private tour vatican museum

The Quickest Direct Access Private Vatican Tour

Explore the vatican on a shorter, tailored tour that includes the sistine chapel.

Want to see the best of the Vatican without the big crowds and with your own private guide? This private highlights tour lets you do both! Skip the line and join your passionate Vatican guide on a private journey through the famous artworks of the Vatican Museums, then enjoy a less crowded experience as you explore St. Peter’s Basilica and Michelangelo's world-famous Sistine Chapel.

The Quickest Direct Access Private Vatican Tour

Skip the Line

Early access private Vatican tour
Gallery of the Maps
Gallery of the Candelabra
Gallery of the Tapestries
Sistine Chapel tour
The Last Judgement
St. Peter's Basilica
La Pietà by Michelangelo
Baldacchino by Bernini
Laocoön and His Sons
Nero's Bath
Belvedere Torso

After meeting your personal Vatican guide near to the entrance, you'll be allowed to skip the line and enter the Vatican Museums! Skip the general admission lines and see the splendor of the Vatican Museums, St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel in 2.5 hours. Along the way, your expert private guide will tell the stories behind the Vatican's iconic Renaissance masterpieces and hidden gems.

Especially if you're only in Italy's capital city for a short time, this earlier and slightly shorter private tour gives you almost a full day to explore more of Rome's highlights after your Vatican experience comes to an end.

Private Vatican Highlights Tour Description

Your 2.5-hour private tour includes:

Skip-the-line entry to the Vatican

Tailored private guided tour of the Vatican Museums, rooms, and galleries

Entry to the Sistine Chapel

Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica

Private English-speaking guide with expertise in art history

As this is a private tour, your guide will have a well-planned itinerary but there's some flexibility too. Depending on what your interests are and the pace that you're comfortable with, the tour can be tailored to suit you. Just chat with your guide and they'll do what they can to make your Vatican experience just perfect!

Pio Clementino Museum and Nero’s Bathtub

After skipping the line for early entry to the Vatican Museums, you'll begin your tour in a collection of the most important Roman and Greek artwork at the Pio Clementino Museum. Visit three of the world’s most iconic statues: the Apollo Belvedere, Laocoön and His Sons , and the Belvedere Torso . Learn the stories behind the statues, before visiting Nero’s huge, one-of-a-kind red marble bathtub and St. Helen's sarcophagus.

Highlights of the Vatican Museums

Before the crowds have begun to flood into the world-famous Vatican Museums, you'll follow your guide through the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of the Tapestries and Gallery of Maps. Admire the ancient Roman and Greek statues, the Flemish tapestries created by Raphael's students, and the gorgeous topographical depictions of Italy.

Based on painted maps by Dominican Italian friar Ignazio Danti, the Gallery of Maps is both beautiful and informative. Predating a unified Italy by nearly 300 years, the Gallery of Maps shows the length and breadth of the peninsula in the late 1500s.

On this slightly shorter tour, your guide will recommend the best things to see depending on your interests and the pace you're comfortable with, and you'll hear the stories behind these treasures as the Vatican secrets are slowly unveiled to you.

Sobieski Room and Room of the Segnatura

You'll continue your guided tour to the Sobieski Room and the Room of the Segnatura. The Sobieski Room is known for its stunning canvas by Polish artist Jean Marejko, depicting the Polish victory over the Turks in 1683, but also holds a couple other beautiful pieces. In the Room of the Segnatura, your guide will share the story behind Raphael's stunning frescoes that portray a heavenly vision of God.

The Sistine Chapel’s Ceiling

While you stand beneath the frescoes of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, it’s impossible not to appreciate how difficult it must have been for Michelangelo to toil away year after year at this masterpiece. Visiting the Vatican is simply not complete without a Sistine Chapel tour. You'll see the famous Creation of Man and the Last Judgement , and enjoy the silent serenity of the world's most famous chapel.

The Sistine Chapel is a sacred place, so both men and women must cover their knees and shoulders. Otherwise, you may be refused entry to this portion of your Vatican tour. We understand the summers in Rome are hot - a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

St. Peter's Basilica

Your last stop will be at St. Peter's Basilica, where your private guide will lead you inside and detail the incredible and controversial history of its construction, and the amazing art inside. This massive icon of a church is where St. Peter's remains are believed to be buried, but it's the architecture and artwork that also set this church apart. Stand in awe under St. Peter's dome and the magnificent canopy (Bernini's Baldacchino ) and explore the Basilica's collection of art, relics, mosaics, and sculptures.

St. Peter’s Basilica’s dome was inspired by the Pantheon, just like the Florence Duomo. Bearing the distinction of being the tallest dome in the world at 448 feet, the dome's presence stands out amidst Rome’s skyline. After this tour concludes, we suggest you purchase a ticket and take the climb. The views from the dome are among the best in Rome.

St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays for the Papal Audience and can occasionally experience other unexpected closures. If this happens, your guide will make up the time at other areas within the Vatican.

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What you get with this tour

See what people are saying

27 total reviews

Private Vatican Tour

We had a marvelous tour of the Vatican. Our guide was most knowledgable. She interjected information about history, culture, art, archeology, and all of the details of each piece that we studied. My husband and I were thoroughly fascinated by all that we observed and learned. She was magnificent! It was well worth the price to have a private tour. We are still talking about our experience weeks after the tour.

Christina was a fabulous guide. She spoke well, easy to understand an extremely informative! We really enjoyed our time with her on many levels.

Marina was amazing. She gave such a dynamic tour- we loved her!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

Please be sure to meet Vatican dress code requirements by covering your knees and shoulders in the most sacred religious areas like the Sistine Chapel. You'll also want to wear comfortable shoes since this is a walking tour, and avoid bringing large bags or tripods since they are not permitted inside.

What are the chances my tour will be canceled or the Vatican will close something?

Although it is rare, sometimes part of the Vatican closes with little notice. If an area normally covered on a tour is closed, your guide will be sure to make up the time in other areas.

Does the tour go inside without waiting in any lines?

As an accredited tour operator we do not have to wait in the general ticket line, but we still have to wait in a shorter security line. For this reason, we leave the meeting point as early as possible and get in the security line reserved for tour operators. The doors open for us at 8 am, an hour before the general public.

Does this tour always include St. Peter's Basilica?

St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesday's in the morning due to the Papal Audience.

Is there a dress code to enter the religious sites on this tour?

We ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise you may be refused entry to religious sites and miss out on a portion of your tour. We understand the summers in Rome can be hot, so a great alternative is to bring a shawl/scarf/sweater with you. That way, you can cover your knees and shoulders when necessary.

Does the Vatican ever experience sudden closures?

During state visits or special religious events, parts of the Vatican may be closed unexpectedly and without much notice. If an area normally visited during a tour is suddenly closed, our guide will still provide explanations of the closed areas and show you another area to compensate for the lost time.

I have some doubts about my mobility. Is this tour right for me?

If you have any doubts about your mobility then a private tour is your best bet. Private Vatican tours are more easily customized to the needs of people with reduced mobility. If you prefer to explore at a slower pace, please consider our more in-depth private Vatican Tour which is an hour longer.

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Private Vatican Tours VIP Early Entry Tour

Tour overview.

Top-ranked on TripAdvisor since 2011 with thousands of 5-star reviews, you’re guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime on your Private Vatican Tour with early entrance. See the Vatican Museums as soon as its doors open to the general public and get skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica, exploring all the timeless treasures including the Sistine Chapel with a top-rated personal guide.

Tour Highlights

Intro Outside Vatican
Sistine Chapel
Pinecone Courtyard
Belvedere Apollo
Laocoön and His Sons
Belvedere Torso
Greek Cross Hall
Gallery of Candelabra
Gallery of Tapestries
Gallery of Maps
Raphael Rooms
St. Peter’s Square
St. Peter’s Basilica
Michelangelo’s Pietà
Bernini’s Baldachin
Private Guide

What's included

Skip-the-line access
Expert English-speaking tour guide
Private customizable tour
All tickets and reservations

What you’ll See Along the Way

Our early morning tour is especially unique! As the Vatican doors open, we whisk you straight to the Sistine Chapel – so it can be enjoyed with a bit of tranquility and solitude. But, what’s the use if you perhaps don’t know all of the interesting stories and information that go along with it? We’ve arranged a special introduction for you so that, before you enter the museums, your expert cicerone will provide you with tons of insightful information about the chapel in only 30 minutes! Afterwards, you’ll be able to examine Michelangelo’s masterpiece from a fully knowledgeable and enlightened perspective.

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is divided into nine main panels which each depict an important scene from the Bible, beginning with the Creation of Light and finishing with the Drunkenness of Noah over the main altar. Michelangelo painted the vault contra-chronologically and the stylistic evolution that occurred during the four-year project is clearly recognizable as your gaze wanders from one part of the ceiling to the next. The most famous image is undoubtedly the Creation of Adam, in which Michelangelo portrays God as a surprisingly muscular figure who descends to the earth to breathe life into man.

The very centerpiece of this Renaissance courtyard is a futuristic-looking work of art called "Sphere within Sphere", which harmonizes perfectly with the dome of St. Peter’s on the horizon. While most of the other works of art displayed in this patio date back to antiquity, this is a contemporary piece made as late as 1990. It consists of two layered spheres, the smaller of which is hidden inside the other; visible through gaping holes resembling natural cracks and corrosion. The 13-foot wide structure was a gift to Pope John Paul II from the artist himself, the Italian sculptor Arnoldo Pomodoro.

This marble sculpture from Classical Antiquity was unearthed somewhere in the Roman countryside in the late 14th century (though the exact details of its time and place of uncovering are still held in mystery). It was the art-loving Pope Julius II who brought the statue to the Vatican in 1511, placing it in the Octagonal Courtyard of the Belvedere Palace, where it still stands today. Upon it’s installation in the Vatican, the statue immediately became immensely popular and its representation spread like wildfire across Europe in the form of castings, bronze prints, marble copies and engravings.

When the Laocoön was dug up in a vineyard just outside Rome in 1506, Michelangelo was one of the first people to catch a glimpse of it – and it was love at first sight! The Renaissance master became so besotted with the sculpture that he publically praised it as a “miracle of art”. The anguish on the faces of the marble figures sparked a desire within Michelangelo to create more emotions in his own pieces. Prior to this, most Renaissance art had a lack of sentiment, but the Laocoön prompted the entry of the mannerism – a game changer unlike few others in the history of art.

