vip vatican tours

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Your personal private guide will lead you on this journey. All of our star guides have passed one of the world’s most difficult exams and obtained their Vatican Tour Guide License. Throughout the length of your tour, your guide will be able to answer any questions you have. There will be no waiting on others in the group or being rushed to the next gallery. If you fall in love with a specific work by Raphael, feel free to bask in awe. Early Access For your private tour, a pre-opening start time is the way to go. You will be able to enter either 1 hour ahead of the general public or even 90 minutes before. If you choose to enter at 8 am (tours meet at 7:30), you will enter with only a limited number of tour operators and their clients. Our most popular time choice for private tours, this entrance beats the general public and the vast majority of total visitors.

Visiting the Vatican should be a life-long memory and with one of our private tours we guarantee you’ll have an unforgettable time. With our exclusive access; skip the line and enter before the public in the morning or after they leave at night. With a personal Licensed Guide at your disposal, have an ultimate experience at the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. Your personal private guide will lead you on this journey. All of our star guides have passed one of the world’s most difficult exams and obtained their Vatican Tour Guide License. Throughout the length of your tour, your guide will be able to answer any questions you have. There will be no waiting on others in the group or being rushed to the next gallery. If you fall in love with a specific work by Raphael, feel free to bask in awe. Early Access For your private tour, a pre-opening start time is the way to go. You will be able to enter either 1 hour ahead of the general public or even 90 minutes before. If you choose to enter at 8 am (tours meet at 7:30), you will enter with only a limited number of tour operators and their clients. Our most popular time choice for private tours, this entrance beats the general public and the vast majority of total visitors.

Filter by the price per person

10 results found

Skip the Line

Private Skip the Line Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter's Basilica Tour

Enjoy a tailored VIP Vatican experience with a dedicated private guide

( 129 ) From: $456.52

Private Rome in a Day Tour with Colosseum & Vatican Museums

See the best of Rome your way with a private guide at the Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain, and more!

( 52 ) From: $1,127.74

Private Tour

Private Vatican, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Dome Climb Complete Tour

Climb St. Peter's Dome then tour the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

( 45 ) From: $553.70

Transportation Included

Rome Shore Excursion from Civitavecchia

Book a private Rome tour and see the Colosseum, Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and more in just one day!

( 24 ) From: $2,033.95

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica Private Tour

See the wonders of the Vatican on a tailored private tour with expert guide and skip-the-line entry

( 131 ) From: $445.22

Private Family-Friendly Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour

Enjoy a boredom-free Vatican private tour that's perfect for kids, with treasure hunt and fun guide

( 21 ) From: $505.11

Vatican Under the Stars Private Evening Tour with Sistine Chapel

Appreciate the Vatican masterpieces without the crowds on an after-hours tour with a private guide

( 24 ) From: $403.41

The Quickest Direct Access Private Vatican Tour

Explore the Vatican on a shorter, tailored tour that includes the Sistine Chapel

( 27 ) From: $449.74

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Travel Home > Italy > Rome Tours > VIP Vatican

Exclusive After-Hours Vatican VIP Private Tour and Sistine Chapel

Officially licensed guides, private tours of italy, flexible rescheduling, after-hours private vatican tour.

Have you  ever dreamt of being able to visit the Vatican and Sistine Chapel without the crowds ? Italy by Luxe can make this happen.

On our exclusive VIP tour, we arrange  completely private openings of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel just for you .

We start our journey in the evening when the museums have been closed to the public. We will be greeted by the custodians who will have the keys to open the large doors to the Vatican Museums as you begin your private tour experience which culminates in a private viewing inside the glorious Sistine Chapel.

Rooms of The Vatican and Sistine Chapel Visited On The VIP Tour

In the Vatican Museum we will visit the following: 

• The Gallery of the Candelabra
• The Room of the Tapestries
• The Room of the Maps

As part of this experience, we will also  visit Raphael’s Rooms . The rooms, commissioned by Pope Julius II are four rooms painted by  the master Raphael  in the 16th century. We will view:

• The Room of Constantine
• The Room of Heliodorus 
• The Room of the Signature (segnatura) – home to one of Raphael’s most famous works, the School of Athens
• The Room of the Fire in the Borgo

The tour concludes with  an exclusive tour of the Sistine Chapel  where you can really take the time to savor the majesty and magnificence of the masterpieces on display including:

• The interior of the Chapel
• The world Famous Fresco’s and artworks by luminaries like Botticelli
• Sistine Chapel ceiling & The Last Judgment by Michelangelo

Exclusive After-Hours Access To The Vatican Museum Rooms

We will start our private 2-hour journey through the corridors of the magnificent museums –  just you, your guide & a private Vatican custodian to accompany you on the journey .

The Vatican Museums were not originally designed as a museum space; instead, the museums are actually part of the private palaces of the Popes hence you will be able to feel the majesty of the space as it was designed to be experienced.  Privately . The silence of the corridors, the time & space to experience & understand the majesty of the works of art that grace the halls.

Private Sistine Chapel Tour

Finally, we will descend the private staircase and  visit Michelangelo’s masterpiece : the Sistine Chapel.

Named after Pope Sixtus IV, the Sistine Chapel has always been a private chapel of the Popes as well as the space for the conclave (where Popes are elected by the Cardinals). Prior to Michelangelo’s ceiling, many Renaissance artists had a hand in the frescoes along the walls including  Botticelli ,  Perugino ,  Rosselli  &  Ghirlandaio . 

With your expert guide, you will receive a detailed explanation of the magnificent frescoes (something that is never allowed during normal opening times). From the greatest frescoes including the  Creation of Man to the Last Judgement , you will be able to reflect on Michelangelo’s work in the silence & reverence in which it was designed to be experienced.

VIP Vatican Tour Details

Availability: To be arranged with the Vatican Museums (Sundays are not possible; Friday evenings are only available between November – March)

Duration: 2 hours

Meeting point: At your Rome accommodation

Inclusions:

• Private opening of the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
• Private officially-licensed guide
• Return private chauffeured Mercedes Benz transfers from/to your centrally located Rome accommodation

Additional Private Opening Options:

After meeting your guide & Mercedes Benz driver at your centrally located Rome accommodation, you will be whisked to the entrance to the Vatican Museums where at 6am the doors will be opened by the Vatican’s official keyholder or ‘Clavigero’. You will accompany him through the museums to the Atrium of the Quattro Cancelli where he will pick up the historic bunch of 300 keys including the keys to the Sistine Chapel.

After this, you will be accompanied to the Sistine Chapel where your guide will explain its magnificent frescoes or leave you in silence to enjoy one of the greatest artistic masterpieces in the world. 

