Skip-the-Line: Night Vatican Museums Tour with the Sistine Chapel
Overview
Each spring, when the weather starts to warm up, the Vatican Museums opens its doors Fridays and Saturdays after official opening hours. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to experience the Museums in the unique ambience of the evening and join this small-group tour of 20 people or less.
Access is limited to pre-booked guests only, and using our pre-reserved entrance we'll gain access to the Vatican Museums just when twilight casts a golden glow over the Museums which have been especially lit for this occasion.
Experience the Sistine Chapel in the less-crowded evening and discover the Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums including the Gallery of the Tapestries and Candelabra, the Hall of the Maps, the Octagonal Court, and Raphael’s Rooms.
PRIVATE TOUR UPGRADE: Exclusive private tour upgrades are available.
TICKETS ONLY SERVICE: Prefer to explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on your own? Choose the tickets only option and forgo the guide.
Access is limited to pre-booked guests only, and using our pre-reserved entrance we'll gain access to the Vatican Museums just when twilight casts a golden glow over the Museums which have been especially lit for this occasion.
Experience the Sistine Chapel in the less-crowded evening and discover the Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums including the Gallery of the Tapestries and Candelabra, the Hall of the Maps, the Octagonal Court, and Raphael’s Rooms.
PRIVATE TOUR UPGRADE: Exclusive private tour upgrades are available.
TICKETS ONLY SERVICE: Prefer to explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on your own? Choose the tickets only option and forgo the guide.
Inclusions
- Professional Vatican guide (if option selected)
- All Fees and Taxes
- Entry/Admission - Stanze di Raffaello
- Entry/Admission - Sphere within a Sphere
- Entry/Admission - Cortile della Pigna
- Entry/Admission - Museo Pio Clementino
- Entry/Admission - Sistine Chapel
- Entry/Admission - Gallery Of The Maps
- Entry/Admission - Vatican Museums
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Vatican City, Vatican City, Lazio
Visit Vatican Museums
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Vatican Museums, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Meet your guide at a meeting point near the Vatican Museums entrance and then set off on an extraordinary exploration of the world famous art and sculpture within its walls... all during the magical atmosphere of the evening. The museum interiors will be specially illuminated for the occasions.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Sphere within a Sphere, Pine Cone Courtyard Vatican Museums, 00120 Vatican City Italy
This famous work of art of the Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro has many iterations on display throughout the world. Here it is the crown jewel of the Pinecone Courtyard. Give it a spin!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Cortile della Pigna, Vatican City Italy
The Vatican has several open air courtyards connecting its many rooms, and the Pinecone Courtyard is one of the first you will see. In the evening hours the courtyard becomes a public square at the heart of the Museums, a place to have an aperitif or listen to an open air concert.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Gallery Of The Maps, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy
A favorite hall within the Museums, the Gallery of the Maps is a geography-lovers paradise. See the world through the eyes of the artists who hand-painted these in the late 1500's. If you have Italian heritage, try to spot your ancestral town -- or just admire the exquisite attention to detail.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Stanze di Raffaello, Viale Vaticano, Vatican City Italy
One of the few other artists that could hold a candle to Michelangelo's work was Raphael. Raphael painted these rooms at the same time as Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, and it's easy to imagine the respect and rivalry that pushed them both to do their best work.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Sistine Chapel, Viale Vaticano, 00165 Vatican City Italy
The Sistine Chapel can be crowded during the daytime opening ours, and hot during the warmer season. Take in Michelangelo's masterpiece in the cooler and less crowded hours of the evening. No talking is allowed in the Sistine Chapel but your guide will prepare you ahead of time to fully comprehend the importance, scale and beauty of this wonder of the world.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Museo Pio Clementino, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy
The Vatican Museums are called such because they are comprised of a group of Museums -- and among the the Pio Clementino Museums contains the greatest concentration of highlights. It's no surprise your guide will spend a good among of time here, showing off spots like the Octagonal Courtyard with it's Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere sculpture, or the Room of the Muses with the famous, twisting Belvedere Torso. Admire the startlingly life-life sculptures in the Room of the Animals and be wowed by the 3D effect of the masterfully painted ceilings of the Candelabra Gallery. It's all here, and your guide will take you through.
Duration: 1 hour
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Vatican City, Vatican City, Lazio
Visit Vatican Museums
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Vatican Museums, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy
Meet your guide at a meeting point near the Vatican Museums entrance and then set off on an extraordinary exploration of the world famous art and sculpture within its walls... all during the magical atmosphere of the evening. The museum interiors will be specially illuminated for the occasions.
Duration: 3 hours
Stop At: Sphere within a Sphere, Pine Cone Courtyard Vatican Museums, 00120 Vatican City Italy
This famous work of art of the Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro has many iterations on display throughout the world. Here it is the crown jewel of the Pinecone Courtyard. Give it a spin!
