Vatican Museums Early Entry Tour
About this activity
Highlights
- Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour of Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms
- Early morning entry before general public
- Explore Vatican's art treasures
- Experience Sistine Chapel's masterpieces
Full description
Included / Excluded
- Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums
- Guided tour of Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms
- Early morning entry before general public
- Food and beverages
Meeting point
Start Location
Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Roma, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy, Roma, IT
Important information
Know before you book
- Tour operates on Wednesdays only
- Limited to 6 participants per group
- Non-refundable once booked
Know before you go
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Bring a valid ID for entry
- Photography is allowed without flash
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Accessibility
- Easy Public Transport
Good to know
- On Wednesday morning St. Peter’s Basilica is closed, which means less crowds, but also that you will not be able to access the Basilica until after the tour ends.
- Vatican management maintains the right to delay the opening of the Sistine Chapel for religious reasons, in this case the guide will modify the itinerary and extend your visit of the museums to ensure you make the most of your time before access to the Sistine Chapel is permitted.
- There is no photography allowed in the Sistine chapel, and all other artwork can only be photographed without flash.
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
Traveler reviews
Why We LOVED The Wed early AM tour
Our family (2 adults, 2 older teens) booked the Wed early AM tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Gabriella C was our guide, and she was a highlight of our time in Rome. Her knowledge was an incredible addition to our tour, and her energy made the tour fun! We covered a LOT in a very little amount of time, but it was inspiring. If you can book with Gabrilla C - do it! Also, this specific time frame had a much smaller number of people, so it was possible to actually sit and enjoy the sistine chapel. We had hoped to head over the St. Peter's after the tour, but the line to get into the church was VERY long and we were not up for standing in the sun for 2 hours. I wish I had better understood that this tour (at least in the summer) would likely mean not being able to see the church.
10 out of 10
Our guide, Luciana, was excellent. Can’t imagine doing this meaningful tour without her.
Best small group Vatican tour
We had an amazing experience on our Vatican City tour! Massimo was extremely knowledgeable and informative. We loved the small group format, which allowed us to see everything up close and at a great pace. If you want to fully experience Vatican City, we highly recommend booking this tour.
Exceptional experience
5 stars, 6 stars, 7 stars more! Sisi (Sylvia) was an exceptional guide. She was patient with all of our questions, thoughtful in her presentation and accommodating to a last minute scooter requirement (broken foot). The art, of course, was incredible. The guide made it come to life. LivTours did a great job!
Enjoyable Tour
We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Massimo. He was both informative and humorous. We found him engaging and knowledgeable.