Finally, you will head to the Cortile della Pigna for breakfast before continuing your private tour of the Vatican Museums prior to the general public opening time of 9 am.

For prices or to book a private viewing of the opening of the Sistine Chapel with the Official Keyholder, get in touch with our team by filling out the form below . 

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Contact Us About Our VIP Private Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour

Our exclusive Vatican tour is in great demand, and naturally, bookings for such a unique experience have to be made in advance of your arrival in Rome.

To find out about available dates please contact us using the online inquiry form below:

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Private Vatican Tours

Best-Selling Vatican Tours Private Tours

4 results found

Private Essential Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums & St. Peter's Basilica Tour

(49 Reviews)

• Private Tours

starts from 565 €

Private Vatican Tour: VIP Experience

(41 Reviews)

starts from 865 €

Private Vatican Night Tour

(6 Reviews)

starts from 495 €

Private Early Morning Sistine Chapel with Vatican Tour

starts from 645 €

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The Best Private Vatican Tours

Spend a day surrounded by the beauties that characterize this unique state in the world. With our private Vatican tours your stay will be unforgettable, you will be able to privately enjoy the majesty of the Sistine Chapel, the History behind its beautiful Churches, and also experience our night tour that will make the works of art even more impressive that will reveal themselves before your eyes.

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Vatican VIP:Exclusive Private Tour with Sistine Chapel & Basilica

• Easy to reach office near the Museums' entrance
• Privileged entry to the Vatican Museums
• Private official tour guide
• Included: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica
• Skip-the-line tickets and booking fees included
• Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
• Guaranteed to skip the lines
• Hotel pickup & drop off
• What a Life Tours, Via Santamaura, 14B, 00192 Roma RM, Italy The tour starts from our office at Via Santamaura 14-B.
• St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
• Not wheelchair accessible
• Stroller accessible
• Near public transportation
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Most travelers can participate
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Vatican Museums

Similar experiences

• You'll start at What a Life Tours Via Santamaura, 14B, 00192 Roma RM, Italy The tour starts from our office at Via Santamaura 14-B. See address & details
• 1 What a Life Tours Stop: 2 minutes See details
• 2 Vatican Museums Stop: 2 hours - Admission included See details
• 3 Sistine Chapel Stop: 20 minutes See details
• 4 St. Peter's Basilica Stop: 30 minutes See details
• You'll end at St. Peter's Basilica Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City See address & details

• richardcD9061BN 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Vatican Tour with Robert Don't typically give reviews - but thought we should recognise the ease of booking, excellent organisation and wonderful tour of the Vatican by Robert of 'What a Life Tours"... WALT office is within a few minutes of Vatican City. Robert was the perfect host, enormously knowledgeable and not at all dry or stuffy. He gauged the level of his pitch by asking us all a few questions - everyone was made to feel welcome. He got us all with his infectious enthusiasm - along with the way the Vatican staff (and the other tour guides) wanted to say hello to him and welcome his tour. So, whether you are parents having fun with your kids - or a bunch of postdocs studying Classics - you'll be having fun and learning a lot! Read more Written April 7, 2024
• donnabQ383XC 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Highly recommend Our tour guide (I think her name was something like Mangdalyn?) was so good! She had degrees in art history and was so knowledgeable about everywhere we went. I was very impressed with how easy she made seeing so many important things. This tour covered the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica - really well done. I’d highly recommend What a Life tours and our tour guide! Read more Written April 7, 2024
• W6829DFtobiask 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome Tour Tour Guide was awesome, very funny and motivated! He knew very much about the vatican and explained in perfect english. Read more Written April 6, 2024
• 270lennyc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour overall and great if you only have one day to see the Vatican. Ask for Eugenio as your guide. He's awesome! Great tour and even better tour guide! Eugenio was our guide and made our experience amazing. We only had three days in Rome and there were a lot of options for tours within the Vatican. This tour let's you see a lot. Eugenio took us through the Sistine Chapel and told us rich details and stories of how the beautiful paintings came to be. I recommend asking for Eugenio for this tour when you visit the Vatican. Read more Written April 6, 2024
• J596RCdustinc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fantastic tour! Eugene was fantastic! Interesting stories and he made the very crowded Vatican an enjoyable experience. Wonderful not to have to wait in a long line. Read more Written April 6, 2024
• Ralph K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Good experience Adriano was a very good guide. Many thanks for the smooth organization. Learned about may interesting details, and no long waiting times. Read more Written April 6, 2024
• N1131JOseans 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Small group tour was worth it Our guide Laura was knowledgeable and interesting as she led our family on a tour of The Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Read more Written April 5, 2024
• B1645DIsandrad 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Once in a lifetime This tour was expensive but worth the money for our first trip to The Vatican City, What A Life tour operators were easy to deal with and very helpful, we got lost on our way to the meeting point and the operator rang us and helped us find our way, John our tour guide was engaging and informative and during a very busy period guided us expertly around the vatican museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peters. Thank you and well done to all involved. Read more Written April 5, 2024
• marissad831 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing tour, highly recommend Wow! Cannot recommend booking a tour of the Vaticane (go early! suck it up and chug some coffee. It’s worth it) enough. If you have a guide, especially this one, you get through everything much faster and you are way less confused. Our tour guide Elaine was an absolute expert. Super knowledgeable and got us to all the best spots. Kept the humor going the whole time. Thank you, Elaine! Read more Written April 4, 2024
• Kim T 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles The Vatican revealed by a Sicilian Doctor of Philosophy and passionate Roman historian. Ferdinand is a master of interesting information as he is an archaeologist with a PhD. He poses questions and theories at you as you race around the Vatican, Sistine chapel and St Peters Basilica taking in all the beauty and grandeur. As he says you can look and admire but I make you question and observe what tourists do not see. It was as a truly fabulous experience to go on a tour with him. He made our Vatican experience special and unforgettable. I feel I have learned the true history. Read more Written April 4, 2024
• katinkas230 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Skip-the-line with them was a very good decision! We had a very entertaining tour with Daniela. She was very well informed and experienced guide. I can only recommend their tours and programmes!Thank you again! Read more Written April 4, 2024
• Keith R 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Tour....F Viator, Book Direct if you can Excellent tour. Had issues with Viator reservation and they helped to resolve the issues. You cannot get a live person on line at Viator and I think they probably charge extra so I would recommend not booking thru Viator and booking direct. It's only more hassle, money, and their customer service at Viator is the worst. Everyone at What a Life Tours was absolutely great and went above and beyond to help salvage our day in Rome. Guide was excellent and kind. . Read more Written April 4, 2024
• 391ivyb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Superb Daniela was an amazing tour guide, so friendly and made the tour one of a kind :) lots of in depth details whilst still being able to take in the vast amount of things to see Read more Written April 4, 2024
• 767gavina 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Vatican Tour review Gabriel was a very good tour guide. Very informative and fun. Took plenty of time for the tour throughout, took time for breaks. Read more Written April 4, 2024
• deidree2024 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fun and informative beautiful tour with the best guide! Gabriel was really informative and fun! I learned a lot and really enjoyed the tour through this beautiful historical momentums. Don’t hesitate to book this tour!! You don’t regret it Read more Written April 4, 2024

More to explore in Rome

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Buy it with

Vatican VIP:Exclusive Private Tour with Sistine Chapel & Basilica provided by What a Life Tours

• Tel: +39 351 730 0834

Vatican Tours Overview

IWU are THE Vatican guided tour specialists! We offer private tours of the Sistine Chapel, after-hours VIP tours of the Vatican, group tours... any kind of Vatican guided tour you could ever need.

