Good Morning Vatican!
Early Vatican Tour

Explore the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica before the crowds get in!

Pick up, Skip-the-line & Transportation Included!
Kids pay half price!

Private Transportation

Pick up at your hotel

Skip-the-line tickets

Professional Guides

Duration

about 3.5 hours

Activity level

moderate

Vatican Museum with Early Access

– Pinecone Courtyard, Laocoon
– Round Room, Greek Cross Room
– Gallery of the Maps & others

The Raphael Rooms

– Stanza della Segnatura (School of Athens)
– Stanza di Eliodoro
– Sala di Costantino

Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica (skip the line)

– Ceiling & Last Judgement by Michelangelo
– St. Peter’s Square
– Pietà by Michelangelo

Early Vatican Tour: A Private Journey Through Art and History

Discover the magic of the Vatican before the crowds with our exclusive Good Morning Vatican: Early Vatican Tour, offering skip-the-line access to the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Vatican Museums.

Led by expert private guides, this tour is designed to provide a truly unforgettable experience.

Why Choose an Early Vatican Tour?

Nestled in the heart of Rome, the Vatican is a treasure trove of world-renowned masterpieces and sacred history.

With our Early Vatican Tour, you’ll enter before most visitorsc, allowing you to explore its wonders ina more enjoyable environment.

1. The Vatican Museums

Start your journey in the stunning Vatican Museums, home to one of the most extensive art collections in the world.

As you walk through its opulent corridors, your private guide will reveal the stories behind the masterpieces, from Roman and Greek sculptures in the Gallery of the Candelabra to the intricate maps adorning the walls of the Gallery of Maps.

Admire the shimmering tapestries and lose yourself in the artistry of the Renaissance as your guide brings history to life with detailed storytelling.

2. The Raphael Rooms

Step into the Raphael Rooms, where the genius of Renaissance art unfolds before your eyes.

Commissioned by Pope Julius II, Raphael created some of his most iconic frescoes here, including The School of Athens and The Disputation of the Sacrament.

Your guide will share the secrets, symbolism, and fascinating rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo, providing a deeper appreciation for these breathtaking works.

3. The Sistine Chapel

One of the highlights of your Early Vatican Tour is undoubtedly the Sistine Chapel.

Enter this sacred space ahead of the big crowds and marvel at Michelangelo’s unparalleled artistry on the ceiling and altar wall.

Your guide will delve into the stories behind masterpieces like The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment, revealing Michelangelo’s struggles, triumphs, and the incredible legacy he left behind.

4. St. Peter's Basilica

Conclude your tour at the awe-inspiring St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world.

Skip the long lines with your guide and step into a space adorned with marble, mosaics, and gold.

Explore highlights like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s magnificent canopy as your guide recounts the fascinating history of this architectural marvel.

The tour ends in St. Peter’s Square, where you’ll hear about its Baroque design and see the Pope’s residence.

Why Book Our Early Vatican Tour?

With personalized service, expert guides, and early access, this tour is the perfect way to explore the Vatican.

Forget about big groups and rushed itineraries—immerse yourself in the art, history, and spirituality of this iconic destination.

Note: Occasionally, the Vatican may close certain areas without prior notice. If this happens, we’ll ensure your experience is equally enriching by adjusting the itinerary.

Don’t wait—book your Early Vatican Tour today and create memories to last a lifetime!

Pricing

599 € for 1 person
99 € per additional adult
45 € per additional kid under 18

What's included

Skip-the-line tickets

Transportation

by private car to the Vatican

Pick-up and drop-off at your hotel

if in Rome city center

Book now!

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Important Info

- Due to new regulations and high demand during the Jubilee Year, access to St. Peter’s Basilica is now often fully booked months in advance. As a result, visiting the Basilica may not always be possible. This affects all tour operators and guides, and we are closely monitoring the situation. If your tour is impacted, we will inform you promptly and discuss suitable alternatives. Thank you for your understanding. Feel free to contact us with any questions.

- You MUST bring an ID, a passport or a driver's license to enter the sites.

- Your knees and shoulders must be covered to enter the Vatican

- This is the price for groups from one to six people. If you have more people in your group, please let us know and we'll create a customized price.

