First Entry Vatican Prime Tour with Breakfast Included

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.