All of our Vatican Guided Tours offer excellent value for money and create an enjoyable and informative environment for you to better understand this unique site.

Vatican 8am Exclusive Tour

Italy With Us also offers a "VIP" tour, which gains admission to the museums at 8am, an hour before the normal opening time. This means you can visit the Sistine Chapel first, before the hordes descend..."

Nick Trend, The Telegraph

The private or semi-private tours entail a 3 hour Tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, all with your own personal guide.

Our 08.00 am entrance (fixed time) will ensure that you go into the museums one full hour before the general public. The official time for the regular line to enter is 09.00 am although that depends on people with reservations going in first. Group tours last two+ hours and cover the Vatican museums as well as the Sistine chapel.

VIP Tours Of Vatican

The finest Vatican tour on offer. This exclusive and very private after-hours tour of the Vatican Musuems and Sistine Chapel allows you to enjoy these sites as they were meant to be seen, in peace and quiet. You can take your time to savour all of the considerable details of the Vatican's most sublime treasures. There are no crowds, no waiting lines and, most importantly, no distractions.

Beat the Queues!

The line to enter the Vatican museum is usually very long and sometime snakes back all the way to St. Peter's itself!

It is not unheard for customers to wait 3 hours or more to gain entrance. We offer reserved entrances to ensure that you don’t have to wait in line and can choose the best time for your visit.

Recommended Vatican Tours

Vatican Morning Tour

"Italy With Us can get you in for an exclusive morning viewing before the doors officially open or after hoi polloi have been ushered out at night"  Kate Simon, The Independent

Vatican Morning - VIP EXTRA

"Unless you enjoy staring at Michelangelo's masterpiece cheek-by-jowl with the rest of the crowd, go VIP and book a new private morning tour" - National Geographic, Smart Traveler

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David & the Accademia

Visit Florence and discover the Accademia Gallery on one of our customer favourite guided tours, and be enlightened with its historical works, of which your guide will introduce you to the home of the Statue of David!

Tour of the Uffizi

La   Galleria   degli   Uffizi is on the list of the world’s top 10 museums and art galleries - hence the long line of people at the entrance waiting to get in. A name synonymous with renaissance art, a collection that humbles countless galleries worldwide, the Uffizi is truly unique.

Florence in a Day

This tour is for those who know what they want! Our Introduction to Florence, Uffizi & Accademia tour will leave no stone unturned. The tour comprises of an introductory tour of the city and its most famous sites before moving on to tour of both the Uffizi and Accademia art galleries!

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

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VIP Vatican Private Tour

Tour overview.

VIP Vatican Private Tour: Benefit from skip-the-line access and your very own Vatican expert to guide you through the exquisite collection of the Vatican Museums. With more than 1,200 rooms, it can feel like a spectacular maze. Save yourself the time and energy of going through it alone and head straight to what you want to see. All your questions are answered and all the personal attention you need.

Tour Highlights

• Pinecone Courtyard
• Belvedere Apollo
• Laocoön and His Sons
• Raphael Rooms
• Belvedere Torso
• Greek Cross Hall
• Gallery of Candelabra
• Gallery of Tapestries
• Gallery of Maps
• Sistine Chapel
• St. Peter’s Square
• St. Peter’s Basilica
• Michelangelo’s Pietà
• Bernini’s Baldachin

What's included

• Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums
• Skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica
• Expert English-speaking tour guide
• Private customizable tour
• All tickets and reservations

What you’ll See Along the Way

The bronze canopy, known as the Baldachin, stands at 200 meters tall in St Peter’s Basilica, towering above the main altar. Its bronze was said the have been taken from the Pantheon ceiling in order for renowned artists Gian Lorenzo Bernini and Francesco Borromini (who would later become competitive rivals) to create the collaborative canopy. Meticulous planning and intricate techniques were used to create a soft fabric effect, similar to that of traditional cloth canopies. It was the first example in which Bernini combined sculpture with architecture, and it marked a pivotal moment in the Baroque movement.

This charming courtyard is adequately named after its bulky bronze pinecone sculpture. Upon its unearthing near the Pantheon, curious contemporaries went straight to work to discover the origins of the mysterious treasure. They concluded that it had been brought to Rome from Hadrian’s Villa, in Tivoli, which would make it approximately 2,000 years old today. More interestingly, though, the pinecone functioned as a fountain – a wine fountain! Legend has it that Emperor Hadrian, known for his lavishly luxurious lifestyle, apparently had the pinecone rigged to pour white wine on one side and red on the other.

The larger-than-life Apollo Belvedere stands at over 7 feet tall and was once thought to exemplify aesthetic perfection by 18th century neoclassicists. Its origin, however, stems all the way back to the 2nd century, when a solid block of white marble was masterfully chiseled into the stunning icon we see today: Apollo with soft curls and a flowing cape providing a drastic contrast to the toned musculature of his body as he releases an arrow from his bow.

Much mystery surrounds the sculpture of Laocoon and his sons, in which the three are depicted near life-sized, suffering an attack by giant sea serpents. The characters stem from ancient Roman and Greek Mythology, so its legend is well known, but its age remains uncertain, with approximations being placed between 27 BC and 68 AD. The impressive work, created by three Greek sculptors Agesander, Athenodoros and Polydorus, serves as an excellent example of Hellenistic Baroque style.

Walk in the very footsteps of Renaissance master Raphael. In the public portion of the Papal Apartments you will find the four Raphael Rooms: The Hall of Constantine, The Room of Heliodorus, The Room of the Signatura, and The Room of the Fire in the Borgo, all of which were named after and attributed to Raphael himself, although he did receive some assistance from his students. The artist spent more than 16 years of his life on these fascinating frescoes and one could almost spend an equal amount of time admiring them.

