First Entry Vatican Gold Tour with Sistine Chapel

The First Entry start time of this special tour guarantees the shortest security wait time of all Vatican tours. Joining the Vatican Gold tour gets you early access to the museums at 7:30 am, an hour and a half before the doors open to the public. This is the most exclusive early morning Vatican tour available. This 2-hour tour includes:

• A More Memorable Experience

• Skip the line Vatican tickets

• A visit to the museum's three main galleries

• Exclusive Sistine Chapel tour

• Access to St. Peter's Basilica & Papal Tombs

• A hand-picked, professional and Fun English-speaking Guide

* As of June 23rd, 2021, the Vatican has closed the "licensed guide entrance" to St Peter’s Basilica for all tour companies and tour guides. Don't worry, we still visit the amazing Basilica! However, until this message is removed, we cannot enter St. Peter's Basilica without lines for security. Hopefully, this changes very soon!

Highlights of the Vatican Museums

Enter at 7:30 am and cruise past the Vatican ticket office, as the VIP you are. Follow your guide through the Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of the Tapestries and Gallery of Maps. Admire the ancient Roman and Greek statues, the Flemish tapestries created by Raphael's students and the gorgeous topographical depictions of Italy. You'll hear all about the best of these treasures from your expert guide as the Vatican secrets are slowly unveiled to you.

Sistine Chapel at its Least Crowded Time

Tour the Sistine Chapel at its finest with only a few other tours groups inside. Since we are one of the very few companies to be granted this rare and exclusive early morning entrance, you get to visit the Sistine Chapel in total peace and serenity. If you've ever seen the Sistine Chapel during normal hours, then you know what an incredible opportunity this is.

Please note: The Sistine Chapel is a place of worship, therefore, speaking inside is not allowed. Men and women must cover their knees and shoulders before entering. We understand the summers in Rome get hot, a good alternative is to bring a scarf or shawl to cover up with before you enter.

St. Peter's Basilica and Bernini's Baldacchino

Did you know St. Peter's Basilica took 120 years to build? Now's your chance to skip the line and enter through a special door to continue your ultimate VIP Vatican tour. Contrary to other Vatican tours, this exclusive tour allows you to see how the chapel sounds and looks when mass is taking place.

This is because the Vatican Gold Tour enters at a time when mass often takes place. In order to respect those taking part in mass, it's not possible for guides to speak inside the Basilica at this time of the morning. Because of this, your guide will explain St. Peter's Basilica and the Papal Tombs before the group enters the church.

If your Vatican tour lands on a Wednesday, St. Peter's is not open for tours due to the weekly Papal Audience. On this occasion, your guide will take you to visit even more masterpieces and hidden gems inside the Vatican Museums.

Important: Remember, it isn’t possible to return to the Vatican Museums from St. Peter’s Basilica. If you want more time inside the museums, you must forgo the visit to St Peter's Basilica. Also, if you’d like to stay in St. Peter's Basilica longer, don't leave with the guide to take photos in the piazza. Because the security line is long and re-entry on your own is not recommended, we suggest you spend at least 30 minutes inside St. Peter’s and explore on your own after the tour concludes on the terrace outside.