Early Entry Vatican Museums: The Best of the Sistine Chapel
Overview
Enter the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the general public and enjoys Michelangelo’s masterpiece in serenity before embarking on a thorough guided tour of the Vatican Museums, ending at the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica. There's no better way to see the highlights of the Vatican without the crowds that descend upon the galleries later in the day.
Inclusions
- Skip the line ticket for Vatican Museums
- Local English-speaking guide
- Expertly guided walking tour
- Headset
- Small groups of 15 people or fewer
- Guaranteed to skip the lines
- Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
- Entry/Admission - Raphael Rooms Guest House
- Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
- Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sistine Chapel, 00120, Vatican City
The Sistine Chapel wasn’t meant to be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other people. Beat the crowds by entering first thing in the morning and enjoy the incredible frescoes in relative peace.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Vatican Museums, 00120, Vatican City
After spending quality time with Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Chapel, your guide will lead you on a full tour of the Vatican Museums, stopping to see all the most important works. Since you got an early start, you’ll stay one step ahead of the crowds in most galleries.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Raphael Rooms Guest House, Via Leone IV, 38, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
While most companies begin their tour in the first rooms, you'll breeze past. Instead, you're headed straight for the Raphael Rooms. During the day these corridors are as busy as the Sistine Chapel. At this hour of the morning, however, while the Museums are still closed to the public, you'll have plenty of space to enjoy them peacefully. Your guide will point out where Raphael worked the faces of his contemporaries Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo into his frescoes.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Last but certainly not least, you'll head straight to St. Peter's Basilica via a special secret passage, bypassing the long lines that are starting to form outside. End your morning with a full tour of the sacred space and gaze upon Michelangelo's moving Pietà, Bernini's grandiose altarpiece, and so much more as you learn the stories and legends behind them. Note: The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St.Peter's Basilica is subject to unexpected closures. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinacoteca Gallery.
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Sistine Chapel, 00120, Vatican City
The Sistine Chapel wasn’t meant to be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other people. Beat the crowds by entering first thing in the morning and enjoy the incredible frescoes in relative peace.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Vatican Museums, 00120, Vatican City
After spending quality time with Michelangelo’s frescoes in the Chapel, your guide will lead you on a full tour of the Vatican Museums, stopping to see all the most important works. Since you got an early start, you’ll stay one step ahead of the crowds in most galleries.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Raphael Rooms Guest House, Via Leone IV, 38, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
While most companies begin their tour in the first rooms, you'll breeze past. Instead, you're headed straight for the Raphael Rooms. During the day these corridors are as busy as the Sistine Chapel. At this hour of the morning, however, while the Museums are still closed to the public, you'll have plenty of space to enjoy them peacefully. Your guide will point out where Raphael worked the faces of his contemporaries Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo into his frescoes.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: St. Peter's Basilica, Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Last but certainly not least, you'll head straight to St. Peter's Basilica via a special secret passage, bypassing the long lines that are starting to form outside. End your morning with a full tour of the sacred space and gaze upon Michelangelo's moving Pietà, Bernini's grandiose altarpiece, and so much more as you learn the stories and legends behind them. Note: The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St.Peter's Basilica is subject to unexpected closures. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinacoteca Gallery.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
- Walks comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Italy government guidelines for the most up to date information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- Please note the attire must be appropriate for the visit. Both men and women are required to wear clothing that covers both shoulders and knees. We cannot be held responsible for denied entry due to improper dress. It is sufficient to bring extra coverings (i.e. scarves and shawls) with you to wear before entering the holy areas.
- While the Vatican Museums are equipped with elevators for wheelchair and stroller access, they are not conveniently located on the group tour route and only give access to specific sections of the Museums. We advise clients to contact Walks Customer Service Team to make further arrangements
- The tour is in English only
- 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 to make alternative arrangements.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Kristina_G
May 2022
The tour guide was knowledgeable. However, the description of this tour is misleading. We reserved the 7:15am tour, which was the earliest tour available. We didn't actually start the tour itself until at least an hour later, after waiting in multiple lines to get through security, wait for th...
The tour guide was knowledgeable. However, the description of this tour is misleading. We reserved the 7:15am tour, which was the earliest tour available. We didn't actually start the tour itself until at least an hour later, after waiting in multiple lines to get through security, wait for the tour guide to pick up tickets and then get the headsets for everyone. Although the tour description says "skip-the-Line access to the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica", the tour does not go to St. Peter's Basilica. Visitors must exit the Vatican museums area and walk to St. Peter's Square to get in line for the St. Peter's Basilica, which is not included in this tour. Viator needs to update the overview description for this tour.Lauren_K
May 2022
Our tour guide was excellent and we learned so much! Definitely worth it to get the extra context needed to really appreciate the many works of art in the Vatican. Was a little disappointed that the tour and the Viator description didn’t match completely. We didn’t get skip-the-line access to St....
Our tour guide was excellent and we learned so much! Definitely worth it to get the extra context needed to really appreciate the many works of art in the Vatican. Was a little disappointed that the tour and the Viator description didn’t match completely. We didn’t get skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica, for example, and we went to all the Vatican museums BEFORE the Sistine Chapel, so didn’t really feel like we were getting early morning access before the crowds. Would suggest that Viator update the description as we felt a bit mislead, but overall would still recommend the tour!Allison_M
April 2022
The tour guide Davide was absolutely outstanding and his knowledge was immense. Definitely the best way to see the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. We would have no hesitation in using your company again thanks Chris and Allison McCormick
The tour guide Davide was absolutely outstanding and his knowledge was immense. Definitely the best way to see the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. We would have no hesitation in using your company again thanks Chris and Allison McCormicksamh72
April 2022
Worth the early start although you wait in line for 40 mins to beat the crowds but learn all about the Sistine chapel the knowledge of our guide throughout the tour was excellent - i would say after the Sistine chapel (near the end of the tour) the last gallery for me personally was one to many.
Worth the early start although you wait in line for 40 mins to beat the crowds but learn all about the Sistine chapel the knowledge of our guide throughout the tour was excellent - i would say after the Sistine chapel (near the end of the tour) the last gallery for me personally was one to many.Anonymous
April 2022
Our guide Andrea was very knowledgeable and took his time explaining everything to us in the galleries and the Sistine Chapel. I can't imagine doing it without a tour guide and he was Excellent. I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see the Vatican museums.
Our guide Andrea was very knowledgeable and took his time explaining everything to us in the galleries and the Sistine Chapel. I can't imagine doing it without a tour guide and he was Excellent. I highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see the Vatican museums.Victor_T
March 2022
Our guide was a wealth of information. Well paced, interactive and informative. Enjoyed the use of earpiece so entire group able to hear. Would recommend this tour.
Our guide was a wealth of information. Well paced, interactive and informative. Enjoyed the use of earpiece so entire group able to hear. Would recommend this tour.