This limbless torso is the centerpiece of the Muses Room – and, of all the halls of the Vatican, this is the most fitting room in which it could be perched. After all, this Hellenistic work from the 1st century AD has been used as a model for sculptors and painters ever since the Renaissance – making it one of the most coveted muses in all of art history. Even Michelangelo himself is known to have knelt in front of its marble trunk and exclaimed: “Truly, this was created by a man who was wiser than nature!” While the creator of the masterpiece remains unknown, his legacy lives on as the torso continues to spellbind its viewers.

In this room, the dome’s oculus allows an entrance for the sun to perfectly highlight the rare antiquities on display. The entire hall is encircled by ancient sculptures, which tower above awestruck onlookers from their niches. Some of the must-sees include a marble depiction of Emperor Hadrian’s young lover Antonius and a 2nd century Hercules rendering in gilded bronze. There’s also an unusual sculpture of Emperor Claudio, portrayed as Jupiter. These types of god-like representations of emperors were placed in public places in Ancient Rome, presenting a glorified image of the ruler to the people.

As you enter this stunning hall, you’re transported to a new time and space with a freshly unique Egyptian theme. A pair of pink granite telamones, or supporting figures, flank the imposing entrance and stand guard over sphinxes and two elaborate sarcophagi on display. Incredibly, the meticulous ancient caskets were carved out of single blocks of Egyptian porphyry and once held the bodily remains of Emperor Constantine’s mother and daughter respectively. The Greek Cross Rooms also boast a unique sculpture of Cleopatra, believed to be the only preserved portrait of the legendary Queen of Egypt to this day.

This is one of three main gallerias of the Papal Palace – and quite possibly the most breathtaking! The ceiling is dazzling with painted frescos, the flooring is a superb puzzle of colored stonework, and everywhere you look your gaze falls on yet another marble masterpiece from Roman and Greek antiquity. One of the highlights here is the rather bizarre sculpture of the goddess Artemis, portrayed with numerous pendulous breasts, which are said to symbolize fertility. The true stars of the hall, however, are the 12 sumptuous candelabras after which the gallery was named.

Commissioned by Pope Clement VII in the 16th century, the tapestries in this gallery previously adorned the walls of the Sistine Chapel. They weren’t relocated to their current home until just over 100 years ago. Each tapestry is woven with incredible attention to detail but the most esteemed pieces on display are the nine unique carpets based on sketches by the pupils of Raphael. To protect the valuable but delicate tapestries, the entire corridor is equipped with a special air conditioning system, making it one of our very favorite galleries to dwell in on warm summer days.

While the 16th century maps painted on the walls of this spectacular gallery are certainly beautiful (and surprisingly accurate!), the exceptionally luxurious vaulted ceiling usually steals the attention of every visitor straightaway – in fact it’s the second most photographed vault in the Vatican, trumped only by the Sistine Chapel ceiling. The vault is lavishly embellished with impressive gold reliefs while the walls features maps of all regions of Italy, cleverly organized so that you find the provinces which look to the Mediterranean Sea on one side and those that face the Adriatic Sea on the other.

While Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, a young Florentine artist studied the master's brushstrokes intensively. Raphael, who had been commissioned to decorate a suite of rooms for Pope Julius II, was keen to gain inspiration from his older colleague. Surprisingly, Raphael’s frescoes would become almost as celebrated as his mentor’s and one room in particular, the Stanza Della Segnatura, has made art history many times over. This room served as the Pope's library and Raphael appropriately decorated its walls with philosophers from ancient Greece in his renowned School of Athens fresco.

In 1656, exactly 30 years after the induration of St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Alexander VIII decided that the cathedral needed a plaza in front of it. The pontifex wanted the square to accentuate the grand magnificence of the basilica and commissioned the important task to Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Bernini was known as a master of illusion and his sketches bear witness to a careful study of proportions and angles; all to make the church appear bigger than it actually was. To enhance the monumentality of the façade and draw the visitor’s attention to it, he cleverly made the area closest to the church slope as a stage floor.

St. Peter’s Basilica is the beating heart of the Catholic world; every year millions of pilgrims come here from all over the world to visit St. Peter’s tomb, pray and receive the blessing of the Pope. The construction of the basilica was commenced in 1506, under Pope Julius II but wasn’t completed until 120 years later, during the pontificate of Pope Urban VIII. Nearly all well-known architects of the second half of the 16th century participated in the construction of the cathedral, including Bramante, Raphael, Maderno, Bernini and Michelangelo, of which the latter is considered to have contributed the most.

Michelangelo’s Pietá remains one of his most famous pieces. It wasn’t only the mastery of craftsmanship that established the sculpture’s fame, but also the fact that it broke previous conventions about how Christ and the grieving Virgin Mary should be portrayed. While the exact same scene had been rendered by many artists before him, Michelangelo deliberately dissociated himself from the usual dynamic expressionism of the mediaeval tradition and, instead, implemented a sense of realism. Unlike his contemporaries, Michelangelo renounced the exaggerated sorrow of Mary for a more understated grief.

There is a surprisingly touching story behind this towering, bronze masterpiece. In the early 17th century, Pope Urban VIII was deeply concerned about his favorite niece, who was going through a difficult pregnancy. The mother and her unborn child were both at risk and the hope of salvation faded with each passing day. In a cry of desperation, the pope vowed that he would build a giant altar in the center of the cathedral if the birth was successful - and he stayed true to his promise. A healthy baby boy was born and the pope commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to implement the 95-foot tall canopy in 1623.

Breakfast is, in fact, the most important meal of the day. How can one expect to get all of their adventuring done without it? Well, we certainly don’t expect you to! That’s why we go above and beyond other tour companies by offering a scrumptious Italian breakfast to our valued guests – on us! Perch up in our office while getting to know your cicerone over a tasty “cornetto” (Italian croissant) and fresh caffeinated brew. We’ve even got special treats for the kids – including fresh fruit, juice and warm hot chocolate.

The Treasures of the Vatican: Vatican VIP Tours

If there’s one thing to wake up early for on your trip to Rome then our Private Vatican Early Entry Tour is precisely it. Private Vatican tours in the early morning are the best way to see this incredible location. On this VIP-style journey inside the walls of the Holy See, you’ll have the opportunity to tailor your tour based on your points of interest and itinerary of choice: -The Sistine Chapel -Michelangelo’s Masterpiece -St. Peter’s Basilica You’ll skip the line to discover the treasures of the world’s largest and most influential church. Your private guide will be there every step of the way to make sure your experience is a mesmerizing one. After meeting your guide at our comfortable offices just steps from the entrance to the Vatican Museums, you’ll take advantage of the earliest possible entry time. Not only will you be able to navigate corridors and galleries with ease and time to focus on details, but you’ll also see the Sistine Chapel with fewer crowds, compared to the number of people who will literally “occupy” it later in the day.

Michelangelo & The Sistine Chapel: Private Tours Of Pure Mastery

Sorry, Raphael, but any visit to the Vatican is all about Michelangelo. From the omnipresent dome of St. Peter’s to the multi-masterpiece Sistine Chapel, and the spectacular Pietà to the cameo in Raphael’s iconic School of Athens, his mind, brushstrokes, and chisel-work are everywhere. Your guide is a bonafide expert in the affair and will walk you through the extraordinary accomplishments of this Italian master and true-to-the-word Renaissance man. The most amazing of the Sistine Chapel ceiling panels is the Creation of Adam, depicting God and the first of all men nearly touching fingers, an image that has become an integral part of our understanding of art and the divine. Nonetheless powerful in imagery is Michelangelo’s The Last Judgment, a representation of the second coming at the end of days as good souls are separated from those with less sinless natures, many with symbols of their martyrdom. The vibrant colors of all of this are no less breathtaking than the backstories provided by your guide. Feast your eyes on all of these incredible sights in The Sistine Chapel: -The Creation of Adam -The Last Judgment

Inside St. Peter’s Basilica: Private Guided Tours of a Vast Treasure Trove

The magic of St. Peter’s Basilica is just through a set of skip-the-line doors, also closed to standard attendees who’ll have to take the long way around the world’s smallest country to get inside. Welcome to majesty personified as architecture. This massive work of human endeavor took 120 years to complete involving the greatest engineering and artistic minds of the age, from Michelangelo to Bernini. There were in fact no less than seven architects put to the task by some 20 popes. Inside you’ll stand agape by the sublime proportions. Your guide will take you to see Michelangelo’s Pietà, a masterpiece the famed Florentine sculptor completed at just 24 years of age, followed by a series of dazzling side chapels including that dedicated to Pope John Paul II. Then it’s on to Bernini’s enormous bronze baldachin, the canopy to the Pope’s private altar above the ancient tomb of St. Peter himself. You’ll also have the chance to discover the secrets of St. Peter’s Square with the optical illusions that Bernini so carefully planned for its visitors. Still, have questions? Your private guide will satisfy your every curiosity before parting ways.

The Vatican: Private Tours Of An Architectural Wonder

Private Vatican VIP Early Entry Tour

What our Customers say...

Fantastic history, art and architecture tour

Fantastic tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peters Church - spent 3 hours looking up with my jaw on the floor! Tour guide Manuela was top notch - super knowledgeable and lots of historic fun facts kept our small group 100% engaged for 3.5 hours. A must do when in … Vatican City ;)”

Worth Every Penny!

Go ahead and book this tour right now! Elaine was our tour guide and absolutely knew her stuff, was passionate about what she was teaching us, and funny. I couldn't imagine doing this tour with all the crowds, so the early morning start was perfect. Getting a guide makes the experience so much more valuable. We had an amazing time!”

Awesome Tour!

I highly recommend booking this tour. You do not want to go and visit Vatican without a tour. The agency is very well organized and the staff are very communicative. We had a very knowledgeable and at the same time funny your guide. Mario is an excellent storyteller, answered all of our questions and managed the time perfectly. Book your tour today”

Lucia is fabulous! Great tour with Skip the Line/ what a life tour

Lucia as a fantastic tour guide ! We are both teachers, and we are an appreciative couple when it comes to a really good tour guide who keeps everyone in line so no one gets lost, and meets the needs of all the people in the tour. Highly recommend this tour, and Lucia!”

Fantastic tour

The score was wonderful! Our tour guide, Tonia, was very knowledgeable, friendly, and fun. She kept all of us, including our young teenage son, engaged throughout the tour. My wifey even remarked after the tour that she felt like giving Tonia a hug because she was so warm and made us feel like part of the family. Highly recommend!”