While one might feel inclined to question the relevance of a mere sculpted torso, - with no arms, legs, or face - it is worth noting that The Sistine Chapel would not have been the same without The Belvedere Torso. The ancient statue dates back to the 1st century BC and was brought to Rome the 1400s. During his reign, Pope Julius II called upon Michelangelo to recreate its missing limbs, but the artist declined, as he believed the torso was perfect. So perfect, in fact, that he studied it for years and used it as a model for many characters featured in the Sistine Chapel, including Christ himself in The Last Judgment.

Decadent details adorn this hemispherical vault from top to bottom. Tread lightly on intricate 3rd century mosaics that pave the floor beneath you as you make your way past stunning statues and circle round the decadent red porphyry bath of Nero. A bronze statue of Hercules looks down on visitors as they gaze upward towards the coffered dome ceiling, which was modeled after that of The Pantheon.

Neighboring the Round Room is the Greek Cross Hall which houses two towering Egyptian style statues from Hadrian’s Villa, a 4th century mosaic of Minerva, and two grand sarcophagi of red Egyptian porphyry. Here you will learn a bit about the Ancient Romans’ fascination with Egypt, discuss the lavish lifestyle of Emperor Hadrian, and have a chance to formulate your own opinion on the ongoing debate about whom the sarcophagi were intended for.

2nd century candelabras pave the way through the gallery amongst a mesmerizing collection of marble statues. In Ancient Rome, the poor used oil lamps for illumination, but the rich used sturdy candelabra, which line this corridor today. The 19th century floors, decked with perfectly symmetrical patterns of colored marble, surround a hyper-realistic 2nd century still-life mosaic at the center of the room – together highlighting the masterful skill in Rome’s stonework throughout the centuries.

The incredible story-telling tapestries hanging in this gallery were designed and woven in Brussels by the students of Raphael. The elaborate works of wool and silk were displayed for the first time in 1531 draped along the lower walls of the Sistine Chapel. In fact, they were originally made for the purpose of insulating the chapel during cold winters. Instead, they now line the walls of their very own gallery, mapping the story of Christ in chronological order – and with some advanced ‘shifting perspective’ techniques to be admired, as well.

This gallery is one of the most impressive of the Vatican Museums. Light beams in through the windows illuminating the various shades of gold that adorn the corridor. The 40 maps, representing the regions of Italy, were frescoed onto the walls between 1580 and 1583. Even without aircraft technology, these artists managed to portray amazingly accurate overviews of the regions. What’s more, the ceiling was painted to exhibit a brief history of events that had taken place in each of the corresponding regions below them.

In 1508 Pope Julius II summoned Michelangelo to Rome, asking him to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo, who considered himself a sculptor and not a painter, respectfully declined the commission. Unsurprisingly, the pontifex did not take the artist’s “no” for an answer (they didn’t call him the “Warrior Pope” for nothing) and thus Michelangelo was forced to spend the next 4 years of his life unwillingly frescoing the chapel’s enormous vault. But, as much as Michelangelo loathed his neckbreaking chore, the fruit of his labor was spectacular, perhaps one of the greatest pictorial decorations in all of Western art.

Spanning out from the sides of St Peter’s Basilica and centering on a towering Egyptian Obelisk are the colonnades of St Peter's Square, designed by famed architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. An aerial view offers a symbolic perspective in which the shape of the stunning piazza resembles a keyhole. This was not an accident! It was, in fact, designed in reference to the keys handed to Saint Peter by Christ – the key to the church and the key to the city. Every week, visitors from all around the world gather here to receive a public address and a blessing from the Pope himself.

The crown jewel of The Vatican holds some of the city’s most magnificent must-sees within its towering walls. Bernini’s most powerful contributions include his work on the bronze Baldachin, St Peter’s throne, and his enormous sculpture of Saint Longinus. Michelangelo’s marvelously sculpted Pieta is known to move witnesses to tears, but nothing tops (literally) his magnificent dome. Even for those who are not religious the church offers incredible feats in both architecture and art, which surround you from all angles – a truly stupendous experience.

Upon entering St Peter’s Basilica, each guest is quickly greeted by Michelangelo’s magnificent marble sculpture: The Pieta - one of his most famous masterpieces. Carved from a solid block of white marble, it depends Jesus’ body lying across the lap of Mary. Interestingly, this is the only work that Michelangelo ever signed or, in this case, carved his name on. Contemporary artist, Vasari, claims that Michelangelo had overheard some onlookers doubting his ability to have created the sculpture, so he broke into the church and carved “MICHAELA[N]GELUS BONAROTUS FLORENTIN[US] FACIEBA[T]” (Michelangelo Buonarroti, Florentine, made this) across Mary’s sash. Afterwards, he regretted the act and vowed to never sign his works again.

An Incredible Way to See the Vatican A Private Tour

Welcome to the Vatican Museums, where some of the greatest artists in history made their most significant contributions. Delve into this magnificent gallery of unparalleled art, where corridors enhanced with chiaroscuro frescoes bring flat surfaces to life with character and dimension. Where walls are draped with tapestries of golden thread and optical illusions. Where life-sized sculptures exemplify the complex beauty of the human form. Where the treasures are seemingly timeless and certainly priceless. Feast your eyes on iconic works by the big names of the Renaissance and Baroque periods including Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, and more. Not only will you have the opportunity to check off some of the world’s top “bucket list” items, with the help of your passionate private guide and their knack for storytelling, but you’ll also leave with a well-rounded perspective of the art and the artists themselves.

From the Gallery of Maps to the Raphael Rooms with an Expert

Make your way to the Raphael Rooms, taking all the time you need. Amazingly, many Vatican tours don’t venture into these fabulous galleries to make a beeline for the Sistine Chapel, but we won’t cut any corners. It is our mission to show you “the best of the best” at the Vatican Museums, which means that skipping the Raphael Rooms simply would not do, especially for his iconic masterpiece ‘The School of Athens. In the early 1500s, Raphael spent the last years of his life adorning these “stanze”, or “rooms”, with frescoes. In fact, a group of his students, who had to finish the projects upon his passing in 1520, assisted him throughout the project. Each of the four rooms has a theme, which the frescoes illustrate. For example, the ‘Room of the Fire in the Borgo’ boasts vivid imagery of the Borgo, a neighborhood just outside of the Vatican Walls, in flames. This was marked as a special event as it is believed that a pope called for a miracle to stop the fire.

