Vatican Museums Alone: VIP Early Entry or After-Hours Guided Tour
At a glance
Vatican Museums Alone: VIP Early Entry or After-Hours Guided Tour is a 2h 35m small-group experience in Rome, Italy, operated by LivTours. Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 12 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor. Prices start from $683.97 per person, and free cancellation is available. Included: Expert guide, Extra early or after-hours VIP access to the Vatican Museums, Museum Highlights.
Highlights
- Small group of up to 10 people for a more personal experience
- Free cancellation for flexible planning
- 5 stops in one well-planned itinerary
- Wheelchair accessible
Quick facts
- Duration
- 2h 35m
- Group
- Small group, up to 10 travellers
- Languages
- English
- Pickup
- Meet at the start point
- Confirmation
- Instant confirmation
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation (see policy)
Overview
Before the Eternal City awakes, or as the sun sets over Rome, enter the empty hallowed halls, opulent galleries, and sacred chambers of the Vatican Museums, in an exclusive small group with an expert guide. You will experience the Apostolic palaces as the popes of the Renaissance did – peacefully, without the crowds. Enjoy some of the greatest art in the world. The Apollo and Laocoon of antiquity, the Renaissance wonders of the Raphael rooms, and the majesty of Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel.
What's included
What's included
- Expert guide
- Extra early or after-hours VIP access to the Vatican Museums
- Museum Highlights
- Visit the Sistine Chapel & Raphael Rooms without the usual crowds
- Pinecone Courtyard for a full breakfast (NOT included in the after-hours tour)
- A group of no more than 10 people
- Semi-Private tour
Not included
- Saint Peter’s Basilica is not included
- Breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard is not included in the evening tour
Itinerary
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Stop 1 · 1h
Enter the hallowed halls and galleries of the Vatican two hours before it opens to the general public, or after opening time. Enjoy an exclusive semi-private tour with an expert guide alone in the Vatican with just a small group of 10 people.
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Stop 2 · 20m
Normally full of hundreds of people jostling for position, enjoy the peace and quiet of Pope Julius II’s private apartments by Raphael, the painter of sweetness and light. Admire the incredible frescoes of the School of Athens and the Disputa. Learn about the life and tragic early death of the beloved Raphael.
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Stop 3 · 10m
Marvel at the hand-stitched Flemish tapestries, created according to Raphael school designs. Admire the golden opulence and amazing accuracy of the 17th-century frescoes in the Gallery of Maps.
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Stop 4 · 10m
To enter the empty Sistine Chapel is an unforgettable moment. Normally filled with over 1000 people, you will stand alone beneath Michelangelo’s mighty masterpieces. Be swept up in their splendor and magnificence.
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Stop 5 · 20m
The tour ends in the peaceful Pinecone Courtyard.
Meeting point
In front of Cafe Vaticano, right across the street from the Vatican Museum's Entrance. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time.
IMPORTANT: You must bring photo ID to guarantee entry.
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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 photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
- Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
- IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican
- Due to the exceptional circumstances of this tour your group size will have a max of 10 people
- The evening tour option does not include breakfast, and it is approximately 20 mins shorter than the advertised duration. The total duration of the evening tour is therefore 2hr 15mins.
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the Vatican Museums Alone: VIP Early Entry or After-Hours Guided Tour take?
The experience lasts about 2h 35m.
How much does it cost?
Prices start from $683.97 per person. The final price depends on the date, time and number of travellers, and is confirmed on Viator before you pay.
What's included?
Expert guide; Extra early or after-hours VIP access to the Vatican Museums; Museum Highlights; Visit the Sistine Chapel & Raphael Rooms without the usual crowds; Pinecone Courtyard for a full breakfast (NOT included in the after-hours tour); A group of no more than 10 people.
Where does it start?
In front of Cafe Vaticano, right across the street from the Vatican Museum's Entrance. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. IMPORTANT: You must bring photo ID to guarantee entry.
Can I cancel?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Which languages is it offered in?
It is guided in English.
Is it worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 12 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor, which places it among the top-rated experiences in Rome.