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Private Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Tour

With our amazing Reserved Entrance access we get you into the Vatican quickly and easily ready to enjoy a private tour. This is a once in a lifetime experience to enjoy an unforgettable visit to the Vatican.
Explore the Vatican like a VIP on this intimate private tour. Marvel at Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel and Last Judgement and bask in the beauty of the Vatican’s many opulent galleries, before immersing yourself in the jewel of the Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica.
Tailor your Vatican experience to perfectly suit your needs and interests on this private tour. In the company of an expert, English-speaking guide , explore the Vatican at your own pace as you navigate through the museums.

Make the Most of a Vatican Tour with us

What's included.

Reserved Access into the Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums entrance ticket and reservation fee
Access to the Sistine Chapel
Skip the Line entrance into St. Peter’s Basilica
Intimate private experience
Expert, English-speaking tour guide

Sites Visited

Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
Gallery of Maps
Gallery of Tapestries
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Square

Our customers will benefit from our Reserved Entrance, so you can make the most of your precious vacation time as you are whisked straight inside in a matter of minutes. All of our guides are experts in their field and fluent English speakers, making them the perfect people to lead your journey through the Vatican Museums. In the company of your passionate guide, you can tailor your experience to suit your interests and needs, as they answer your questions and enthral you with fascinating insights as you explore.

Follow your interests in the Vatican Museum

Choose to explore parts of the Vatican Museums that interest you or opt for our classic Vatican route. Our classic highlights tour visits the Sistine Chapel and a diverse range of galleries covering ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, maps, tapestries and precious relics.

Whatever you choose, rest assured that your guide will be the perfect host – well-versed in the history, art and architecture of the Vatican and able to answer all your questions. Experience the masterpieces of the Vatican at a higher level when you spot the little details and hear the stories behind the artworks.

Your expert guide will provide a fascinating commentary as you explore the Pinecone Courtyard, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Gallery of Candelabra and the wonderful Hall of Maps. There is so much to see and learn, and now is a great time to do so in peace and quiet.

A highlight of your tour will no doubt be the Sistine Chapel. Your guide will share the hidden meanings depicted in the Last Judgement, where Michelangelo painted his personal vendettas and private jokes. Insights from your passionate guide will help you truly appreciate this artistic marvel and give you a better understanding into the complex character who created it.

From the Sistine Chapel we’ll use a special access door to gain entry directly to St. Peter’s Basilica, allowing us once again to skip the long lines that form outside St. Peter’s Basilica, so you can really optimize your time at the Vatican. Inside the Basilica your guide will excite you with tales and anecdotes surrounding the many breath-taking artworks that call the basilica home. Marvel at the monumental carved altar and the incredible architecture of Christianity’s most iconic church.

In just three hours you’ll see the very best of the Vatican on our Private Vatican Tour. Without a tour group to influence your route, you can spend as long as you like appreciating the works and artefacts that most pique your interest, while moving quickly through areas that don’t. With your own dedicated expert, English-speaking guide, you’ll be enthralled throughout this immersive tour; we take the hassle out of the day so you can have a truly once-in-a-lifetime Vatican experience. Especially now, with the lack of crowds!

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Important Notes

Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. Knees, shoulders, and backs must be covered.
Please note that in case of unexpected closures of some of the areas inside the Museums, the guide may have to modify the itinerary slightly.
On Wednesday mornings St. Peter's Basilica may be closed to the public due to the Papal Audience taking place in St. Peter’s Square. Customers who wish to visit St. Peter’s Basilica are advised to travel on another day. St. Peter's Basilica and other religious sites are subject to occasional closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we will provide guests with an extended tour of the Vatican Museums, or appropriate alternative. In these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.

Cancelation Policy

This tour is subject to a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected departure time.

The tours meet at a location very close and convenient to the entrance of the Vatican Museums. Full details of the exact location are included on the confirmation voucher you will receive when you book your tour.

It is possible to climb the Dome on your own if you wish, however you will need to purchase a ticket directly on site. Our tours do not include a visit to the Dome. Please note that if you intend to climb the Dome after your tour ends, you should make sure to book a morning tour (not on a Wednesday) as the Dome access is already closed in the afternoon before our afternoon tours reach Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Basilica is often closed on Wednesday mornings.

Wheelchairs are available at the Vatican. You will need to send a request to the Vatican before your visit. Please note that you should request them by sending an email to this address: [email protected] Wheelchairs are free of charge.

If you bring your own wheelchair, please let us know while booking your private tour so that we can arrange the perfect tour for you.

Book with Confidence: Free cancellations up to 24 hours before the experience begins (local time).
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Vatican Museum Tours - How to pick the best one?

By Elyssa Bernard

December 21, 2023

Wondering which of the many Vatican Museum Tours is right for you?

There are so many options, so h ow do you decide which one to take?

Vatican Museum Tours - Why it's so hard to choose

One of the questions I get most often is "How do I decide which Vatican tour to take?"

I know there are a lot of choices.

There are early morning tours, small group tours, tours that include Saint Peter's Basilica, the Necropolis of Via Triumphalis or the Vatican Gardens . . . And even then, there are a lot of different companies that offer the same or similar tours.

So how do you choose?

I'm going to break down the different TYPES of tours, and then give you links to book the best ones of each type.

On this page about Vatican Museums tours, you'll find:

Is it worth taking a Vatican tour?

Tours through the official Vatican website

Standard Group Tours of Vatican Museums
Vatican Museum Tours before Opening Hours
Super-speedy Tours of Vatican Museums - head straight for the Sistine Chapel and bypass the rest
Small/ Semi-private Group Tours of Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums on Friday or Saturday Night
Private Tours of Vatican Museums
Vatican Gardens and Vatican Museum Tours Combo
VIP Vatican Museum Tours with out-of-hours viewing of Sistine Chapel
Tours that include the Vatican + Colosseum
Do it yourself - build the Vatican tour you want!

Vatican Museum Tours - Is it Worth Taking a Tour?

I love to visit the Vatican Museums on my own because I can take as long as I want, and linger over a painting or a room if I feel like it.

But that is partly because I am lucky enough to live here and be able to visit often.

sitting in the Pinacoteca in vatican museums

I've also taken part in pretty much every Vatican tour out there, and love that experience also.

Now the question is, is it worth taking a tour to visit Vatican Museums?

In my opinion, absolutely yes.

Here's why:

Easy - Your tickets will be bought and ready, nothing for you to do but show up.
Focused - With the vast amount of art to see in the Vatican Museums, having a guided tour can help you to focus on just some of the most important sections and pieces.
Just the right amount of sight-seeing - On a guided tour, you will keep your visiting time to a limit, and won't overdo or exhaust yourself trying to "see it all."
Help with your questions - When you have a guide, there is someone to answer your questions as they pop up. This happens to me all the time and I find myself asking museum guards (who may or may not know the answer), or trying to look things up on my phone. It's considerably nicer to have a knowledgable guide who can tell you (correctly, and in person) just what you want to know.
Don't miss a thing! - On a guided tour, you will no doubt see things you would have overlooked on your own. This also happens to me a lot in Rome, and every time I take a guided tour with an expert, I learn something new. The first time I went to the Vatican Museums on my own (years ago), without a guide, I breezed past the Laocoön sculpture because I didn't even know what it was, let alone to look for it!

And if you take a more special kind of guided Vatican Museums Tour , like a private, small-group, out-of-hours tour, then it can make an even bigger difference.

Vatican Museums Audio-Guide

You may also decide to skip the Vatican Museum tours, and visit on your own with an audio-guide.

This can be a good compromise, because you will get more information than you can from the little printed info-cards next to some of the pieces in the museums.

I still would recommend a human guide because they are better able to bring the whole thing to life for you, and are there to answer questions.

If you do decide to use the Vatican Museums Audio-Guide, you can book this when you pre-book your Vatican Museums tickets through the Vatican website, or, you can opt to get the audio-guide once you enter the museum.

Vatican Museum Tours - Which One is Right for You?

One of the most frequent questions I get is, which Vatican Museum tours do you recommend?

And of course, there is not one right answer: this depends on what you are looking for, how much time you have and want to commit to, and your budget.

All Vatican Museum tours include skip-the-line tickets, a visit to the Sistine Chapel , and a licensed tour guide (someone who is knowledgable and who is legally allowed to take you on this tour.)

Most tours are offered in English or Italian.

You can usually book a guide in other common languages too, such as Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Russian, etc.

There are also a few options for pre-booking special tickets, without a tour.

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What happens when you book a tour of the Vatican Museums using the official Vatican Museums website ?

First, you will pay less, as there is no tour agency or middle-man.

Second, you will be assigned a tour guide who is directly employed by the Vatican Museums.

What is the difference between booking a tour of the vatican through the vatican website and a tour agency?

All guides who give tours of the Vatican Museums must be licensed guides and they must have permission from the Vatican Museums to give tours there.

The difference between a Vatican Museums employee/guide and an outside guide may simply be in the quality of the guide.

I must say that I have taken tours with Vatican Museum employees/guides, and some of them have been fantastic.

But you just never know.

No matter what tour you book, unless you hire a private guide that you either know or who has been recommended to you, you have no way of knowing what that guide will be like.

Reasons to choose booking with the Vatican Museums or with a tour company

Sometimes, tickets and tours may not be available on the Vatican Museums website but you might find more availability for tickets and tours on a certified reseller such as Tiqets, Get your Guide, or Viator.

Or, perhaps you have heard about a specific tours company or tour, such as Walks of Italy, who offer two of the most popular tours of the Vatican Museums, Pristine Sistine, and the Vatican Key Master Tour in which you get to open the museums.

Read on to discover more tour options, and the differences between the different types of tours you'll find, both on the Vatican website and on outside tour company sites.

NEW FOR 2024!

The archeological area of the Vatican Necropolis of Via Triumphalis is now open for visitors.

This is an ancient Roman burial site that is within the Vatican walls and before now was very difficult to get access to.

You can only enter as part of an official Vatican tour group, and tickets need to be purchased through the official website .

This is an entirely separate visit, so you will not have access to either St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums.

Click here to watch my YouTube video about it and see what it's like!

Vatican Museum Tours - Skip the Line Group Tours

One of the most popular of the Vatican Museum tours is the group tour .

You skip the line of course, and have a knowledgable guide so you don't have to think about what to see or where to go.

All of these tours include the Sistine Chapel , usually ending there.

St Peter's Basilica Shortcut

You can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

The shortcut is open from 9:30 am - 5 or 5:30PM, and it's ONLY accessible to tour companies or private guides that you book OUTSIDE the Vatican Museums website.

