Vatican Early Tour: Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour
Description
Discover the highlights of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with an official guide on this early access tour with a small group. Enter the Vatican Museums right as they open for the day. Enjoy the masterpieces without the bustling crowds as you follow your guide through the Belvedere Courtyard, the Gallery of Maps, the four Raphael Rooms, and more. Learn from your guide where Raphael worked the faces of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo into his frescoes. Next, head to the Sistine Chapel, visit at the most peaceful time of day. Get a full run-down of Michelangelo's frescoes, including a detailed handout, from your guide before heading in. Note: Access to St. Peter's Basilica is not Included in this tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Marvel at the museums’ awe-inspiring art collection, world-renowned frescoes inside the Sistine Chapel, and the Renaissance era paintings in the Raphael Room with an advantage of avoiding the stressful long queue and get escorted inside the Vatican Museums through the priority access. After a regular security check, we will head towards the most important galleries and breathtaking masterpieces collection of art. At 75 meters long, the Gallery of the Tapestries is named after the elaborate Flemish tapestries that drape its walls. The Gallery of the Maps, painted between 1580 and 1585, takes its name from the 40 maps frescoed on the walls, representing each of the Italian regions and papal properties at the time of Pope Gregory XIII. Be mesmerized by the beauty contained in the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo’s undisputed masterpiece.
You will hear details about the election process called Conclave which ends up with white smoke from the chimney installed in the Chapel. See original "Last Judgement" and try to find Michaelangelo's face in between more than 300 painted characters.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(21)
This was a very informative tour. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about the subject.
We almost lost the tour since they modified our time of start. Bad experience and the tour was comsi comsa. Would not choose again.
We had a great experience at the Vatican. We were part of a small group and the guide was very knowledgeable.
Well organized, no need to find where to get ticket, was emailed directly , worked great! Thank you!
We got to the meeting point at the Vatican Museum at 7:45 am on Tuesday April 15, 2025, and were abruptly informed by the security guard that the museum was closed for “an event” until 11:30 am. Our tour guide made no attempt to reach or inform us. We cancelled the tour due to scheduling conflicts.
This is not actually a tour of the Sistine Chapel! It was a nightmare to get into the building , ie, long lines and didn't really know where to go. The tour itself was through the Vatican Museum and had thorough descriptions of paintings and history. However, I strongly recommend going with a tour company that meets you outside the museum so you can be escorted in properly and to the right place. This tour was not worth the money and was misrepresented. The "tour" of the Sistine Chapel consisted of reviewing slides of the artwork in the room. When we got to the Sistine Chapel, there were plenty of other tours groups so I don't know why this tour company was unable to take us inside.
Our family was only people in the group. The Vatican Museum was very interesting and Sistine Chapel was so awe-inspiring and beyond words!
Our tour of Vatican Museums was an enjoyable and informative experience. Our tour guide, was extremely knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about the history. This was the best tour in Rome!
Vijay is a good guy and extended our tour beyond the 2 hours listed to make sure we got the entire experience. Good knowledge of all galleries we visited, and the price is great value. Would recommend!
Vijay was a great tour guide. He had great communication. He was very informative on the art and sculptures. Sistine chapel was amazing.