See Michelangelo’s Masterpieces The Sistine Chapel & Pietà

It goes without saying that a trip to Rome would not be complete without a thorough gaze upon the Sistine Chapel – and we wouldn’t dare let you miss it! But first, your personal Vatican expert will fill you in on the events, techniques, and details that led to the completion of Michelangelo’s mega-masterpiece. Discover lesser-known secrets and not-so-obvious symbolism within the stunning frescoes, examine how the layout of the ceiling was planned, study his brilliant Sistine Chapel altar wall The Last Judgment, and get the inside scoop on how the Renaissance master was actually forced into painting the chapel against his will! The finale of your Vatican private tour culminates in St. Peter’s Basilica. Majestic and inspired, it is the perfect place to come full circle on your in-depth itinerary. Every inch of this 240,000 square foot church is breathtaking, but our tour goes beyond the gold and splendor, revealing the true stories of fervor, innovation, faith, and power. Feast your eyes on Michelangelo’s Pietà and admire the stunning interior of the dome he designed, as well as Bernini’s massive bronze baldachin erected over the Pope’s private alter directly above the tomb of St. Peter himself.

What our Customers say...

Fabulous tour of the Vatican

Our tour guide Tonia was fantastic! So knowledgeable about the entire tour, Rome, traditions, customs, history and Catholicism. Thoroughly enjoyed her time and knowledge and would recommend her to all of our friends taking a tour and would recommend What A Life Tours for your professionalism and promptness and organization. Thank you so much for a life experience.”

Highlight of Europe!

Our tour with Mario was the highlight of our entire two week trip to Europe. In fact, we loved Rome. I wish I had a fraction of Mario's historical knowledge. He was kind, entertaining and engaging, loved the tour. I'm already planning a trip back to Rome. We will definitely use What a Life in the future!”

We had an amazing tour guide, Carlotta. She was very knowledgeable and accommodating. We had issues with our bags missing and she genuinely offered to help resolve it. She said that if we needed any assistance after the tour was over, to call the office and ask for her and she would help, converse in Italian and all. We spent a lot of time in the Sistine chapel and Carlotta was very thorough and pointed out a lot of things that we would have missed. The office staff were also very friendly and helpful. Thank you for an amazing tour, wishing you all well.”

Excellent Guide

My family of 3 especially my daughter had a very informative insights into the Renaissance period and the exhibits in the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel. Our guide Carlotta is very knowledgeable, patience and detailed in leading us through the renaissance period to what we see today in the Vatican City. She was really patient and didn’t watch the clock but ensured that we learnt what we could during our 3 hour tour. We were very fortunate to be guided by Carlotta and have no hesitation to recommend your services!”

Magic and Memorable

Carlotta was fantastic! Her knowledge added the story behind what we were seeing, so much more than we were expecting. Her passion for the topics and history really shown through and made the 3 hours magic and memorable. One other thing that was a huge help; Carlotta had a good read on us and where we wanted to focus our limited time, so the personal tour was well worth it to us and set us up for the rest of the day at the Vatican. Superstar in every way!”

More of Our Amazing Rome Tours…

Vatican Early Access Tour at Opening

Skip-the-line Vatican Small Group Tour

Colosseum Arena Floor & Vatican Afternoon Tour

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Experiences , Rome

Review: vip vatican key master’s tour – the key to opening the sistine chapel.

This article may contain compensated links. See our full disclosure here

If you’ve ever dreamed of standing inside the Sistine Chapel almost alone, or touring the Vatican Museums without going shoulder to shoulder with the crowds, you will love the VIP Vatican Key Master’s Tour by Take Walks (formerly Walks of Italy). We were lucky enough to enjoy this once in a lifetime experience, and are excited to share with you what you can expect. This exclusive tour from Take Walks is best for art loving travellers or history buffs wanting to enjoy the beauty of the Sistine Chapel in relative solitude. 

Article contents

Overview of the Vatican Key Master’s Tour

The guided tour includes opening the Raphael Rooms, Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of Maps, Gallery of the Tapestries, and Octagonal Courtyard as well as the Sistine Chapel . The tour runs for 2 hours and you can follow it with a well-deserved, delicious breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard afterwards. 

Vatican Key Master’s Tour Highlights

Of course, the biggest highlight is a visit to the Sistine Chapel. Whoever guesses the correct key gets to open the unassuming brown door to the chapel and it is rather indescribable as you enter in darkness and the lights go on to reveal the beauty of Michelangelo’s work. Particularly enjoyable is the opportunity to have your guide explain the paintings to you directly inside the Sistine Chapel- something that is strictly not allowed on other tours.  

About Your Tour Guide

Vatican Museum tour guides must pass rigorous exams before being allowed to offer tours, so you can rest assured that your guide will be an absolute expert when it comes to the museums and the Vatican in general. Our guide (the ‘English Julia’) was not only a licenced Vatican guide, but also worked as a guide for Take Walks. She was friendly and thoroughly entertaining, which we appreciated at 6am in the morning. Julia brought the Vatican and the famous artwork to life for the group and was full of intriguing stories about Michelangelo, Raphael, and more.

Stories and Anecdotes of the Vatican Museums

Raphael was friends with people in high places so was awarded all the ‘interesting’ commissions for a long time until Michelangelo began work on the Sistine Chapel. One day, Raphael snuck into the chapel and when he saw the masterpiece Michelangelo had created, he swallowed his pride and decided to paint his ‘frenemy’ into his own work in the ‘Raphael Rooms’. 

Another fascinating element of the tour was learning about the Laocoonte statue. It was found underground in Rome in 1506 but was missing its right arm. After much debate they attached a new right arm made of the same materials but placed in a position that had the arm reaching to the ceiling. Four hundred years later, in 1906, a German archaeologist found the right arm of the Laocoonte. It was not pointing upwards but arched. The real arm was finally reunited with the statue and reattached. If you visit the statue and go behind it, you can see the fake arm that was part of the sculpture for centuries hidden on the back.

Most Memorable Moment of the Vatican Tour

We’ll never forget the indescribable atmosphere of walking in the steps of Michelangelo through pitch black hallways guided by torch light. It is an incredible experience with so many ‘wow’ moments, but perhaps seeing the lights go on in the Gallery of Maps and being almost blinded by the ornate gold ceilings and splendid maps was one of the most fantastic moments.

That is of course, until you get to the Sistine Chapel at the very end of the tour and find yourself almost alone with the beauty created by Michaelangelo himself in the world’s most famous Chapel. 

Who Should Experience the Key Masters Tour

Dedicated lovers of history and art will consider the Key Master’s tour one of the highlights of their trip to Italy and perhaps their lives. The best part of this tour is being relatively alone inside the Vatican museums with a guide to explain the context. This exclusive experience is one of the most expensive Vatican Tours so it is not recommended for the budget traveler. But, if you’re one of those people who knows they would gasp in awe as you walk through each of the galleries it is a truly priceless once-in-a-lifetime experience.