The Vatican Museums does not have any ticket or tour that includes the shortcut.

This means that you won't have access to the shortcut during the KeyMaster tour , the Extra Time tour , or any other tour that does not specifically include the basilica.

If you book any tour of the Vatican Museums, you can check the details to see if it finishes in the Sistine Chapel or the basilica.

Click here to view a map of Vatican City (it will open in a new page.)

When you take a group tour, you will have what's called "whisper" headphones, so the guides can speak in a normal tone and you can easily hear them.

As of January 1, 2024, all group tours will be limited to 20 people.

The best part about this kind of group tour is the price.

This is the least expensive option of the Vatican Museum tours.

Visit the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the public on this special access tour.

raphael school of athens in vatican museums

There are many options even for taking a group tour.

Click the below to book a group tour of the Vatican Museums that includes:

Only the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (and not St. Peter's Basilica - just access, but no tour)
The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica (this is an excellent tour because you skip ALL the lines, even the priority lines, AND you get a tour of the Basilica)
Handicapped access (most tours do NOT accommodate wheelchairs , so you need to pick one that specifically DOES. This tour covers the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel but not St. Peter's Basilica.)
The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and The Pinacoteca (The Pinacoteca is the Vatican Museums Paintings gallery - most tours skip this but it is amazing, full of masterpieces, and worth the time if you have it! The Basilica is not included on this tour, but you can visit on your own without queuing.)
The Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica with Hotel pick-up/drop-off

A word about "skip the line"

Of course one of the benefits of taking a tour is the possibility to skip the line.

You can skip the line even without a tour, simply by pre-booking your tickets.

HOWEVER, you should know that nobody can skip the line for security, and when Rome is really crowded, as it is nearly all the time lately, you may find a bit of a wait to get through security.

So prepare yourself for that, and also plan to arrive a bit earlier than your entry time to give yourself plenty of leeway in case of long security lines.

Vatican Museum Tours - Early Access

The Vatican Museums open at 8AM Monday - Saturday. (There can be different closing times depending on the time of year.)

However, it is possible to gain early access to the Vatican Museums.

There are two things you need to know about this kind of tour:

There are a LOT of companies doing this , so you will not have an exclusive visit (although of course there will be a lot FEWER people than during the morning rush.)
In order to get the advantage of seeing the Sistine Chapel before the crowds arrive, you will need to rush through the rest of the Vatican Museums on your way there, missing most of the major works of art along the way. Either the tour will go back through so you can see the rest of the museums at a slower pace, or, if the tour itself does not offer this, you can do it on your own. In either of these cases, you will wind up in the Sistine Chapel a second time before you finally exit.)

That said, it will still feel like a special experience to get in there before the crowds fill in.

Also, many people do want to "just" see the Sistine Chapel, so this helps to keep the visit short if you want to.

For a more exclusive experience, jump down to this section .

As of January 2024, it will only be possible to gain early access to the museums by booking a tour.

Previously you could book early access entrance tickets, but these have been removed with the extension of the opening hours from 9AM to 8AM.

Open the Vatican Museums and turn on the lights of the Sistine Chapel!

One of the most special tours I ever took was with the Key Master of the Vatican Museums .

We literally went through the museums and opened them up and turned on all the lights.

You can book this through Take Walks and I assure you it will be one of the most amazing things you've ever experienced!

Before Hours Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel and Basilica Tour

With this 3-hour tour, you will go with group of around 15 people into the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public.

Click here to book this Early Access Group Tour of the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.

The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican , Colosseum , Trevi Fountain , Pantheon , Piazza Navona , Spanish Steps , Castel Sant'Angelo , and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers .

Speedy Express Tours of Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Maybe I should have put this one at the top of the page.

One of the most common questions I hear about the Vatican Museums is:

Can I just go see the Sistine Chapel ?

I've answered this before (the answer is no) and even with a tour that guarantees this, you really cannot.

There is an "express route" to the Sistine Chapel from the entrance of the Vatican Museums, which skips the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementine Museums, the Egyptian and Etruscan wings.

But you still have a lot of museum to get through before you make it to the Sistine Chapel, so even without visiting any of the above, and bee-lining to the chapel, it will still take you at least 30 minutes just to walk there quickly, without stopping to look at anything.

the tapestries hall in the vatican museums

That said, there are tours that help you do this.

In the section just before this one, about Early Access Vatican Museum Tours , you have options for going in before opening hours.

In theory, these could also be considered as fast tours, since you do go directly to the Sistine Chapel.

But with the above, you are also given the chance to go back and take more time in the museums.

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Normally I would urge you to visit the rest of the museums, as they are chock full of some of the world's most amazing and beautiful art.

But maybe you have really limited time, or who have been to the museums before and want to re-visit just the Sistine Chapel.

So, you can book an Express tour:

Visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with option to add on St. Peter's Basilica .

Your guide will provide explanations of the Sistine Chapel, but as you are sort of speeding through the rest of the Vatican Museums, you won't get detailed explanations of what you're walking past.

Vatican Museums - Small Group Tours

In the section above, there is a link to a small group, exclusive tour.

That tour goes inside the Vatican Museums early, before they open to the general public.

It's an amazing experience and I highly recommend it! (More about this below.)

If you're looking for an excellent truly small group Vatican Museums tour, click here.

Their small-group tours are max 20 people, but when you go to choose your date, you can see they also offer even smaller groups or private tours (which costs a bit more but may be worth it.)

Ready to plan your trip?

Vatican Museums - Private Tours

Taking a private tour is exactly what it sounds like: this is a fantastic option if you want a completely private, personal tour, with the guide focused just on you.

Of course, if you are a family or group of 4-6 people, it becomes more affordable.

Click here to book a private tour (minimum 2 people), of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums + Vatican Gardens Combo Tour

The Vatican is home to some amazing gardens , which are beautifully kept and landscaped.

But they are in two places: one is just behind St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City.

The other is in the summer residence of the Pope, Castel Gandolfo .

You can easily book the Vatican Gardens tour through the Vatican Museums website .

It includes entry to the Vatican Museums but no tour or guide.

If you want, you can book this through an outside agency so you get a more complete tour experience.

See below for options.

Tour of Vatican Museums and Vatican Gardens in Vatican City

With this small-group tour, you will first visit the Vatican Gardens.

After visiting the gardens, your group will head inside to tour the Vatican Museums, finishing inside the Sistine Chapel.

Click here to book a Vatican Gardens + Vatican Museums combo small-group tour.

Currently unavailable - stay tuned for the updates!

Visit to Vatican Museums and Gardens in Castel Gandolfo

If you have a full day to dedicate to this, and want to experience something really special, a whole world of tranquility, quiet and beauty, away from the hustle and bustle of Rome, this is a wonderful tour.

It allows you to skip the line and visit the Vatican Museums, then walk through the Vatican Gardens and get on a train that will take you just half-hour outside Rome to the summer residence of the Pope: the stunning Barberini Gardens at Castel Gandolfo , only recently opened to the public.

Click here to book your full day Vatican Museums + Vatican Gardens at Castel Gandolfo tour .

(Note this option does not include a visit to Saint Peter's Basilica.)

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VIP Vatican Museum Tours with out-of-hours Viewing

There are a good selection of Vatican Museum tours that offer early morning entry to the museums (see above.)

This means that although your group is going in before the normal opening time, you will also be going in with all the other tour groups doing the same thing.

Which means it is not quite as exclusive as it sounds, even if it's definitely less crowded than going at opening time (which is why it's actually a pretty affordable tour, usually costing less than 100€ per person.)

If you're really looking for an exclusive visit to the Vatican Museums out of hours, here are a couple of options:

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

Visiting the Vatican Museums after hours and seeing the secret rooms was one of the best tours I ever took.

You can read more about it on my dedicated page .

VIP Vatican Museum Tours - After Hours Private Viewing of Sistine Chapel

ceiling of sistine chapel by michelangelo

For a really special experience, book a VIP tour , that features after-hours viewing.

You really do have a much more exclusive experience than the groups going before the Museums open.

Most Vatican Museum tours do not offer this option, so you will have the Sistine Chapel almost entirely to yourselves.

Click here to book your VIP tour of the Vatican Museums with Sistine Chapel Private Viewing.

And for an even more exclusive, private, truly after-hours tour, you can book this one.

Tour the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum on the same day

While I normally don't recommend this, sometimes a day is all you have, and you really want to fit in these two Rome must-sees.

You can try to do this on your own, but if you want to make the most of this day, especially if you are doing this as a shore excursion, I really recommend doing it as a guided tour.

Click here to book visit my page about this, for more details .

Click here to book a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum in one day .

You can also book a night tour of the Colosseum at certain times of the year, so you could see the Vatican Museums during the day and then do this night tour.

Do it yourself - build the tour YOU want!

If you are still not sure which tour to book, you can visit this tour booking page where you can choose the length of the tour, the time of day, and the maximum group size you want (the smaller the group, the more it costs per person.)

Click the "filters" button and go through and check the boxes you want, and you'll see all the tour options available according to your criteria.

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Private Highlights Vatican Guided Tour

What to expect.

LivTours Private Highlights Vatican Guided Tour allows you to take the opportunity to thoroughly explore the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica*, at your own pace with your own private LivTours guide. Exploring the highlight of one of the world’s largest and most important art collections with a knowledgeable guide and priority access makes for an unforgettable experience. The luxury of a private tour is that you have direct access to your guide, allowing you to ask questions and receive individual and exclusive attention. Your private guide will be happy to tailor your Vatican visit to suit your preferences.

Why book this tour

Enjoy priority entrance to the Vatican Museum on this exclusive private tour
Revel in the luxury of a customized tour with a private expert guide by your side
Explore the art collection, including Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel
Admire famous works of art by Michelangelo, Raphael & other Renaissance greats
Marvel at the 96 foot tall bronze canopy over the main altar in St Peter’s Basilica
Upgrade your tour to get access to a Vatican Secret Room exclusive to LivTours

Exclusive private Tours and Experiences. Also offered in Spanish, French, Portuguese, Swedish and Russian

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Tour gallery

This tour includes

Skip-the-line to the Vatican Museums
Pinecone Courtyard
Octagonal Courtyard
Greek Cross Room
Gallery of Tapestries
Gallery of Candelabra
Gallery of Maps
Raphael Rooms*
Sistine Chapel
Borgia Apartments
Saint Peter's Basilica*

Know before you go

*Access to the Raphael Rooms is contingent upon crowd conditions, timing constraints, and guard-regulated routes. Including them may not always be feasible. In these cases, your tour guide will exercise discretion to adjust the itinerary, ensuring a high-quality experience
*St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, your guide will provide a revised itinerary including more of the Vatican Museums. No compensation is granted in these circumstances.
*St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, the time inside the Vatican Museums will be extended. On Wednesday mornings the Holy Father is having his weekly audience in Saint Peter’s Square and due to security, Saint Peter’s Basilica is closed. If you book an early morning tour on a Wednesday, we can therefore not guarantee access to the Basilica.
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 in some or all areas of this tour.
Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during your visit inside is strictly forbidden, therefore your guide will give you an explanation of the Sistine Chapel beforehand during your tour, in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering the chapel.
Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
Offered in: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Please specify under “Additional notes” if you wish to book the tour in a language other than English.
Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.

