Vatican Express Tour: Highlights of the Museums & Sistine Chapel
5 hours
Max 20 people
Commentary: Guide · en
Rome, Italy
About this activity
Skip the line into the Vatican Museums and see the Sistine Chapel after the crowds have left for the day.
Highlights
- See the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel without the crowds on a relaxing tour before closing time. (4:15pm tour only)
- Visit the Vatican Museums with skip-the-line access.
- Savour the splendor of the Sistine Chapel and famous works of art like "Laocoön and His Sons".
- Enjoy insightful commentary from your guide to make the most of your visit.
Full description
See the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums at a quieter time of day without its typical crowds on this closing time tour. With our expert guide on hand, you’ll have skip-the-line tickets to explore its legendary galleries on a three-hour tour. The Vatican Museums and courtyards are filled with the most important classical sculptures ever discovered, and you’ll end in the Sistine Chapel among the last visitors of the day to admire Michelangelo's magnificent frescoes in peace. Walks Tours is proud to be an Accredited Tour Operator with an official ticketing agreement with the Vatican Museums.
Avoid the crowds on this peaceful afternoon Vatican and Sistine Chapel tour
The size and scale of the Vatican Museums can intimidate even the most hardcore art and architecture enthusiasts. And with thousands of visitors traversing its halls every day, it can be challenging to truly appreciate its splendor. That’s why we’ve created this special afternoon itinerary designed to bring you on a journey through the absolute highlights, including the Sistine Chapel, at the museum’s quieter time of day three hours before closing time.
Your tour begins with skip-the-line access into the Vatican Museums, where you’ll explore some of the most famous galleries, like the Gallery of the Tapestries, Gallery of the Maps, and Gallery of the Candelabra. Your guide will tell you the fascinating stories behind the art, from the humble monk who created some of the first maps of Italy, to the wildly moody nature of the great Michelangelo Buonarroti.
In the Belvedere Courtyard you'll get to see some of Antiquity's finest statues, like the Apollo Belvedere and Laocoön & His Sons. As you take in these masterpieces, you'll also learn what makes them so special, and why - after thousands of years - they're still considered the pinnacle of artistic beauty.
Your final stop, the one and only Sistine Chapel. Stepping inside after the daytime crowds have left, you’ll be able to reflect on Michelangelo’s masterpiece in relative peace and quiet. Your guide will give you tips about what to look out for before you're inside so that once you're there you can simply take in the chapel’s immense grandeur.
This tour checks the Vatican off your bucket list, while opting for a more relaxing, guided experience. Thanks to strategically timed afternoon entry and skip-the-line tickets, you’ll be among the few visitors who get to experience the Sistine Chapel without the crowds—all while seeing the Vatican Museums’ highlights accompanied by an expert guide.
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 info@takewalks.com or call +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.
Note: On select days, we also offer this Vatican express tour at 10am. You should expect more people in the Museums, but you'll still enjoy an expert-led tour of its highlights and the Sistine Chapel.
Sites Visited • Sistine Chapel • Belvedere Courtyard with Ancient Greek & Roman sculptures • Gallery of the Candelabra • Gallery of the Maps • Gallery of the Tapestries
The size and scale of the Vatican Museums can intimidate even the most hardcore art and architecture enthusiasts. And with thousands of visitors traversing its halls every day, it can be challenging to truly appreciate its splendor. That’s why we’ve created this special afternoon itinerary designed to bring you on a journey through the absolute highlights, including the Sistine Chapel, at the museum’s quieter time of day three hours before closing time.
Your tour begins with skip-the-line access into the Vatican Museums, where you’ll explore some of the most famous galleries, like the Gallery of the Tapestries, Gallery of the Maps, and Gallery of the Candelabra. Your guide will tell you the fascinating stories behind the art, from the humble monk who created some of the first maps of Italy, to the wildly moody nature of the great Michelangelo Buonarroti.
In the Belvedere Courtyard you'll get to see some of Antiquity's finest statues, like the Apollo Belvedere and Laocoön & His Sons. As you take in these masterpieces, you'll also learn what makes them so special, and why - after thousands of years - they're still considered the pinnacle of artistic beauty.
Your final stop, the one and only Sistine Chapel. Stepping inside after the daytime crowds have left, you’ll be able to reflect on Michelangelo’s masterpiece in relative peace and quiet. Your guide will give you tips about what to look out for before you're inside so that once you're there you can simply take in the chapel’s immense grandeur.
This tour checks the Vatican off your bucket list, while opting for a more relaxing, guided experience. Thanks to strategically timed afternoon entry and skip-the-line tickets, you’ll be among the few visitors who get to experience the Sistine Chapel without the crowds—all while seeing the Vatican Museums’ highlights accompanied by an expert guide.
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 info@takewalks.com or call +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.
Note: On select days, we also offer this Vatican express tour at 10am. You should expect more people in the Museums, but you'll still enjoy an expert-led tour of its highlights and the Sistine Chapel.
Sites Visited • Sistine Chapel • Belvedere Courtyard with Ancient Greek & Roman sculptures • Gallery of the Candelabra • Gallery of the Maps • Gallery of the Tapestries
Included / Excluded
- Skip the Line Access tickets to the Vatican Museums
- Local English-speaking guide
- Headsets
- Small groups of 18 people or fewer
- Gratuities
- Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Meeting point
Start Location
Piazza della Città Leonina, 5 , Rome, IT
Piazza della Città Leonina, 5 (Caffè Leonina). Please meet your guide in front of the cafe. The closest metro stop is Ottaviano.
Get directions →Important information
Know before you book
- 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.
- Walks comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Italy government guidelines for the most up to date information
- This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.
Know before you go
- Please note that the tour meeting time is 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds or re-bookings can be provided for late arrivals or no shows after tour commencement or departure.
- All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
- The use of mobile phones is allowed, except in the Sistine Chapel.
- All guests must pass through security. For useful information/restrictions about your tour in the Vatican Museum, visit https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en/visita-i-musei/consigli-utili.html
- Only small backpacks and handbags are allowed inside the Vatican Museums.
- 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.
- Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.
- Walks comply with all local government regulations. You may need to wear a mask or provide proof of vaccination to enter certain venues. Please refer to Italy government guidelines for the most up to date information
- 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.
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity starts
Cancellations received greater than 24 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 24 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no shows are nonrefundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive, or arrives after tour departure.