This Private Vatican Tour allows you to fully appreciate one of the world’s most extraordinary art collections at your own pace, accompanied by one of our knowledgeable and passionate expert Vatican licensed guides.
Over three immersive hours, you will visit the main sections of the Vatican Museums, which span nearly 7 km (approximately 4.5 miles) of galleries in total, with the advantage of having more time to explore in depth, pause where it matters most to you, and discover details often missed during faster-paced visits. Your guide will adapt the rhythm entirely to your interests and remain at your complete disposal throughout the experience, ensuring clarity, insight, and answers to all your questions.
Tour Overview
This Private Vatican Tour is designed to let you immerse yourself in the masterpieces of the Vatican at a pace that allows you to truly absorb their beauty and history. Our journey begins in the Pio Clementino Museums, where you’ll encounter the iconic Torso del Belvedere and the first section of the Papal collection of antique statues in the Cortile Ottagono. From there, you’ll move through the exquisite galleries, starting with the Gallery of Candelabra, continuing to the Gallery of Tapestries, and culminating in the breathtaking Gallery of Maps. Next, the tour takes you to the legendary Raphael Rooms, where every fresco tells a story of Renaissance genius (and more), before you enter the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel. Your experience concludes at St. Peter’s Basilica, with your guide escorting you through a private passage that allows you to skip the line, making the final stop of this tour as seamless as it is unforgettable.
Please note: On Wednesday morning tours, St. Peter's Basilica is not included due to the Pope's public audience.
Due to occasional religious events, St. Peter's Basilica may remain closed without prior notice
Entrance tickets are time-sensitive; punctuality is essential.
If customer names are not provided at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled tour access to St. Peter’s Basilica cannot be guaranteed. This policy also applies to any bookings made within 72 hours of the tour date.
Tour itinerary
Meeting Point
Ristorante "Da Paolo" Viale Vaticano, 104
Pio Clementino Museum
This section of the Vatican Museums was founded by Pope Clement XIV and later amplified by his successor Pius VI. The collection includes acquisitions of countless statues from other collectors, rich Italian families and antiques stores, and it was aimed to preserve and to display the Greek-Roman works.
Upper Galleries
The Galleries that are part of this itinerary are the Gallery of Candelabra, the Gallery of Maps and the Gallery of Tapestries. The statues and the marble floors, with precious decorations and mosaics and frescoes on the ceilings, are what makes the Gallery of Candelabra one of the most beautiful sections of the Vatican Museums. The Gallery of Tapestries, that will follow, will bring you closer to the expression of the genius work of Raphael. The Tapestries, which were made originally for the Sistine Chapel, were designed by Raphael and embroidered by tapestry masters in Belgium. The Gallery of Maps is 120 meters long and hosts the maps of all the Italian regions and was created between 1581 and 1583. Every region’s map is connected to the fresco, painted on the “golden” ceiling, that represents miraculous events that occurred in the region.
School of Athens
The School of Athens within the Raphael Rooms is one among many well known artworks created by Raphael. While the older Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel, a young artist Raphael had been called by the pope Julius II to paint the apartments inside the Vatican Palace. The room, meant to be the private library of the Pope, was brought by Raphael to a new level of artistic expression and topic composition. He reproduced a combination of Philosophy, theology, literature and jurisprudence.
Michelangelo’s Last Judgement and Sistine Chapel ceiling
The astonishing ceiling painted by Michelangelo when he was barely 30 years old. Known as a sculptor, Michelangelo succeeded in this challenging task: his paintings left everyone astonished. The combination of artistic talent (sculptor and painter) and knowledge of the history and catholic history, brought to light the completeness of this artist. The technique used to paint the figures on the ceiling was a pioneering method that later affected his sight and overall health.
St Peter's Basilica
St. Peter’s Basilica stands as one of the largest and most significant churches globally. Once you step inside, you’re greeted by breathtaking Renaissance artwork, featuring masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s magnificent Baldachin.