Rome travel guide: tickets, best time & real costs
Alone in the Vatican Museums VIP Early Entry Tour with Key Master
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At a glance
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Price from
- $821 / person
- Location
- Rome, Italy
- Rating
- 5.0 / 5 · 14 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Up to 20 people
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- LivTours
- Meeting point
- In front of Cafe Vaticano, right across the street from the Vatican Museum's Entrance. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time.IMPORTANTYou must bring photo ID to guarantee entry.
Description
Walk alongside the Vatican’s Keeper of the Keys and witness the lights turn on throughout the galleries on this exclusive VIP Key Master semi-private tour. This once in a lifetime experience will allow you to hold in your hand and turn the keys that unlock the doors of the Vatican’s halls, galleries, and the Sistine Chapel itself—all completely alone. Once the private palace of the popes, the Vatican Museums welcomes 25,000 people every day. On this very special early morning tour, you will be able to enjoy the marbled halls, frescoed galleries, world-famous antiquities, and Renaissance masterpieces in almost total privacy. Experience the vibrant color and artistic genius of the Raphael Rooms alone. Bask in the awe-inspiring magnificence of Michelangelo’s frescoes in the empty Sistine Chapel. Then, enjoy a delicious breakfast in the grandeur of the Pinecone courtyard.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Vatican Museums
Be the first people to enter the hallowed portals of the Vatican an hour and a half before it opens to the general public. Enjoy a unique private tour with an expert guide completely alone in the Vatican. No other parties or groups. Just you. A unique, unparalleled opportunity.
Stanze di Raffaello
Normally buzzing and bustling with hundreds of people, enjoy the peaceful solitude of Pope Julius II’s private apartments, frescoed by Raphael, the painter of sweetness and light. Admire the School of Athens and the Disputa – unparalleled works of art.
Galleria Delle Carte Geografiche
Marvel at the Flemish tapestries, created according to Raphael school designs and originally meant to insulate the Sistine Chapel. Admire the golden opulence and staggering accuracy of the 17th-century Gallery of Maps.
Sistine Chapel
To enter the empty Sistine Chapel is an extraordinary and unforgettable moment. Stand alone beneath Michelangelo’s great masterpieces, the Creation of Man and the Last Judgment. Its magnificence and majesty is both moving and humbling. A once in a lifetime experience. From January 12 through March 31, the Vatican Museums will be carrying out special conservation work on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment inside the Sistine Chapel. During this time, a scaffolding structure will cover the entire Last Judgment wall. The Sistine Chapel will remain open and fully accessible, but this specific artwork will not be visible during the restoration period. Thank you for your understanding as this masterpiece receives important care.
Cortile della Pigna
Lastly enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet in the open-air grandeur of the Pinecone Courtyard.
What's included
Included
Pinecone Courtyard for VIP breakfast
Key Master access to the Vatican Museums before the opening hours
Official Vatican guide
Museum Highlights
First look at the Sistine Chapel & Raphael Rooms
A group of no more than 20 people
Semi-Private tour
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
14 reviews
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter
- There is no photography allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
- Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
- IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican
- Due to the exceptional circumstances of this tour your group size will have a max of 20 people
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does this tour take?
Alone in the Vatican Museums VIP Early Entry Tour with Key Master lasts about 2 hours. The itinerary has 5 stops.
How much does this tour cost?
Prices start at $821 per person for this Rome experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel this tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is In front of Cafe Vaticano, right across the street from the Vatican Museum's Entrance. Please arrive 15 minutes before the start time. IMPORTANT: You must bring photo ID to guarantee entry. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is this tour offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 20 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is this tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 5.0 out of 5 across 14 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by LivTours.
Reviews(14)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
5.0
Based on 14 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor
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from$821
5.0(14)