vatican toursVIP Vatican Key Master’s Tour: Unlock the Sistine Chapel
Vatican
2 hours
6:00 AM
20Highlights
- Join the Vatican Key Master on a special access tour and witness the opening of the Vatican Museums for the day.
- Spend a few precious moments alone inside the Sistine Chapel.
- Enjoy two exquisite hours inside the museums, sharing the space with a group of no more than 20 guests in total.
- Follow an official Vatican guide who will reveal fascinating context and hidden details in each of the galleries you visit.
- Spend as much time as you desire inside the museums at the conclusion of your tour.
Tour description
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.
Please note that 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.
Sites visited
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Vatican Museums![]()
Sistine Chapel![]()
Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello)![]()
Belvedere Courtyard (Pinecone)![]()
Octagonal Courtyard (Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön)![]()
Gallery of the Candelabra![]()
Gallery of Maps![]()
Gallery of the Tapestries
Included
Verified guest reviews
Douglas
Jul 21, 2024
The only way to see the Vatican. Truly a special experience. Will have lasting memories of this experience.
Dorie
Jul 15, 2024
The Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel Key Masters Tour is a one-of-a-kind awesome experience! Our guide was the absolute best! She’s a gem - I think her name was Julianna and I’m sorry if I’m wrong because she made the tour excellent! Of course seeing all the amazing works will be remembered for a lifetime! Everything was just as it was supposed to work! You cannot go wrong with the Walks Key Masters Tour!!
David
Jul 12, 2024
The tour guide was excellent Sara Bongirolami was our guide. She is very knowledgeable about the history and current culture of the vatican museums. She provided a very unique small group experience that 90% of the general public may never see, the experience of the key master tour and using the keys to open the vatican museum is not one to be passed up if you have the chance to do it. No crowds, you and 19 other people are there and you have the entire museum to yourself and an excellent guide. One thing to note yes the key master tour is always a small group but remember to succeed with viewing the history and getting the most out of the key master tour is matter of how good your guide is navigating the museum in 2 hours which in my opinion is very challenging for a guide to accomplish but sara made it look like a breeze and she’s very proficient at what she does it felt like i got every bit of the museum by ourselves with alot of detail. We are so pleased with our guide i want to contact the tour operator when i come back to italy and ask for her exclusively for several tours we want to do because of her passion and knowledge of roman and vatican history
Erin
Jul 11, 2024
This private tour is an absolute “MUST” for everyone’s bucket list and our guide Rosa made it even more memorable with her extensive knowledge and passion for the rich history of the Vatican and its spectacular art and architecture. It was hands down one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. The privilege of viewing the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museum with an intimate group is something you will never forget. We can never thank Rosa enough for giving us this experience of a lifetime. Erin and Stephen
Evan
Jul 02, 2024
This is an unbelievable experience, I can not say enough about how amazing and exclusive this was. To have the Vatican Museum to yourself for the morning, still, quiet, calm, taking whatever photos you like with nobody in them, priceless. Later in the day if you stay you will see the crowds of people you didn't deal with, you will see the tour groups huddled around signs in the sun outside because they are not allowed to talk inside where your tour guid could. This is an expensive tour for a reason.
Know before you book
Make it a perfect day
Enjoy the finer things in Rome on this one-day itinerary. Start the day with a VIP tour of the Vatican Museums and end with a food tour in the charming Trastevere for a day you won’t soon forget.
