Vatican City, vatican
italy
41.90451 12.45976

VATICAN

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About Vatican

Vatican City, an independent, landlocked state within Rome, Italy, and the smallest country in the world. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church, home to the Pope who directs the church's government from there. The Vatican is also a major center of art and culture, containing significant religious sites like St. Peter's Basilica, as well as museums, libraries, and other historic buildings. 

Museum hall with detailed gold and blue decorative ceiling, marble statues of historical figures along the walls, and a marble fountain in the center.
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Type

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

MAX 20

ENGLISH

Vatican Museums Keymaster

Experience

Pricing

€ 875,00

Experience the unique feeling of being one in a million of people to access, open, and walk alone among the most beautiful collection of art in the World.

Description

GROUP
LANGUAGE
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DURATION
START TIME

2 hrs

6:00 am

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A young man in a black jacket is unlocking or locking an iron gate with a key, while a person in the foreground is taking a photo or video with a smartphone.

Be among a select few to enter the Vatican Museums at dawn and witness them come to life from the inside out. This rare experience ends in the Sistine Chapel as the lights are switched on, a moment few ever see.

Tour Overview

The Vatican Museums - open to your group only!

Even if you have already visited the Vatican Museums and you think this is just one of several tour options offered by agencies, you’re wrong! The Keymaster tour is an experience that cannot be compared with any other Vatican Museums tour. 

The start of this unique event is at 6am when the magnificent doors, under the sight of two statues of Raffaello and Michelangelo, will open and you will access the Vatican Museums hall.

An ancient elevator will bring you to the upper level, where the Clavigero will collect all the necessary keys for the opening of the Vatican Museums’ sections. In the meantime, at the Corazze Atrium, you will admire the sunrise just behind the magnificent St. Peter’s Dome. After collecting the keys that will give you access to all of the important sections of the Vatican Museums, you will visit the Pio Clementino Museum and Octagonal Courtyard, with all the statues glancing at you from the darkness.

In the perfect silence you will have the impression of hearing the footsteps of all the inhabitants of the Popes’ apartments. The footsteps that used to walk those ancient pavements and through those long

corridors all those years ago.

With the help of flashlights we will then reach the entrance of the Vatican Galleries and, maybe, some of you will be offered a key that will open these sections for all the visitors that day. From there you will be allowed to open the covers on these historic windows from where the Popes in past centuries used to admire the Vatican Gardens.

After all of these sections, you will reach a small double wooden door. This will probably be the biggest excitement of the whole itinerary as this door will lead you inside the Sistine Chapel.

The Sistine Chapel will be opened only for our group and you will have a chance to access this marvelous place in silence and without any other visitors except for our small group.

Your Itinerary

Diagram of a museum exhibit with sections labeled Meeting Point, Gallery of Tapestries, Sistine Chapel, Gallery of Maps, and Gallery of Candelabra.

Pricing

€ 750,00

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2 hrs

6:45 am / 6:30 pm /

7:30 pm

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GROUP
LANGUAGE

MAX 20

ENGLISH

Vatican Museums Before and After Hours

Experience

EXCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE

Type

Experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel like never before: an exclusive experience allowing unparalleled intimacy with the world's most celebrated art and history.

Description

START TIME
DURATION
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A young man and woman stand holding hands inside a grand, ornately decorated room with painted ceilings and walls, at the Vatican Museums.
Close-up of a stone sculpture on the Vatican Museums building, featuring two seated male figures on either side of a shield with an eagle, surrounded by ornate details, with the inscription 'MVSEI VATICANI' below.

Explore the Vatican Museums in near silence, either before opening or after closing, when the crowds are gone. This exclusive access creates an intimate, almost private encounter with some of the world’s greatest art.

Tour Overview

This tour option provides you with priority skip-the-line access, allowing you to bypass the crowds and immerse yourself in the experience alongside a select, intimate group of fellow explorers. You'll step directly into the grand hall of the Vatican Museums, where your captivating adventure into art and history begins!

Before you step inside, you'll be equipped with headsets to catch every fascinating detail from your guide. They’ll then take you on an unforgettable journey through the stunning Vatican Museums, exploring the Upper Galleries, the Raphael Rooms, and the iconic Sistine Chapel.

Your guide will bring the art to life with captivating stories, while also unveiling the intriguing details of the Vatican City as an independent state. Dive into its rich history and modern-day life, and uncover what makes the smallest country in the world so extraordinary.

Your Itinerary

Informational infographic describing various galleries and rooms in Vatican City, including images of the street outside Ristorante 'Da Paolo' Viale, the Church of Candelabra, and art within the Sistine Chapel.

