Semi-Private Early Morning Vatican Tour

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Group · 6 Max
3 hrs 30 mins
Vatican
Refundable booking
Semi-Private Early Morning Vatican Tour Sistine Chapel Before the Crowds LivTours
LivTours’ Semi-Private Early Morning Sistine Chapel & Vatican Tour allows you to be among the first to enter the storied halls of the Vatican Museums and see the Sistine Chapel, in all its glory.

Embark on our early morning tour with an intimate group of just six people. As part of this exclusive experience, you’ll have the privilege of being among the first to explore lavish galleries, pristine courtyards, and extensive art collections.

Your expert guide will ensure an insightful journey through the vast Papal collections, into the Sistine Chapel, and through St. Peter’s Basilica. Enjoy unparalleled views and capture stunning photos during this unique and personalized tour.

The longstanding partnership we’ve had with the Vatican allows us to offer this award-winning tour. LivTours’ expertise in delivering this very special experience is unmatched. We will bring the Vatican treasures to life and leave you with a lasting impression and memories you will cherish for the rest of your life.

This tour was awarded “Best of the Best” by TripAdvisor in 2023. Reviews from millions of TripAdvisor travelers place this experience in the top 1% of things to do in Italy.
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  • Enter the Vatican Museums in the early morning hours
  • Be amongst the first of the day to visit the Sistine Chapel & Raphael Rooms
  • Enjoy a comprehensive tour of the Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Get a personalized semi-private tour in a small group of 6
  • Get an overview of hundreds of years of art history in just one tour
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Semi-Private tours and experiences are guaranteed six participants max.

Our prices always include tickets and reservations fees (no waiting in lines!)

Our tour guides and staff are selected experts and speak perfect English

Easy to book and prepay your tours with our secure payment system

Eco-sustainable tourism, designed to respect and support local culture, art and traditions

Your Semi-Private Early Morning Vatican Tour will begin near the Vatican Museums’ entrance. Here you will meet your professional and charismatic tour guide.

The tour will begin with the Pinecone Courtyard and Octagonal Courtyard. Learn about the greatest statues of antiquity. From the mysterious composition of the Greek statue of the Laocoon, to the Apollo Belvedere and the Belvedere Torso, which despite it’s ruined state, inspired generations of artists. Then, stop to admire the art and decoration of the Gallery of the Maps and the Gallery of the Tapestries.

Then, onto to the world-renowned Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s masterpiece. Because this Chapel is the number one attraction inside the Vatican, LivTours believes it is important to give guests the time and space they need to fully appreciate it. Stand in amazement as you gaze onto Michelangelo’s awe-inspiring ceiling frescoes. Wonder over the breathtaking “The Last Judgement” before the major surge of crowds.

Your tour will continue by visiting the Raphael Rooms before the rush of tourists. Guests will be privy to some of the most important works of art in the museum – all without the rush of the usual crowds around them. With your tour guide by your side, you’ll learn about the intriguing stories and meaning behind the paintings that adorn the walls of the pope’s private apartments.

Once you’re done, you’ll head directly into St. Peter’s Basilica. This VIP access saves time and allows you to skip-the-line. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by the breathtaking space, which is the largest Catholic church in the world. Two of the glorious works of art that you will get to see up close include Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldacchino. Before you leave St. Peter’s Basilica, your guide will tell you about the Papal Tombs and share how to access the dome of St. Peter’s. Conclude your Early Morning Vatican Tour by walking around Piazza San Pietro Square and taking in the grandeur that is St. Peter’s.