Our Sustainable Tourism Promise

LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry. LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism and how LivTours is contributing, click here .

About our Private tours

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience , you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people* . Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Additional options

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Private Vatican tour in German

We did a private Vatican tour with Patrizia and we enjoyed it very much. Patrizia is such a lovely person and we felt she was so knowledgeable about everything she told us and all the questions we had. She guided as well through the masses of tourist and always tried to find a good spot for us to enjoy the arts and architecture. Defo recommend Patrizia to any one but also especially to German speakers. She speaks it very well

Awesome tour!

Ettore was so awesome!! Our whole group loved him. The Vatican was busy and he navigated us through it all in a way that felt totally manageable, enjoyable, and somehow despite how packed it was made it feel like we were not in a horde of people.

Once in a lifetime experience

We had the most wonderful experience this morning, thanks to LivItaly's Vatican highlights tour and our superb guide, Max. We got so much more out of the museum and the Sistine Chapel, never feeling bored, tired or overwhelmed, and we have lots of great memories and photos to bring home. We definitely recommend this company and this tour.

Great tour, great experience

We did a private tour of the Vatican with Rich yesterday...it was absolutely incredible! He is so knowledgeable, I can’t even begin to tell you everything he told us! I wish the tour could have been 5 more hours! We loved every minute and will never forget this experience!

Choose dates later / Buy as a gift

By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here .

Book your tour

Privacy overview.

Private Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel, Fast-Access Tickets

Guaranteed to skip the long lines
Private tour
Local guide
Professional art historian guide
Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
Entry/Admission - St. Peter's Basilica
Entry/Admission - Vatican City
Guaranteed to skip the lines
Private transportation
Caffè Vaticano, viale, Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Roma RM, Italy Vatican Museums entrance, on the stairs under the big white gates with statues. Address: viale vaticano
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Near public transportation
Infant seats available
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
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
Most travelers can participate
READ CAREFULLY: Because of the growing popularity of the current pope Francis and his intense activity in organising mass events in the Vatican some areas might get closed last minute without previous notice. This has already happened this year and can happen again during you Vatican tour: the Sistine chapel and/or the Basilica of Saint Peter might not be accessible. In case of such events our tour guide will provide you with a valuable alternative focusing the tour inside the Vatican museums.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties.
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica

Similar experiences

You'll start at Caffè Vaticano viale, Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Roma RM, Italy Vatican Museums entrance, on the stairs under the big white gates with statues. Address: viale vaticano See address & details
1 Vatican Museums Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
2 Sistine Chapel Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
3 St. Peter's Basilica Stop: 60 minutes - Admission included See details
4 Vatican City Stop: 10 minutes - Admission included See details
You'll return to the starting point

dimpys2013 0 contributions 1.0 of 5 bubbles Terrible service and communication..donot get scammed! We booked the Skip the line Colosseum tour reading their wonderful reviews. We took a wrong train and informed them that we will be 5-7mins late. We rushed to the entrance gate of Colosseum to catch the tour but there was no communication to connect us with the guide. We then waited for 2 hours at the exit gate to catch the tour halfway, looking and asking every guide holding a red flag but there was none from the Tour or Roman Guy! While we waited there was no communication from the company and at the start they mentioned that those tours are third party and they have no connection with the guide. If you don’t want to get scammed don’t book with these guys! Hope no one else have to go through this! Read more Written February 22, 2024
Brad K 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A lot of information This was a very nice tour. I had heard about the dense crowds and being rushed through the areas of interest, it did not feel rushed at all on this tour. Our guide was Ukrainian but has lived in Rome over 20 years and has done his homework. Very knowledgeable and spoke very clear English. The headsets made it easy to hear regardless of where one was in relation to the guide. Read more Written February 20, 2024
billtT7665DH 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent Colosseum tour Faby was our guide and spectacular. She really knew her history and material well. She gave us all the particulars of the Colosseum and was very informative. We had a great time. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! Read more Written February 15, 2024
26X62 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great guide! Raffa was our guide. She is born and raised in Rome so there was so much to learn about the local community from her. Very knowledgeable and kindhearted. She keeps the pace very consistent and interesting the whole day. Excellent tour with Raffa Read more Written November 23, 2023
628lynnf 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Experience through the Tour Guy with Raffa! Raffa was our guide through The Tour Guy. She is a native Roman and very knowledgeable and personable and INTERESTING!! She had many anecdotal facts which were fascinating! She kept a good pace so we could see everything in 3 hours and even took pictures of everyone in the group at the Flavian Amphitheater Read more Written November 16, 2023
Thomas M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Awesome Thomas was fantastic! He gave us an in-depth history lesson so that we could appreciate what we were about to see before we entered the Sistine chapel and Saint Peter‘s cathedral. We bypassed all the lines and we’re amazed by all that we saw under Thomas’s guidance. Read more Written October 8, 2023
marygJ2513OK 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles Not very pleasant and unhappy with customer service I Vatican tour guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. However, there were 18 people in our group, and every part of the tour was a bit stressful because they were so many tourists packed into the spaces throughout the Vatican tour. It seemed unsafe at times, where we were just squashed together. I was in constant fear of losing the tour guide. We did lose one couple for a while because of the crowd pushing. I would not do this again. I really could not enjoy the Vatican. The second tour we had to cancel because my husband was sick. We tried to call more than 24 hours before the start of the tour, but was unable to get through…just recordings. When I was able to get Internet, we emailed saying we were unable to make the tour. This was only one hour and a half later than the 24 hour deadline…22 1/2 hours before the start of the tour. We were very disappointed that they would not give us a refund after asking them several times . I would not use this tour company again. Read more Written September 28, 2023
AndrewsBristol 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing day We had an amazing g time visiting the Roman forum palatine hill and the colosseum. Our guide was Nina and she was brilliant. Highly recommend this company and this trip. Booking was straightforward and meeting point very organised. Nina was really knowledgable about all the history and made it so interesting and such fun. Don’t hesitate to book this trip. Read more Written September 20, 2023
M520XDstevem 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Sara is great! Sara did a wonderful job and my kids (boys aged 9 and 11) and I all loved her tour! She knew just how to keep them interested in all there is to see. Read more Written September 8, 2023
874maureenc 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Colosseum Our tour through the Colosseum was very enjoyable. Our tour guide, Giada, was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would highly recommend! Read more Written September 6, 2023
601JohnR 0 contributions 2.0 of 5 bubbles The Roman Guy Colosseum Tour Canceled I booked this tour 4 Months ago with The Tour Guy. Today I get a text and email saying that the tour was canceled and that they rebooked me on an earlier tour without my consent. Although, I know tours are totally subject to availability and rules and regulations of the government and maybe canceled at any time. I feel a 4-month after the booking window is unacceptable to cancel. I also booked the Vatican tour through The Tour Guy and felt if this Colosseum tour is canceled that Vatican maybe as well. I decided to cancel myself to be on the safe side and go to another company to rebook. The 2 stars are for the communication that the TOUR GUY contacted me with and also the fact that they rebooked on another tour without my consent for the tour the Tour Guy cancelled. All though I did not go on any tour offered by the Tour Guy, I felt compelled to write a review of my situation. I have heard others getting "burned" and felt the public should know of this possibility. Good Luck Read more Written September 3, 2023
Jon M 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great tour with a great tour guide Great tour with a great tour guide. Very focused on our young children, kept their attention, very informative and fun activities. Adults learned too. Read more Written August 6, 2023
carlie495 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Top notch tour with a wonderful guide! 100% satisfied with our experience and would highly recommend this option for any family looking to learn historical context to some of the most magnificent artworks in the Vatican city in a way that is engaging for all. Our tour guide, Tom, was a wealth of knowledge and excellent at keeping our 7 and 9 year old interested through the whole tour. We were all very pleased and impressed with our experience. Read more Written August 6, 2023
F3918USmatthewb 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Roberta was excellent Roberta was a great tour guide. Saved us like an hour waiting in lines that you wouldn’t realize you could skip at the start of the Vatican museums. Was really knowledgeable about the artwork and history and was great with the kids. We saw everything we wanted to see and didn’t feel rushed at all. Read more Written August 3, 2023
L9259BCchelsear 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fanastic tour -- highlight of our Rome visit! Many thanks to Donato who provided an informative, engaging and fun tour for the entire family! Very easy meeting points, truly skipping lengthy lines, this tour made what could have been an intense experience in the heat into a highly enjoyable visit. Donato came prepared with visual aids, games, and age-appropriate explanations for the history and art that kept our nine and seven year-olds engaged. He was incredibly knowledgable, provided thoughtful answers to questions, and was mindful of moving at a pace appropriate for the kids and my mother-in-law. I cannot rate Donato and this tour highly enough! Read more Written July 22, 2023

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Private Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel, Fast-Access Tickets provided by Vatican Private Tour Guide

Alone In The Vatican: Exclusive VIP Access Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tour

Inside the Sistine Chapel the walls and ceiling come alive.

Experience Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in exquisite peace and quiet. On our VIP Vatican tour, you’ll have it entirely to yourself.
Gaze upon the treasures of the Vatican Museums in the company of an expert tour guide.
Morning tour: Arrive at the Vatican at sunrise and explore the tranquil Museums before they officially open.
Evening tour: Make your way through the hallowed halls of the Vatican after the gates have closed to the general public for the day.

Tour description

Explore the vatican museums alone for two full hours..

One our most exclusive Vatican tours, this VIP Vatican tour includes early or after-hours access to the Vatican Museums for a once-in-a-lifetime visit to one of the busiest attractions in Rome.

You’ll begin your VIP Vatican tour directly outside the Vatican Museums. As the sun rises over Rome or after the Museums close their doors for the day, you'll walk right into one of the most impressive collections of art in the world. For two full hours, you'll wander its empty halls alone with your small group and an expert Walks tour guide.

