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Offered languages
- English
At daybreak, before the Eternal City awakes, be the first to enter the hallowed halls, opulent galleries, and sacred chambers of the Vatican Museums, in an exclusive small group with an expert guide. You will experience the Apostolic palaces as the popes of the Renaissance did – peacefully, without the crowds. Enjoy some of the greatest art in the world. The Apollo and Laocoon of antiquity, the Renaissance wonders of the Raphael rooms, and the majesty of Michelangelo’s masterpieces in the Sistine Chapel. Enjoy a breakfast buffet in the stately Pinecone Courtyard to conclude your journey through the heart of the papacy.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
In front of Cafe Vaticano, right across the street from the Vatican Museum's Entrance. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. IMPORTANT: You must bring photo ID to guarantee entry.
Itinerary
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1Vatican Museums
Be the first people to enter the hallowed halls and galleries of the Vatican two hours before it opens to the general public. Enjoy an exclusive semi-private tour with an expert guide alone in the Vatican with just a small group of 10 people.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
2
Normally full of hundreds of people jostling for position, enjoy the peace and quiet of Pope Julius II’s private apartments by Raphael, the painter of sweetness and light. Admire the incredible frescoes of the School of Athens and the Disputa. Learn about the life and tragic early death of the beloved Raphael.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3Galleria Delle Carte Geografiche
Marvel at the hand-stitched Flemish tapestries, created according to Raphael school designs. Admire the golden opulence and amazing accuracy of the 17th-century frescoes in the Gallery of Maps.
10 minutes • Admission ticket included -
4Sistine Chapel
To enter the empty Sistine Chapel is an unforgettable moment. Normally filled with over 1000 people, you will stand alone beneath Michelangelo’s mighty masterpieces. Be swept up in their splendor and magnificence.
10 minutes • Admission ticket included -
5Cortile della Pigna
At the end of your wonderful experience, enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet in the restaurant of the stately Pinecone Courtyard.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter
- There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
- Offered in: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Please specify under “Additional notes” if you wish to book the tour in a language other than English.
- Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
- IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican
- Due to the exceptional circumstances of this tour your group size will have a max of 10 people
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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