vatican breakfast tour official website

VIP Pristine Sistine Tour & Vatican Palace Breakfast

• Enter the Vatican an hour before it opens to the public to get ahead of the crowds.
• Relax with a buffet breakfast in a serene courtyard to fuel up for a morning of discovery on your Vatican tour.
• Visit the Sistine Chapel before it gets busy and take in Michelangelo’s frescoes in relative peace.
• Marvel at the art and architecture housed in St. Peter's Basilica with fascinating insights from your guide.

Tour description

Start your tour with a relaxing breakfast in a historic vatican courtyard..

Some things are well worth waking up early for—and our VIP Pristine Sistine early morning Vatican tour with breakfast is one of them. After enjoying a sumptuous breakfast in one of the Vatican's idyllic courtyards, you'll embark on an in-depth tour of the Vatican Museums before the crowds of the day pour in. Our specially secured early access to the Vatican means that you'll be among the very first people of the day to enter the Sistine Chapel, allowing you to marvel at one of the world's most iconic masterpieces in relative peace.

Your Pristine Sistine Vatican Breakfast Tour starts early so you can be among the first to enter the Vatican—before the museums even open to the general public. After meeting up with your guide and small group, you'll head straight to one of the lovely Vatican Museum courtyards for a breakfast buffet. Relax and take time to soak up the ambiance of our peaceful surroundings as you enjoy your breakfast before you're whisked away for a full tour of the Vatican Museums.

Explore the Vatican Museums without the crowds and be one of the first people of the day to enter the Sistine Chapel.

After breakfast, your Vatican tour will showcase all of the Museums' highlights. In the Belvedere Courtyard, you'll find classical Greek and Roman works. Keep an eye out for the Belvedere Torso in particular; you might recognize it from the Sistine Chapel. Hear details that will enhance your appreciation of the fascinating Laocoön Group sculpture and the Raphael Rooms—widely considered to be among the most beautifully frescoed interiors on earth.

The crown jewel of your early morning Vatican tour comes as you step into the Sistine Chapel as one of the first visitors of the day. Soak up Michelangelo's masterpiece at the quietest time of the morning before the crowds descend.

To finish, you'll head into St. Peter's Basilica via a special access passageway that allows you to bypass the long line already forming outside. It's the perfect place to finish your exploration of one of the most sacred sites on earth.

Visiting the Vatican is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so you'll want to make the most of your precious time. Our VIP Pristine Sistine early morning Vatican tour with breakfast ensures you have an experience to remember.

Note: The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays and subject to other unexpected closures during special celebrations, including the Easter ceremonies. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinoteca Gallery. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the church should you wish to visit this on your own at a later occasion. We are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

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 at +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.

Sites visited

Verified guest reviews, dec 28, 2023.

The tour guide was so knowledgeable, friendly and pleasant. When another unexpected section was open to us on our tour she went the extra mile- literally- and also showed us that area.

Dec 20, 2023

Great experience! From check-in to leaving the Vatican everything was well thought out. Julia was an excellent guide, extremely well-versed in the art and artifacts. Great sense of humor and could tell a story.

Dec 11, 2023

Alessa was such a fun guide, witty guide and super knowledgeable. I really enjoyed the tour with her. You do have to move quickly through some of the rooms just because there are so any people but that is less about the tour itself and more about the amount of people the Vatican allows in at a time. I would recommend doing the early morning before open to the public. I can't imagine how busy it would have been in the middle of the day. The skip the line passes were so helpful. If you are even considering do one of the early morning ones then spend the money and do it. Well worth it

Nov 02, 2023

The whole process including sign up, meet up, tour and guide were well planned by city walks. The knowledge these guides have is outstanding. They know their stuff and do a great job in the time frame they have. They know how to navigate the crowds from years of experience. I’d say do the early morning but skip the breakfast. It does the job of giving you food to fill up but it’s not that good.

Oct 19, 2023

The tour guide was great, friendly and had some really interesting stories. The headset was essential given the crowds. The breakfast was subpar, kind of chaotic, cold, and generally not very good. The VIP doesn't get you into the Sistine early. We did that about 2-3 hours into the tour and it was about as busy as it can get. We may have gotten into the museums "early", I'm not really sure, but there were definitely crowds the whole time.

Know before you book

Make it a perfect day.

Waking up early for our Pristine Sistine tour means not only getting to experience the Vatican Museums without the typical crowds, but you’ll also have the entire day to explore Rome after. Here’s our one-day itinerary for visiting the Eternal City.

Similar tours

Alone in the vatican: exclusive vip access vatican museums & sistine chapel tour, pristine sistine™ early entrance small group vatican tour, vip vatican key master’s tour: unlock the sistine chapel.

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Luxury Travel Blog

The Unpretentious Guide to Luxury Travel

Early Entry Vatican Breakfast – A Unique Rome Experience

An early access Vatican breakfast tour is an unforgettable experience.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Table of Contents

Vatican Breakfast

Looking for the the best way to see the Vatican? Here’s an experience that’s off the Roman rails. Have you heard of the Vatican early entry breakfast?

It used to be offered through the Vatican Museums site but that seems to have just changed but it’s still available through tour companies. You’ll get skip-the-line tickets, early Vatican access and discover a unique thing to do in Rome.

Early Morning Vatican Tour

Although you do have to get up awfully early.

At 5:30 a.m. my husband, Mark, turned over in his sleep and yanked the sheet tucked under my neck so hard I woke up wondering why someone was trying to strangle me.

My eyes opened to slits. “We could have slept until 6:15.”

“You’re the one who wants to go.”

It wasn’t our best moment. It was our last day in Rome, we were sightsee-ed out and we were going to the Vatican for breakfast.

Early Access to the Vatican

Yet I felt a little thrill because we were going to see the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without the crowds.

Our Vatican Museum early entrance breakfast meant we’d be there before other early access tours, and nearly two hours before the museum was open to the public. 

(At the time we didn’t realize that once we’d had breakfast we still couldn’t enter the museums until 8:30 a.m.)

A One of a Kind Experience in Rome

It had taken a long time to convince Mark that early morning was the best way to see the Vatican.

“What if it’s one of those unmissable morning experiences like Angkor Wat at sunrise ?” I’d asked. “You have to admit it’s unique. It probably even trumps the skeleton chandeliers in the Capuchin Crypt.”

Vatican City Without the Crowds

The best part would be seeing the Vatican without hordes of tourists.

The last time I’d gone to the Vatican City Museums I’d waited in line for two hours, then shuffled down the long corridors in the midst of a thrum of people.

It wasn’t a heavenly experience. It was more like being in a magnificent metro at rush hour.

“Full English breakfast,” I reminded Mark, as food is usually the most direct route to his heart.

Evidently his heart wasn’t awake yet because he groaned and went into the shower.

“We’ll be the first ones in,” I shouted through the door.

What Is Early Entrance Breakfast at the Vatican?

A Vatican Museum breakfast includes entry and a buffet breakfast served in either the Restaurant Area or the Pinecone Courtyard of the Vatican Museums. It depends on the season.

And you NEED to book early, though you didn’t used to.