DISCOVER: more about the Vatican Key Master’s Tour? Go to Take Walks to find out more details and book your own tour. Tickets start from €395 per person. This exclusive tour runs on select mornings at 6am and sells out quickly.

Untold Italy attended as a guest of Take Walks on this tour. All opinions are our own – read more about our disclosure policy  

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Florence & Tuscany

Day trips from rome.

• Customized Tours

VIP Vatican Tour with Exclusive Vatican Mosaic Studio access

Description.

This tour allows you to enjoy an infinite number of masterpieces like Michelangelo’s “Pietà” and “Last Judgment”, gorgeous works by Bernini, Raphael, Botticelli, Perugino, and other treasures all incredibly united under the roof of the world-renowned Vatican museums. The numerous popes that have lived in the Vatican continuously enriched it with different artworks but the unmissable ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and the sublime ‘Last Judgment” by Michelangelo are the real attraction.

We’ll start at the usually packed museum entrance, where you will skip the check-in line, and enter the museum directly through a metal detector check. After security, the guide will take you to a panoramic terrace that offers a stunning view of St. Peter’s dome overlooking the Vatican gardens.

In the museums, you will admire the most beautiful Roman statues, you will gasp at the length of the enormous Tapestry Hall, then, through the Hall of the Painted Maps, you will enter the Sistine Chapel whose impact on history, religion, and visual arts has no equal in the world.

Then, through an exclusive gallery directly linked to the Sistine Chapel, you will reach the largest Catholic church in the world: St. Peter’s Basilica. The greatness and care of details will overwhelm you. Highlights of the Basilica include Michelangelo’s Pieta’, the imposing 29-meter-tall Baldacchin by Bernini, and the mosaics that cover the whole ceiling.

A must for art lovers and collectors; this exclusive experience is designed to give our elite clientele the opportunity to bring home the ultimate memento from their Roman holiday. Located inside the walls of Vatican City and not open to the general public, the Studio del Mosaico Della Reverenda Fabbrica di S. Pietro (Official Mosaic Studio of St. Peter’s) was founded in the mid-1500s for the creation of the ten thousand square meters of mosaics that adorn the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica. Centuries later, the Studio’s experts still oversee the care and restoration of these mosaics. The Studio continues to create and issue the world’s finest mosaics – renowned for their exquisite beauty and the quality of their craftsmanship – both for the Pope who gives them as gifts during official visits and for private customers and collectors from around the world.

We’ll gain special entrance into Vatican City, tour the Mosaic Studio, meet its experts and learn all about the history and production of the world’s preeminent mosaic workshop. This tour is ideal for art lovers, collectors, and those celebrating special occasions because you’ll have the opportunity to purchase one of these precious, one-of-a-kind masterpieces to commemorate your trip. Personal checks and credit cards are accepted (except American Express). Shipping and insurance are covered by the Vatican.

Meeting Point

At check-out, before your purchase is confirmed, you will be kindly asked to leave the written address of your accommodation or potential meeting point. This implies the name of the hotel, bed & breakfast or residence in which you will be staying as long as it is situated within the city centre. Such requirements are necessary for pick-up and private services only.

What's Included

• Exclusive entrance to the Vatican city
• VIP Hotel Pick-up with a deluxe vehicle and English-speaking driver
• Private Professional Licensed Guide
• Transportation back to your accommodation
• Optional gratuities

Languages Available

What you'll do.

• Meet your private driver in the meeting point you have indicated on the reservation
• Drive in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to the Vatican museums
• Walk through the highlights of the Vatican museums
• Enter and gasp at the unique beauty of the Sistine Chapel
• Finally, visit the largest Catholic church in the world: St. Peter's Basilica
• Enter the Vatican city through one of the entrances guarded by the Swiss guards
• Enjoy a beautiful walk around the Vatican city, normally closed to the public, as you approach the Mosaic studio
• Watch a professional mosaic studio artist work his magic in front of you
• Learn about the different techniques involved in this prestigious art
• Explore the Mosaic galleries and hear the stories behind its greatest masterpieces
• Free time to purchase one of these unique artworks

What To Remember

• The driver will meet you at the start time and location you have indicated and will wait for a maximum of 30 minutes. Missed tours cannot be refunded.
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
• This tour is not wheelchair-accessible.
• Clients must bring their passports or other valid government-issued identification.
• The tour operator is not responsible for last minute, unpredictable closures, strikes or union meetings. Nevertheless, the tour operator will be happy to offer customers an extended tour for the remaining time.
• The tour is free of charge for children under the age of 6.
• Please note: Tours of the Basilica are not permitted on Wednesday mornings or when special papal ceremonies are taking place. In these cases, your guide will take you to St. Peter's Square and explain it from the outside. Security check is mandatory for everyone entering Vatican City. is mandatory for everyone entering Vatican City.

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VIP Pristine Sistine Tour & Vatican Palace Breakfast

• Enter the Vatican an hour before it opens to the public to get ahead of the crowds.
• Relax with a buffet breakfast in a serene courtyard to fuel up for a morning of discovery on your Vatican tour.
• Visit the Sistine Chapel before it gets busy and take in Michelangelo’s frescoes in relative peace.
• Marvel at the art and architecture housed in St. Peter's Basilica with fascinating insights from your guide.

Tour description

Start your tour with a relaxing breakfast in a historic vatican courtyard..

Some things are well worth waking up early for—and our VIP Pristine Sistine early morning Vatican tour with breakfast is one of them. After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast in one of the Vatican's idyllic courtyards, you'll embark on an in-depth tour of the Vatican Museums before the crowds of the day pour in. Our specially secured early access to the Vatican means that you'll be among the very first people of the day to enter the Sistine Chapel, allowing you to marvel at one of the world's most iconic masterpieces in relative peace.

Your Pristine Sistine Vatican Breakfast Tour starts early so you can be among the first to enter the Vatican—before the museums even open to the general public. After meeting up with your guide and small group, you'll head straight to one of the lovely Vatican Museum courtyards for a breakfast buffet. Relax and take time to soak up the ambiance of our peaceful surroundings as you enjoy your breakfast before you're whisked away for a full tour of the Vatican Museums.

Explore the Vatican Museums without the crowds and be one of the first people of the day to enter the Sistine Chapel.

After breakfast, your Vatican tour will showcase all of the Museums' highlights. In the Belvedere Courtyard, you'll find classical Greek and Roman works. Keep an eye out for the Belvedere Torso in particular; you might recognize it from the Sistine Chapel. Hear details that will enhance your appreciation of the fascinating Laocoön Group sculpture and the Raphael Rooms—widely considered to be among the most beautifully frescoed interiors on earth.

