Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums

This tour gives visitors an exclusive viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums. Michelangelo's masterpiece will leave you captivated as you enjoy it minus the huge crowds. A once in a lifetime opportunity so secure a place on this magical tour in Rome. This is a private two-hour small group tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, for selected nights only.

Seeing the Vatican's galleries when they are closed to the general public is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Tickets are limited and each group will consist of 20 people maximum with your own guide - and are only available through Viator.

The Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums are notorious for the crowds of people passing through during the day. With this exclusive two-hour tour you will have a unique chance to escape the crowds and, once the Vatican Museums close to the public, explore the artistic and architectural treasures.

All entrance fees are included in the tour price. Book your spot on this exclusive tour (instant confirmation!) and see the official residence of the Pope, in Vatican City. The evening is hosted by an English-speaking guide/art historian specializing in the Italian Renaissance. Please list any special interests you have (art, architecture, history, culture) at time of booking to alert our guide, so that he or she can better prepare for your private tour.

Why is this tour so unique? The fact that we are renting the entire Sistine Chapel (which costs upwards of $3,000 per tour!) means that we have exclusive access to the Sistine Chapel during our tour. Our group will be the only people in the Sistine Chapel during our visit, except for Vatican security staff.

Not traveling to Rome on one of these days? That's OK, we plan to offer additional dates for this exclusive private tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Please keep checking back as new dates are added.

Special Offer - Book now and save 13% off the recommended retail price - BOOK NOW!

Schedule details

Departure Dates:

Select a month to view a calendar of availability and departure details.

Departure Point:

Vatican Museums.

Departure Time:

• Thursday 1 April at 6pm
• Saturday 8 May at 7.15pm
• Monday 14 June at 6pm                                             
• Monday 21 June at 6pm
• Friday 16 July at 6pm            
• Monday 6 September at 6pm
• Monday 20 September at 6pm
• Saturday 16 October at 6pm
• Friday 22 October at 7.15pm
• Wednesday 27 October at 6pm
Entrance is STRICTLY LIMITED and you must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to departure time. The Vatican Museum doors are opened specifically for our group so arriving late means you will miss the visit.

Return Details:

Returns to original departure point

Pricing information

Click the link below to check pricing & availability on your preferred travel date. Our pricing is constantly updated to ensure you always receive the lowest price possible.

Tour options:

Additional information

Inclusions:

• Exclusive private viewing of Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
• English-speaking guide specializing in the Italian Renaissance
• Entrance tickets
• Small group tour (maximum 20 people)

Exclusions:

• Gratuities (optional)
• Hotel pickup and drop off
• Food and drinks, unless specified

Additional Information:

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Wheelchair accessible, please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required

Itinerary:

Viator has organized an exclusive private visit of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, for selected evenings in 2010. This is your opportunity to visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums when they are closed to the general public.

The tour starts in the Museo Pio Clementino, home to the Pope's collection of magnificent Greek and Roman statues including the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoon. The Laocoon was actually discovered in the deep earth in the forum - and Michelangelo, then frescoing in the Vatican, was asked to come and check if and how it should be lifted from the earth.

Next you will visit the Papal Apartments, which Raphael created for Pope Julius II. Raphael's work is sublime - you will see in the lunettes against the walls the Dispute over the Sacrament, The School of Athens and the Parnassus, each scene set in the grandest and most beautiful Renaissance perspective.

Next you will visit the Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel) -- imagine standing beneath Michelangelo's masterpiece without the herds of crowds, it is magical. As your tour guide leads you inside let the vivid colors and bold figures of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling take your breath away. The impact is so much greater when viewed in silence and minus the crowds that normally fill the chapel. Take as long as you need to absorb these frescoes, considered one of the most renowned artworks of the High Renaissance.

For security reasons guests are accompanied by Vatican security throughout the tour, and the Vatican reserves the right to make last-minute changes to the tour schedule. The standard itinerary is listed above, however we cannot guarantee visits to any room other than Cappella Sistina (Sistine Chapel). The rooms may be closed at the last minute due to restoration or at the general discretion of the Vatican Museums.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.