Discover the Vatican's renowned art collection with an expert guide.

Your guide will furnish you with all the context you need to fully enjoy your magnificent surroundings. These include the Raphael Rooms—laden with extraordinary frescoes by the Renaissance master—the ornate sculptures in the Octagonal Courtyard, and the awe-inspiring Gallery of Maps.

With 70,000 distinct pieces stretched over nine miles housed within the Vatican, it’s no wonder many visitors lose their way as they attempt to make sense of it all on their own. But with an official Vatican guide, you’ll be in the most capable hands as you traverse the best possible route to experience this renowned collection.

Without the typical crowds, you’ll have the Sistine Chapel exclusively to yourself.

The magnificence of the Vatican Museums is just the beginning. The cherry on top of your VIP Vatican tour comes at the heart of Vatican City: the Sistine Chapel. Our exclusive early and after-hours access to the Vatican Museums means you’ll step inside a virtually empty Sistine Chapel that's normally packed with crowds during the day. Enjoy this extremely rare look inside this iconic building adorned with Michelangelo’s best-known masterpiece. The Sistine Chapel is always a sure highlight on any Vatican tour, so we’ve worked directly with the Vatican itself to ensure a truly one-of-a-kind visit.

Most people who visit the Sistine Chapel aren't able to appreciate the holy space as it was intended due to the influx of other visitors. On this VIP Vatican tour, you’ll experience Michelangelo’s masterpiece in a way few others can claim to have seen it. You'll leave with a full appreciation for the masterful works contained within the Vatican’s walls.

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Verified guest reviews, oct 20, 2023.

We were in a group of 10 with an official Vatican guide, which made a world of difference. His knowledge was exceptional on all of the art works. The wine with meat and cheese at the end was a nice finish to this tour.

Oct 14, 2023

This was a truly incredible experience. Not only are you getting the guided tour, with an exceptionally knowledgable guide, but also the quiet access to the Sistine Chapel (less than 50 people in the room), but at the end you get a rather filling, multi-plate meal with you choice of wine. It is such a good value for the price. Our specific guide was I Believe Sylvia and she was so kind and patient with all of us, explaining the importance of each piece and really bringing the history to life. I highly recommend this trip for anyone who is considering it, let it be known, this was a highlight of our family's trip to Rome.

Oct 10, 2023

Fantastic from beginning to end! Less people with the ability to see everything without being rushed especially in the Sistine Chapel. Loved this tour and the tour guide!

Oct 07, 2023

This is a very good tour . You get private time in the Sistine Chapel and a food/wine experience in the Vatican courtyard which is cool .

Oct 03, 2023

Our tour guide, Debora, was the best part about our visit to the Vatican. She is a wealth of information, and she LOVES sharing the Vatican with her groups. We had all ages in our group - 70's down to a 2 year old, and Debora was the tour guide that every single one of us needed. We were appreciative of her breadth of knowledge! She brought details to light that we would never have gotten in an audio tour. The pace of the tour was just right, although my husband became tired part of the way through. (She was so kind to periodically check on him.) In the Sistine Chapel Debora gave us about 15 minutes to reflect on what we were seeing. She knew that for each one of us our our hearts were full from all we had seen and learned - it meant so much to be able to sit amongst the masterpiece and soak it in. And one important aspect about Deborah to mention is her compassion. There was a couple in our group who mistakenly thought we would be seeing St. Peter's Basilica. When they realized it was not part of our tour, they were devastated. The next day they were flying out of Rome, so they only had that afternoon to see it. Debora went out of her way to set up a quick personal visit for them at the end of our tour, and she also escorted them there so that they would be sure to see it. The woman of the couple was so touched by Debora's willingness to orchestrate the visit that she was in tears. Debora was their superhero that day. I highly recommend this tour, and I hope you can get Debora as your guide!

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Similar tours, st. peter’s basilica from top to bottom with dome climb & crypt, vip vatican key master’s tour: unlock the sistine chapel, pristine sistine at closing time: late entry vatican tour.

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Visit the Vatican at your own pace, hassle-free experience

Vip early entrance vatican guided tour.

If there is one place in the world that holds a powerful amalgam of artistic, historical, religious, and political value that is within the open borders of the Vatican City. Besides being home to the Pope and the official site of the Catholic Church, the so-called Holy See, hosts some of humanity’s biggest artistic accomplishments. The Vatican’s architectural and artistic masterpieces attract daily a large influx of tourists. As the official Vatican Museums tour provider we offer guided tours that will get you in not only faster but also earlier. With our early morning tour, you will experience the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica at the most peaceful time. You will explore the secrets of the largest and busiest complex of museums in the world with no crowds.

› Get premium access and admission tickets to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica

› have the museums to yourself with early entrance at 7:30 am, 90 minutes before the general public, › benefit from the knowledge of a dedicated english-speaking guide with extensive expertise of the vatican, › flexibility of choice, you can be part of a small-group tour of no more than 12 people or choose the private option, peaceful, quiet and hassle-free experience.

Due to the high number of enthusiastic tourists, the museums can get very busy at times and this can jeopardise your experience. This special time slot that we provide ensures a greatly enhanced experience as it is available to only a few lucky tourists. You will practically feel like you have the museums all to yourself which will allow you to pay detailed attention to the masterpieces. Equally important when visiting the museums is having a precise itinerary. This is because the museum’s corridors are very labyrinthine and host over 7 kilometres of art. To avoid wasting your time wandering through the corridors not knowing where is what, it is advised to be in the company of an expert and our guides know these museums like the inside of their pockets! They also hold encyclopaedic knowledge of the artefacts and will provide you with little-known facts about their creators and much more!

What parts of the museums will you visit?

We have carefully crafted a special itinerary that will take you to see the main parts of the museums. With this tailored tour, you will visit the famous Gallery of the Candelabra. This place takes its name from the majestic candelabras that divide this gallery into six sections. The sculptures are all arranged following symmetrical criteria compatible with the architecture of the six fabulously designed rooms. This place contains artworks found throughout the country, from the time of the Roman Empire to modern-day. From there you will explore the Gallery of Tapestries displaying the work of Raffaello Sanzio. This exhibition is completely protected from sunlight in order to best preserve the tapestries. Each of these massive tapestries displays different powerful Catholic stories and myths. You will also explore the Gallery of Maps where you can gain an understanding of what the world was thought to look like centuries ago, at a time when cartography was undergoing its own renaissance.

The beauty and complexity of the Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is renowned for being decorated with what many perceive as the most spectacular masterpiece in human history, Michelangelo’s frescoes that cover the ceiling. The Sistine Chapel ceiling helped Rome overtake Florence as the supreme cultural capital of Italy. Thanks to the special time-slot provided by this tour, you will be able to walk around and admire the frescoes in complete silence. The experience will be much more insightful when the place is not crowded. The chapel is covered in beautiful and noble colours in the famous shades of ochre, umber green, Sangiovanni white, and ultramarine blue. The central part of the ceiling is divided into 9 panels portraying stories from the Book of Genesis such as the awe-inspiring Division of Light from Darkness, Creation of the Stars, of the Waters, of Adam, of Eve and finally the Creation of the Original Sin. Michelangelo’s genius has to be admired in silence but your assigned guide will give you a description of what you are about to experience before entering the chapel and will handle your questions once out.

Religious art at St Peter’s Basilica

This tour encompasses all the attractions of the Vatican, including a visit to St Peter’s Basilica,* a unique example of Renaissance architecture and Baroque art and a symbol of huge significance to Christianity. You will enter the Basilica through a special-access corridor, skipping the long general-access lines. The creation and décor of the Basilica involved the most brilliant engineering and artistic minds of the time. Tourists of all faiths visit the Basilica to discover and admire the creations of the geniuses of Michelangelo and Bernini. You will discover Michelangelo’s Pietà, an extremely moving sculpture depicting the lifeless body of Jesus in the arms of his mother Mary. Under the same roof, there is Bernini’s Baldachin, a massive sculpted bronze canopy that sits above St. Peter’s tomb. The Baldachin is not only jaw-dropping, but it is a prime example of the style that flourished around Europe at the beginning of the 17th century, Baroque. At the end of the tour, you can explore more at your own pace.

Small-Group Tour

You can join this early entrance guided tour, as part of a group of no more than 12 people. Being part of a small-group when touring the Vatican can be a fun yet more personal experience since the size of the group is small. Your assigned guide will accommodate everyone on the tour and answer everyone’s questions. Our guides are highly experienced at keeping such groups engaged and entertained and they will provide top insider knowledge on the monuments. This option is more budget-friendly while not giving away the benefits of having a guide to accompany you as you discover the Vatican. On top of that, it has proved to be a great option for tourists who do not mind the presence of other like-minded and culture-hungry travellers who are all enthusiastic about discovering the Vatican.

Private Tour

Newlyweds, families, first-time tourers, or couples and friends who prefer more privacy or are simply looking for more authentic travel experiences, may often think that having a guide to yourself is better than sharing one. With this premium option, you decide who joins you on this tour. Needless to say that you will benefit from the undivided attention of your guide and that you can also benefit from flexibility of itinerary. With this choice you will experience the Vatican in a very time-efficient and seamless way, where you can spend more time on the galleries that appeal to you the most and less time in others, you will see the Vatican at your own pace. You can also choose this option and upgrade it to include pick-up from your accommodation. This option promises a much more comfortable, efficient, and authentic experience!

This tour runs from Monday to Saturday and it includes St Peter’s Basilica every day except on Wednesdays. The Basilica is an active Church and on Wednesdays it is closed until 1 PM due to the weekly Papal audience. Instead, you will spend more time discovering the hidden gems of the Vatican Museums. Rest assured that your guide will give you an introduction of the Basilica and the art inside so you know what to look for if you wish to visit later. Moreover, when visiting St. Peter’s Basilica and/or the Vatican Museums, you are kindly asked to respect the city’s dress code, which implies having your knees and shoulders covered.

Witness the fabulous art and architecture in the museum of museums

DETERMINAZIONE PROVINCIA DI ROMA – LICENZA NUMERO 478323 DEL 28/05/2021 R.E.A. RM 1611120

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This website is not the official website of the Vatican Museums. It is run by IWF Srls and works with attractions and tour operators to provide incredible experiences at the touch of a button.

Vatican Guided Tour, Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Vatican Museum Customized Private Tours, Official Travel Agency

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Vatican Museum After Hours Private Tour With Aperitif – Vip Experience

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Vatican Museum After Hours. A truly classy experience! A glass in hand as you explore the lovely galleries at the Vatican Museums with a private guide.

