Booking fee
The booking fee includes the costs of booking your tickets such as charges for payment processing. It also covers the provision of our customer care center for processing your order, and all charges imposed by our suppliers.
* This tour requires at least one of the following per booking: Adult, Senior
Enter the Sistine Chapel at the most peaceful time of day to enjoy Michelangelo’s masterpiece in serenity and embark on a thorough guided tour of the Vatican Museums, ending at the awe-inspiring St. Peter's Basilica. There's no better way to see the highlights of the Vatican without the crowds that descend upon the galleries later in the day.
Local English-speaking guide
Skip the line ticket for St. Peter's Basilica
Small groups of 15 people or fewer
Expertly guided tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica
Headset
Skip the line ticket for Vatican Museums
Gratuities
Hotel Pick-Up/Drop-Off
Departure Point
Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
Meet at Antico Café Candia at Via Candia, 153, 00192 Roma RM. Your guide will be holding a Walks sign.
Return Details
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
St. Peter's Basilica
00120, Vatican City Your guide will lead you on a full tour of the Vatican Museums, stopping to see all the most important works. Since you got a head start compared to most of the day's visitors, you’ll stay one step ahead of the crowds in most galleries. 120 minutes
Sphere within a Sphere, Vatican City, Italy Inside the peaceful, Pinecone Courtyard you'll pass a spectacular bronze globe. It was designed for the Vatican by well-known Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro and copies of it can now be found all over the world, including Dublin, Tel Aviv and New York City.
Stanze di Raffaello, Vatican City, Italy During the day, the Raphael Rooms are as busy as the Sistine Chapel. At this hour of the morning, however, when the Museums have just opened for the day, you'll have plenty of space to enjoy them peacefully. Your guide will point out where Raphael worked the faces of his contemporaries Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo into his frescoes. 30 minutes
00120, Vatican City The Sistine Chapel wasn’t meant to be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other people. Beat the crowds by entering first thing in the morning and enjoy the incredible frescoes in relative peace. 30 minutes
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Italy Last but certainly not least, you'll head straight to St. Peter's Basilica via a special secret passage, bypassing the long lines that are starting to form outside. End your morning with a full tour of the sacred space and gaze upon Michelangelo's moving Pietà, Bernini's grandiose altarpiece, and so much more as you learn the stories and legends behind them. Note: The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is subject to unexpected closures. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinacoteca Gallery. 60 minutes
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.
Please note the attire must be appropriate for the visit. Both men and women are required to wear clothing that covers both shoulders and knees. We cannot be held responsible for denied entry due to improper dress. It is sufficient to bring extra coverings (i.e. scarves and shawls) with you to wear before entering the holy areas.
While the Vatican Museums are equipped with elevators for wheelchair and stroller access, they are not conveniently located on the group tour route and only give access to specific sections of the Museums. We advise clients to contact Walks Customer Service Team to make further arrangements
The tour is in English
Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, or for wheelchairs or strollers. Please contact the Guest Experience team to make alternative arrangements.
Walks / Devour complies with all local government regulations. Please refer to local government guidelines for the most up-to-date information.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
JOHN_H
27 Apr 2024
Our tour guide Leaha was wonderful and very knowledgeable. Her personality and attention to everyone's experience was top notch.
GenevieveMB17
27 Apr 2024
Giulietta was a fantastic guide - very well informed but with lots of humour too. Her professional expertise in art and archaeology gave the tour a lot of depth. The early access also meant we avoided the crowds and actually had room to see the masterpieces up close.
Valerie_L
25 Apr 2024
No one should miss seeing The Vatican when in Rome and no one should see it without a guide. We booked the very early tour and so glad we did. The throngs of people we saw waiting in line after the tour were unbelievable. Loved seeing the museums, map room, Sistine Chapel and St.Peter’s without a crowd. I learned so much from our wonderful guide Rosa.
This tour in
is organized by
Walks - Italy, Spain & Greece
We always double-check the availability with our local partners for each booking. Even though this is usually a swift process, it can take up to 24 hours. Once this process is completed you will receive your voucher or ticket by email. If our local partner is not able to confirm your booking we will offer you the best possible alternative. If the new date and/or time doesn’t fit your itinerary, we will reimburse the full amount paid.
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