Once you’ve eaten your substantial hot breakfast, away you go into the Vatican Museums and towards the Sistine Chapel and you’re alone (almost) in the Vatican. Can you imagine it?

Booking Early Entry Vatican Breakfast Tours

Whether you want breakfast or not is up to you. Note: For the breakfast tours you should book up to two months in advance. It’s easier to find bookings for simple early access tours without the meal.

• Vatican Museums Early Entry Tour with Breakfast – From $140. Check availability here .
• Early Morning Access Vatican Skip-the-line Museum and Sistine Chapel Tour Without Breakfast from $115. Check availability here .

New! Ultra Elite Way to See the Vatican – 6:00 a.m. Key Master’s Tour

The Key Master Tour is so popular and so special I could only find a couple of spaces left for the summer.

Picture it: You head into the Vatican with the Clavigero, the guardian of the Vatican keys, as he unlocks the gallery doors.

All is still. The art is breathtaking. Nothing but the click of the Clavigero’s footsteps as he goes from door to door.

Then you’re in the Sistine Chapel: Empty, except for a very few. 

Wow – I thought the Vatican breakfast was fabulously personal, this would be beyond. 

Prices are from $785 a person, and there is very limited availability – though it’s worth checking for last minute cancellations.

Get more info on the Key Master’s Tour at GetYourGuide .

Getting to Vatican City Early from Central Rome

Vatican City is on the west side of the Tiber River, across from the historical centre of Rome.

When I’d envisioned our lavish Vatican breakfast surrounded by 14th-century altarpieces and plush velvet curtains, I’d also pictured us strolling hand-in-hand through a delicate rose sunrise to the Vatican entrance.

We would cross the Ponte Sant’Angelo , the Bridge of Angels, much as the medieval pilgrims used to do.

Instead we were tired and cranky so we got a cab.

At that time of morning taking a taxi to St Peter’s Square is fast, but you can also take the metro to Cipro – Musei Vaticani, about a 10-minute walk to the Vatican entrance.

The Vatican Breakfast Early Entry Experience

The restaurant area.

When we went we were led to the Restaurant Area. Seriously, that’s what it’s called.

The Restaurant Area had two long tables and a side wall buffet, not a masterpiece in sight. I couldn’t help thinking the decor wasn’t much more elaborate than its name.

The Pine Cone Courtyard Vatican Breakfast

If you visit between April and November you eat outside in the Pinecone Courtyard, the Cortile della Pigna , which has a much better ring to it than the Restaurant Area.

Plus it has a colossal bronze Pine Cone cast in the 1st or 2nd century AD.

With 1400 rooms in the Vatican they couldn’t have found something more ornate than the Breakfast Area, I wondered?

While I didn’t expect to be eating scrambled eggs by candlelight under Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam , what about the Gallery of Tapestries or the Hall of Animals? A little alcove with a Caravaggio?

“Bacon!” I said, trying to divert Mark’s attention away from the bleak surroundings in case he threw me an I-told-you-so look.

What Is the Vatican Breakfast Buffet like?

Admittedly, the buffet was good. Bacon, sausages, fresh fruit, pancakes, toast, pastries, coffee, cappuccino, tea.

The caffeine hit woke me up and I tried to strike up a conversation with the people around us. After all, this was a unique shared experience. The Vatican is the heart of Christianity – a wellspring of spirituality, history and art.

No one seemed interested so I ate another croissant.

It didn’t matter. As soon as I saw the headsets being handed out my sense of shared community evaporated in my desire to be first to the Sistine Chapel.

Tour Guide or Audio Headset? 

I recommend going for a guide.

When we went we had the option of a tour or an audioguide, and we opted for an audioguide.

The good thing about getting an audioguide is that you can wander through the Vatican any way you like. The bad thing? It’s harder to follow than an actual guide.

It took only a minute to get the headsets then we waited at the entryway like racehorses poised to charge down the track. Other early access tours were trickling in, and I didn’t want them getting ahead of us.

“The thing to do is get to the Sistine Chapel as fast as you can,” I told Mark under my breath. “I read it on the Internet. Don’t get sidetracked or we’ll be sharing the Sistine Chapel with a million other tourists.”

How Big is the Vatican?

Mark turned away but I’m pretty sure he was rolling his eyes. The distance from the Vatican Museums entrance to the Sistine Chapel is about 500 metres if you go direct, but there are some 7.5 km (4.5 miles) of galleries and corridors in total.

So Many Masterpieces

Dating back to 1503, the museums hold a jaw-dropping collection of Renaissance paintings, antiquities, priceless tapestries and religious and secular art.

There’s even a marble chariot. The chances of getting sidetracked are high.

But I was on a mission and as soon as we were allowed in I was ready to sprint.

It worked. Mark and I were the first ones into the Vatican Museums.

It was a split second moment of triumph because we were quickly overtaken by a tour leader holding a flag.

“Hurry!” I said to Mark over my shoulder as I hurtled down the Gallery of Maps, a long hallway that connects the Papal Palace to the Sistine Chapel.

Sixteenth-century frescoes showing the regions of Italy whizzed by my sight and I was barely aware of the elaborate ceiling paintings overhead.

“Why?” he said.

I stopped, nearly causing a pileup of Sistine Chapel-bound tourists behind me.

Top Things to See at the Vatican Palace

Sistine chapel.

Much as I hated to admit it, Mark had a point. Why was I hurrying?

While the Sistine Chapel is the number one draw in a Vatican tour, it’s at the far end of the tour route, and you’ll be passing room after room of masterpieces.

Vatican Masterpieces

What about Caravaggio’s The Entombment of Christ , Leonardo da Vinci’s St. Jerome in the Wilderness , the Belvedere Torso and the ancient Greek masterpiece Laocoon and his Sons ?

What about the Stefaneschi Triptych by Giotto and the Porphyry Basin Nero used to bathe in? We were passing them by in our flight.

“You’re right,” I said.

The Raphael Rooms

We veered off the papal highway and that’s how we ended up in the Raphael Rooms completely alone.

Painted in the early 1500s, this suite of four rooms are dripping in frescoes by Raphael and his workshop.

The rooms were originally part of the apartments of Pope Julius II, the Warrior Pope who, in addition to being known to engage in warfare in the name of the church, kickstarted the Vatican Museums by donating his collection.

It’s a miracle , I thought, looking around The Room of the Fire of the Borgo. It’s just us and the frescoes .

For the first time since we’d been in the Vatican, history seemed to come alive, shades of the Renaissance seeping out of the stone archways and intricately-tiled floors.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

After you see the Sistine Chapel and leave the palace there are other top sights to see in the Vatican City.

Saint Peter’s Basilica, of course. A standard Vatican breakfast early entry route will lead you to the basilica after you leave the Sistine Chapel – it’s almost impossible to miss.

Don’t Rush Through the Galleries

Once we’d decided to slow down, it was a different experience. We wandered through gallery after gallery.

At one point we got lost in a stairwell. I wasn’t even upset (hardly) that we missed the Caravaggio in the Pinacoteca, because there was so much else to see.