Type

PRIVATE EXPERIENCE

Pricing

€ 530,00

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DURATION
START TIME

Vatican Museums Private Tour

Experience

GROUP
LANGUAGE

YOUR GROUP ONLY

TAILORED UPON REQUEST

3 hrs

8:00 am / 12:30 pm

Featuring Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

First 2 adults total cost €530

Description

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The image shows a group of people standing inside a large, elaborately decorated room with a high ceiling. The walls are adorned with colorful paintings and frescoes, and the floor has intricate black-and-white mosaic patterns. The most prominent feature is a massive, detailed fresco painting on the ceiling, depicting numerous biblical scenes and figures. The room appears to be a historic or religious site, possibly a chapel or part of a museum.

Enjoy the Vatican Museums entirely on your own terms with a private guide and a personalized pace. From world-famous galleries to the Sistine Chapel, this experience is designed for depth, comfort, and complete flexibility.

Tour Overview

This Vatican Private Tour will give you a chance to fully appreciate this marvellous art collection at your own pace with one of our knowledgeable and passionate guides. In three hours you will discover some corners of the Vatican Museums that are not usually included with standard tours. Also, your guide will be at your disposal and they will answer all your questions and curiosities.

An experienced, professional licensed guide will lead you through several Galleries and rooms of the Vatican Museums, and you will discover the history and behind-the-scenes knowledge of all the major artworks. This tour option will bring you inside Pio Clementino Museum, through the Upper Galleries

(Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Maps and Gallery of Candelabra), The Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel 

You will have the chance to admire the statues and the Octagonal Courtyard. 

Your Itinerary

A digital guided tour infographic of Vatican City and Athens, Greece, showing landmarks and artworks with descriptive text. 
[EXPERIENCES]
A group of five tourists walking through a long, ornately decorated hallway with tapestries hanging on both sides and a decorated ceiling. The tour guide is directing attention, speaking to the group.

MAX 12

ENGLISH

Early Morning Vatican

Experience

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DURATION
START TIME

SEMI-PRIVATE EXPERIENCE

Type

Pricing

Starting from € 125,00

GROUP
LANGUAGE
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2h 30min

8:00 am

Our best-selling / best-value VIP experience

Description

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Interior of a museum gallery with ornate painted ceilings, glass display cases along the sides, and a tiled floor.

Step inside the Vatican Museums before the crowds arrive and experience its masterpieces in calm, golden-lit galleries. With a small group and early access, this tour offers space, clarity, and an unforgettable first encounter with the Sistine Chapel.

Tour Overview

This tour option will provide early entrance and a small intimate group of people to share this experience with. You will enter directly to the hall of the Vatican Museums where your adventure will begin!

 

Once inside you will be provided with headsets (in case of more than 6 participants) and your guide will lead you through the marvelous rooms of the Vatican Museums. The itinerary of this tour option includes the Upper Galleries, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel 

Your guide will lead you through the artworks passionately and you will be able to hear and learn facts about the Vatican City as a separate state, as well as all of the rich history on show in the Vatican Museums themselves.

Your Itinerary

A historical and cultural tour guide map of a location featuring points of interest such as the Meeting Point, Laocoon sculpture, Pio Clementino Museum, Gallery of Candelabra, Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with brief descriptions of each site.

Type

GROUP EXPERIENCE

Pricing

Starting from € 110,00

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GROUP
LANGUAGE

MAX 20

ENGLISH

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DURATION
START TIME

2h 30min

8:00 am / 12:30 pm /

Vatican Museums Group Tour

Experience

Experience the Vatican Museums with Expert Guides

Description

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Contact Us
Front view of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, with its large dome, statues along the roof, and a crowd of people in the square.

A perfectly balanced Vatican Museums experience that combines expert guidance with a lively group atmosphere. Ideal for first-time visitors who want to see the highlights efficiently without feeling rushed.

Tour Overview

This tour option provides you with priority skip-the-line access, allowing you to bypass the crowds and immerse yourself in the experience alongside a select, intimate group of fellow explorers. You'll step directly into the grand hall of the Vatican Museums, where your captivating adventure into art and history begins!

Before you step inside, you'll be equipped with headsets to catch every fascinating detail from your guide. They’ll then take you on an unforgettable journey through the stunning Vatican Museums, exploring the Upper Galleries, the Raphael Rooms, and the iconic Sistine Chapel.

Your guide will bring the art to life with captivating stories, while also unveiling the intriguing details of the Vatican City as an independent state. Dive into its rich history and modern-day life while uncovering what makes the smallest country in the world so extraordinary.

Your Itinerary

A digital map highlighting a walking route through Vatican City, including landmarks like Meeting Point, Laocoon sculpture, Gallery of Candelabra, Gallery of Maps, St Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, Pio Clementino Museum, and Stine Chapel. 
[ HIGHLIGHTS ]

■

What to Expect

Vatican Mornings

Be among the first to step inside the Vatican Museums before the doors open to the general public. With only a handful of fellow travelers, you’ll wander through hushed galleries, admire Raphael’s Rooms without the crowds, and then enter the Sistine Chapel in silence—just as Michelangelo once saw it in the morning light.