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  • Fully guided experience
  • Pinecone courtyard
  • Octagonal Courtyard & Belvedere Palace
  • Muses Room & Belvedere Torso
  • Lacoon statue
  • Apollo of the Belvedere statue
  • Gallery of Candelabra
  • Gallery of Maps
  • Gallery of Tapestries
  • Raphael Rooms
  • School of Athens painting
  • Sistine Chapel
  • Michelangelo's ceiling
  • St. Peter's Basilica*
  • Bernini's bronze altar canopy
  • St. Peter's square
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  • Access to the Raphael Rooms is contingent upon crowd conditions, timing constraints, and guard-regulated routes. Including them may not always be feasible. In these cases, your tour guide will exercise discretion to adjust the itinerary, ensuring a comprehensive experience.
  • St. Peter’s Basilica is an active church and can be closed unexpectedly for liturgical ceremonies. If closed, your guide will provide a revised itinerary including more of the Vatican Museums. No compensation is granted in these circumstances.
  • *Please note: Michelangelo’s Pietá is currently under restoration until September 2024
  • Places of worship have strict dress code requirements for entry. All participants are required to have shoulders and knees covered (no tank tops or short dresses) to enter.
  • 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.
  • Photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel and all other artwork can only be photographed without flash.
  • Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a Holy Place and talking during while inside the chapel is strictly forbidden. Therefore, your guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the Sistine Chapel before entering and will be able to answer more questions once you have left the space.
  • Backpacks are not permitted in the Museum.
  • Guests with wheelchair accessibility needs will find difficulty with this small group tour. To ensure a barrier-free tour with alternative routes, please book the private version of this tour.
  • Everyone in your group, regardless of age, needs a government issued ID to enter the Vatican Museums.
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LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry.  LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism  and how LivTours is contributing, click here.

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All LivTours Semi-Private Group Tours are limited to 6 guests per tour guide. Our commitment to maintaining our uniquely tiny group sizes can sometimes be a little tricky, mathematically speaking. For example, we want to ensure that traveling families and friends can tour together so on rare occasions we may add one or two guests in order to not split groups. On that same note, you may also find yourself on tour with less than six people! We thank you for your understanding and flexibility.

 

 

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  • Exceptional Review of the Vatican with Giovanni

    ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (If there were 6 stars, I’d give them!) Our family recently had the pleasure of touring the Vatican with Giovanni T. from LivTours, and it was nothing short of exceptional. Giovanni’s deep knowledge of the Vatican’s history and art, combined with his witty humor, made the experience both educational and entertaining. He was especially wonderful with our kids, keeping them engaged and excited throughout the tour. One of the standout aspects of the tour was Giovanni’s expert navigation through the Vatican. Thanks to his skillful use of fast-track passages and his ability to go against the usual flow of traffic, it often felt like we had the place to ourselves—a rare and precious experience in such a busy location. The early morning semi-private tour was perfect for avoiding the afternoon heat, and we loved having the time to fully appreciate each room while listening to Giovanni’s captivating stories. The LivTours team, including Giovanni, were incredibly responsive to our questions and communicated effectively before, during, and after the tour, ensuring everything went smoothly. Having taken many tours across Italy, we can confidently say that Giovanni T. and LivTours have been the best by far. If you’re looking for a tour guide who knows how to make history come alive and can navigate the Vatican like a pro, look no further. Highly recommend! Thank you!!

    - Jasmine
  • Having a guide was great - a tad rushed in parts

    This tour provides a great introduction to the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica. Our guide, Patrizia, was delightful and eager to answer questions throughout. At times, the tour felt a bit rushed, but I certainly appreciated having a guide rather than exploring alone. Booking the earliest morning slot is highly recommended!

    - Stephanie
  • Fantastic tour

    We had a semi private tour of the Vatican. Make sure to wear good shoes, it was more walking than I expected. But totally worth it.

    - shannon skolaski
  • Simply wonderful

    We were very lucky on the tour to have Valeria as our guide. The tour was so incredible, so many things to see and learn and Valeria kept us wanting to know more and more as she’s so knowledgeable on the subject. In fact the three hours passed so quickly. We definitely recommend this tour. Thanks Valeria for being our wonderful guide.

    - Carmanton Cachia
  • Super awesome

    We cannot recommend this tour enough. We didn’t see the 3 hours pass. Valeria our guide was very knowledgeable on the material and we learned a lot. Besides there’s so much to see and discover. We took some nice photos during this tour which will treasure forever. Thanks Valeria for being our wonderful guide.

    - Maria Cachia
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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.

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