Breakfast at the Vatican is a unique way to experience Rome, and seeing the Sistine Chapel with only a few other tour groups is a marvellous feat, but taking it slow and enjoying the whole experience rather than beelining for one top sight is the best way to see the Vatican of all.

PS: The Sistine Chapel still wasn’t crowded when we got there.

Early Entrance Breakfast at the Vatican Reviews and Travel Tips

There are hardly any online breakfast Vatican City reviews, which is why I decided to write this post.

I had so many questions I couldn’t find answers to, so hopefully these tips for visiting the Vatican early will help you plan your trip.

What You Need to Know Before Your Vatican Breakfast Tour

Where is the Vatican Museums entrance? 

• It’s on the north side of the Vatican City on viale Vaticano. Look for the big archway.

Do you go through security before or after breakfast?

Can you go into St Peter’s Basilica after your Vatican Museum breakfast?

• We were able to right after the Sistine Chapel. Since we were early there was no lineup.

Can you backtrack after seeing the Sistine Chapel to the museums and galleries?

• Yes. But. This entails a lot of walking so wear comfortable shoes. Then, if you want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica afterwards you would have to walk all the way back to the Sistine Chapel and you’ll be fighting crowds to get inside.

Review of the Vatican Audioguide Tour

Truthfully the audioguide was pretty dry. Like really dry. I don’t want to insult the Vatican but they should really listen to the audioguide at the Villa Borghese when they talk about Bernini in Rome , or the recorded guide of the Doria Pamphilj to get an idea of what’s entertaining.

At least the Vatican audioguide gives you an idea of what’s what. Or it would have for us if we hadn’t stopped listening to it altogether.

Booking Entry Vatican Breakfast Tour Tickets Through a Tour Company

While you used to be able to book the breakfast tour through the Vatican website it doesn’t seem possible anymore, so you’ll probably have to book through a tour company. 

• Vatican Museums Early Entry Tour with Buffet Breakfast – Semi Private Tour from $140. Check availability here .

Conclusion: Is an Early Entrance Vatican Tour with Breakfast the Best Way to See the Vatican?

Is breakfast at the Vatican worth it? In my opinion it’s one of the best things to do in Rome.

The hot buffet is good  – and how many people can say they had breakfast in Vatican City? Or even better, a Pinecone Courtyard Vatican breakfast?

Hotels Near the Vatican

Staying near the Vatican is one way to have easy access. There are not a lot of luxury hotels in the area. Many luxury hotels in Rome are on the Via Veneto , where we stayed.

The gorgeous Hassler Roma (on my wish list) is at the top of the Spanish Steps, and another 5-star Rome hotel we enjoyed was the Rome Cavallieri – it’s not central but has a resort-like atmosphere with lovely outdoor pools.

5 Star Hotel near the Vatican – Gran Melia Rome

The closest 5-star hotel to the Vatican would be the Gran Melia Rome , a leading hotel of the world.

4 Star Hotels in the Vatican area

Starhotels michelangelo rome.

Slightly closer would be the 4-star Starhotels Michelangelo Rome .

Best Western Plus Hotel Spring House

Closer still is the 4-star Best Western Plus Hotel Spring House .

About Carol Perehudoff

A former freelance travel columnist for the Toronto Star, Carol has won more than 30 writing awards and honours. A spa and luxury travel expert, she’s written for top travel publications around the globe.

Reader Interactions

Hello, Anna. We weren’t under any time limit with our early Vatican ticket. I don’t remember there being gluten free pastries though. Sorry.

Hello, thank you for your detailed description! We just booked it bc the regular tickets were already sold out (RIP), and my partner does not like guided tours bc of the time restrictions. You have unlimited time w this ticket, correct? Another thing I want to ask: do you remember if the breakfast buffet has gluten free food options? (Pastries and bread). I know italiens are good with gf food, but I’m not sure if the Vatican thought of that and I couldn’t find any information on it.

Yes, it sounds pretty amazing. Two hours before it opens. It’s quite pricey, I think. About $400 USD? Thanks for mentioning it.

Glad to hear it, Roger. Enjoy your breakfast.

Wonderful guide Carol thank you. I”ve just booked for my family. Happy travels.

Carol-Isn’t there a tour offered called the Key Master’s Tour? From what I read it’s just a group of 20 people entering at around 6:00 am. The Key Master is the guy who opens the doors, turns on the lights, etc. People in this group get the chance to open doors, turn on lights. You are the only group at this time so super exclusive but super expensive too. Lasts around 2 hours. Then you’re on your own to leave, decide to stay in the museums-maybe have breakfast in the museums-and then return for as long as you want to explore more of the museums. From my research this appears to be the only truly exclusive tour before other tours-even the one you mentioned. Is my research correct? I’d like to know as I’m thinking about booking this for myself and my husband. The idea of being alone in the museums, the Sistine Chapel with only 18 other people at most plus staff getting ready to open the place for other tours, etc. is appealing.

Hi Italy Traveler Bob, Thanks for the kind words. We had no problem going into the basilica from our tour, and had no wait at all, but I can’t guarantee everyone will have that experience.

That depends on you, Leah. You could take hours to look at the art, or whizz through. The good thing is that you can skip the line, so it’s at your own pace.

Question, how long would you allocate for the entire experience? We have another tour scheduled at the Vatican at 11:30am and I’m wondering if we’ll have enough time to see the museums and chapel before that tour begins?

Wow, this was an incredible write up that clarified so many of the questions we had. We just booked our own tickets for our own trip and are already excited.

I saw the reference to St. Peter’s Basilica, but we were wondering if you had to get back into line to enter or does this ticket allow you to skip that line as well? Thoughts on whether it is worth going up to the top of the dome?

Thank you so much!

Hi Gordon. When we did the early morning Vatican Breakfast we had to wait until a certain time to enter the galleries, but it was before the general public could enter, and there were not attendants in every room. We had time alone in a few rooms especially as most people beeline for the Sistine Chapel.

Hi Carol, loved your write-up. I’m just hoping to clear up some (mis?)information I’m getting from folks online. I’ve been told that once you finish your breakfast you are NOT allowed to wander the museums until the general opening of the museums to the public; basically, until there is an attendant in each room ready for the tourists. Your wonderful post here clearly demonstrates otherwise it would seem, but can you say that, indeed, yes, after finish your breakfast you’re allowed to peruse the museums at your leisure BEFORE the official opening to the public? Thank you so very much!

I’m glad you found this Vatican breakfast guide helpful, Mary. Let us know how your trip goes.

Thank you so much for this information! Lovely pictures and I can’t wait to have breakfast at the Pinecone Courtyard this October :)

Thanks, Hailey. The morning visit to the Vatican is really a special experience.

Hey Carol – thanks for taking the time to share your experience at The Vatican! Your account is very helpful, and as a fellow travel advisor, I appreciate your work greatly!

Thank you that was very helpful. Just what I was trying to figure out.

