Of all Rome's tours, this is the rarest and most exclusive, with two ways to beat the crowds. Pick dawn to watch the Vatican's key keeper unlock the museums in a ceremony only a handful witness, or select after-hours to see St. Peter's glowing in evening light as the 20,000 daily visitors leave. Either time, you'll walk through empty galleries filled with Raphael's art and centuries-old tapestries before experiencing the Sistine Chapel in silence. This is the Vatican as it was meant to be seen.
Rome's most exclusive Vatican experience
Expert English-speaking guide
After-hours or dawn museum entry
Sistine Chapel exclusive access
Guided tour of Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, and Gallery of Tapestries
Clavigero Unlocking Ceremony (dawn option only)
Guide tips
Entry to St. Peter's Basilica
Meet your guide near the Vatican Museums entrance
Your journey begins outside the Vatican Museums. For morning visitors, a private vehicle brings you to a restricted entrance. If you’re visiting in the evening, you’ll head inside just as the last visitors exit.
Witness the sacred unlocking ceremony (dawn option only)
Follow the Vatican’s key custodian through silent corridors as he unlocks door after door in a daily ritual few ever witness. It feels like watching a hidden world come to life before anyone else arrives.
Admire St. Peter’s Basilica from the terrace (evening options only)
Step onto a terrace overlooking St. Peter’s Basilica just as the dome glows in the fading light. The city stretches out below, and for a moment, it feels like Rome is putting on a private show.
Explore the Pio-Clementino Museum
Morning tours reveal galleries gradually, with ancient marble figures appearing as the lights come up. Guests on the 6:15 pm tour explore these spaces without the daytime crowds, standing face to face with legendary sculptures. Please note that the later evening option does not include the Pio-Clementino Museum.
Walk through the Vatican Museum’s Galleries
Pass through vast, beautifully decorated halls filled with classical statues, rich textiles, and detailed maps of Renaissance Italy. The quiet makes every footstep echo and every detail feel more vivid.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Start times are in the product’s local time
Free cancellation up to 7 days in advance!
Thu, 29 Jan 2026
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Exclusive Sistine Chapel after hours
Donald L.
Verified Review
October 19, 2025
This was by the far the most impressive and informative tour we have taken. The atmosphere of a small group alone in the Vatican was truly awe inspiring. Our guide Marcia was the best.
John F.
Verified Review
October 18, 2025
Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel after hours - Amazing Tour
Ward S.
Verified Review
October 13, 2025
Catherine was an outstanding tour guide! And to be in this location with a very small group viewing famous paintings and the Sistine Chapel - well worth it! The background and detailed information presented by our guide made for a wonderful evening! Thank you!
Would not recommend
Paula S.
Verified Review
October 11, 2025
Lovely guide but I thought we would have 30 minutes inside the chapel in silence. We had neither. We should outside listening while trying to see pictures in the dark for far too long then she repeated some of those things inside the chapel. Of course it was wonderful to be without the crowds but overall we were disappointed.
Tammy F.
Verified Review
October 11, 2025
Words cannot explain how beautiful and peaceful this tour was.. Our guide was amazing and extremely knowledgeable. Initially, we entered into our own private gate, visited one of the gardens, and learned about the sistine chapel. We continued our walk through different rooms with ancient greek statues, fresco's, on every wall and ceilings that were beyond belief. Painings by Leonardo and more. While admiring the sisting chapel with only fifteen people in the room was an experience I will never forget.
Norman M.
Verified Review
October 11, 2025
Elizabeth D.
Verified Review
October 04, 2025
Vatican after hours tour
Duane W.
Verified Review
September 30, 2025
Some might view this as an unnecessary expense. I would describe is as priceless! Our guide was Marzia and she was a force of nature and an incredible resource to have in the Vatican. She clearly had warm relations with our Vatican hosts and she was knowledgeable and charming on our tour. I would not go back to the Vatican without "The Roman Guy". We were a group of maybe 15 people and we had the place essentially to ourselves. This was the absolute highlight of my time in Rome.
Charlie W.
Verified Review
September 30, 2025
Paul C.
Verified Review
September 27, 2025
Clinto L.
Verified Review
September 27, 2025
Overwhelming Beauty
Natalia C.
Verified Review
September 09, 2025
This was more than a tour—it was an emotional experience. The silence of the Sistine Chapel brought tears. Absolutely worth it.
Intimate Tour
Joel N.
Verified Review
September 06, 2025
Our group was so small it felt personal. The halls glowed differently at night, and Raphael’s works practically sparkled with life.
Sheer Serenity
Lucy F.
Verified Review
September 05, 2025
There was something deeply calming about walking the Vatican at night. It felt like stepping into history undisturbed, letting every detail settle in.
Lasting Memory
Derek P.
Verified Review
September 04, 2025
My family couldn’t stop talking about this. Walking slowly through the galleries and hearing the guide’s stories felt enriching and sacred at once.
Incredible Treat
Annabelle M.
Verified Review
September 03, 2025
I thought I knew what to expect, but I didn’t. Empty galleries carry a presence of their own. Michelangelo’s work left me speechless.
Divine Silence
Brady R.
Verified Review
September 02, 2025
No pushing, no chatter—only awe. The guide’s stories about the papal history tied everything together beautifully. It made the whole experience come alive.
Sacred Calm
Sienna D.
Verified Review
September 01, 2025
The silence of the night made every fresco feel intimate. The Sistine Chapel filled me with awe, as though art and spirit merged.
Unforgettable Evening
Trevor S.
Verified Review
August 29, 2025
To witness Raphael’s School of Athens without distraction was spectacular. The glow of the Vatican at night felt sacred. Truly once in a lifetime.
Magical Escape
Naomi D.
Verified Review
August 24, 2025
We walked halls I’d seen packed in daylight. In the evening, they were ours to explore and appreciate. Every detail seemed sharper without noise.
Life Highlight
Grant W.
Verified Review
August 19, 2025
Out of all my travels, nothing compared to this. Being present in the Sistine Chapel in total stillness was spiritual and emotional. A dream come true.
Pure Bliss
Maya J.
Verified Review
August 14, 2025
I could never imagine Rome without this memory. The Vatican felt alive and personal, like it was welcoming us only. Absolutely worth taking time for.
Exclusive Access
Wesley C.
Verified Review
August 09, 2025
When those Sistine Chapel doors opened just for us, it felt unreal. Sharing that sacred moment in quiet reflection with only fifteen people was priceless.
Unbeatable Experience
Elena P.
Verified Review
August 04, 2025
This is without question worth every penny. To view the Vatican’s art without the pressure of the crowds was moving. I’d recommend it to anyone visiting Rome.
Rare Treasure
Colton F.
Verified Review
July 31, 2025
It’s hard to describe the privilege of holding stillness among such masterpieces. The guide was insightful, making each room burst with meaning, especially Raphael’s frescoes.