Keymaster

Follow the Vatican’s Keymaster as he turns locks that have guarded treasures for centuries. One by one, the lights flicker on in empty galleries until you reach the Sistine Chapel. Here, in a sacred quiet, you’ll stand almost alone beneath Michelangelo’s ceiling, experiencing the Vatican as few in the world ever do.

Fast Travelers

Perfect for those short on time, this tour leads you straight to the masterpieces. Glide past the lines, explore the most iconic galleries, pause in the Sistine Chapel, and then step directly into St. Peter’s Basilica through a special access door. In just a few hours, you’ll have lived centuries of history.

Vatican Nights

When the daytime crowds leave, the Vatican Museums transform. Wander softly lit corridors, marvel at tapestries glowing in the evening light, and enjoy an almost private audience with the Sistine Chapel. The stillness of the night adds a rare intimacy to Michelangelo’s frescoes and Raphael’s artistry.

Interior of a museum with a decorated arched ceiling featuring paintings and ornate designs, glass display cases along the walls with artifacts, and a checkered floor.
View of the exterior of the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome, Italy, with a brick building, decorative details, and visitors walking on paved paths, green grass, potted trees, under a blue sky with clouds. 
[ the journey ]

Discover the Vatican Museums Like Never Before

We invite you to step into the Vatican Museums with us, not as just another visitor in the crowd, but as a guest with a key to the heart of history. Imagine the stillness of the morning as we guide you through doors that open just for us — galleries glowing in the first light, Raphael’s colors coming alive without the rush of thousands, and the Sistine Chapel waiting in quiet majesty.

Whether we walk together at dawn, follow the Vatican’s Keymaster as he unlocks hidden gates, or return after hours when the halls are hushed and bathed in soft light, every step feels like entering a secret world that belongs only to you.

And the journey doesn’t end there. With privileged access, we’ll lead you straight from Michelangelo’s masterpiece into the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica, where centuries of art and faith stand in breathtaking harmony.

For those who want more, we shape private tours around your passions — letting you linger where your heart pulls you most, uncover hidden corners, and savor every detail at your pace. This is more than sightseeing. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, crafted so you don’t just see the Vatican Museums — you feel them. Book your journey with us, and let’s unlock the Vatican Museums together.

[ FAQ ]

Common Questions

  • The price covers:

    • Entrance tickets

    • Reservation fees

    • A professional licensed guide

    • Headsets (for groups larger than 5 people)

    • The full itinerary as described in the tour program

  • Customers should be at the meeting point 15 minutes prior to the departure time. If you will be late, please contact our customer care team at City Lights Tours at the telephone number found on your confirmation voucher and we will do our best to accommodate you; however, it may not be possible for you to join the tour. Late arrivals are not eligible for refunds.

    Please note that if you do not arrive on time for your tour, it cannot be rescheduled. This is because the tickets are time-sensitive and valid only for the specific date and hour booked.

  • We suggest booking your Experience at your earliest convenience. Due to popular demand, it is possible that the Experience will be fully booked if left too late. 

  • We accept online payments from most major credit and debit card providers including Visa Credit, Visa Debit, Maestro, MasterCard, and American Express.

  • You should receive your email confirmation, including your tour voucher, after you make your booking online. In most cases this happens almost instantly.

  • If your payment didn’t go through, it may be due to your credit card not passing our payment gateway security check. For a credit card to be accepted, it needs to have 3D security verification enabled.

    If your card has been declined for the reason mentioned above, please contact us directly at info@citylightstours.com or through our online forms and we will assist you in completing the booking process.

  • If you did not receive an email confirmation when making your booking, please check your spam folder first. If it's not there, contact our customer care team at info@citylightstours.com, and we will be happy to investigate and reissue your tour voucher if necessary.

  • Please contact City Lights Tours customer care team at info@citylightstours.com before making your booking, and we will advise you on accessibility, as well as any potential restrictions at the sites you wish to visit. Note that a wheelchair-friendly itinerary is available and must be booked specifically for such needs.

  • If you wish to cancel your booking, please contact our customer care team at info@citylightstours.com. Cancellations will be issued in accordance with our Cancellation Policy, which can be found on our Terms & Conditions page.

  • You can reschedule or change your tour providing that you give us enough notice. Changes to bookings are subject to our Terms & Conditions.

  • We are happy to accommodate additional guests subject to availability. Please contact our customer care team at City Lights Tours with the details.

  • Our staff at the meeting point will be dressed in branded clothing, with CityLights logos on it.

  • The Vatican and Colosseum tours entail extensive walking, including navigating staircases and uneven surfaces.

  • If you join a group experience, the guide will have a microphone connected to the headsets provided to all customers. We always ensure high-quality headsets for our experiences. However, please note that inside the Vatican, the audio equipment is provided by the Vatican (Whisper), and the quality of the headsets may vary. 

[ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ]

Borgo Vittorio 85a 00193 Roma, Italy
+39 351 737 8623

info@citylightstours.com

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