The crown jewel of your early morning Vatican tour comes as you step into the Sistine Chapel as one of the first visitors of the day. Soak up Michelangelo's masterpiece at the quietest time of the morning before the crowds descend.

To finish, you'll head into St. Peter's Basilica via a special access passageway that allows you to bypass the long line already forming outside. It's the perfect place to finish your exploration of one of the most sacred sites on earth.

Visiting the Vatican is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you'll want to make the most of your precious time. Our VIP Pristine Sistine early morning Vatican tour with breakfast ensures you have an experience to remember.

Note: The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays and subject to other unexpected closures during special celebrations, including the Easter ceremonies. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinoteca Gallery. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the church should you wish to visit this on your own at a later occasion. We are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, or for wheelchairs or strollers. Please contact the Guest Experience team at +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.

Sites visited

Verified guest reviews, dec 28, 2023.

The tour guide was so knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant. When another unexpected section was open to us on our tour she went the extra mile- literally- and also showed us that area.

Dec 20, 2023

Great experience! From check-in to leaving the Vatican everything was well thought out. Julia was an excellent guide, extremely well-versed in the art and artifacts. Great sense of humor and could tell a story.

Dec 11, 2023

Alessa was such a fun guide, witty guide and super knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the tour with her. You do have to move quickly through some of the rooms just because there are so any people but that is less about the tour itself and more about the amount of people the Vatican allows in at a time. I would recommend doing the early morning before open to the public. I can't imagine how busy it would have been in the middle of the day. The skip the line passes were so helpful. If you are even considering do one of the early morning ones then spend the money and do it. Well worth it

Nov 02, 2023

The whole process including sign up, meet up, tour and guide were well planned by city walks. The knowledge these guides have is outstanding. They know their stuff and do a great job in the time frame they have. They know how to navigate the crowds from years of experience. I’d say do the early morning but skip the breakfast. It does the job of giving you food to fill up but it’s not that good.

Oct 19, 2023

The tour guide was great, friendly and had some really interesting stories. The headset was essential given the crowds. The breakfast was subpar, kind of chaotic, cold, and generally not very good. The VIP doesn't get you into the Sistine early. We did that about 2-3 hours into the tour and it was about as busy as it can get. We may have gotten into the museums "early", I'm not really sure, but there were definitely crowds the whole time.

Know before you book

Make it a perfect day.

Waking up early for our Pristine Sistine tour means not only getting to experience the Vatican Museums without the typical crowds, but you’ll also have the entire day to explore Rome after. Here’s our one-day itinerary for visiting the Eternal City.

Similar tours

Alone in the vatican: exclusive vip access vatican museums & sistine chapel tour, pristine sistine™ early entrance small group vatican tour, vip vatican key master’s tour: unlock the sistine chapel.

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Exclusive Breakfast at the Vatican with Tour of the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica

• Take advantage our of Early Entrance into the Vatican  and walk into the Papal courtyard in the silence of the morning to sit down for a beautiful spread of American-style breakfast in the same courtyard where the popes have entertained guests for centuries.
• After breakfast, wander the galleries before the crowds and enjoy a closer view than the average visitor of  Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel , Last Judgement and much more. Finish your tour with a visit to the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica .
• With an expert English-speaking art historian as your guide , small groups of no more than 20 people , headsets to ensure you hear everything, we can guarantee a great experience in the Vatican with this semi-private tour!

Tour Description

What's included.

• Guided tour with expert, English-speaking guide
• Group size limited to 20 people or less
• Early entrance to the Vatican Museums 
• All tickets and reservation fees
• Headsets so you can always hear your guide

Sites Visited

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

For the first time ever, City Wonders is proud to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy a banquet breakfast inside the Vatican's Courtyard before the crowd! We gain Reserved Early Access to the Vatican Museums before other groups so you’ll experience the Vatican as few people have ever seen it with this fully guided tour.

Your expert, English-speaking guide will lead you through quiet corridors to the beautiful Courtyard, where you’ll find a banquet fit for the Pope. Begin with an American-style breakfast in the Courtyard among the majestic views of the Vatican with unparalleled serenity before the public is allowed inside. Savor a delicious American and continental breakfast spread including cooked-to-order eggs, meats, cheeses, muffins, croissants, fresh fruits, cereals, and much more. You can even order a short stack from the Vatican's pancake chef! Your breakfast at the Vatican will be relaxed, giving you plenty of time to sit with a coffee or juice on the courtyard patio, soaking up the peace and quiet of this tiny state in the early morning.

Exclusive Entry to Vatican Museums

After breakfast, you’ll join your expert guide for a semi-private tour of the Vatican Museums . Thanks to our exclusive entry time, you’ll get started early – just after other tour groups are allowed to enter and before the corridors of the Museums get crowded. Once inside, you’ll have a good head start on everyone else and will stay ahead of the crowds for much of your journey.

As an expert in art history, your guide will be the perfect host for your journey through the Vatican; leading you through all the highlights of the Museums without having to walk the whopping nine miles covered by the Papal palaces. Saunter along our carefully designed route to admire exquisite centuries old art collections and archeological wonders.

The Masterpieces of Sistine Chapel

Of course, we won’t miss out on the big-name sights like the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries. From there, visit the Sistine Chapel – the Pope’s personal place of worship. Marvel at Michelangelo’s artistry as you immerse yourself within one of the world’s most significant landmarks. Beforehand you’ll be well prepared for the masterpieces that await. You’ll understand the techniques Michelangelo used to create these stunning frescoes (believe it or not, he didn’t actually lie on his back at all) and spot the incredible details and private jokes that he painted into the world’s most iconic artwork, getting the most from your time here.

Finally, your guide will avoid long lines to get you into St. Peter’s Basilica to explore one of the pillars of the Catholic church. Special access means we’ll gain direct entry from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica without having to leave the Museums, walk 20 minutes to St. Peter’s Square and queue up for an hour. With all that extra time to spare, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the Basilica* with your guide. They’ll explain the incredible work that went into the dome here (and how Bernini almost split the Basilica in half), point out incredible artworks within such as Michelangelo’s sculpture ‘Pietà’ and introduce to you what is probably the world’s most impressive altar. With so much to take in, you are also welcome to remain in St. Peter’s Basilica after the tour to experience more of this amazing church at your leisure, or step back outside St. Peter’s Square to admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion and the basilica’s heavenly facade.

Starting the day with an exclusive breakfast at the Vatican and continuing on in a small group tour through the Museums, your Vatican experience will be memorable and intimate. With audio headsets for every guest and only 20 people or less per group, your guide will be easy to hear and interact with, ensuring that you get the very best from this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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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 this tour is only available up to 60 days in advance, due to the nature of the tickets. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
• Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line'.
• 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 also 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.
• 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.

