Private Vatican Experience with Sistine Chapel & Raphael's Rooms
Description
Go at your own pace and linger as long as you like at the masterpieces. That’s the benefit of having a private guide just for you and your group at the Vatican! Use the fastest available skip the line access and let your guide handle all of the logistics - so you can focus on enjoying your experience of the Vatican Museums, and Sistine Chapel. Have a special request? Let your insider guide know so they can tailor the tour to your interests.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Together with a private guide, guests will discover the highlights of the extensive collection at the Vatican Museums. This private Vatican Tour also includes the fastest possible skip the line access. Explore the Pinecone Courtyard and Belvedere Courtyard, along with the Hall of the Muses, Round Room, and Gallery of the Candelabra. Admire intricate tapestries from some of Raphael's pupils in the Gallery of Tapestries, and historical maps by the Vatican cartographers in the Gallery of the Maps. Do you have a special request or particular interest? Please let me know so I can tailor your experience. We’ll go at your pace and linger as long as you like at the masterpieces. That’s the benefit of having a private guide just for you and your group!
One of many open-air courtyards located in the Vatican Museums, this is one of the first you will visit. Named for the giant bronze pinecone sculpture that dominates the space.
Located in the Pinecone Courtyard, Arnaldo Pomodoro's "Sphere within a Sphere" is one of the museum's more famous pieces of modern art on display. Different iterations of this sculpture are on display throughout the world. Give it a spin!
They call them the "Vatican Museums" because they are comprised of many smaller museums, or "wings". The Pio Clementino Museum is the first you will come across on your private tour, and the most important - encompassing the largest number of highlights. Here you will find the Round Room with its giant bronze sculpture of Heracles. You will also find the Room of the Animals, with it's impressive collection of lifelike sculptures of everything for turtles and horses to lions and bears. In the Octagonal Courtyard you will encounter the Laocoön, the very first statue of this collection as well as the the Apollo Belvedere. In the Room of the Muses you will find the famous, twisting, Belvedere Torso. Admire the 3D painted ceilings of the Candelabra Gallery.
Head with your guide to the Gallery of the Maps and get a perspective of the world how it was five centuries ago. These exquisitely detailed, hand-painted giant maps are a favorite of the Vatican Museums. See if you can find the Italian cities you have visited, or spot the nod to Christopher Columbus' journey to the Americas.
Famous painter Raffaello frescoed this series of rooms in the Vatican Museums. Discover them together with your private guide.
Your private visit of the Vatican Museums culminates at Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. No speaking is allowed in the Chapel, so you will enjoy free time on your own to take this masterpiece in.
The tour concludes at the entrance of the Vatican Museums.
Visit to Vatican Museums - Vatican City
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children 6 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
- Children aged 7-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
- Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
- Entrance into St. Peter's Basilica is separate from the Vatican Museums and is not included in your ticket.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes.
- Important: From January 12 to March 31, 2026, conservation work will be carried out on Michelangelo’s Last Judgment (Giudizio Universale). The Sistine Chapel will remain open to visitors; however, the fresco will be temporarily not visible due to scaffolding. We thank you for your understanding during this important preservation project.
Reviews(101)
Daniel V was excellent. Very knowledgeable and engaging.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Daniele. We'll be sure to share your kind words with him—he'll be delighted to know that you appreciated his knowledge and engaging style. We hope to welcome you back to Rome again soon!
Thank you, our lovely tour guide Patrizia! She is very professional and kind to the group. Everybody in the group is under her good care and with much joy and meanwhile knowledge acquired. I also joined other eco art tours and it turned out the company guide are really knowledgeable and well trained. I now really learn much more about Vantican museum and the Sistine chapel. Really worth money. ~Comments From solo Taiwanese traveller, Serena!
Thank you so much, Serena, for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a positive experience with Patrizia. Her professionalism, kindness, and passion for sharing the history and beauty of the Vatican are qualities we truly value, and we're so pleased they made your visit memorable. It also means a great deal to know that you've joined several EcoArt tours and found our guides consistently knowledgeable and well-trained. Providing high-quality experiences is our top priority, and your recognition is incredibly rewarding for our entire team. Thank you again for choosing EcoArt during your stay in Rome. We hope to welcome you back for many more unforgettable adventures in the future.
Fred was great. We was very knowledgeable and shared alot of information.
Thank you for your kind review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed your tour with Federico. His knowledge and passion for sharing the history of Rome truly make every visit special, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words. Thank you for choosing EcoArt. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable experience in Rome!
Alberto was great, explaining the history of the place and answering all questions.
Thank you for your kind review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed your tour with Alberto. It's wonderful to know that his knowledge of the history and his willingness to answer your questions made your experience even more enjoyable. Thank you for choosing EcoArt. We hope to welcome you back for another memorable tour in Rome!
Francesca was very nice and knowledgeable
Thank you very much for your kind review! We are delighted to hear that you enjoyed the tour with Francesca and appreciated her knowledge and kindness. We will be happy to share your lovely feedback with her! Thank you again for choosing EcoArt.
It was lively and with the wireless speakers (earpods) the experience was fascinating.
Martina Rocks! The visit was amazing
Dear client, Thank you so much for your great feedback! We couldn’t agree more — Martina truly rocks! 😊 We’re delighted to hear that you had such an amazing visit with her. We hope to welcome you again soon for another EcoArt experience! Warmest regards, EcoArt Team
Fantastic tour great individual doing said tour beautiful place to visit also made very easy to access along with friendly staff who where again fantastic
Dear Patrick, Thank you very much for taking the time to share your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with us and that our professional EcoArt staff made it such a positive one. Your kind words truly mean a great deal to us, and we sincerely hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future. Warm regards, EcoArt Team
It deserved the price we gave!!! Fantastic experience and excellent the guide Sara...our guide was constantly in her supervision and tried to explain as much as he could about the sights and the history behind them...!! We would recommend it unreservedly...it is worth the effort!!
Dear Client, We’re delighted to hear that our professional guide Sara helped make your visit both enjoyable and informative. We look forward to welcoming you again in the future. Warm regards, EcoArt Team
You can trust EcoArt Travel; they deliver! If you’re going to Rome, ask for Mariapaola to be your guide. She is an archaeologist with an incredible depth of knowledge and experience for everything Roma, plus she speaks perfect English! EcoArt and Mariapaola took care of everything! They provided my wife and me with a private one-on-one tour of the Vatican. We walked through the long queues, Mariapaola took pictures of us, gave us an in-depth explanation of the Sistine Chapel, and kept us away from the crowds!
Dear Client, Thank you for taking the time to share your kind feedback. We’re pleased to hear that your experience with us, accompanied by our professional guide Mariapaola and supported by our EcoArt staff, was both insightful and enjoyable. We truly value your comments and hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you again in the future. Warm regards, EcoArt Team
