Exclusive Sistine Chapel After Hours Small Group Tour
Step inside the Vatican Museums after they close to the public for a once-in-a-lifetime experience
When the Vatican Museums close to the public, you step inside, with no crowds enjoying Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel in perfect silence. On this rare after-hours tour, wander the Vatican’s galleries as they were meant to be seen, free from the chaos of the day. With a small group and expert guide, explore the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and the treasures of the Vatican as few ever will.
What You Get With This Tour
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Expert, English-speaking guide
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After-hours entry to Vatican Museums
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After-hours access to Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and Gallery of Maps
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Access to Pio-Clementino Museum (6:30pm option only)
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Guide tips
Tour Itinerary
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1
Your tour begins at the Vatican Museums entrance
Meet your guide across the street from the Vatican Museums entrance as the evening begins. Depending on your selected start time (6:15 pm or 7:15 pm), you'll enter this world-famous collection either just after the last public entrance or after the Vatican has fully closed to the public. -
2
Terrace overlooking St. Peter's Basilica
Step onto the terrace and take in breathtaking views of St. Peter's Basilica. You'll have the perfect opportunity to capture stunning photos in the golden evening light—the kind that become treasured memories for years to come. -
3
Pio-Clementino Museum (6:15 pm start time only)
If you've chosen the 6:15 pm option, you'll ascend to galleries that during the day are packed shoulder to shoulder, but now belong entirely to your small group. You'll admire ancient masterpieces like the Laocoön, the Belvedere Torso, and Nero's massive bath. -
4
Candelabra Gallery, Gallery of Tapestries, and Gallery of Maps
Walk through empty halls filled with ancient Roman and Greek statues, intricate Flemish tapestries crafted by Raphael's students, and vast hand-painted maps commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII. Your guide will share the stories behind these masterpieces as you move through the silent corridors at your own pace. -
5
Raphael Rooms
Marvel at stunning Renaissance frescoes, including Raphael's celebrated The School of Athens. In the stillness of the evening, you'll have space to truly appreciate the artistic genius and historical significance of these magnificent works without the usual daytime rush. -
6
After-hours Sistine Chapel viewing
Watch as the doors open for your group, revealing the sacred space. Standing beneath Michelangelo's Creation of Adam and The Last Judgment, you'll experience these masterpieces in peaceful silence while your guide shares their profound stories. -
7
Your tour finishes at the Sistine Chapel
After your exclusive Vatican experience, your guided tour concludes in the Sistine Chapel. You'll leave with unforgettable memories of the Vatican's greatest treasures experienced in a way most visitors never get to see.
Additional Information
Good to know:
Accessibility: The Vatican Museums & Sistine are wheelchair accessible on this tour. Please notify us in advance, so we can make proper accommodations.
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.
Bag Policy: Camera tripods and large backpacks are not allowed in the museums, so please leave them at your hotel.
Please Note: Photos are allowed inside the Vatican Museums, but photography is not permitted inside the Sistine Chapel. St. Peter's Basilica is not included in this tour itinerary.
Tour Changes: The 6:15pm tour slot enters the museums just after the last public entrance, by 7pm, you'll enjoy 90 minutes of near-total solitude. The 7:15pm tour slot is a completely private experience — two full hours with the Vatican to yourself.
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
After-hours entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Terrace overlooking St.Peter's Basilica
The Pinecone Courtyard
Visit to the Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, and upper galleries
Pio-clementino Museum (6:15pm option only)
Exclusive opening of the Sistine Chapel door
Time to soak in Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel masterpieces
Maximum group size of 20
What to bring:
Shawl or scarf for covering shoulders/knees
Comfortable shoes
Government-issued ID
Camera
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Customer Reviews
This was by the far the most impressive and informative tour we have taken. The atmosphere of a small group alone in the Vatican was truly awe inspiring. Our guide Marcia was the best.
Catherine was an outstanding tour guide! And to be in this location with a very small group viewing famous paintings and the Sistine Chapel - well worth it! The background and detailed information presented by our guide made for a wonderful evening! Thank you!
Lovely guide but I thought we would have 30 minutes inside the chapel in silence. We had neither. We should outside listening while trying to see pictures in the dark for far too long then she repeated some of those things inside the chapel. Of course it was wonderful to be without the crowds but overall we were disappointed.
Words cannot explain how beautiful and peaceful this tour was.. Our guide was amazing and extremely knowledgeable. Initially, we entered into our own private gate, visited one of the gardens, and learned about the sistine chapel. We continued our walk through different rooms with ancient greek statues, fresco's, on every wall and ceilings that were beyond belief. Painings by Leonardo and more. While admiring the sisting chapel with only fifteen people in the room was an experience I will never forget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What to bring?
Comfortable walking shoes and a respectful outfit, as this is a religious site.
What to bring?
Comfortable walking shoes and a respectful outfit, as this is a religious site.
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts approximately 2 hours.
Is this tour wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the Vatican Museums are wheelchair accessible. Please notify us in advance so we can make accommodations.
Are photos allowed?
Yes, but photography is not permitted inside the Sistine Chapel.
Can I stay in the Vatican Museums after the tour?
No, as this is an after-hours tour, the museums close once the tour concludes.
What language is this available in?
This tour is immediately available in English. If you’re looking for another language, please book our Private After Hours Vatican Tour and we’ll work to accommodate you.
Is this tour truly crowd-free?
Yes! While there may be some lingering visitors in the Vatican at the start of your tour, since it closes to the publich at 6pm, you will have the Sistine Chapel completely to yourself!
