VIP Key Master's Tour: Open The Sistine Chapel

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Highlights

  • Join the Vatican’s Key Master to open the Sistine Chapel.

  • Take part in the opening of the Vatican Galleries.

  • Spend 2 hours inside the Vatican Museums completely alone.

  • Explore alongside an Official Vatican Museums Guide.

  • Explore the Vatican free of crowds.

Summary

Unlock the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel alongside the Museum Key Master. Tour the empty museums before they are open to the public.

Tour info

Duration
2 hours
Group Size
20
Pricing (From)
Adult: (15-99 years)
€395.00
Child: (2-14 years)
€385.00
Infant: (0-1 years)
€0.00
See all pricing
Commentary
English
Meeting Point

Vatican Museums Entrance, Rome, 00120, IT

Dropoff location

Vatican Museums, (inside), Rome, 00120, IT

Why take this tour?

This once in a lifetime tour offers the most incredible Vatican experience imaginable. Enter the Vatican museums before dawn, with the Museums’ Key Master. Join him as he opens the still and silent galleries and breeze through Italy’s most prized gem in luxurious seclusion. For two unique and memorable hours, you’ll glide through the deserted Museums, seeing the most awe-inspiring spaces including the Raphael Rooms and – the height of exclusivity - an empty Sistine Chapel. 

Travel with the Vatican’s Key Master as he opens up the Museums, unlocking doors and lighting long, empty galleries for you to explore. On this unprecedented tour, the most exclusive ever offered by the Vatican, your small group enjoy 2 hours inside the Vatican Museums completely alone. The highlight of your tour will be the opening of the Sistine Chapel, where you’ll enter completely alone and watch Michelangelo’s frescoes flicker to life. On this tour, you’ll have the whole Museum to yourself for a full two hours -- an experience usually reserved for the Key Master....and the Pope.

Accompanied by an Official Vatican Tour Guide, you’ll get up close with some of the finest artworks in the world, appreciating every detail of the gallery’s masterpieces. While opening the Sistine Chapel is an unforgettable experience, there’s so much more to the Vatican Museums. The Raphael Rooms are a particular highlight. Often more crowded than the Sistine Chapel, they’re home to a collection of frescoes just as revered by art historians. Visiting alone, you’ll have the space to appreciate them in all their majesty. During your experience, you’ll walk the galleries featured on Vatican tours, like the historic Gallery of the Maps & Gallery of the Tapestries.

Enter the still-closed Pinecone Courtyard and you can choose to stay inside the Museums to explore more on your own, or head off for your next adventure, passing the crowds who are only now getting inside the doors.

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 at +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.

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What’s included?

  • Official English-speaking Vatican guide

  • Expertly guided walking tour

  • Entrance ticket to the Vatican Museums

  • Hotel Pick-Up/Drop Off

  • Gratuities

Things to know

Before you book

  • 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 at +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) 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.

Before you go

  • This tour is in English.

  • This is a walking tour. Guests should be able to walk at a moderate pace without difficulty.

  • The tour meeting time is 15 minutes prior to the start time. No refunds can be provided for late arrivals or no-shows.

  • All guests must pass through security. For useful information/restrictions about your tour in the Vatican Museum, visit https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en/visita-i-musei/consigli-utili.html

  • All guests (including children) must bring ID on the day of their tour.

  • Only small backpacks and handbags are allowed inside the Vatican Museums. Storage for small items is available.

  • Due to the religious nature of the Vatican, all individuals regardless of gender must cover their shoulders and knees. Walks cannot be held responsible for those denied entry.

  • 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 at +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.

  • Tips/gratuities (for your guide) are always appreciated.

Covid Policy

  • Face masks required for travelers in public areas
  • Face masks required for guides in public areas

Covid Update. Effective August 6, 2021, proof of Covid-19 vaccination (over the age of 12) or negative COVID test completed within 48 hours is required to enter sites on this tour. All those entering (over the age of 18) must provide photo I.D. matching the vaccination record/test results. For the full requirements please check here. (https://www.dgc.gov.it/web/checose.html)

Cancellation Policy

    Cancellations received greater than 72 hours prior to tour commencement are fully refundable. Cancellations received within 72 hours of tour commencement are nonrefundable. Amendment requests are subject to availability and price changes. Late arrivals and no-shows are non-refundable. This is applicable to any tour participant that fails to arrive or arrives after tour departure.

Redemption information

    Mobile tickets will be accepted.
    Your voucher will be collected or scanned on redemption

Pricing

TOUR PRICING VALID UNITL THE 31ST OF DECEMBER 2023

Adult: (15-99 years)
€395.00
Child: (2-14 years)
€385.00
Infant: (0-1 years)
€0.00

TOUR PRICING VALID FROM THE 1ST OF JANUARY 2024

Adult: (15-99 years)
€495.00
Child: (2-14 years)
€485.00
Infant: (0-1 years)
€0.00
Operator Website

Operated by:

About operator:

Walks (takewalks.com, walksofitaly.com) began over a decade ago (2008, to be exact) in Rome, Italy. We quickly became the premier walking tour company in 7 countries - Italy, Spain, France, the UK, Greece, and Portugal. Our US cities include San Francisco, NYC, Boston, Chicago, and New Orleans.

In 2021, we joined The Hornblower Group (cityexperiences.com) expanding our reach and working alongside this powerhouse travel brand.

Our tour products vary but predominantly we #takewalks, exploring the world by foot - we believe, the best way to get into the heart of a city and its incredible people. From introductory strolls to food tours, day trips, cooking classes, and below the surface, in-depth tours, we have our hand in everything a traveler could want. Oh, and we also like to give our clients exclusive access to the biggest attractions in the world...

Despite the big changes in our brand over the years, our focus has remained simple - to relentlessly create tours with the client experience at the forefront and anchored upon the dedicated, intelligent, and above all, passionate local guides who want to share their cities with you.

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