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Exclusive Early Breakfast inside the Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica

• Buffet breakfast inside the Vatican' s Courtyard.
• Guided tour of the Vatican Museums
• Reserved first entrance to the Vatican
• Entrance to the Sistine Chapel
• Visit to St. Peter’s Basilica
• Expert, English-speaking tour guide
• Small groups of 20 people or less
• Headsets when appropriate, so you can always hear your guide

Tour Description

What's included.

• Guided tour with expert English-speaking guide
• Group size limited to 20 people or less
• Early entrance
• All tickets and reservation fees included
• Electronic headsets so you can always hear your guide

Sites Visited

• Breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard

Vatican Museums

• Sistine Chapel
• Gallery of Maps
• Gallery of Tapestries
• St. Peter's Basilica
• St. Peter's Square

Fresh Continental Breakfast

Dark Rome is offering you a unique opportunity to enter the Vatican Museums before the official morning opening for an exclusive courtyard breakfast. Not offered by any other tour operator, this tour allows you to enjoy a banquet breakfast in the tranquility of the Vatican's Courtyard. Here you’ll enjoy a leisurely meal of traditional Italian fare as well as an American buffet complete with our own pancake chef! Begin your tour after breakfast before most of the crowds arrive.

After breakfast you’ll split into groups of 20 people or fewer and your expert, English-speaking guide will take lead you on an exploration of the best masterpieces in the Vatican Museums. Still early, the galleries and rooms will be quieter now than later in the day so you’ll have more space to enjoy the magnificent surroundings.

Visited by over 5 million people per year, the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums are top of the “must see” list for most visitors to Rome. With over 9 miles of art spread across 2,000 rooms, seeing the Papal Palace on your own can be a little overwhelming. With our expertise and experience of touring over 1,000,000 visitors through the Vatican, we make it easy and memorable.

See Michelangelo's Finest Works

You will see the Gallery of Maps, Gallery of Tapestries and much more. Before entering the Sistine Chapel, your expert guide will provide insight into Michelangelo’s world-famous ceiling and Last Judgement frescoes, then give you time in the chapel to take it all in. Many visitors the highlight of the tour is a visit to the Sistine Chapel, made even more fascinating when your guide explains the stories and characters hidden in the art by Michelangelo.

The last stop of the day is St. Peter’s Basilica and Square, where we’ll use a special access door to skip yet another line. Here your guide will introduce you to Michelangelo’s famous Pietà and Bernini's bronze baldachin among other masterpieces. After the tour, you can spend additional free time inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

Important Notes

• Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. Knees, shoulders and backs must be covered.
• Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line' access.
• Saint Peter’s Basilica is subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Cancelation Policy

This tour is subject to a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected

Thousands of 5-Star Reviews

Tripadvisor, know before you go, meeting point.

Near Museum Entrance - Open in Google Maps

• Please note that this tour is only available up to 60 days in advance, due to the nature of the tickets. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
• Please be advised that this tour is non-refundable, with no cancellations or date changes allowed due to pre-purchased tickets.
• It is mandatory to bring a valid ID or Passport for security checks, and entry will not be granted without proper documentation. Thank you for your cooperation.

No. With our tickets, it is not possible to re-enter the Vatican once you leave as the Vatican tickets are single entry only.

Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time of the tour.

• Book Direct: Best prices always guaranteed.
• Multilingual Customer Service: Talk to us, we are here to help.
• No Hidden Costs: All taxes and fees included.

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Vatican tours

Get to know dark rome.

A Dark Rome tour is the product of meticulous research, detailed planning, and a passion for providing customers with travel experiences they will cherish forever.

With Dark Rome it's not just facts, our passionate guides tell you the stories that bring the sights to life.

• All of our guides are experts in their field
• We only hire fluent English-speakers so nothing is ever lost in translation
• We focus on the little details and anecdotes that make Dark Rome so special

Exclusive Breakfast at the Vatican with Tour of the Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica

• Take advantage our of Early Entrance into the Vatican  and walk into the Papal courtyard in the silence of the morning to sit down for a beautiful spread of American-style breakfast in the same courtyard where the popes have entertained guests for centuries.
• After breakfast, wander the galleries before the crowds and enjoy a closer view than the average visitor of  Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel , Last Judgement and much more. Finish your tour with a visit to the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica .
• With an expert English-speaking art historian as your guide , small groups of no more than 20 people , headsets to ensure you hear everything, we can guarantee a great experience in the Vatican with this semi-private tour!

Tour Description

What's included.

• Guided tour with expert, English-speaking guide
• Group size limited to 20 people or less
• Early entrance to the Vatican Museums 
• All tickets and reservation fees
• Headsets so you can always hear your guide

Sites Visited

• Breakfast in the Vatican's Courtyard
• Vatican Museums
• Sistine Chapel
• Gallery of Maps
• Gallery of Tapestries
• St. Peter's Basilica
• St. Peter's Square

For the first time ever, City Wonders is proud to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy a banquet breakfast inside the Vatican's Courtyard before the crowd! We gain Reserved Early Access to the Vatican Museums before other groups so you’ll experience the Vatican as few people have ever seen it with this fully guided tour.

Your expert, English-speaking guide will lead you through quiet corridors to the beautiful Courtyard, where you’ll find a banquet fit for the Pope. Begin with an American-style breakfast in the Courtyard among the majestic views of the Vatican with unparalleled serenity before the public is allowed inside. Savor a delicious American and continental breakfast spread including cooked-to-order eggs, meats, cheeses, muffins, croissants, fresh fruits, cereals, and much more. You can even order a short stack from the Vatican's pancake chef! Your breakfast at the Vatican will be relaxed, giving you plenty of time to sit with a coffee or juice on the courtyard patio, soaking up the peace and quiet of this tiny state in the early morning.

Exclusive Entry to Vatican Museums

After breakfast, you’ll join your expert guide for a semi-private tour of the Vatican Museums . Thanks to our exclusive entry time, you’ll get started early – just after other tour groups are allowed to enter and before the corridors of the Museums get crowded. Once inside, you’ll have a good head start on everyone else and will stay ahead of the crowds for much of your journey.

As an expert in art history, your guide will be the perfect host for your journey through the Vatican; leading you through all the highlights of the Museums without having to walk the whopping nine miles covered by the Papal palaces. Saunter along our carefully designed route to admire exquisite centuries old art collections and archeological wonders.

The Masterpieces of Sistine Chapel

Of course, we won’t miss out on the big-name sights like the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries. From there, visit the Sistine Chapel – the Pope’s personal place of worship. Marvel at Michelangelo’s artistry as you immerse yourself within one of the world’s most significant landmarks. Beforehand you’ll be well prepared for the masterpieces that await. You’ll understand the techniques Michelangelo used to create these stunning frescoes (believe it or not, he didn’t actually lie on his back at all) and spot the incredible details and private jokes that he painted into the world’s most iconic artwork, getting the most from your time here.

