First Entry Vatican Prime Tour with Breakfast Included
Enjoy VIP access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel 90 minutes before the public
Do you wish you could experience the stunning art and architecture of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel without the crowds? Then don't miss reserving your spot on this VIP tour where you'll have first entry access a full 90 minutes before the mass of other tourists. You'll follow your professional Vatican guide to see the Pio Clementino Museum, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel, and more. Finally, with your group of 10 or fewer, dine on a delicious breakfast in the famous Pinecone Courtyard.
Tour Details
- Sistine Chapel before any crowds
- Views of St. Peter's
- Laocoon and his Sons
- Nero's Bath and the Pio Clementino Museum
- Main Galleries of the Vatican Museums
- Galleries of the Maps, Candelabras, and Tapestries
- Raphael Rooms
- Michelangelo's famous ceiling
- Creation of Man
- Breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard
Don't miss an opportunity to explore the Vatican (with a small group of fewer than 10 people) a full 90 minutes before most crowds—and an hour before typical early access tours. Most early access tours gain entry at 8:30 am, but this VIP-access tour lets you in at 7:30 am. Imagine the serenity you'll feel as you walk through the Borgia Apartments, Raphael Rooms, Vatican galleries, and more without the echoes of hundreds of tourists. Best of all, your Vatican guide can get you closer to these masterpieces for a more memorable view than any other tour.
Afterwards, enjoy a continental breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard (Courtyard of the Pigna) which sits between the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. You're free to explore the basilica on your own after your delicious breakfast. This 4-hour tour includes:
Continental breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard
First entry, skip-the-line Vatican tickets
A highlights visit to the museum's three main galleries
Exclusive Sistine Chapel tour
Raphael Rooms, Borgia Apartments and Pio Clementino Museum
An expert English-speaking guide
Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
The first stop inside the Vatican is probably the most anticipated stop of all: the Sistine Chapel. You'll be among the first tourists of the day to experience Michelangelo's masterpiece and take in the silent grandeur and serenity without feeling crowded. As the chapel is a sacred place, speaking and photography are not permitted in the Sistine Chapel, but you will have plenty of time to immerse yourself in its wonder.
Please note: In order to enter the Sistine Chapel, both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to this portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot—a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
Nero's Bath at the Pio Clementino
You guide will then escort you to three of the Vatican's most famous statues: Apollo Belvedere, Laocoön and his Sons, and the Belvedere Torso. Learn the history and mythology of these statues that dates back to antiquity. This is also where your Vatican guide will show you one of the Vatican's most valuable pieces: Nero's Bath. It's the world's most expensive bathtub, made from marble that can't be sourced anymore, and fit for an emperor.
Vatican Galleries
By now, you've seen amazing pieces of art, but there's still more to come in the main galleries of the Vatican: the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, and the Gallery of the Maps. Here your guide will share the history of each piece of art as you gaze upon the stunning tapestries, maps, and more.
Borgia Apartments
Commissioned as the personal residence for Pope Alexander VI of the Borgia family, the lavish suites of the Borgia Apartments include the oldest known depiction of Native Americans in Europe. Your guide will explain the amazing technique Pinturicchio (a co-pupil of Raphael) used to create the effect of three dimensions on the walls.
Raphael Rooms
Next on this unforgettable walking tour are the Raphael rooms. These four galleries are dedicated to the great artist, and you'll find his most famous painting School of Athens here. Take in the stunning frescoes as you hear about Pope Julius II commissioning the art and the techniques used to create them.
Breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard
And if all of that wasn't enough, you'll top off your exclusive morning tour with a hearty continental breakfast while other tourists look on from a distance with envy. You'll eat in the courtyard found in the center of the museums complex, which is considered the Vatican's premier outdoor area. Enjoy a classic breakfast buffet as you share your favorite experiences of the morning with your new-found friends. After the tour, you are welcome to explore the Vatican Museums in further detail or walk over to St. Peter's Basilica. Please note you'll need to join the security line at the basilica, which can be long but is still worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to meet?
Meet your guide between Hotel Alimandi and Caffé Vaticano at the top of the big staircase (Viale Vaticano, 100). A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it.
What to bring?
We ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you might be refused entry to religious sites and miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Rome can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
Where to meet?
Meet your guide between Hotel Alimandi and Caffé Vaticano at the top of the big staircase (Viale Vaticano, 100). A representative will be there holding a sign with our company name on it.
What to bring?
We ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you might be refused entry to religious sites and miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Rome can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.
Does this tour really enter before other groups?
Yes! The public has access at 9:00 am, while other early access tours enter at 8:30 am. This tour is admitted at 7:30 am which is 90 minutes before the general public.
Is there a way to see the Vatican without a guided tour?
Yes, you can visit the Vatican without a guided tour. Click here for skip the line Vatican tickets.
Is St. Peter's Basilica included on this tour?
No, this VIP tour includes the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums and ends with breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard. After the tour, you are welcome to visit the basilica on your own after going through their security line.
Which line should I use to get in early for this tour?
As you approach the Vatican, you'll see a few lines and entry doors. The public is admitted from the left line, most tours use the right line for early access, but this tour uses the exclusive center line for immediate access. You'll be escorted through with your guide and proper voucher ticket.
Which line should I use to get in early for this tour?
As you approach the Vatican, you'll see a few lines and entry doors. The public is admitted from the left line, most tours use the right line for early access, but this tour uses the exclusive center line for immediate access. You'll be escorted through with your guide and proper voucher ticket.