When the Vatican Museums close to the public, you step inside, with no crowds enjoying Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in perfect silence. On this rare after-hours tour, wander the Vatican’s galleries as they were meant to be seen, free from the chaos of the day. With a small group and expert guide, explore the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the treasures of the Vatican as few ever will.
Passionate English-speaking guide
Exclusive after-hours Vatican entry
Crowd-free experience
Raphael Rooms
Exclusive Sistine Chapel entry
Max 20 pax
Guide gratuity
Hotel pick up
Meals
Meet your guide near the Vatican Museums entrance
Your after-hours Vatican adventure begins as you meet your expert guide outside the Vatican Museums, ready to step inside once the doors close to the public.
Gallery of the Candelabra
Marvel at towering marble columns, intricate sculptures, and golden candelabras that illuminate the gallery, a space once reserved for displaying the Vatican’s most prized antiquities.
Gallery of Tapestries
Admire handwoven masterpieces depicting biblical scenes in stunning detail. With lifelike expressions and optical illusions, these tapestries were designed to impress even the most distinguished visitors.
Gallery of Maps
Stretching an astonishing 120 meters (400 ft), this corridor is lined with vibrant, 16th-century maps illustrating Italy’s mountains, coastlines, and cities as they were known during the Renaissance.
Raphael Rooms
Enter the private chambers of Pope Julius II, where Raphael’s legendary frescoes, including The School of Athens, bring together history’s greatest philosophers and artists in a grand Renaissance composition.
For Reference Only. Itineraries are subject to change
Select participants and date
Free cancellation up to 7 days in advance!
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Exclusive Sistine Chapel after hours
Donald Lavich
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 Fathree
Verified Review
October 18, 2025
Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel after hours - Amazing Tour
Ward Schendel
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 Seibel
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 Franks
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 Mathis
Verified Review
October 11, 2025
Elizabeth Doll
Verified Review
October 04, 2025
Vatican after hours tour
Duane C Welch
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 Wemyss-Dunn
Verified Review
September 30, 2025
Paul Coviello
Verified Review
September 27, 2025
Clinto Lewis
Verified Review
September 27, 2025
Overwhelming Beauty
Natalia Cross
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 Newton
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 Fletcher
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 Payne
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 Marshall
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 Rowe
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 Douglas
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 Stephens
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 Day
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 Walters
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 Jenkins
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 Curtis
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 Pearce
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 Fleming
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.
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