Finally, your guide will avoid long lines to get you into St. Peter’s Basilica to explore one of the pillars of the Catholic church. Special access means we’ll gain direct entry from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica without having to leave the Museums, walk 20 minutes to St. Peter’s Square and queue up for an hour. With all that extra time to spare, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the Basilica* with your guide. They’ll explain the incredible work that went into the dome here (and how Bernini almost split the Basilica in half), point out incredible artworks within such as Michelangelo’s sculpture ‘Pietà’ and introduce to you what is probably the world’s most impressive altar. With so much to take in, you are also welcome to remain in St. Peter’s Basilica after the tour to experience more of this amazing church at your leisure, or step back outside St. Peter’s Square to admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion and the basilica’s heavenly facade.

Starting the day with an exclusive breakfast at the Vatican and continuing on in a small group tour through the Museums, your Vatican experience will be memorable and intimate. With audio headsets for every guest and only 20 people or less per group, your guide will be easy to hear and interact with, ensuring that you get the very best from this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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Important Notes

• Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. Knees, shoulders and backs must be covered.
• Please note that this tour is only available up to 60 days in advance, due to the nature of the tickets. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment.
• Due to increased security measures at many attractions some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line'.
• On Wednesday mornings St. Peter's Basilica may be closed to the public due to the Papal Audience taking place in St. Peter’s Square. Customers who wish to visit St. Peter’s Basilica are advised to travel on another day. Saint Peter’s Basilica is also subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.
• Please note that in case of unexpected closures of some of the areas inside the Museums, the guide may have to modify the itinerary slightly.

Cancelation Policy

• Please be advised that this tour is non-refundable, with no cancellations or date changes allowed due to pre-purchased tickets.
• It is mandatory to bring a valid ID or Passport for security checks, and entry will not be granted without proper documentation. Thank you for your cooperation.

The tours meet at a location very close and convenient to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. Full details of the exact location are included on the confirmation voucher you will receive when you book your tour.

Only in the “Sistine Chapel First Entry Experience with Vatican Museums”, after the guide leaves you in the Sistine Chapel, you are allowed to stay inside the Museums and explore on your own. Please note that this is possible as long as you don’t exit the Museums. For the rest of the Vatican Guided Tours, you won’t be allowed to get back to the Museums once you gotten into St. Peter’s Basilica.

Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start time of the tour.

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BEST Way to Visit the VATICAN: Early Access

Brandon Shaw Last Updated: December 8, 2022

If you’ve never been to Rome or the Vatican, the idea seems simple: buy a ticket to the Vatican Museums, head into the Sistine Chapel, and check it off your list. The reality can be very different—with long lines and large crowds. If you’re willing to get up early, though, you can beat the crowds and have an amazing experience! Here’s the best way to visit the Vatican.

Pro Tip:  Planning your visit to the Vatican in Rome? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. See our  guide to Vatican City  for more planning resources, our  top Vatican tours  for a memorable trip, and  how to visit the Vatican.

What is the Vatican?

The word Vatican is tossed around frequently, so let’s establish exactly what we mean and where you’ll be going when you visit the Vatican . Of the three possible options, the last two you are able to visit.

Vatican City

This refers to the entire Sovereign country, which is ruled by the pope. The land area that constitutes the Vatican City is approximately 100 acres and covers the entire area within the Vatican Walls. It includes the Vatican Radio tower, living quarters for the pope and other residents (around 900), the Swiss Guard, the Vatican Gardens, and the Vatican pharmacy. It also includes multiple buildings that aren’t within the walls and the pope’s summer residence, Castel Gandolfo. Most areas of the city are off-limits to tourists and guarded by the Swiss Guard.

Vatican Museums

This is a series of buildings within Vatican City. Inside the museums, you will find countless masterpieces by some of the most famous Renaissance artists the world has ever seen. Included in the Vatican Museums is the Sistine Chapel, so you’ll have to visit the Vatican Museums to see the Sistine Chapel. You can visit the museums by paying an entrance fee .

St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is a church located within the Vatican City, first built in the fourth century over the gravesite of St. Peter. It has been and continues to be one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Christianity. The church is free to visit.

Pro Tip : Bear in mind there is a dress code for the Vatican when you enter St. Peter’s Basilica. Your knees and shoulders must be covered.

How Many People Visit the Vatican Museums Per Day?

According to Statista , in 2019 a whopping 6.9 million people visited the Vatican Museums. This means that on average, 22,000 people visited the museums per day! With that number in mind, you’ll have a better sense of just how many people you could be sharing your Vatican experience with.

This is why one of the best ways to see the Vatican is by taking an early access Vatican tour —to escape the crowds! As an official tour guide of Rome and the Vatican, I ‘ ve been present on days when the actual number topped 30,000 people in one day. Therefore, the chances of you getting into the Sistine Chapel without crowds is almost impossible…or is it?

Popular Vatican Tours

Best Selling Tour

Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel

This our most popular and longest-running Vatican tour to date. It enters the Vatican City & Museums an hour before the public opening and visits the Sistine Chapel as it opens. Admissions are included and our English-speaking guides do a wonderful job bringing the museums to life! Admissions included.

Exclusive Value

First Entry Vatican Gold Tour with Sistine Chapel

Only a select few tour providers can enter the Vatican Museums a full 90 minutes before the general public. As one of the first to enter the Sistine Chapel that day, enjoy the Vatican with only a few other groups inside. This, combined with your passionate English-speaking guide will make your experience very memorable. Admissions included.

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Vatican tour is worth it .

Is There a Line To Get into Vatican City?

There are actually three different lines to enter the museums, and which line you end up in depends on whether you’re entering by yourself or if you’ve decided to do a guided Vatican tour . Here are the three different entrances and who goes in each one.

Individual Line

This is the entrance you ‘ ll use if you haven’t bought a ticket in advance. This entrance doesn’t open until 9 am, so you won’t be permitted entry a t least until then.

This is the notoriously long line featured in people’s photos. In the high season, it’s possible to wait in this line for up to 3 hours to enter.

Vatican Accredited Line

Tour operators who are accredited by the Vatican Museums are allowed to purchase tickets that allow them entry from a different line in front of the museums. These skip-the-line Vatican tours fast-track visitors past the individual line to the security line, which everyone has to go through.

This entrance opens at 8 am. So, tour operators and their groups are allowed to enter the museums one full hour before the public. This is a great way to beat the crowds in the early morning. By the time you get to the Sistine Chapel with an 8 am entrance, you might find around 500 people in the Sistine Chapel, which may sound like a lot but it’s far fewer than an hour or two later.

The Early Sistine Chapel Tour Line

Taking an early Sistine Chapel tour, you enter 1.5 hours before the main crowds are allowed inside. This is the ultimate experience when visiting the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums — with no crowds at all! At this time, there is also no security line, so you basically enter immediately.

There will be moments on this visit when you won’t see any other groups, and it’s completely possible to have entire galleries to yourself. You get to visit the museums the way the pope does—empty.

Depending on the season, you could appreciate the Sistine Chapel almost entirely empty. And even in the high season, there won’t be more than 200 people in the chapel. Given its size, you will almost feel alone anyway. If your dream is to see the Sistine Chapel without crowds and still get the pricing of a small group tour (versus a private tour), then this is the only way to go.

What’s the Hype Over the Early Sistine Chapel Tour?

