Viator VIP: Sistine Chapel Private Viewing and Small-Group Tour of the Vatican's Secret Rooms
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Viator VIP: Sistine Chapel Private Viewing and Small-Group Tour of the Vatican's Secret Rooms
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Viator VIP: Sistine Chapel Private Viewing and Small-Group Tour of the Vatican's Secret Rooms

3 h
Popular
Small Group
VIP
Private
Instant confirmation
About this activity
Skip-the-line Vatican tours are so popular, even the priority lines are long! But this exclusive VIP tour includes access through a reserved entranceway, ensuring that you will not wait in any long lines. Spend three hours here on a small-group tour, accompanied by a Vatican guard to unlock doors to secret rooms. You’ll discover the Vatican as only VIPs like presidents and royal families usually do.

Due to the nature of this special-access tour, the itinerary changes each time. Access to the secret rooms varies and is based on availability, but most tours include the impressive Bramante Staircase (Scala del Bramante), which is actually a ramp on the corner of the Pope's Palace. You’ll also most likely visit the Room of Gold (Sala degli Ori), an opulent, rarely seen room that holds a dazzling collection of papal gold jewelry and precious Etruscan jewels.

The Niccoline Chapel (Cappella Niccolina) is another secret room most likely seen during your tour. Every bit as beautiful as the Sistine Chapel, this secret room is adorned with gold brought back from Christopher Columbus' travels, and frescoes by Fra Angelico, a Renaissance painter whose mesmerizing artwork pre-dates Michelangelo's.

In addition to the closed rooms, see many of the Vatican Museums’ classic attractions. As your expert guide entertains you with tales of Vatican art, power and treachery, admire the statue of Apollo Belvedere and other renowned monuments. Visit Raphael’s Rooms, the public part of the papal apartments in the Palace of the Vatican, and stroll through the Pinecone Courtyard.

Your tour ends on a high note with private access to the Sistine Chapel for your small group. After the doors close to the public, you'll have 30 minutes inside this incredible (and empty!) chapel. Speaking is typically forbidden, but during this private experience, your guide will explain Michelangelo's stunning ceiling fresco, which depicts scenes from Genesis, and his wall fresco The Last Judgement.
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Included
  • After-hours access to the Sistine Chapel
  • Professional guide
  • Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
  • Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
  • Entry/Admission - Stanze di Raffaello
Not included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
Additional
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • 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
  • No large bags/tripods/umbrellas/backpacks are permitted in the Vatican and must be checked in. Only very small purses are allowed. Please do not bring these items as you will need to leave the tour early to retrieve them at the entrance
  • Due to the nature of this special-access tour, the itinerary changes each time. Access to the secret rooms varies and is based on availability
  • Backpacks, tripods and big umbrellas must be left inside a cloakroom on entering the Vatican Museums. To reduce any disruption for your group, we recommend that these items are not taken on this tour
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
75%
Original
50%
Reviews
4.9
580
J
James S
5 | 2019-09-30

Tour was terrific, guide was superb. Only negative and something to consider is that when going from secret room to secret room, you are with the general admission crowd and it is really congested, hot and slow! However, we were in the Sistine Chapel for about 20 minutes with just our tour....that was worth the cost.

P
Penny C
5 | 2019-08-15

This after hours tour was amazing. To avoid the crowds and stand in the Sistine Chapel with a small group was an absolutely incredible experience. Our guide was so knowledgeable and told us many stories about the paintings and artists. It may seem expensive but it is definitely worth it.

b
btritthart
5 | 2019-08-01

If you are looking for an expert guide to show you around the Vatican Museums, and take you to private and secret areas of the Vatican closed to the general public, then this is the tour for you. The depth of knowledge our guide possessed was incredible, and she pointed out so many interesting things that tied into my own knowledge of history, art, and religion. We were extremely fortunate that we were the only two who had booked the tour so we had a very personal private tour. We literally had the Sistine Chapel all to ourselves, which was breathtaking and I was near speechless. We ended the tour with a walk out of the Vatican, and we were the last 2 tourists (non-workers) inside the Vatican. Some items to note - you do not get a tour of the Basilica on this tour, we made that mistake. The tour begins while the Vatican is still open so there are still tourists, you are not alone, but the crowds are thinning. You gain access to roped off areas, private areas, and of course time alone in the Sistine Chapel. You won't see the entire Vatican, but the main highlights. You will not have the ability to purchase from the gift shop unless you do so prior to the tour. For me, this tour was worth the cost, but make sure you are interested in learning the facts and history, otherwise general admission might be better if you want to breeze through the museums.