Vatican Museum After Hours. Inclusions:

Vatican museums, sistine chapel.

Vatican Museum After Hours Private Tour with Aperitif 3 hrs. | Start: 7.15 p.m. | VIP Experience | Meeting Point: Entrance of Vatican Museums, by the marble arch at the bottom of the steps. This is an evening tour not to be missed. A fresh Italian cocktail while exploring the galleries in the Vatican Museums. Then, visit the charming Sistine Chapel in the quiet of the night. An unforgettable experience awaits. The evening tours of the Vatican Museum are only offered every Friday during the summer months. This tour is ideal for visitors who wish to avoid the harsh summer sun and prefer to tour in the cool of the night. You will get to experience a beloved Italian evening tradition call called an ‘Aperitivo’ or also known as an ‘Aperitif,’ which is a starter drink before a meal. Along with it, you will be sampling some snacks as well.

Vatican Museum After Hours | Would skip the line tickets come on you will enter right into the Vatican museums to begin your tour. Upon arrival, you will be offered an aperitive which is usually an alcoholic drink, but if you don’t drink alcohol please let us know before that war so that we can organize another drink for you. You will also enjoy some Italian snacks before your tour begins. Your expert private guide who has deep knowledge of art in history will take you to the many galleries such as – Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Maps, Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of the Candelabra and Raphael’s Rooms. You are going to see artwork, sculptures tapestry, maps and so much more.

Vatican Museum After Hours | Before you enter the Sistine Chapel, you will be briefed by your guide as speaking is not allowed inside the Chapel. Here you will see Renaissance art at its best. You will see the beautiful ceilings painted by Michelangelo which took almost five years to paint. Some images to look out for are – The Creation of Adam, Separation of Land from Sea, Separation of Light from Darkness and The Flood.

The Vatican Museum After Hours Tour Is An Unmissable Tour Of Indulgence!

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Vatican Museum After Hours. Important Reminder – Vatican Museum After Hours Private

Tour with aperitive vip experience.

There is a dress code to the Vatican which applies to children too. Shoulders and knees must be covered.
St Peter’s Basilica is not part of this tour as it is closed in the evenings.
The Vatican Museums get rather busy during summer and after a bank holiday.
Not available for wheelchair users
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Why Europe's most famous tourist attractions are turning people away

A large number of people outside the ruins of a large temple

They say money can't buy you happiness, but at Europe's busiest tourist hot spots, it can get you peace and quiet.

For example: Greece's culture ministry has revealed plans to offer crowd-free and private tours of Athens's Acropolis for €5,000 ($8,200).

A ticket to the ancient site usually costs about $33, and it's not the continent's only attraction offering a separate experience for those with deep pockets.

Queues at the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel in Rome can stretch around the block, but if you want a private moment with Michelangelo's ceiling masterpiece, prepare to cough up $730.

Even the British Museum, which is free, offers out-of-hours visits for $54.

These types of tours are popular "because of the privacy, the exclusivity and cachet", according to Laura Jeffrey, director of luxury travel agent Passepartout Travel.

"It's being able to tell your friends, 'We saw it with no-one else around'," she says.

"I'm surprised that it's taken this long to announce and to come forward with this idea [at the Acropolis]. I think it's a great idea if that money is being used wisely."

A large number of people outside a building that says Buckingham Palace Shop on it.

The luxury travel market is booming and is estimated to be worth $2.1 trillion, according to a 2023 market analysis report by Grand View Research.

The industry is expected to grow by 7.9 per cent each year from 2024 to 2030 as rich travellers spend big across the globe.

Professor of Marketing and Tourism at the University of Nottingham, Marina Novelli, says it's not clear what "the primary purpose" is behind the Greek government's decision to introduce private tours.

"There is a very big difference between implementing luxury for just commercial gain and more cash flow in the government's kitty versus introducing something that is going to be utilised to support the community and identify ways to conserve the various attractions that get visited," she says.

A Greek government spokesperson has previously told media the injection of cash would be "reinvested".

Overcrowding is also an issue at the historical site, which saw Greece last year implement a cap of 20,000 visitors a day.

It has timed entry too, meaning a certain number of people are allowed in every hour.

"The main problem in a lot of these destinations is that the carrying capacity has been identified probably 20 or 30 years ago but commercial interests have meant that they have been ignored," Professor Novelli said.

"Visitors to the Acropolis need to be reduced in order for the Acropolis to be in the long term maintained."

A long queue of people, pictured outdoors

'Elitist' move 'creates a divide'

Overtourism is an issue hurting many residents in Europe's most popular destinations, and elsewhere around the world, who are keen to balance a much-needed industry with preserving the attractions, environment, and fabric of the local community.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched across the Canary Islands, off the coast of Morocco, last month calling for a temporary limit on the number of tourists.

Residents on the Greek island of Paros have staged multiple rallies concerned their coastline is being swamped by unsustainable beach clubs .

Meanwhile in Venice, Italian locals protested last week over a new fee visitors have to pay to access the city.

While authorities say the $8 payment is aimed at thinning out crowds along the canals during peak holiday season, residents argued their city was being turned into a theme park.

Greek news outlets are reporting the private tours of Acropolis will operate from 7am-9am and 8pm-10pm which would mean opening hours for the general public could be pushed back by an hour to 9am.

Critics have labelled the move "elitist" and say it could worsen the crowd crush at the site.

"I think it creates a divide between regular travellers and people that can afford such things," Jeremy Sampson, The Travel Foundation CEO said.

"Especially when you are talking about important historical sites and natural spaces, these are meant to be shared across society so it doesn't make sense to me that you would turn that into an elite experience."

A line of police in uniform, seen from behind, blocking a large number of people shouting and waving flags.

Europe is the most visited region in the world and the United Nations expects international tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels this year.

While it has undoubtedly boosted economies and jobs across the world, tourism experts say there needs to be a rethink on how we measure success around international travel.

"Overtourism is not necessarily the root issue; it is a symptom rather than a cause and beneath the surface is what I would call bad planning or an imbalance in tourism," Mr Sampson said.

"Business-as-usual, actually is not really viable much longer if at all."

Professor Novelli says the problem isn't new.

"People suffer short-term memory loss, pre-COVID we were talking about the fact that those numbers were unsustainable."

Charging wealthy visitors for a premium experience isn't new either, but it is growing. And whether the extra cash ends up preserving the experiences for future generations remains to be seen.

"The knee-jerk reaction is to say that it's a bad thing, and actually I think it really can be a force for good if the money that is spent is being spent properly and if there is some sort of attempt to balance that out for those who can't afford it," Ms Jeffrey said.

"In some ways, I wonder whether €5,000 is enough, but I also think that you have to be very careful about establishing a precedent, which is that it's only by having €5,000, €10,000 or €20,000 to spare, you can actually get into these places."

Professor Novelli also said there was a risk of expensive tours becoming more popular, and squeezing out other visitors.

"The problem is often if those tools become popular ... they might increase the number [of tours] and the issue of elitism might come into the picture even farther because the need to prioritise those costly tours will obviously inadvertently impact on those which are free or less expensive."

Greece's culture ministry was contacted for comment.

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Who Is Catherine O'Hara's Husband? All About Bo Welch

Catherine O’Hara has been married to her husband, Bo Welch, since 1992

Kevin Mazur/VF22/WireImage

Catherine O'Hara has Tim Burton to thank for her thriving marriage.

O'Hara met her husband, production designer Bo Welch, on the set of Burton’s Beetlejuice in 1988. O'Hara thought that Welch was attractive, and Burton helped facilitate their relationship by urging Welch to ask her on a date. He eventually asked O'Hara out, and the rest was history.

O'Hara and Welch got married on April 25, 1992. They welcomed their first son, Matthew, in 1994 and their second son, Luke, in 1997.

A Canada native, O'Hara decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue her relationship with Welch. “I moved to L.A. to be with him,” she told The New Yorker . “Yeah, I moved for love.”

Welch has worked on a number of iconic films including Burton’s 1990 Edward Scissorhands, starring Johnny Depp , and the original Men in Black, starring Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith .

So who is Catherine O’Hara’s husband? Here’s everything to know about Bo Welch and his relationship with the Home Alone star.

Welch is an Oscar-nominated production designer

Aliah Anderson/Getty

Welch is an Oscar- and Emmy-nominated production designer, best known for his work on Edward Scissorhands , Men in Black and A Little Princess . He grew up in Bucks County, Pa., per Below the Line , and had his big break as a production designer in 1985's The Color Purple . His work on the film landed him his first of four Oscar nominations.

Welch made his directorial debut in 2003 with The Cat in the Hat . He also directed five episodes of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the same series that landed him his first Primetime Emmy nomination. He has additionally done production design for Batman Returns , Schmigadoon! and Thor .

“If you have to wake up in the morning to do something, I can’t think of anything better [than production design],” he told Below the Line. “You can do this job for 100 years, and I swear every time you come to this part of production design, picking colors, it’s like you’ve just started this career. It is so difficult.”

They met on the set of Beetlejuice

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Welch and O'Hara met while she was starring in Beetlejuice as Delia Deetz. Tim Burton hired Welch to work on the production design of the film, which at the time was the second movie he had ever worked on.

“It was just thrilling at that point in my career. Second movie, and this was it. I had never seen anything like it,” Welch told UPROXX . “It didn’t have the pressure of a third episode of a franchise movie. So, all of that was great.”

His memories of working on Beetlejuice are all positive, especially since he met O'Hara during the process.

“My memories of Beetlejuice are very fond, of course,” he added. “Not to mention, I met my wife, who was in it.”

While working on the movie, Burton learned that O'Hara had a crush on Welch. Burton helped the pair get together by arranging a trip to a swap meet with the film's art department, per PEOPLE.

“I was grouching to Tim Burton about how this guy was talking to me all the time and never asking me out,” O'Hara recalled to InStyle in 2018. “We had a break between filming in Los Angeles and on location, and in that time, Tim told Bo that he should ask me out.”

They shot the exteriors of the Beetlejuice house in Vermont, and that was the day that Welch asked O'Hara out, which was admittedly her favorite part of filming the movie.

“Our first day of shooting at the house was the day that Bo finally asked me out, so that’s what I see when I look at the scenes we shot there,” she added. “Matchmaking Tim Burton!”