The Vatican has hand-picked a select number of tour operators (including us) who have been awarded a special privilege — entering the Vatican Museums at 7:30 am. All other skip-the-line Vatican tours enter the Vatican at 8 am.

While this 8 am entrance is still an hour before the general public, getting in at 7:30 am gives you an extremely exclusive experience —it’s the best way to visit the Vatican.

As one of the first groups to enter the Vatican Museums, you will get to admire the iconic works of art without other tour groups. You’ll also be one of the first to enter the Sistine Chapel , the main highlight of your tour.

You’ll get to experience the chapel the way it was meant to be experienced: in a quiet and spiritual manner without the noise and crowds.

Check Out Our Top Early Vatican Tours

Top Rated Tour

First Entry Detailed Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

Limited to only a very select amount of tour providers, enter the Vatican Museums 90 minutes before the public and 30 minutes before other pre-opening tours. You will enter with only a handful of others on this truly VIP experience. Your fun, English-speaking guide will help you in creating special memories by telling fascinating anecdotes that will have you smiling and in awe at the same time. Admission Included

Starting at €99

Likely to Sell Out

Breakfast at the Vatican: Pre-Opening Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel

A VIP experience only available to a handful of people per day, join our Vatican Breakfast Tour. Start your morning in the Pinecone Courtyard where you can enjoy a meal in the Vatican’s picturesque square. After breakfast, skip the lines and see the Vatican before the public is allowed in. Your Expert English-Speaking guide will lead you through the Galleries and Sistine Chapel telling stories that will immerse you in the history and greatness of the Museums.

Starting at €97

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  best Vatican tours to take and why.

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Private Vatican Breakfast Tour | VIP Experience

What to expect

Enjoy the most important meal of the day in one of the most important places in Rome, the Vatican Museums. LivTour’s Private Vatican Breakfast Tour begins with skip the line access to the Vatican Museums in the early morning hours before the crowds arrive!

After entering, your experienced tour guide will escort you inside to enjoy the serenity of the early morning in the courtyard while enjoying your Papal breakfast with some treats made exclusively for the Vatican, which you can find nowhere else! The breakfast includes morning favorites such as eggs, pancakes, Italian pastries, cappuccino and much more.

Why book this tour

• Savor a Papal breakfast in the Vatican before the crowds
• Enjoy early morning entry into the Vatican with skip-the-line tickets
• Experience Vatican highlights with an expert dedicated private guide at your side
• See famous works of art by Michelangelo, Raphael and other great Italian artists
• Marvel at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel - one of Rome’s most enchanting highlights

Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Tour gallery

Read more about your Private Vatican Breakfast Tour

Your Private Vatican Breakfast Tour with meeting your expert tour guide who will facilitate direct access to the museums and take you through a quick security check.  Along with your private guide, you will make your way inside where you will be seated to enjoy a scrumptious Papal breakfast. As you savor your cappuccino, you can enjoy a hearty selection of farm to table dairy products – coming directly from the papal livestock!  Surprisingly these products, produced on papal estate farms, are exclusive to Vatican City and cannot be found elsewhere.

After an enjoyable and unforgettable breakfast, your private guide will take you on a complete tour of the Vatican Museums. Your tour will include all of the Vatican highlights and a few added extras. The Vatican Museums is the fifth largest museum in the world, so there is a lot to see, which is why we curate our tours in a way that you see the best of what this art and history museum has to offer.

In the Courtyard of Statues, you will see the celebrated 15th-century state of Belvedere Torso, considered to have the perfect form, and artists have used it for centuries as inspiration, even Michelangelo!  The tragic story of the city of Troy is depicted in the masterpiece statue of Laocoön.  As your expert guide leads you past other Vatican treasures, such as Emperor Nero’s lavish bath which was once housed in the Golden Palace. Your LivTours guide will also share with you the wonders of the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of Tapestries, and the renowned Gallery of Maps – a Renaissance version of Google Maps.

Of course, no visit to the Vatican would be complete without visiting the Raphael Rooms, part of the papal apartments of Pope Julius II. Enjoy the elegant Raphael frescoes that have been recently restored.

Now it is on to admire the fresco that took Michelangelo four years to finish, the Sistine Chapel. This was once a private chapel, close to the size of a standard basketball court, it can very easily fill up with travelers who have come to experience the beauty of this majestic work in person. Your private guide will explain to you how Michelangelo’s passion for sculpting influenced his painting, leaving us with the depiction of the human form in a new three dimensional way.

Lastly, it is on to visit the largest Catholic church in the world, Saint Peter’s Basilica. One of the most important landmarks for Christians, the burial site of one of Jesus’ apostles and the keeper of the keys to Heaven, Saint Peter. Your private guide will share with you the awe-inspiring works of art such as Michelangelo’s sculpture of the Pieta and Bernini’s Baldacchino Altar canopy made of solid bronze. Before leaving, your guide will tell you about the Papal Tombs and give you instructions for climbing to the to of the Dome if you wish to do so after the tour.

This Tour Includes

• Early Morning Vatican skip the line entrance
• Delicious Papal breakfast
• Fully guided experience
• Raphael Rooms
• Sistine Chapel
• Octagonal Courtyard
• Gallery of the Candelabra
• Gallery of Tapestries
• Gallery of Maps
• Borgia Apartments
• Saint Peter's Basilica & Square*

Know before you go

• 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 flash photography inside the museums, and no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
• St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, the time inside the Vatican Museums will be extended.
• *Please note: Michelangelo’s Pietá is currently under restoration until September 2024
• Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during your visit inside is strictly forbidden, therefore your guide will give you an explanation of the Sistine Chapel beforehand during your tour, in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering the chapel.
• Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
• Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this itinerary proposed in this tour. In order to ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
•  Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.

Our Sustainable Tourism Promise

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.   LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Private tours

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience , you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people* . Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable.  *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Additional options

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Excellent Vatican tour

We truly enjoyed our tour at the Vatican with Nadia! Her emmense knowledge was shared so well, and we were so appreciated of her help to truly take in what we were seeing. Her pace was perfect, not rushed, as there is so much to absorb! Wonderful experience! We will absolutely recommend LivTours for others we know looking for good tours to take when in Rome.

Breakfast tour

Emma was great and we really enjoyed her tour at the Vatican! We have recommended LivTours to our friends who will be in Rome in May. Emma was an excellent representative of your company

Thanks LivTours!

We took four wonderful tours from your company during our visit to Rome in September. We started with a great tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum that would have been hard to beat, it was so much fun. After that, we took a tour of Ostia Antica, the Borghese Gallery, and our favorite tour of all, a private tour of the Vatican with breakfast. I very much wanted to leave an exceptional review for our Vatican tour guide, Luca, who is an absolutely fabulous tour guide. We travel quite regularly, and all four of us felt he was one of the best guides we've ever had. Super friendly and kind, knowledgeable and passionate about the subject, and just a pleasure to tour with. I will recommend LivItaly Tours to anyone looking for an exceptional tour company. Thank you again!