Cancelation Policy

• Please be advised that this tour is 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.

The tours meet at a location very close and convenient to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. Full details of the exact location are included on the confirmation voucher you will receive when you book your tour.

Only in the “Sistine Chapel First Entry Experience with Vatican Museums”, after the guide leaves you in the Sistine Chapel, you are allowed to stay inside the Museums and explore on your own. Please note that this is possible as long as you don’t exit the Museums. For the rest of the Vatican Guided Tours, you won’t be allowed to get back to the Museums once you gotten into St. Peter’s Basilica.

Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start time of the tour.

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Private Vatican Breakfast Tour | VIP Experience

What to expect

Enjoy the most important meal of the day in one of the most important places in Rome, the Vatican Museums. LivTour’s Private Vatican Breakfast Tour begins with skip the line access to the Vatican Museums in the early morning hours before the crowds arrive!

After entering, your experienced tour guide will escort you inside to enjoy the serenity of the early morning in the courtyard while enjoying your Papal breakfast with some treats made exclusively for the Vatican, which you can find nowhere else! The breakfast includes morning favorites such as eggs, pancakes, Italian pastries, cappuccino and much more.

Why book this tour

• Savor a Papal breakfast in the Vatican before the crowds
• Enjoy early morning entry into the Vatican with skip-the-line tickets
• Experience Vatican highlights with an expert dedicated private guide at your side
• See famous works of art by Michelangelo, Raphael and other great Italian artists
• Marvel at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - one of Rome’s most enchanting highlights

Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Tour gallery

Read more about your Private Vatican Breakfast Tour

Your Private Vatican Breakfast Tour with meeting your expert tour guide who will facilitate direct access to the museums and take you through a quick security check.  Along with your private guide, you will make your way inside where you will be seated to enjoy a scrumptious Papal breakfast. As you savor your cappuccino, you can enjoy a hearty selection of farm to table dairy products – coming directly from the papal livestock!  Surprisingly these products, produced on papal estate farms, are exclusive to Vatican City and cannot be found elsewhere.

After an enjoyable and unforgettable breakfast, your private guide will take you on a complete tour of the Vatican Museums. Your tour will include all of the Vatican highlights and a few added extras. The Vatican Museums is the fifth largest museum in the world, so there is a lot to see, which is why we curate our tours in a way that you see the best of what this art and history museum has to offer.

In the Courtyard of Statues, you will see the celebrated 15th-century state of Belvedere Torso, considered to have the perfect form, and artists have used it for centuries as inspiration, even Michelangelo!  The tragic story of the city of Troy is depicted in the masterpiece statue of Laocoön.  As your expert guide leads you past other Vatican treasures, such as Emperor Nero’s lavish bath which was once housed in the Golden Palace. Your LivTours guide will also share with you the wonders of the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of Tapestries, and the renowned Gallery of Maps – a Renaissance version of Google Maps.

Of course, no visit to the Vatican would be complete without visiting the Raphael Rooms, part of the papal apartments of Pope Julius II. Enjoy the elegant Raphael frescoes that have been recently restored.

Now it is on to admire the fresco that took Michelangelo four years to finish, the Sistine Chapel. This was once a private chapel, close to the size of a standard basketball court, it can very easily fill up with travelers who have come to experience the beauty of this majestic work in person. Your private guide will explain to you how Michelangelo’s passion for sculpting influenced his painting, leaving us with the depiction of the human form in a new three dimensional way.

Lastly, it is on to visit the largest Catholic church in the world, Saint Peter’s Basilica. One of the most important landmarks for Christians, the burial site of one of Jesus’ apostles and the keeper of the keys to Heaven, Saint Peter. Your private guide will share with you the awe-inspiring works of art such as Michelangelo’s sculpture of the Pieta and Bernini’s Baldacchino Altar canopy made of solid bronze. Before leaving, your guide will tell you about the Papal Tombs and give you instructions for climbing to the to of the Dome if you wish to do so after the tour.

This Tour Includes

• Early Morning Vatican skip the line entrance
• Delicious Papal breakfast
• Fully guided experience
• Raphael Rooms
• Sistine Chapel
• Octagonal Courtyard
• Gallery of the Candelabra
• Gallery of Tapestries
• Gallery of Maps
• Borgia Apartments
• Saint Peter's Basilica & Square

Know before you go

• 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.
• There is no flash photography inside the museums, and no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
• St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, the time inside the Vatican Museums will be extended.
• Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during your visit inside is strictly forbidden, therefore your guide will give you an explanation of the Sistine Chapel beforehand during your tour, in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering the chapel.
• Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
• Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this itinerary proposed in this tour. In order 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.

Our Sustainable Tourism Promise

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.   LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Private tours

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience , you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people* . Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable.  *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Additional options

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Excellent Vatican tour

We truly enjoyed our tour at the Vatican with Nadia! Her emmense knowledge was shared so well, and we were so appreciated of her help to truly take in what we were seeing. Her pace was perfect, not rushed, as there is so much to absorb! Wonderful experience! We will absolutely recommend LivTours for others we know looking for good tours to take when in Rome.

Breakfast tour

Emma was great and we really enjoyed her tour at the Vatican! We have recommended LivTours to our friends who will be in Rome in May. Emma was an excellent representative of your company

Thanks LivTours!

We took four wonderful tours from your company during our visit to Rome in September. We started with a great tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum that would have been hard to beat, it was so much fun. After that, we took a tour of Ostia Antica, the Borghese Gallery, and our favorite tour of all, a private tour of the Vatican with breakfast. I very much wanted to leave an exceptional review for our Vatican tour guide, Luca, who is an absolutely fabulous tour guide. We travel quite regularly, and all four of us felt he was one of the best guides we've ever had. Super friendly and kind, knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, and just a pleasure to tour with. I will recommend LivItaly Tours to anyone looking for an exceptional tour company. Thank you again!

A great (and delicious) alternative to the normal early morning Vatican tour

Everyone had told us that it's best to take a morning tour of the Vatican to try to avoid the masses. So when we saw this tour offering by LivItaly, we couldn't resist! You have to eat breakfast, right? Why not get into the Vatican early, have a VIP buffet in the museum's courtyard and then proceed through the museum. It was everything we hoped for and more!! Our guide Davide was absolutely fabulous: warm, friendly, very well-versed on everything Vatican and funny as well. The breakfast was delicious and the chance to see the Sistine Chapel before everyone else was there was definitely worth the early rise in the morning. We will certainly recommend this tour to all our friends and family!

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

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