First Entry Vatican Prime Tour with Breakfast Included

Afterwards, enjoy a continental breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard (Cortile della 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.

First Entry Vatican Tour Description

This 3-hour tour includes:

• First entry, skip-the-line Vatican tickets

• See the highlights of the city's three main galleries

• Raphael Rooms and School of Athens

• Exclusive Sistine Chapel tour

• Continental breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard

• An expert English-speaking guide

• Maximum group size of 10

Vatican Galleries

After strolling through the grand and near-empty courtyard of the Vatican, you'll visit the main galleries of the Vatican: the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries, and the Gallery of the Maps. These galleries are home to some of the Vatican's finest sculptures, paintings, tapestries, and maps, and your guide will talk you through the history and meaning of each piece as you pass.

Raphael Rooms

Next on this unforgettable walking tour are the Raphael Rooms. These four galleries are dedicated to one of the true masters of the Renaissance, and you'll find his most famous painting School of Athens here. Take in the stunning frescoes and hear how Pope Julius II commissioned the art, as well as the complex techniques used to create them.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel

The last 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 you'll have the luxury of taking in the serene grandeur of the chapel without waiting in line or fighting for a perfect viewing point. At this early hour, your guide will be able to speak in the chapel and explain in detail what you're seeing. This is a rare opportunity as speaking inside the Sistine Chapel is usually forbidden for the public.

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.

Breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard

If all of that wasn't enough, you'll top off your exclusive early morning tour with a hearty continental breakfast in the Vatican's beautiful Pinecone Courtyard.

After the tour, you're welcome to explore the Vatican Museums in further detail or walk over to St. Peter's Basilica. You'll need to join the security line at the basilica, which can be long but is still well worth it.