A great (and delicious) alternative to the normal early morning Vatican tour

Everyone had told us that it's best to take a morning tour of the Vatican to try to avoid the masses. So when we saw this tour offering by LivItaly, we couldn't resist! You have to eat breakfast, right? Why not get into the Vatican early, have a VIP buffet in the museum's courtyard and then proceed through the museum. It was everything we hoped for and more!! Our guide Davide was absolutely fabulous: warm, friendly, very well-versed on everything Vatican and funny as well. The breakfast was delicious and the chance to see the Sistine Chapel before everyone else was there was definitely worth the early rise in the morning. We will certainly recommend this tour to all our friends and family!

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

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Useful information for visitors

Entry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens is permitted only to appropriately dressed visitors. Sleeveless and / or low-cut garments, shorts above the knee, miniskirts and hats are not permitted. The requirement of decorum extends also to any visible personal objects as well as similarly visible distinctive personal signs (such as, for example, tattoos) that may offend Catholic morality, the Catholic religion and common decency.

Luggage, bags and rucksacks

Before entering the exhibition spaces, visitors are required to leave in the cloakroom all luggage, suitcases, rucksacks, packages and containers not considered suitable by staff on account of their size or nature. Visitors who continue their tour in the Vatican Basilica are reminded not to leave their baggage in the Vatican Museums. The cloakroom service is free of charge. Cloakroom regulations

Knives, scissors and metal tools

To ensure the safety of visitors and to protect the artistic patrimony, the Vatican Museums require all knives, scissors and/or metal tools of various types to be stored in the cloakroom. The cloakroom service is free of charge.

Lost & Found

The visitor is advised to report any loss of personal belongings at the nearest security point, to enable the object to be found. If the visitor has already left the Museums, it is possible to make a request for assistance by email at [email protected] . Please note that items found and not reclaimed by the end of the day will be placed in storage at the Vatican Gendarmerie . In no event can the Vatican Museums be held responsible for the loss of personal belongings.

Relaxation areas

Relaxation areas with seats are located along the museum itinerary to enable the visitor to take a break and to rest (Courtyard of the Cuirasses, Courtyard of the Pinacoteca, Square Garden, Courtyard of the Pinecone).

Pets and guide dogs

Access to the Vatican Museums, as well as to the Museum Complex of Castel Gandolfo, is not permitted to animals, even small ones, with the exception of guide dogs for the blind or partially-sighted , provided they are equipped with a muzzle and lead, and animals for the certified purpose of pet therapy. To enable reception and entry in these cases, communication of the visit must be submitted at least one day in advance by email at: [email protected] .

Photography at the Vatican Museums

It is permitted to take photographs, for personal and domestic use only , of the works in all areas of the Vatican Museums, apart from the Sistine Chapel. Flash photography is strictly forbidden . The use of tripods, stands, drones and/or professional equipment is not allowed; any eventual use must be authorised by the Directorate of the Museums and Cultural Heritage. The use of telescopic "selfie sticks" is forbidden. In the Sistine Chapel it is forbidden to take photographs or films with any type of electronic equipment. The guard staff is authorised to request the immediate cancellation, in their presence, of video or photographic material produced in contravention of this rule.

Visits to the the Sistine Chapel

With respect for and in view of the sanctity of the location, during the visit to the Sistine Chapel visitors are kindly requested to observe absolute silence. Guided tour groups, although equipped with radio headsets, will receive all the relevant art-historical information prior to their entry in the Sistine Chapel. For this purpose, totem touch screens are available to authorised educational guides to illustrate to visitors what they will subsequently admire in silence. A number of informative panels rich in details on the sacred Chapel and other areas of the Museum are available to individual visitors or tour guides along the exhibition itinerary (Courtyard of the Pinecone and Square Garden).

Drawing in the Vatican Museums

Special authorisation from the Directorate of the Museums and Cultural Heritage is required for the reproduction or drawing of the works on display (solely and exclusively in pencil). By virtue of a didactic agreement between the Vatican Museums and the Rome Academy of Fine Arts, students enrolled on the Artistic Anatomy courses are permitted to draw the works within the academic programme they are following.

Laser pointers

The use of any type of laser pointer is forbidden inside the museum spaces. 

Map of the Vatican Museums

Visitors are advised to consult the official map of the Vatican Museums when planning and personalising their visit. The map can be downloaded and printed from the Vatican Museums website or obtained free of charge in the ticket office.

Paper, tins, bottles and other refuse must not be discarded in the Vatican Museums. They must be placed in the appropriate containers which, for safety reasons, are located only in the areas outside the itinerary (main entrance, courtyards, refreshment areas, and restrooms).

Support and donations

In support of the Pope's commitment and charitable work in favour of those most in need, the Vatican Museums are able to provide interested visitors with an information kit on Peter's Pence , containing a postal payment slip and documentation on the Pope's apostolic and charitable work. There is a branch of the Vatican Post inside the Vatican Museums, where it is possible to make payments and other ordinary transactions.

Security checks by metal detector

To facilitate and speed up security checks by metal detector, visitors are advised to remove inadmissible items from their hand baggage beforehand, and to inform staff in advance (see sections Umbrellas , Knives , Weapons ).

Umbrellas, sticks, stands and video cameras

Medium and large umbrellas (or standard non-telescopic umbrellas), sticks (apart from those used for walking), tripods and stands for photography, video cameras, banners and signs of any type must all be left in the cloakroom. Rods used by authorised tour guides for visibility purposes are permitted. The cloakroom service is free of charge.

Weapons and/or hazardous materials

It is forbidden to bring any type of firearm and/or dangerous material into the Museums. In addition, entry is not permitted to armed visitors (including those holding a valid license). This prohibition is extended to members of the Police carrying weapons. Firearms and hazardous materials may not be left in the cloakroom.

Food and drink

It is not permitted to bring alcoholic and super alcoholic beverages inside the Vatican Museums (these must be left in the cloakroom for the duration of the visit). It is forbidden to consume food and drink inside the exhibition halls . Visitors can however store any type of food and/or drink in their possession in the cloakroom free of charge. ( This must be reclaimed before the closing time of the day of the visit; unclaimed food and beverages will be destroyed ). Along the museum itinerary several vending machines and refreshment areas with cafeteria, self service and pizzeria services are available to the public.

Families at the Vatican Museums

The Museums are pleased to welcome families with children and strollers in tow. The guard staff is responsible for showing visitors the easiest route and to direct them to dedicated elevators providing easy access to various museum spaces. Along the itinerary there are dedicated spaces equipped with baby changing facilities and a nursing room for breastfeeding mothers. Highchairs are provided in some refreshment areas. To view points of interest, see the official map of the Vatican Museums .

Supervision and protection of the artistic patrimony

It is strictly prohibited to touch the works of art throughout the museums (with the exception of blind and partially sighted visitors participating in tactile and multisensory visits ). To guarantee the safety of visitors and the protection of the entire artistic patrimony, all the museum spaces, along with the works conserved therein, are equipped with an advanced alarm and video surveillance system.

Mobile phones

Endeavouring to ensure the best possible experience for visitors, the Vatican Museums strongly discourage the use of mobile phones inside the exhibition spaces. Visitors are required to activate the silent function of their mobile device. The use of mobile phones is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.

