican museums, the most popular attraction in Rome and Europe.

The best way to do this is to take a combo tour that takes in the Basilica, Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel, with a local guide,  we recommend reserving a guided tour of the Vatican  so you can make the most of the attraction.

If you hope to visit on your own, the best time is to go at 1 pm . We don't recommend going on the first Sunday of the month (when it's free) or over Easter . We also recommend that you avoid weekends, above all in high season.

Inside the Vatican Museums , in the Vatican City.

Monday – Saturday: 9 am – 6 pm (Ticket office closes at 4 pm). Sunday: Closed except the last Sunday of each month: 9 am – 2 pm. (Ticket office closes at midday, 12:30 pm). 1, 6 January: closed 11 February: closed 22 February: closed 19, 28 February: closed 29 June: closed 15 August: closed 1 November: closed 8, 26 December: closed

Adults: € 16 ( US$ 17.20) Children (ages 6 – 18): € 8 ( US$ 8.60) Students (ages 19 – 26): € 8 ( US$ 8.60) The entrance is free the last Sunday of each month .

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour € 70 ( US$ 75.40)

Metro station: Cipro-Musei Vaticani , line A (orange).

Nearby places

St. Peter's Basilica (95 m) Vatican City (123 m) St. Peter's Square (261 m) Vatican Museums (432 m) Castel Sant'Angelo (1 km)

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Have the Sistine Chapel to yourself on a new tour

Oct 3, 2019 • 2 min read

Ceiling of the Sistine chapel in the Vatican museum ©S-F/Shutterstock

Many of us have seen the Sistine Chapel. It welcomes about seven million people a year. But few have witnessed the masterpieces it holds, like The Last Supper and The Creation of Adam, without the presence of crowds.

The Sistine Chapel , where cardinals meet to elect a new pope, is one of the world's most frequented museums. Painted by Michelangelo  between 1508 and 1512, it's arguably the most famous and valuable work of art in the world too. Its monumental frescoes, which depict a number of different Biblical scenes, attract about 25,000 visitors per day. As anyone who has visited the chapel knows, there's usually an endless line of tourists waiting to get in. And the hopes of experiencing an inspired or spiritual moment can, more often than not, end up being dashed amid the rush for seats or as guards shout: "no pictures" before you're moved on on to make way for the crowds behind you.

If you want to experience it without the crowds you can, but it doesn't come cheap. True Luxury travel company has announced a new private Sistine Chapel tour that allows visitors to experience the artwork without the crowds. Private tours are usually reserved for royals, politicians and celebrities but for the hefty sum of $5558 (€5098) per person (based on two people), guests can have the chapel all to themselves. Well, along with a private art historian who has been personally appointed by the Vatican City State to lead the tour.

The experience includes access to the Upper Galleries and the Pius-Christian Museum (which houses the largest collection of early Christian sculptures in existence) and the passage through the Immaculate Conception and Sobieski Rooms. The tour will start at 6am, as visitors accompany the Vatican's “ clavigero ”, or key keeper, as he passes through the halls performing the “solemn rite” of unlocking the 300 gates to the museum and switching on the lights to the Sistine Chapel. Guests will enjoy a breakfast in the Courtyard of the Pinecone, before then spending the entire day exploring the Vatican with their private art historian guide. The tour also includes a break for three-course lunch at an Italian restaurant before continuing on towards St. Peter’s Basilica and more of the Vatican museums.

If you don't have a few thousand euro to spare, there are small groups (usually limited to between six and 15 people) available with various tour operators at a lower cost.

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• Vatican visit

Sistine Chapel tour Early Bird w/ Vatican Museums & St Peter’s Basilica

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Why booking with us.

• Our engaging guides are all highly qualified
• All our services stand out for being single language
• We have possibility to guarantee tours every day
• Experienced staff always takes care of customers
• Spanish - English
• Early access to the Vatican Museums Including Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica
• Mobile voucher accepted

Tour Details

Enjoy Vatican and Sistine Chapel including St Peter’s Basilica: a guide will show you around in Spanish or English. This tour lets you get inside the Vatican Museums as first thing in the morning : you will be out of all crowds and people rush.

