VIP Vatican Key Master’s Tour: Unlock the Sistine Chapel

The Key Master's tour is the most incredible Vatican experience available.

Just before dawn in Vatican City, the Key Master moves from gallery to gallery, unlocking the various sections within the Vatican Museums. For the very first time, officials at the Vatican have invited a select few tour operators (including us!) to take part in this incredible morning ritual. For two memorable hours, join a small group before any other visitor steps foot inside, following the official Vatican Key Master to unlock the galleries (including the Sistine Chapel) for their thousands of daily visitors—none of whom you will even see.

Enjoy two full hours with an official Vatican guide.

Along with the Key Master, an official Vatican guide will join you on the tour, adding color and character to these hallowed halls. Along the way, they'll introduce you to famed frescos, marble sculptures, and artifacts of grandiose proportions. Void of the daily crowds, you'll appreciate the time and space given in one of the world's most revered spaces. Greet world-renowned works of art including Raphael's School of Athens, the celebrated Apollo Belvedere, and Laocoön and His Sons. Float through the most famed galleries such as the Gallery of Maps and Gallery of the Tapestries.

Spend time (truly) alone in the Sistine Chapel.

With great anticipation, you'll approach the small, unassuming wooden doors leading to the Sistine Chapel. Here, the Key Master graciously allows our guests a chance to turn the key and pry open the old doors, just as cardinals and popes have done for centuries. Beyond the threshold, celestial figures of Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Perugino await your arrival. Step inside and feast your gaze upon the most famous work of art in the world in unrivaled silence and peace.

Once your Vatican Key Master's Tour draws to a close, you're welcome to stay in the museums at your own leisure for as long as you choose. You'll depart full of wonder and awe, with memories of uninterrupted access to the world's greatest masterpieces that will be with you for years to come.

Note: Due to the incredible demand for this once-in-a-lifetime access, up to two small groups of 20 people (a maximum of 40 guests) may be inside the Vatican Museums with you. Even so, you’ll have the Vatican Museums to yourself — just you, your expert guide, and a handful of fellow early risers walking the silent halls. This is one of the rarest and most exclusive ways to experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. We can’t wait to share it with you.

If your preferred date isn’t available, you still have the chance to experience the Vatican in near-total solitude. Our Alone in the Sistine Chapel Tour offers VIP access at the Vatican’s most exclusive hours—before sunrise or after closing—when the crowds have disappeared. With more dates available, this is your opportunity to stand beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece in peace. Secure your spot while they last.

Walks Tours is proud to be an Accredited Tour Operator with an official ticketing agreement with the Vatican Museums.

This description is an example and your experience may vary depending on the season, day of the week, and group size. Regardless of where your tour goes, you always have an excellent experience.