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Offered languages
- English
Experience the Vatican at a quieter time of day on this morning tour with a private guide designed to make the world’s most visited galleries feel more peaceful and intimate. Skip the stress of crowds that fill the halls in the late morning and afternoon, and move at a relaxed pace through highlights like the Raphael Rooms and Gallery of the Maps. Your dedicated guide shares stories and context that bring the Vatican’s treasures to life, from Renaissance masterpieces to Michelangelo’s iconic frescoes. Enter the Sistine Chapel to admire Michelangelo's masterpiece, and then use a special passageway that leads you directly into St. Peter’s Basilica, avoiding long lines outside. This private tour is ideal for families, couples, friends, or anyone seeking flexible pacing and more time to pause and ask questions.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to the start of your tour, your guide will be holding a green Walks sign. This tour meets at Antico Café Candia, Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM.
Itinerary
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1Vatican Museums
Your morning begins in the calm of the Vatican Museums just as the doors open. With your private guide leading the way, explore Belvedere Courtyard, the Gallery of the Maps, and more before the daytime crowds arrive.
2 hours • Admission ticket included -
2Stanze di Raffaello
You'll have plenty of space to enjoy the Raphael Rooms peacefully. Your guide, an expert storyteller and art historian, connects each painting to the history, culture, and personalities that shaped it.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3Sistine Chapel
Beforehand, your guide provides context that reveals the symbolism behind Michelangelo's masterpiece to help you make the most of your time inside the chapel. Please Note: Between January 12 and March 31, 2026, the Vatican Museums will carry out a dedicated preservation project focused on Michelangelo’s "Last Judgment" in the Sistine Chapel. To allow specialists to work safely and thoroughly, the entire wall featuring the fresco will be covered by scaffolding throughout the intervention. The Sistine Chapel will remain open to visitors, though this specific artwork will be temporarily out of view during the restoration period. We appreciate your patience and understanding as essential conservation work is performed on this remarkable masterpiece.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4St. Peter's Basilica
Slip through a passage reserved for tour groups and enter St. Peter’s Basilica without waiting in line outside. Here, marvel at Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s soaring canopy as your guide reveals the legends and artistry behind one of the world’s most significant churches. 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.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- 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.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
- Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
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Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
- 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.
- The full names of all participants must be provided at the time of booking and must match the names on the ID/Passport. Name changes are not permitted.
- Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.
- Walks Tours is an Accredited Tour Operator with an official ticketing agreement with the Vatican Museums.
- Between January 12 and March 31, 2026, the Vatican Museums will carry out a dedicated preservation project focused on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment. The Sistine Chapel will remain open, but the fresco will be temporarily covered by scaffolding during this period, this specific artwork will be temporarily out of view during the restoration period. Thank you for your understanding.
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Cancellation Policy
All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
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Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Rating
You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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