You have the opportunity to enjoy one of the most visited beauties in the world in a total relax. Go on with the tour visiting the rest of Vatican Museums and profiting to not have too many people around yourself.

Meeting point

Meet at Via Tunisi 4, on the pedestrian street, upper side of the road closer to the corner with Viale Vaticano (in front of Vatican Museums entrance).

–> Open in Google Maps

Our assistant will be there with a sign that says “ Tourismotion ”. Please, we strongly recommend you to arrive to the meeting point at least 5 minutes before the beginning of the tour.

Price Includes

• Early access to the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel)
• Profit to visit the St Peter's Basilica with guide
• Live-speaking guide
• Helpline and assistance

Price Excludes

• Pick up and mobility

Know before you go

• Access to the monuments on this tour is not possible with large backpacks. Please take a small backpack or bag
• The group tour is not suitable for those with mobility issues. Please book a private tour

Cancellations

• Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the activity starts. If you cancel under this time or do not show up, you will not be refunded. Please send an email to: [email protected] in case you want to cancel your tour.

What to Expect

You will meet before normal Sistine chapel hours : your guide will wait for you directly outside of the Vatican Museums, ready to get inside as first.

Thanks to our first access ticket, you will enter the museums 30 minutes before the start of the group tours and one and a half hours before the opening to the general public. Before heading inside, the guide will give you an introduction to the museums and share some interesting facts about the Sistine Chapel , as no talking is allowed here.

As you do not need to wait in the queues at the ticket office, you will enter the Vatican Museums at 8 am and walk to the Sistine Chapel. You will be among the first ones there !

You will have plenty of time to appreciate all the details of the amazing Michelangelo’s frescoes.

You will admire also the rest of the Vatican Museums.

Later you will go on entering the St Peter’s Basilica and profiting of guided explanations. You will admire Michelangelo’s sculptures like The Madonna della Pietà.

We would like to inform all our customers that we are not an official reseller of Vatican Museums tickets. We are an agency providing guided and group tours, so that we use tickets as embedding part of packages and products also including other services. We sell only tickets where we have surplus amounts, accordingly with the same cost price valid at ticket offices (included booking fees), it could just be restricted to the remaining availability close to the date of entry. – The official price of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel entrance purchased on the official website or at the Vatican Museums ticket office is € 17.

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Trully recommended!! Very nice and unique experience to do with your family.

Super chulo, parece mentira ver los museos con poca gente. Me ha flipado.

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Sistine Chapel Choir tours US for first time in 30 years

© Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk | CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

A choir that typically sings at all Papal events in the Vatican will be making one last stop on their US tour before returning home. The Vatican’s Sistine Chapel Choir, composed of 20 adults and 30 boys, arrived in the US on Saturday, September 16 to perform at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.

The choir’s second stop was a performance at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. The “Pope’s Choir” will make one last stop on Saturday, September 23, at the Detroit Opera House .

This rare tour is the first time in 30 years that the Choir has visited the US and is part of an effort to showcase their renewed technique. According to Crux , Choir director Monsignor Massimo Palombella has high ambitions:

To return the choir to its early glory in the 16th century, when the group attracted the best singers in Europe, Palombella did extensive research. He sifted through the Vatican archives, studying music manuscripts and analyzing the handwriting of Renaissance composers.

The choir has been performing works from composers such as Allegri, di Lasso, Palestrina, and Victoria. Catholic News Agency reports that the choir also, “will be performing sounds iconic of the Mexico City Cathedral and the many works of the Spanish composers which had made their way to the ‘new world.'”

According to Dr. Grayson Wagstaff, dean of the Latin American Music Center at The Catholic University of America, “these works by Spanish composers would be the core of music transmitted, taught and copied in manuscripts in Mexico” and is very significant to the “Church’s artistic patrimony,” inspiring “parishes to focus on quality music and learning about the Church’s legacy of art.”

For an inside look at the choir, watch the video below and hear the director explain more about its background and this historic visit to the US.

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