Vatican at Closing Time with Sistine Chapel

Book a unique experience that visits the Vatican in the early evening

4.92 (630) ·

Travel Flexibly

· 2.00h · Vatican, Italy

Vatican at Closing Time with Sistine Chapel

A group of tourists inside the Hall of Tapestries with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists looking at the Belvedere Torso inside the Vatican Museums with their guide from The Tour Guy.

Tourists looking at Lacoon and His Sons inside the Vatican Museums.

An image of the Room of the Chariot inside the Vatican Museums.

An image of the inside of the Vatican Museums.

Tourists taking a selfie inside of the Hall of Tapestries.

A tourist inside the Vatican Museums with their guide from The Tour Guy.

A group of tourists looking at the School of Athens while on tour with The Tour Guy.

An image of The Creation of Adam inside the Sistine Chapel.

An image of the Round Hall inside the Vatican Museums.

Exploring the Vatican Museums in the evening alone means missing expert insights, hidden details, and the most immersive way to experience its masterpieces. Skip the lines and let an engaging, passionate guide bring the art to life as you admire Raphael’s School of Athens, the ancient sculpture of Laocoön and His Sons, and Michelangelo’s breathtaking Sistine Chapel frescoes. With a captivating storyteller leading the way, see the Vatican’s treasures in their most magical setting

What You Get With This Tour

Skip-the-line Vatican Tickets
Expert English-speaking guide
Pio-Clementino Museum
Gallery of the Maps
Sistine Chapel
Max 20 people
Tour guide gratuities
Meal
Hotel pick-up
Wheelchair accessible

Tour Itinerary

1

Meet your guide outside Caffé Vaticano
Your early evening tour begins with a warm welcome from your guide outside Caffé Vaticano, conveniently located near the Vatican.
2

Vatican Museums
With skip-the-line tickets in hand, bypass the queue and head straight inside the Vatican Museums to uncover its magnificent art collection.
3

Pinecone Courtyard
Pause in the Pinecone Courtyard to take in timeless statues and beautifully manicured gardens looking spectacular in the early evening glow.
4

Pio-Clementino Museum
Explore halls filled with some of the world’s most important classical sculptures, including Laocoön and His Sons and Apollo Belvedere.
5

Gallery of Candelabra
Follow your guide’s lead through a corridor lined with intricately carved marble candelabra and statues, each a clue to Roman history.
6

Hall of Maps
An astonishing 120 meters long (400 ft), this iconic gallery reveals Italy’s intricate terrain through the cartography of the 16th century.
7

Gallery of Tapestries
Ponder Raphael's intricate tapestries capturing biblical tales such as The Miraculous Draught of Fishes and The Healing of the Lame Man.
8

Raphael Rooms
Home to Raphael’s The Cardinal Virtues and The Parnassus frescoes, this suite of rooms reveals the height of Renaissance art and wisdom.
9

School of Athens
Spot philosophers like Plato and Aristotle and great minds like Socrates and Pythagoras in this enchanting piece by Raphael.
10

Sistine Chapel
As the home of Michelangelo’s famous vaulted ceiling masterpiece, ponder biblical stories in art form from Creation to The Last Judgment.
11

The Last Judgement
Deserving of its own stop within the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s powerful fresco is a fascinating depiction of the final divine judgment.
12

End inside the Vatican Museums
Your tour ends inside the Vatican, where you’re free to continue exploring the quieter halls and galleries at your leisure.

Additional Information

Good to know:

Dress Code: As the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel are deeply religious sites, everyone must cover their knees, shoulders, and toes. Guests who do not meet the dress code may be refused entry by security officials. No hats please.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, this tour is not wheelchair accessible. A foldable umbrella stroller can be utilized in the Vatican Museums, but a soft baby carrier is recommended.
Bag Policy: Camera tripods and large backpacks are not allowed in the museums, so please leave them at your hotel.
Please note: Entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is not included in this tour. The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, so visitors are not allowed to speak inside the chapel. Your guide will explain what you'll see in advance and provide you with a map or handout for reference before you enter.
Check-in: Arrive 15 minutes early for check-in at the meeting point so the group can enter sites on time.

Your 2-hour tour includes:

Expert English-speaking guide
Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Galleries
Raphael Rooms and School of Athens
Free time to explore on your own
Maximum group size of 20

What to bring:

Comfortable walking shoes
Government-issued ID
Water bottle
Clothing that covers knees and shoulders
Camera

Customer Reviews

4.92 (630)

Leave a review

Ginger Jakins, 05 November 2025

Best host ever!

Megan Gallagher, 04 November 2025

Our tour guide was amazing!! She was so funny and kind and knew so much. We experienced so many details thanks to her vast knowledge and would do this tour with her 100 more times!

Claudia De Lorenzo, 01 November 2025

Eleonora was a GREAT tour guide!

Tamara Schuller, 28 October 2025

the Closing Time tour was wonderful & our guide Eleonora was so fun, outgoing and knowledgeable! She really made the 2 hours worthwhile.

Perfect!

Amanda Gallegos, 25 October 2025

Our tour with Elenora was so informative and she was thorough. We definitely recommend!

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to bring?

Comfortable shoes are always recommended for walking tours.

Is there a way to see the Vatican without a guided tour?

Yes, it's possible, though you may find the experience lacking and only daytime access is available. But you can click here for skip the line Vatican tickets.

What if I have concerns about my mobility on this tour?

If you have any doubts about your mobility, we suggest taking a private Vatican tour so we can better accommodate your needs.

Does the Vatican ever experience unexpected 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 from outside. They will even show you another gallery to compensate for the lost time in the usual location.

Does this tour include the Sistine Chapel?

Yes! The Sistine Chapel is attached to the Vatican Museums and your tickets include a visit to Michelangelo's masterpiece.

Does this tour include St. Peter's Basilica?

This tour does not include a visit to St. Peter's Basilica because it is closed at night.

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

e ask both men and women to cover knees and shoulders, otherwise the Vatican might refuse entry to religious sites and you’ll 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.