Duration: 5 minutes
Stop At: Cortile della Pigna, Vatican City Italy
The Vatican has several open air courtyards connecting its many rooms, and the Pinecone Courtyard is one of the first you will see. In the evening hours the courtyard becomes a public square at the heart of the Museums, a place to have an aperitif or listen to an open air concert.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Gallery Of The Maps, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy
A favorite hall within the Museums, the Gallery of the Maps is a geography-lovers paradise. See the world through the eyes of the artists who hand-painted these in the late 1500's. If you have Italian heritage, try to spot your ancestral town -- or just admire the exquisite attention to detail.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Stanze di Raffaello, Viale Vaticano, Vatican City Italy
One of the few other artists that could hold a candle to Michelangelo's work was Raphael. Raphael painted these rooms at the same time as Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel, and it's easy to imagine the respect and rivalry that pushed them both to do their best work.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Sistine Chapel, Viale Vaticano, 00165 Vatican City Italy
The Sistine Chapel can be crowded during the daytime opening ours, and hot during the warmer season. Take in Michelangelo's masterpiece in the cooler and less crowded hours of the evening. No talking is allowed in the Sistine Chapel but your guide will prepare you ahead of time to fully comprehend the importance, scale and beauty of this wonder of the world.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Museo Pio Clementino, Viale Vaticano, 00120 Vatican City Italy
The Vatican Museums are called such because they are comprised of a group of Museums -- and among the the Pio Clementino Museums contains the greatest concentration of highlights. It's no surprise your guide will spend a good among of time here, showing off spots like the Octagonal Courtyard with it's Laocoonte and Apollo Belvedere sculpture, or the Room of the Muses with the famous, twisting Belvedere Torso. Admire the startlingly life-life sculptures in the Room of the Animals and be wowed by the 3D effect of the masterfully painted ceilings of the Candelabra Gallery. It's all here, and your guide will take you through.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Children 5 and under are entitled to free access to the Vatican Museums (with proof of age)
- Children aged 6-18 are entitled to a reduced entry fee (see tour and ticket pricing) and must provide proof of age.
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. You may risk refused entry if you fail to comply with these dress requirements.
- Maximum group size is 20 people. (Group tour option only)
- At least 4 people are required for the group tour option to take place.
- Check-in is 15 minutes prior to the booked start time. Tickets are time sensitive and we cannot accomodate late arrivals.
- Entrance into St. Peter's Basilica is separate from the Vatican Museums and the Basilica is closed in the evenings.
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Meander19901818988
May 2023
Oscar was great! He was very knowledgeable. His explanation was very informative. He was awesome!!!!
Oscar was great! He was very knowledgeable. His explanation was very informative. He was awesome!!!!JillB2638
October 2023
Easy access with Marcelo as our tour guide. Recieved much information (in ears were not loud enough nor comfortable but they were from the museum itself), would never have known all this by myself. Tour group was small, just perfect! Marcelo was kind and his English was very good!
Easy access with Marcelo as our tour guide. Recieved much information (in ears were not loud enough nor comfortable but they were from the museum itself), would never have known all this by myself. Tour group was small, just perfect! Marcelo was kind and his English was very good!James W
July 2023
Amazing tour led by our knowledgeable and entertaining guide Adriano. The meeting instructions were very easy to follow and we got handy reminders by email a few days before
Amazing tour led by our knowledgeable and entertaining guide Adriano. The meeting instructions were very easy to follow and we got handy reminders by email a few days beforejohn_r
April 2023
Touring the Colloseum tour guide was great very knowledgeable great speaker well organized complete control
Touring the Colloseum tour guide was great very knowledgeable great speaker well organized complete controlPammie122
October 2019
Get there when the food is out. Actually not a bad spread. There were groups coming in so we sat and relaxed in the courtyard. Not very crowded or hot so it was great. Although I should've done some research so I knew what I wanted to look for cause there is so much art to see. We came early a...
Get there when the food is out. Actually not a bad spread. There were groups coming in so we sat and relaxed in the courtyard. Not very crowded or hot so it was great. Although I should've done some research so I knew what I wanted to look for cause there is so much art to see. We came early and went to see St Peter's Bascillica it is free. Lots of walking so were comfy shoes.David_B
July 2019
We booked a 2 1/2 hour tour. We got a rushed 1.25 hour race to the Sistene Chapel with no time to look at very much along the way. 20 minutes looking at posters describing what we would see and 40 minutes watching part of a concert. Most important we booked the tour that included a drink and an ...
We booked a 2 1/2 hour tour. We got a rushed 1.25 hour race to the Sistene Chapel with no time to look at very much along the way. 20 minutes looking at posters describing what we would see and 40 minutes watching part of a concert. Most important we booked the tour that included a drink and an aperitif but were told it was another 18 Euro if we wanted food, we were starving for the tour and didn’t get dinner until midnight after planning to have a snack at 8:30 pm. Our guide had no idea what we were talking about.