Works on loan

In planning a visit to the Vatican Museums, visitors are advised to consult the section " Museums in the World " to see the list of works temporarily on loan to other institutions for exhibitions and other events.

Amplified microphones

The use of amplified microphones is not permitted in the Vatican Museums. For guided group tours with 11 or more participants, the internal hire of radio headset systems is obligatory .

For security reasons, no museum area has Wi-Fi coverage.

Air-conditioning

Architectural constraints and the strict requirements for protection of the patrimony impose severe restrictions on air-conditioning (especially during the summer months) of some areas of the museums which receive heavy visitor traffic.

Smoking in the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are a "no smoking area", and smoking is strictly forbidden  (including electronic cigarettes and similar instruments) along the entire museum itinerary, the Octagonal Court included.

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Visit the Vatican at your own pace, hassle-free experience

Vip early entrance vatican guided tour.

If there is one place in the world that holds a powerful amalgam of artistic, historical, religious, and political value that is within the open borders of the Vatican City. Besides being home to the Pope and the official site of the Catholic Church, the so-called Holy See, hosts some of humanity’s biggest artistic accomplishments. The Vatican’s architectural and artistic masterpieces attract daily a large influx of tourists. As the official Vatican Museums tour provider we offer guided tours that will get you in not only faster but also earlier. With our early morning tour, you will experience the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica at the most peaceful time. You will explore the secrets of the largest and busiest complex of museums in the world with no crowds.

› Get premium access and admission tickets to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

› have the museums to yourself with early entrance at 7:30 am, 90 minutes before the general public, › benefit from the knowledge of a dedicated english-speaking guide with extensive expertise of the vatican, › flexibility of choice, you can be part of a small-group tour of no more than 12 people or choose the private option, peaceful, quiet and hassle-free experience.

Due to the high number of enthusiastic tourists, the museums can get very busy at times and this can jeopardise your experience. This special time slot that we provide ensures a greatly enhanced experience as it is available to only a few lucky tourists. You will practically feel like you have the museums all to yourself which will allow you to pay detailed attention to the masterpieces. Equally important when visiting the museums is having a precise itinerary. This is because the museum’s corridors are very labyrinthine and host over 7 kilometres of art. To avoid wasting your time wandering through the corridors not knowing where is what, it is advised to be in the company of an expert and our guides know these museums like the inside of their pockets! They also hold encyclopaedic knowledge of the artefacts and will provide you with little-known facts about their creators and much more!

What parts of the museums will you visit?

We have carefully crafted a special itinerary that will take you to see the main parts of the museums. With this tailored tour, you will visit the famous Gallery of the Candelabra. This place takes its name from the majestic candelabras that divide this gallery into six sections. The sculptures are all arranged following symmetrical criteria compatible with the architecture of the six fabulously designed rooms. This place contains artworks found throughout the country, from the time of the Roman Empire to modern-day. From there you will explore the Gallery of Tapestries displaying the work of Raffaello Sanzio. This exhibition is completely protected from sunlight in order to best preserve the tapestries. Each of these massive tapestries displays different powerful Catholic stories and myths. You will also explore the Gallery of Maps where you can gain an understanding of what the world was thought to look like centuries ago, at a time when cartography was undergoing its own renaissance.

The beauty and complexity of the Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is renowned for being decorated with what many perceive as the most spectacular masterpiece in human history, Michelangelo’s frescoes that cover the ceiling. The Sistine Chapel ceiling helped Rome overtake Florence as the supreme cultural capital of Italy. Thanks to the special time-slot provided by this tour, you will be able to walk around and admire the frescoes in complete silence. The experience will be much more insightful when the place is not crowded. The chapel is covered in beautiful and noble colours in the famous shades of ochre, umber green, Sangiovanni white, and ultramarine blue. The central part of the ceiling is divided into 9 panels portraying stories from the Book of Genesis such as the awe-inspiring Division of Light from Darkness, Creation of the Stars, of the Waters, of Adam, of Eve and finally the Creation of the Original Sin. Michelangelo’s genius has to be admired in silence but your assigned guide will give you a description of what you are about to experience before entering the chapel and will handle your questions once out.

Religious art at St Peter’s Basilica

This tour encompasses all the attractions of the Vatican, including a visit to St Peter’s Basilica,* a unique example of Renaissance architecture and Baroque art and a symbol of huge significance to Christianity. You will enter the Basilica through a special-access corridor, skipping the long general-access lines. The creation and décor of the Basilica involved the most brilliant engineering and artistic minds of the time. Tourists of all faiths visit the Basilica to discover and admire the creations of the geniuses of Michelangelo and Bernini. You will discover Michelangelo’s Pietà, an extremely moving sculpture depicting the lifeless body of Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary. Under the same roof, there is Bernini’s Baldachin, a massive sculpted bronze canopy that sits above St. Peter’s tomb. The Baldachin is not only jaw-dropping, but it is a prime example of the style that flourished around Europe at the beginning of the 17th century, Baroque. At the end of the tour, you can explore more at your own pace.

Small-Group Tour

You can join this early entrance guided tour, as part of a group of no more than 12 people. Being part of a small-group when touring the Vatican can be a fun yet more personal experience since the size of the group is small. Your assigned guide will accommodate everyone on the tour and answer everyone’s questions. Our guides are highly experienced at keeping such groups engaged and entertained and they will provide top insider knowledge on the monuments. This option is more budget-friendly while not giving away the benefits of having a guide to accompany you as you discover the Vatican. On top of that, it has proved to be a great option for tourists who do not mind the presence of other like-minded and culture-hungry travellers who are all enthusiastic about discovering the Vatican.

Private Tour

Newlyweds, families, first-time tourers, or couples and friends who prefer more privacy or are simply looking for more authentic travel experiences, may often think that having a guide to yourself is better than sharing one. With this premium option, you decide who joins you on this tour. Needless to say that you will benefit from the undivided attention of your guide and that you can also benefit from flexibility of itinerary. With this choice you will experience the Vatican in a very time-efficient and seamless way, where you can spend more time on the galleries that appeal to you the most and less time in others, you will see the Vatican at your own pace. You can also choose this option and upgrade it to include pick-up from your accommodation. This option promises a much more comfortable, efficient, and authentic experience!

This tour runs from Monday to Saturday and it includes St Peter’s Basilica every day except on Wednesdays. The Basilica is an active Church and on Wednesdays it is closed until 1 PM due to the weekly Papal audience. Instead, you will spend more time discovering the hidden gems of the Vatican Museums. Rest assured that your guide will give you an introduction of the Basilica and the art inside so you know what to look for if you wish to visit later. Moreover, when visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and/or the Vatican Museums, you are kindly asked to respect the city’s dress code, which implies having your knees and shoulders covered.

Witness the fabulous art and architecture in the museum of museums

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DETERMINAZIONE PROVINCIA DI ROMA – LICENZA NUMERO 478323 DEL 28/05/2021 R.E.A. RM 1611120

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This website is not the official website of the Vatican Museums. It is run by IWF Srls and works with attractions and tour operators to provide incredible experiences at the touch of a button.