Private Vatican Tour: VIP Experience
Description
Discover the figures, the technique and the meaning of the frescoes created in 4 years of Michelangelo's timeless passion on our Sistine Chapel tour. Find out more about Julius II, the pope who commissioned his works. Wander through Raphael's rooms as you let our expert guide reveal the mysteries and insights of the depicted characters. Discover how the church's admiration for art has led to such a vast collection of treasures in the Vatican Museums recovered from underground after years of neglect. Skip the queues and find yourself inside St Peter's Basilica where you will be able to contemplate the long history of Christian faith and be moved by Michelangelo's world famous sculpture, Pietà.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Raphael Rooms, Hall of Maps,
sistine Chapel
La Pieta
The rooms of the apartament of Pope Julius II, beautifully painted by Raphael and his students.
Inside St Peter's Basilica
Inside Vatican Museums
View from inside the Basilica Sant Peter
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please note that the Vatican Museums provide free entrance for visitors who are (according to the requirements stated by the Vatican City) at least 74% disabled by presenting the appropriate certification and, if one needs assistance by another person, that person also receives a free entrance. Please inform us when you are booking if you fit into these requirements and we will remove the pricing of the entry tickets from the price of the tour.
- As this is a walking tour with steps and staircases, comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water are strongly recommended.
- Please advise during the booking process if there are any travelers with mobility concerns so that we can best accommodate you.
- At the end of your tour, you are required to return the headset provided to you to your guide. In the event that you do not return the headset, you will be subject to a fine of €100 for lost property.
- Each traveler must present a valid passport or government issued photo ID that matches the name provided at the time of booking for successful entry to the Vatican Museums.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
Reviews(58)
Amazing guide, impeccable english and a never-ending depth of knowledge. He could answer any question no matter how random or obscure. Pleasant and enthusuastic, he made the 5 hours engaging and fascinating. He was at the meeting point early and we kept to the schedule without feeling rushed, while also catering to our particular interests. Through Eternity DID change the time we booked two days after--I understand perhaps they couldn't get tickets for the time we wanted, but we had chosen that tour particularly for that time. A warning when you go to book that times are not gauranteed would prevent disappointment. However, I was really happy with the quality of the guide.
We truly appreciate your feedback about your recent experience. It's great to know that the guide made your tour engaging and tailored to your interests, though we’re sorry for the last-minute change in timing. We can’t wait to welcome you on another experience with us!
This tour exceeded everyone’s expectations. The Vatican is packed with amazing history, art and theology. However, without an expert like Brandon, so much of it would be lost. He was extremely knowledgeable, personable and friendly. He maintained the reverence of the space but still provided light-hearted commentary that was tailored to our group. The skip the line was wonderful especially in the Roman heat. Thank you, Brandon for a truly unique experience!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're absolutely delighted to hear that the tour exceeded your expectations. The Vatican is an extraordinary place, filled with centuries of history, art, and faith, and we're so pleased that Brandon helped bring all of it to life in a meaningful and engaging way. Brandon has a remarkable ability to share his extensive knowledge while creating a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere, and it's wonderful to hear that his approach resonated so well with your group. We especially appreciate your mention of how he balanced the reverence of the Vatican with moments of light-hearted commentary, creating that balance is something our guides strive for. We're also glad that the skip-the-line access helped make your visit more comfortable, particularly during the summer heat, allowing you to spend more time enjoying the experience and less time waiting. We'll be sure to pass your kind words along to Brandon. Thank you for choosing to explore the Vatican with us, and we hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another unforgettable experience in the future!
Our guide Viviana was superb, extremely knowledgeable, considerate and friendly.
Thank you for your kind feedback, Gerry. We’re very glad to hear that you enjoyed your tour and that Viviana made a positive impression with her knowledge and friendly approach. We will be sure to pass your comments on to her. We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and hope to welcome you on another tour in the future.
Excellent experience! Brandon was great, both informative and entertaining. His knowledge was essential to our journey through the Vatican, and it brought so much more meaning and weight to everything we saw. Comprehending the depth of what can be experienced at the Vatican, both from the art, but also for us, the spiritual experience, is overwhelming, but Brandon did a outstanding job of opening our eyes to that depth and importance. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind words! We're so pleased to hear that Brandon's knowledge, enthusiasm, and storytelling helped bring the Vatican to life for you. We'll be sure to pass along your feedback to him. It's wonderful to know that the tour added both historical and spiritual meaning to your visit. Thank you for touring with us, and we hope to welcome you again in the future.
Gracelyn was an extraordinary guide. Amazing knowledge and passion for the Vatican. Enjoyed every minute.
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour and that Gracelyn's knowledge and passion for the Vatican made such a positive impression. We'll be sure to share your kind words with her. We hope to welcome you on another tour soon!
A wonderful experience, time really flies when a guide has engaging presentation skills. I’ve learnt many new things. Highly recommend
Thank you so much for your kind words. We're thrilled to hear that our guide's engaging presentation made your Private Vatican Tour such a memorable experience. It's wonderful to know you learned so much and enjoyed your time with us!
Eugenia was the best private tour guide. Knowledgeable, patient, and willing to go the extra mile. Our group of 6 met Eugenia at the designated spot to start our tour. Unfortunately one of our family members was not as mobile as planned and began having some difficulty navigating the stairs mid way through our tour. Eugenia found a way to make it work. (literally took one of our family back to the entrance and got a wheel chair for us, and then returned us all back to our group.) When we got to a point we could not progress with the wheelchair any further, Eugenia spent time with our group explaining how we could split up with part of our group continuing the full tour, and the other half using her directions, spent a generous amount of time seeing what we could. Her hospitality, patience and willingness to help us figure out an unexpected situation mid tour made the experience a memorable tour for all the right reasons. Definitely would book again and ask for her specifically. Thank you Eugenia, you are truly an angel of the Vatican.
Our guide, Maria Rosario, was exceptional! Her knowledge of the Vatican was extensive and we learned so much. Anyone would have liked how she handled the tour. Her English was excellent and she answered all of our questions! This tour was worth every penny. If you are only coming here once or twice, do it with this tour!! What an experience!!
We truly appreciate your kind review. We’re so pleased that Maria Rosario’s deep knowledge, clear English, and thoughtful answers enhanced your experience. It’s great to know the tour was such a highlight of your visit. Best regards, Through Eternity Tours
My wife had this experience on her bucket list. Our guide Brandon is a PhD graduate student at Princeton university and also works for The Vatican. I don’t think we could have had a better experience. His knowledge of the history, and art was way beyond our expectations. We learned so much. Highly recommend the private tours experience. It’s crowded, and there’s no way to get the best out of this experience unless you can have a more personalized experience.
VIP 5 hour private tour. Francisco our guide was excellent, friendly and very knowledgeable. We visited the same day as King Charles so were initially told the Sistine Chapel was closed all day which was a major bummer. Francisco used all his experience and contacts to position us in the right place when the chapel unexpectedly opened 1 hour before our tour ended. We ended up seeing the chapel, museums in detail and the Basilica, Outstanding work by Francisco and 3 very happy customers with lots of memories.
