Beat the crowds and explore the treasures of the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpiece in peace.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Reserve now & pay later: Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures are in place. Check your activity voucher once you book for full details. Learn more
Duration 4 hours: Check availability to see starting times.
Skip the ticket line
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

Gaze at the paintings adorning the famous Sistine Chapel without the crowds
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast in the Pinecone Courtyard of the Vatican
Learn about Raphael Sanzio at the Gallery of Tapestries

Full description

Start your day at the Vatican early and skip the notoriously long ticket lines by following a special route through the museums that gets you to the Sistine Chapel just as it opens for the day.

Enter before most of the crowd and spend a peaceful half-hour soaking up Michelangelo’s masterpiece along with stunning frescoes by other important Renaissance artists. Continue on to the Pinecone Courtyard for large buffet breakfast including hot and cold dishes, fruit juice, tea, and coffee.

Once you’ve eaten your fill, head back into the museums for a tour of the most famous artifacts, including the Belvedere Torso, the Apollo Belvedere, the Laocoön Group, and the Raphael Rooms, widely considered to be among the most beautifully-frescoed interiors in the world.

Visit the Gallery of the Candelabra with ancient Greek and Roman artworks. Learn about Raphael Sanzio at the Gallery of Tapestries, one of the most spectacular rooms of the museums.

Includes

Early entry to the Sistine Chapel
Skip-the-ticket-line entry to the Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums highlights tour
Buffet breakfast
Professional tour guide
Small group (never more than 15 people)
Headsets

Tips

Not suitable for

Wheelchair users

Covid-19 precautions

Safety measures in place

All required protective equipment is provided
All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned
The number of visitors is limited to reduce crowds

Traveler requirements

All participants are required to bring and wear FFP2 masks. Blue surgical masks will not be accepted

Meeting point

At the green bar (called l'Ottagono) in Piazza del Risorgimento.

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Important information

What to bring

Passport or ID card
Comfortable shoes

Not allowed

Shorts
Baby strollers
Luggage or large bags
Short skirts
Sleeveless shirts
Backpacks

Know before you go

Please wear clothing that covers at least the shoulders and knees for the Sistine Chapel visit
All guests must pass through security. For useful information/restrictions about your tour, visit https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en/visita-i-musei/consigli-utili.html
Storage for your belongings is available. Please note you must return (about a 20 minutes walk) to the entrance to pick up your items at the end of the tour

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.5 /5

based on 54 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Transportation
4.6/5
Value for money
4.3/5
Safety
5/5

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Breakfast was definitely not worth it. Everything was cold, eggs were made long before we got there. It would have been better to skip breakfast and go straight to the tour. Ended up starting the actual tour when the museum was already open, defeating the purpose of the early tour.

September 30, 2022

Getting into the museums early was definitely worth the price. The breakfast was pretty underwhelming, so I would skip it next time. Our guide, Ilaria, was great... Very knowledgeable about all the art and history and very friendly. Overall, I was very happy with this tour and highly recommend this company... Just not the breakfast.

September 27, 2022

Tour starts with a breakfast. Main areas are far from empty, but you will have sufficient space to appreciate the Vatican. The guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Most of the tour is spent looking at art, and the guide gives a very good run down of the main pieces you'll see, the history, and Easter eggs you may miss at first glance. Highly recommended.

September 21, 2022

Vatican: Skip-the-Line Vatican Museums Tour with Breakfast

Vatican: Skip-the-Line Vatican Museums Tour with Breakfast

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