O'Hara moved to L.A. to be with Welch

Bei/Shutterstock

After meeting Welch on the set of Beetlejuice , O'Hara was smitten. The pair started dating after filming wrapped. O'Hara admitted to The New Yorker in 2019 that she moved to L.A. after Beetlejuice to be with Welch.

“I was in Beetlejuice , and the production designer, Bo Welch, was very attractive, and he finally asked me out,” she said. “We went on location at the end of the movie, and we started dating. I moved to L.A. to be with him. Yeah, I moved for love.”

O'Hara and Welch tied the knot on April 25, 1992.

They share two sons

Matt Baron/Shutterstock

O'Hara and Welch are parents to two sons together, Matthew and Luke. Two years after they were married, they welcomed Matthew in 1994. Luke was born roughly three years later in 1997. While Matthew and Luke were raised in Canada, they have followed in the footsteps of their parents and have taken on jobs in Hollywood.

During their adolescence, Matthew and Luke were very creative kids.

“Matthew and Luke ... They're very funny, and we encourage it,” O'Hara told the Toronto Star in 2007. “The older one does Warners cartoon bits, really old-fashioned, cheap-ass funny vaudeville stuff. And the little one does word play.”

Matthew and Luke made their way into the entertainment industry, and have worked in set dressing and construction . They additionally worked with O'Hara during her time on Schitt’s Creek .

O'Hara told PEOPLE that she once had her own brief Home Alone moment with her two sons in New York on the subway.

“We were in New York once; I think it was New York. Bo and I got on the subway, we turned around, the doors are closing, and they weren’t on,” she said. “I screamed and people screamed with me. Everybody joined in.”

Luckily, Matthew and Luke made it on the train and weren’t separated from their parents. “It makes me sick to think what could have happened,” O'Hara added.

O'Hara and Welch had a viral moment during the 2021 Golden Globes

Michael Buckner/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024/Getty

At the 2021 Golden Globes Awards, O'Hara received the award for best actress in a TV series, musical or comedy for her work in Schitt’s Creek . Because the awards ceremony was held during the height of the pandemic, she gave her acceptance speech virtually with her husband by her side.

As she spoke, Welch played audio of an audience applauding. When she neared the end of her speech, he played music to signal O'Hara to wrap up. “Seriously?” she jokingly said to Welch at the time.

They had an interesting visit to the Vatican as newlyweds

Kayla Oaddams/FilmMagic

After O'Hara and Welch got married, Burton gave them tickets for a private tour of the Vatican .

“It was a very inside kind of deal," O'Hara said on The Kelly Clarkson Show .

During the trip, the priest who was showing them around was scolded.

“Ok, so a priest took us around — he got yelled at at one point,” O'Hara recalled. “I wish I spoke Italian, but he was definitely getting yelled at by another priest because we were in the pope’s closet, like, looking at garments and stuff. It was crazy.”

Everything turned out to be fine for O'Hara and Welch, and they ended their tour in a mini museum where gifts given to the Vatican are held. “And this priest is just letting us open cases, and pretending to put a crown inside Bo’s backpack, taking pictures,” she added.

More From Forbes

Milan art tour: top attractions, accommodation and dining tips.

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Milan Cathedral, Duomo di Milano, one of the largest churches in the world

While Milan is well known as a global fashion and design hub, it’s also one of the most exciting art cities in the world and art could easily keep any visitor fully occupied for days. Here are some of the best art museums to visit, highlights in each, along with suggestions of where to stay and eat.

Lucio Fontana masterpiece at Gallerie d'Italia Museum in Milan, Italy.

For starters, if you stay at the sumptious Hotel Principe di Savoia , you can enjoy one of the best art tours in the city. Fontana – Slashing Space walking tour has been exclusively created for guests of the hotel, part of the Dorchester Collection which offers special art tours in its other hotels too. At Le Meurice in Paris, guests can choose from art tours on Picasso, Rodin or Monet while 45 Park Lane features British sculptor Barbara Hepworth. The focus of the art tour in Milan is Lucio Fontana, one of Italy’s most revolutionary modern artists, known best for his slashed canvases. Art historian Olimpia Isidori has created a fascinating tour tracing Fontana’s story from his move to Milan as a child from Argentina, his studies at Brera Academy and his ultimate rejection of his prestigious Art Academy education to forge his own path. The tour includes a stop at a cafe frequented by Fontana, the art supply shop where he got his materials and a walk through the Brera Academy, where he studied in the late 1920s under the symbolist sculptor Adolfo Wildt. Fontana was the first known artist to slash his canvases – which he said symbolised an utter rejection of all art theory.

Prada Foundation, Milan

Continuing with modern art, Fondazione Prada is one of the most beautiful museums in Milan (designed by Rem Koolhaus). The current exhibition features Pino Pascali (on until 23 September 2024), an artist who is not so well known outside of Italy. It is a stupendous retrospective by an artist who had a very short career (he died tragically in 1968 in a motorcycle accident at the age of 32). Considered to be part of the Italian Arte Povera (Italian: literally “poor art”) movement that took place between the end of the 1960s and the beginning of the 1970s, Pascali was hugely influential, and this retrospective demonstrates why. Curated by Mark Godfrey, the show includes 49 works drawn from Italian and international museums, and private collections. Taking place over three buildings in the museum, this is a must see.

Nari Ward installation at Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan

Pirelli HangarBicocca , which used to be a Pirelli tire factory, was converted into 10,900 square metres of exhibition galleries in 2012. Currently on show is Nari Ward, the Jamaican born American artist, who has recreated his installation Super Stud which he first made in 1994. Running until 28 July 2024, it is an enormous installation (in an enormous hangar), and features vast, colorful stringed nets suspended overhead, walls of discarded wooden pallets, bits and pieces of buildings, broken pianos, and curtains made of bottles and Budweiser cans. It is a cacophonous work using raw, found and ready-made material, that reminds us of the Arte Povera ideas you can see in Pino Pascali’s work.

'The seven heavenly palaces' by Anselm Kiefer is displayed at the Hangar Bicocca Contemporary Art ... [+] Museum in Milan, Italy.

One of the big draws at HangarBicocca is a permanent installation by the German artist Anselm Kiefer: a gasp out loud kind of work. It was created as a temporary work for the opening of the museum in 2004 but was so beloved by the Milanese that they decided to make it permanent. It consists of seven towers - each weighing 90 tons and rising to heights of between 13 and 19 meters, created from reinforced concrete using shipping containers. The towers symbolise the mystical experience of the ascent through the seven levels of spirituality in the ancient Hebrew Book of Palaces/ Sanctuaries , which dates back to the 4th-5th centuries A.D. Art can sometimes be overwhelming and sometimes, it is supposed to overwhelm. Art can also make one feel small, and again, it is sometimes meant to. Kiefer’s work at HangarBicocca does both those things, with a truly monumental work that is of Biblical proportions.

Apple iPhone 16 New Design And Performance Upgrades Revealed In Leak

Apple confirms widespread iphone changes coming to millions of ipads, sony is making a truly terrible mistake with helldivers 2, classical art.

Milan, Pinacoteca Di Brera, The Marriage of the Virgin, 1504, by Raphael Sanzio (1483-1520), oil on ... [+] panel.

The Brera museum is the largest classical art museum in Milan, whose highlights include The Lamentation of Christ (1480) by Andrea Mantegna, with its famously extreme foreshortening, and a sublime Raphael, Marriage of the Virgin (1504), which places the architectural perspective (a new Renaissance trick) to the forefront leaving poor Mary and Joseph as just bit-players. There is also Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus (1605-6), a masterful demonstration of chiaroscuro and flailing hands, a later copy (by Caravaggio) of the one in London’s National Gallery.

Caravaggio 'Basket of Fruit' at Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, Milan

And speaking of Caravaggio, the bad boy of the art world can be found in the Pinacoteca Ambrosiana, a less visited museum than the Brera but with just as many iconic works, we find his Basket of Fruit (1599), considered one of the first examples of still life in European painting. The hyper-realistic basket seems to teeter on the edge of the picture-space, in danger of falling out of the painting and into the viewer's space instead.

The other great masterpiece here is the largest Renaissance cartoon that has survived to this day and was made by Raphael as a preparatory work for his work The School of Athens (1509-11) in the Vatican.

Finally, the Biblioteca Ambrosiana (your ticket gets you into both) houses the most extensive collection of Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, the Codex Atlanticus . A rare chance to see his notebooks close-up on display. And don’t miss Leonardo’s rather lovely portrait of a musician (c. 1483–1487) tucked away in the basement!

The Last Supper

'The Last Supper', 1494-1498 at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

One can’t do an art visit to Milan without seeing one of the most famous paintings in the world, da Vinci’s masterpiece, The Last Supper, the scene of The Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples . On the wall of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the mural was commissioned as part of a scheme of renovations to the church and its convent buildings by da Vinci's patron Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan. Although you can try to book tickets on the museum’s website, they are sold out months in advance. A better option is to book a tour with one of the numerous guides, thus securing access. A good choice is the tour company, Get Your Guide , who offer a Milan Guided Walking Tour plus Last Supper Visit.

Where to Stay

Hotel Principe di Savoia. Milan. Italy.

The chic five star Principe di Savoia , part of the Dorchester Collection, offers a quiet location near the Porta Nuova district, with a free car service to the historic center and the ultimate luxury stay in Milan. Open since 1927, this is one of Milan’s grand historic hotels. The common areas include attractive Art Deco features that will take you back in time while the guest rooms feature an appealing blend of 19th-century décor with contemporary touches including heavy Italian drapes, lavish wallpaper and beautiful ceramic tiling in bathrooms. The spa on the top floor offers gorgeous views across the city and the lavish breakfast is one of the city’s finest.

For smaller budgets, the four star NH Milano City Life is a large business friendly hotel with spacious, airy rooms, a substantial breakfast buffet and a rooftop pool beside a metro. Or, within easy walking distance of the city center’s main attractions, Sonder Missori is a chic choice, with 40 nicely appointed modern rooms.

Where to Eat and Drink

At Principe Savoia, Acanto Restaurant offers a modern Italian menu in an elegant setting. Delicious handmade pasta dishes and highly creative desserts make for a satisfying dining experience.

If you’re looking for a hip venue for cocktails and tapas , the sprawling Moebius in a former textile workshop near Central station, has an industrial chic vibe. It houses a vinyl store as well as two restaurants Sperimentale and Tapa Bistrot, plus live entertainment.

Since 1911, and still in the same family, Jamaica , a bar and cafe near the Brera Museum, has been a favorite watering hole for creatives over the years, including Lucio Fontana, Ernest Hemingway and Allen Ginsberg.

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