k
kevindrach
3 | 2019-07-29

Our guide, Leo, was very polite, easily understood, timely and knowledgeable. He kept our group together and we did see some amazing treasures- Rafael’s Rooms, Niccoline Chapel, Bastane Staircase, etc. We also did get to experience the Sistine Chapel with only our group of 15 or so people for about 15-20 min after hours. However, for the high price of this tour, the church should allow you to take at least one or two pictures in the Sistine Chapel without flash. Visitors are not holding anyone up when it is one of these costly after hours tours and no damage is being done to the art work without flash. I had read prior to going that sometimes the guards are more friendly and lenient and allow a few pictures. Ours did not. So do NOT count on it. In fact, many/most of the Vatican personnel that we encountered during our visit were pretty grumpy and unfriendly. During the rest of the tour there are others in the museum with you. It is the end of the day, so less then there would be at mid day, and our tour guide was good about explaining the pieces, especially some of the symbols in the paintings and importance of certain pieces. We certainly got to see the highlights of this vast museum and would recommend going. However, you will need to decide for yourself whether this “after hours” costly tour is really worth the money to you. If you go during high season, i think you could take an early in the morning guided tour when they first open or even use one of the Vatican’s audio guides and do about as well. Vatican City you need to rethink your rules and counsel your employees to at least be a bit more friendly. Off putting... Good luck!

C
Christine S
5 | 2019-07-03

The small group tour of “secret” rooms in the Vatican was wonderful and we were thrilled to see such things in a group of only 8 people. This was especially true for the Niccolini Chapel and the Raphael Room with the School of Athens. We would have counted ourselves fortunate even if it stopped there but the astounding part was surely the nearly 1/2 hour in the Sistine Chapel with only our little group. If you’ve ever been, you know how hard it is to see and appreciate the art in the usual crowd. Our guide Michaela was very knowledgeable and personable. She was exceptional! The support of the Vatican security officers in opening locked doors and their kindnesses also made this a wonderful memory. It was expensive but absolutely worth it.

g
garrettknapp88
5 | 2019-07-03

While the cost was expensive I do not regret any of it, once in a lifetime. Our tour guide was great and gave a lot of good information. Our group was able to access certain parts that were off limits to the general public which was nice to get away from the masses. I highly recommend it, you will not be disappointed.

S
Stanko S
5 | 2019-07-03

It was a breathtaking experience! One cannot imagine what a wonderful tour this is!!! Our more than excellent guide Gigi (Gianluigi) gave his best to present and explain on his divine way this piece of art and architecture!!!

t
tonya
5 | 2019-07-03

There are no adjectives adequate to describe this tour. I have visited the museum and Sistine Chapel twice before but never have the emotions washed over me. The Chapel brought me to tears as the presence of God's gift to Michelangelo revealed itself in the quiet and soft light of late afternoon. Raphael's rooms, the Pope's private chapel, the animal rooms, Bramante's Staircase, and more all led up to the CHAPEL. With just 15, our guide and the gentleman who gave us access to each room we bypassed lines and crowds. The tour is 3 + hours long and not appropriate for young children. Our guide ( sorry to not have her name available)could not have been better. She was outstandingly knowledgeable, considerate of our needs, and willing to answer all questions from old and young, Do not miss this experience. The cost which seemed high at the beginning was so little for the life long memories it provided. We booked because of a friend's recommendation and I will do the same for all of our friends.

P
Peggy B
5 | 2018-10-15

Our guide Doriana was very knowledgeable, and having time alone in the Sistine Chapel with the usual crowds was amazing!

D
David C
5 | 2018-09-25

It was wonderful being able to see the Sistine Chapel without all the crowds! This is a must for anyone wanting to see the Sistine Chapel without being herded through like cattle.

d
djmatt94
5 | 2018-09-10

Our guide was fun and knowledgeable. She gave us a wonderful experience, and told us some unexpected stories about Michaelango.

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