Visiting the Vatican: Early Access

Visiting the Vatican with this early access tour is the best way to see the most highly trafficked museum in the world. A private driver will pick you up at your hotel, and a private guide will whisk you through the Vatican Museum, before the public opening, with a crowd-beating ticket. You will admire all the Vatican city masterpieces and the sublime “Last Judgment” by Michelangelo Buonarroti before the crowd arrives. You will enter the Cabinet of the masks, closed to the general public. At the end of the tour, you will not only understand the Vatican but will have energy left for more of the Eternal City.

Not interested in early pick-up and tour: choose your preferred time to visit the Vatican Museums here.

What's Included

Included in “Visiting the Vatican with early access”

Certified Professional Guide
Early access Vatican tour tickets
Pick up from hotel ( drop off not included )
COVID 19 safety measures: face mask is no more mandatory but suggested in crowded places.

Not Included and on request:

drop-off

Pick-up/Meeting Point info

Pick up details

According to your location, the pick-up time is 15 minutes to half an hour before the tour starts. To optimize your precious time, we pick you up from all hotels, apartments, and B&B located within a radius of 7 kilometers from the Pantheon. With a supplement, we will pick you up from other locations.

NOTE: Reconfirming your reservation, we will also reconfirm the pick-up time.

Additional Info

Remember to cover your shoulders and knees before entering the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica.

You can take pictures for personal use inside the Museums and the Basilica, NOT inside the Sistine Chapel and of the Swiss Guards.

SUGGESTION: Avoid booking this tour on Wednesday; due to the Papal audience, the Basilica is closed to visitors, and the tour will end back at the entrance of the Museums. You will reach St. Peter’s Square with the guide who will explain the Church and the Square from the outside.

What you will see

Vatican Museum

The driver will bring you to the Vatican entrance, where you will meet your private guide. She/he will have your Vatican early entrance tickets and whisk you through the Vatican’s most important collections before the public opening. It overflows with masterpieces by many of Italy’s most famous Renaissance and Baroque artists, such as Bernini, Raphael, Botticelli, Perugino, and Pinturicchio, which sit alongside important works from Ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt.

The Cabinet of Masks

Taking part in this early access Vatican tour, you will enjoy the exclusive opening to the Cabinet of Masks, named after the mosaics inserted in the center of the floor, coming from Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli. Here you can appreciate female statues inspired by masterpieces of ancient Greek art.

Sistine Chapel

You will be among the first visitors reaching the Sistine Chapel. It is part of the official residence of the Pope and serves as a place of both religious and functionary papal activity. Here, you will have time to observe the details of Michelangelo’s sublime “Last Judgment” and the other prodigious frescoes of the master and other notable painters.

St. Peter’s Basilica

This experience includes St. Peter’s Basilica tour. You will skip another line and enter directly into the world’s largest church with your guide. Admire Michelangelo’s “Pietà” and the other numerous highlights.
Because of the Papal Audience, the St. Peter’s Basilica visit is not permitted on Wednesday morning. The guide will explain the Basilica from the Square if this is your only choice.

Limited Mobility Issues

The Vatican Museums’ visit involves SIGNIFICANT WALKING. Please provide any mobility and wheelchair access requirements. Also, visitors with limited mobility can contact us for special needs, such as wheelchairs or walkers. Please note that the pathway from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter’s Basilica has 50 steps downwards and is not wheelchair accessible. Also, it is not possible to carry the wheelchair/walker down the stairs. The tour will continue to the Basilica only if all members of your private group can walk down the stairs. If your private group includes participants with reduced mobility, the tour will end without accessing the Basilica. Also, note that other participants in your group will have to push the wheelchair. However, by adding a transfer to reach St. Peter’s Square, we can organize the Basilica visit.

NOTE that in any case, we cannot avoid staying in line to enter the Basilica.

Duration: 3 Hours

Price: Varies according to the number of participants

Days of Operations: Every day except for Sundays and Religious Holidays

Starting Time: Departure 07.30 a.m.

Basilica San Pietro

Cappella Sistina

Musei Vaticani

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Transfers

One of the top-rated tourist attractions in the Vatican is St. Peter’s Basilica. But the first Basilica is not the majestic one we see today! Built by Emperor Constantin on the tomb of the Saint, it was consecrated in 329. Would you like to see how it was? Our guide will show it to you in one of the frescoes of the marvelous Raphael’s Rooms.

Why plan a Vatican tour early in the morning?

Book with confidence and if you change your mind, cancel your reservation up to 24 hours in advance without penalty. You will be credited with 100% of the amount paid.

Most international tour operators use the payment system chosen by our agency to guarantee safety and privacy to customers.

Even if Vatican Museums allow total immersion in art at all times, The early morning tour is the less crowded one. Furthermore, you will have more daylight time to enjoy an outdoor activity! We tailor-make each holiday to your specific requirements: discovering the hidden scenery of the eternal city will be a great adventure.

Book Now! Free cancellation

Check out the other tours organized in the city too!

Best of Rome from Civitavecchia Port: Vatican, Colosseum, Fountains and Squares. Lunch Included!Elisabetta Zanin2023-07-08T14:48:41+02:00

Best of Rome from Civitavecchia Port: Vatican, Colosseum, Fountains and Squares. Lunch Included!

Visiting the Vatican: Early Access | Private Tours