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
Looking for a Vatican experience tailored just for you? On this private Vatican tour, join an engaging local guide for a journey through the Renaissance art, fascinating history, and grand architecture of the Vatican. Skip the line for more time exploring the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and more! Perfect for private groups, families, or if you'd like a more intimate Vatican tour that moves at your ideal pace and gives you more say in what you see.
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- Vatican Museums
- Laocoön and His Sons
- Gallery of the Maps
- Gallery of Tapestries
- Gallery of the Candelabra
- Raphael Rooms
- Sistine Chapel
- St. Peter's Basilica
- La Pietà
You'll begin your private Vatican tour near to the Vatican Museums entrance, where you'll meet your friendly, knowledgeable local guide. There are multiple start times available throughout the day, so you can book a tour that fits with your other plans in Rome. With skip-the-line tickets, you'll head straight in to start exploring the highlights of the Vatican Museums which include the Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of the Tapestries, Gallery of the Maps, Raphael Rooms, and Borgia Apartments.
You'll also see the spectacular Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica on a private tour that moves at your pace, and your guide can even suggest lesser-known gems to see within the Vatican, depending on your interests.
Private Vatican Tour Description
Your 3-hour private tour includes:
Skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums
Available entry times in the morning and afternoon
Pio Clementino and the best of the Vatican's galleries
Raphael Rooms and Borgia Apartments
Silent tour of the Sistine Chapel
Entry to St. Peter's Basilica
A private, English-speaking guide with art history expertise
The Main Galleries of the Vatican Museums
After meeting your private guide, your Vatican Museums tour begins. With your skip-the-line access, you'll walk past the long line of tourists and enjoy faster entry through security, even if you've booked an afternoon tour. Follow your guide to the Bramante Courtyard to see the Pio-Clementino Museum, the Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of the Tapestries, and our personal favorite, the Gallery of Maps.
Inside the Gallery of the Maps, the frescoes upon the walls provide valuable insight into how Renaissance Italians viewed their surroundings. Predating unified Italy by almost 300 years, the frescoes show the geography of the Italian peninsula circa 1580. Based on drawings by famous geographer Ignazio Danti, the maps were painted between 1580 and 1585. One of the most opulent and impressive corridors in the Vatican Museums, this collection extends for nearly 400 feet.
Depending on your interests and how quickly you want to explore, your guide will tailor the experience to make the most of your time in the Vatican Museums.
Raphael Rooms and The School of Athens
Raphael is the epitome of a Renaissance artist. In the period of European civilization immediately following the Middle Ages, a great period of revival in art, literature, and thought occurred. Raphael encompassed the ideals of a Renaissance man and frescoed multiple rooms inside of the Vatican Museums. Among other masterpieces, see one of Raphael’s most famous works of art, The School of Athens.
Borgia Apartments
Downstairs from the Raphael Rooms and once occupied by Borgia Pope Alexander VI, these private chambers were frescoed by early Renaissance artist Pinturicchio. As a co-pupil of Raphael’s under master Perugino, Pinturicchio had a penchant for embedding fake jewels and other three-dimensional objects like metal saddle studs in his frescoes. The Borgia Apartments also contain another hidden gem: the first European depiction of Native Americans.
Sistine Chapel
One of the top things to do in Vatican City is visiting the Sistine Chapel. Only when you are inside, is it clear why the Sistine Chapel is one of the most celebrated works of art in Western civilization. Michelangelo painted more than 600 figures in all, and the sheer magnitude of his endeavor is mind-blowing. Since the Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, speaking inside is not allowed. Your guide cannot explain the frescoes while you are inside, so they'll provide you with a map/handout for reference before you enter.
Please note that the Sistine Chapel is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders, otherwise, you may be refused entry to a portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/sweater to wrap around you when necessary.
St. Peter’s Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica is a mammoth church filled with artwork from some of the most celebrated artists in history. Once you reach the outside of this incredible church, you'll listen to your guide share about the history and construction. As you explore the inside on your own, you'll admire masterpieces that include the Baldacchino, La Pieta, the statue of St. Peter and more. Even if you aren’t an art fanatic, just the size of the basilica will floor you.
Please note that St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays for the Papal Audience and can occasionally experience other unexpected closures. If this happens, your guide will make up the time at other areas within the Vatican.
What you get with this tour
See what people are saying
135 total reviews
Leave a reviewRequest Eleonora! Incredible Tour with Her
Brett Hicks
We LOVED our time with Eleonora. She was incredibly friendly and welcoming from the moment we met her, arrived early, and started promptly. She helped us to use every single moment within the museums, Sistine chapel, and St. Peter’s to the fullest, sharing her deep knowledge of the history of everything we saw along the way. I was constantly impressed at how quickly she knew the answers to all of our questions! She also helped us weave in between the large groups and made sure we didn’t get stuck so that we could see more. She went above and beyond, too, and spent an additional 45 minutes with us, and we were the ones that finally had to end the tour. She is an all around lovely person, EXCELLENT tour guide, and we highly recommend you request her personally! Thanks - Brett and Jackie
Vatican Tour just what we wanted
loraine pansegrau
Our private tour guide, Raffa, was amazing. My husband has some issues walking and standing and Raffa was able to tailor the tour to suit us. She found us a place to sit in the Sistine Chapel so we could appreciate the wonderful art, and then got us down to the Basilica. Her attention to detail and her knowledge of the Vatican made this a wonderful tour for us. She is amazing!
Patricia is THE BEST
Donna Riley
We splurged and took a private tour of the Vatican yesterday. Patricia is a veteran tour guide and passionate about her job. Her depth of knowledge is like nothing we’ve ever experienced before, and we have been on plenty of tours around the world. Not only did Patricia reward us with intricate details of the history of the Vatican, but her level of knowledge of the art itself was amazing. And the little side notes, like the origins of terms, like cappuccino, really helped us have a better depth of understanding. Our tour was the week after Easter, so it was quite crowded. Having a personal tour guide allowed us special access and the ability to ask questions we might not have been able to otherwise. We highly recommend Patricia. Thank you for a wonderful experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
In addition to wearing or bringing clothing that covers your knees and shoulders, it's recommended to wear comfortable shoes. You're also welcome to bring a water bottle as it can get hot inside the Vatican during the summer months.
What is the dress code at the Vatican?
Inside the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, you'll need to cover your knees and shoulders. Please bring a shawl or sweater with you if you're dressed for those hot Rome summers.
I have some doubts about my mobility. Is this tour right for me?
If you have any doubts about your mobility, this is your best bet for a Vatican tour. Private Vatican tours are more easily customized to the needs of people with reduced mobility.
What are the chances my tour will be canceled or the Vatican will close something.
Although it is rare, sometimes part of the Vatican closes with little notice. If an area normally covered on a tour is closed, your guide will be sure to make up the time in other areas.
Does the tour go directly inside without waiting in any line?
As an accredited tour operator we do not have to wait in the general ticket line, but we still have to wait in a security line. For this reason, we leave the meeting point as early as possible and get in the security line reserved for tour operators.
Does this tour always include St. Peter's Basilica?
Yes, St. Peter's is always included on this private Vatican Museums tour, except on Wednesdays when it is closed in the morning for the papal audience.
What to bring?
In addition to wearing or bringing clothing that covers your knees and shoulders, it's recommended to wear comfortable shoes. You're also welcome to bring a water bottle as it can get hot inside the Vatican during the summer months.
Can I take photos inside the Sistine Chapel?
No, photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel.
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