Italian ArtVentures' Feedbacks

We were amazed by the service we received in Rome and even in Benevento. Giovanni went above and beyond to organize tours and transportation for our family of 15 traveling. Massimo was an incredible and knowledgeable tour guide in Rome. He made it fun for the kids and knew when to take a break. Provided water and an amazing lunch spot for us all. We still are talking about some of the stories he told us. Stefano met us at the train in Benevento and was only supposed to drive us through San Bartolomeo, my father's hometown. But he pulled up my father's and grandfather's genealogy and found some interesting facts that were amazing to find out. He printed and laminated it for us to take. It was an emotional day but such a wonderful part of the trip. The minibus was perfect for everyone to fit comfortably and head over to Almafi. Thank you Giovanni and your amazing staff for making this trip one of the most memorable trips ever!!!

Giovanni was so exceptional at his job that you left the trip feeling torn between wanting to tell the World and also keeping him a best kept secret. Everything that he had orchestrated happened, seamlessly for us as if he had choreographed the entire country of Italy to show up, act, behave on queue. I put together a lot of trips, all over the world, for a group of around 20 friends each adventure. As the chief coordinator, you are always a little concerned about third party tours and tour guides: will everyone show up, is this a scam, can they speak English? Giovanni had infinite patience answering my questions and provided so much detail about our adventure, that everyone knew what to expect ahead of time. He took into consideration everyone’s interest, abilities and aptitudes. We saw a side of Italy that felt intimate and entertaining. There are not enough stars in the galaxy to award him.

What a great experience for me and my family to have these private tours planned by Giovanni. We wanted a curated set of events during our time in Rome and Florence and Gio delivered such a wonderful set of activities to suit my husband and I and our two teenagers. Each of the four days was a memorable experience. Alex was so fantastic and I would recommend him highly- we had one our best meals with him just learning from him and having great conversation. Andres in Florence was a blast and incredibly connected to the history of the area, just a wealth of information so much so that we are definitely coming back to Florence to spend more time. Caterina walked us through the Roman ruins and the Colosseum which was awe inspiring. And, one of the best things we did which I highly recommend is a pasta making class with Romina. We learned to make two dishes with her and then ate the food we had prepared. Such a great way to spend our time connecting to Roma. Thank you Gio and to all our guides! We will cherish our memories made together.

Giovanni-thank you for a wonderful itinerary of guided visits to all the sights in Rome! We so appreciated the communication and detailed planning that ensured our visits to the Vatican/St. Peter's, Colosseum, Hadrian's Villa and Florence came off without a hitch.
Your guides are so friendly and knowledgeable. They made the history accessible and enriching.
You covered every detail, down to lunch reservations, business class train tickets and wonderful air-conditioned transportation with friendly drivers!
Thank you again for all the e-mails to develop a personalized itinerary for a special trip! We give you 5 1/2 stars on a 5 star scale!

I highly recommend Italian ArtVentures. We decided to use a private tour company, rather than the cruise ship excursions, and we were not disappointed. Giovanni was excellent at planning. We booked a tour in Rome and Pompeii. Giovanni was able to customize a tour that was special to us, so we could visit the LDS temple. Maria was our guide at the Vatican. She was fun, smart, and thoughtful. She translated for us as needed and was able to answer all of our questions. One major bonus of having a tour guide is skipping the line for St. Peter's Basilica. Our driver was awesome, traveling quickly and safely. The van was new, clean, and comfortable. We asked for a restaurant recommendation, and Giovanni made us reservations for Amalfi. It was incredible. The next day, we went to Pompeii with Stefano. He was fantastic. He made sure we saw the highlights and we avoided the crowds because of his expertise in the area. Booking was simple, communication was excellent, the cost was well worth what you get. This company is very professional. Totally awesome experience!

Truly outstanding experience visiting the Vatican with Maria! She was the perfect guide - knowledgable, smart, funny, passionate about the subject matter. She had a deep knowledge of the art, architecture, history, and the religious significance of the whole area, and gave us thoughtful, interesting commentary throughout our tour. Although she seemed to have a bottomless knowledge of everything, she also knew how to present the information in a way that was considered, insightful, and crucially, not too overwhelming for us. As we walked, she called attention to many things, some big, others details that could easily be missed. She was well prepared, but also brilliant at answering questions and flexible about following our interests. Several times she pointed out a small detail, then drew a connection back to it later in the tour. She knew the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, courtyard and Basilica like the back of her hand, steering us to less crowded routes and perfect viewing vantages. One of us is Catholic, and one of us loves art, and Maria brilliantly held both our interests throughout the tour. Highly Recommend!

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