Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Private Tour

LivTours Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Tour takes you into the Vatican Museums, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, and Raphael’s Julius II Apartments before the rush of tourists in the early morning hours.

Enjoy the morning light streaming through the chapel windows, gently illuminating the frescoes and bringing out the lush color palette used by Michelangelo. Seeing the Sistine Chapel is a once in a lifetime experience—seeing it with the Raphael Rooms early in the morning is an exceptional experience.  Your private expert guide will share with you anecdotes and stories which give meaning to works of art that have shaped countless interpretations over the past five centuries.

You have come this far to see one of the world’s greatest works of art, so maximize your time in Rome by letting LivTours guide you!

• Admire the more than 8,000 square feet of Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo
• Enjoy early morning entry into the Sistine Chapel. No lines. No wait.
• Marvel at Raphael's frescos of the Apartments of Julius II
• Explore Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel with a private expert guide

Your LivTours Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Tour starts in front of the Vatican Museums where you will be greeted by your private expert guide. Your tour starts immediately with a look into the life and genius of Michelangelo Buonarroti, the mastermind behind the Sistine Chapel ceiling frescoes.  You will even learn why this world renown fresco almost wasn’t painted!

Once inside the Museums, you will be given a brief tour of the collection. You will then make your way to the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, where you will marvel at Raphael and Michelangelo’s works an hour before the general public. Spanning just over 8611 square feet, the realistic depictions of important Biblical stories include the Creation of Adam, Original Sin, The Flood, The Last Judgement, and the second coming of Christ.

Afterwards, enjoy the apartments of Julius II and admire the marvelous fresco work; get close to the paintings and fully appreciate the intimacy of this work.

Once you are ready to move on from the Sistine Chapel,  we encourage you to go on your own to St. Peter’s Basilica.  This Renaissance church’s highlights include the 95 foot tall bronze decorative canopy which stands over the Papal Altar above St. Peter’s tomb.  Another masterpiece you will not want to miss is Michelangelo’s only signed work La Pieta, made from Carrara marble.  Known for its pristine beauty and portrayal of a suffering mother holding her deceased child – Jesus Christ – this piece is sure to move you.

• Early morning tour of the Vatican Museums
• Visit to the galleries
• Raphael Rooms
• Sistine Chapel

• Offered in: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. Please specify under “Additional notes” if you wish to book the tour in a language other than English.
• Vatican management maintains the right to delay the opening of the Sistine Chapel for religious reasons, in this case the guide will modify the itinerary and extend your visit of the museums to ensure you make the most of your time before access to the Sistine Chapel is permitted.
• No photography is allowed inside the Sistine Chapel.
• The Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking while inside is strictly forbidden. Your guide will provide all commentary prior to entry
• LivTours’ Express Early Morning Sistine Chapel Private Tour begins at 7.30AM.  However, please keep in mind that the first 30 minutes of the tour are held outside of the Vatican Museums in order to give you a comprehensive explanation before entering.
• Backpacks are not permitted in the museum.
•  Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
• Guests with mobility concerns should contact us at booking@livtours.com as soon as possible, as the itinerary may need to be adjusted to accommodate specific needs.
• IMPORTANT: Please advise our team if you believe that a disability qualifies you for complimentary access to the Vatican.

When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.

Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.

Sistine Chapel Closures

Starting April 28th, the Sistine Chapel will be closed for the Papal Conclave, the traditional process of electing a new Pope. The Conclave begins May 7th and has no fixed end date, though the Chapel is expected to reopen by mid-May.

During this time, LivTours Vatican tours will follow a special itinerary featuring additional highlights from the Vatican Museums. We’ll continue to update our guests as new information becomes available.

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By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.