Vatican
2.5 hours
Varies
Max 15

Highlights

  • Experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after hours, when the palaces are at their most peaceful.
  • See world-famous masterpieces—from the Sistine Chapel to the Raphael Rooms—away from the crowds.
  • Head straight into the Vatican with privileged entrance, allowing you to spend more time exploring and less time waiting.

Tour description

Avoid the crowds on our Vatican night tour, with plenty of space to fully appreciate every masterpiece.

Few visitors are aware of the Vatican Museums’ extended opening hours throughout the summer months. On this special Vatican night tour, you’ll share its galleries and apartments with only those in the know. In echoing, elaborate halls and galleries, your expert Vatican guide will bring the church’s fascinating history to life—from St. Peter’s martyrdom to the modern Vatican City.

Explore the best of the Vatican collection, including the Sistine Chapel, in peace and quiet.

During your Vatican night tour, your guide will take you to see some of the finest ancient sculptures and Renaissance art in the world, including Raphael’s "School of Athens", the Hellenistic "Laocoön", and the beautiful "Belvedere Torso"—a stunning sculpture that influenced a young Michelangelo’s work. You'll be able to get up close to these world-famous pieces, a major perk of visiting the Vatican at night and with minimal crowds!

The pièce-de-resistance of your experience, of course, is the Sistine Chapel: the Pope's very own private chapel. In the evening light and with fewer tourist hordes, you’ll find it easier to pick out the details in Michelangelo’s famous frescoes. You’ll be well prepared to appreciate these works after spending time with your expert guide, listening to the stories and secrets hidden within the art.

Enjoy the company of a small group and privileged access for a hassle-free experience on your Vatican night tour.

Since your group will have a maximum of just 15 people, it'll be easy for you to interact with your guide and ask them any questions you have. A good thing too, since we’ve spent years building the perfect team of Vatican guides, choosing the best art historians, architecture buffs, and storytellers.

Experience the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel outside of the stifling heat of the Roman summer on our limited edition Vatican night tour, offering you a rare view of the Papal Palaces after bedtime.

Sites visited

  • Sistine Chapel
  • Raphael Rooms
  • Belvedere Courtyard with Apollo Belvedere & Laocoön & His Sons
  • Pinecone Courtyard
  • Gallery of the Candelabra
  • Gallery of the Maps
  • Gallery of the Tapestries

Included

Verified guest reviews

4.3 / 5
467 Customer Reviews
  1. Excellent

    278

  2. Great

    101

  3. Good

    49

  4. Average

    23

  5. Poor

    16

Dana

Oct 15, 2023

If you have no agenda and no idea about the Vatican Museums this evening tour may be for you. We never actually entered until nearly an hour after tour started, as the guide spent a considerable time explaining what to expect in sistine chapel. We ended up going by so much so quickly, as opposed to having that extra hour in the museum itself. You are then hustled out as the museum closes, so if you want to linger or spend more time and get better bang for your buck, take an earlier tour or just do the audio tour on your own and spend time where you want to.

Laura

Oct 07, 2023

Excellent tour! Our guide was Christina. She is a native of the area with extensive knowledge and a captivating passion about the art and architecture we were seeing. She was kind and patient and I learned so much in a short time. I highly recommend this tour and would take it again.

Carol

Oct 01, 2023

Vale was very knowledgeable, but it was at times difficult to keep up with her. Our 2 and 1/2 hour tour was over in less than 2 hours.

Carol

Oct 01, 2023

This tour was fabulous. Angela was a great tour guide and, on a hot day, did her best to keep us out of the hot sun whenever possible. We learned so much and would not have gotten as much out of visiting these sights if we did them on our own.

Jennifer

Oct 01, 2023

We took this tour for the reason of advertisement of quieter time off hours for the Sistine Chapel. During the tour we were told we would have time at the Sistine Chapel but as soon as the guide dropped us off, we were rushed out due to it closing at 7:30. This is a huge miss for the tour company and false advertising since the staff said it always closes then. Also the tour said max 15 people and we were over 20 despite 8 people not showing. Our tour guide was excellent but the tour is not as advertised, which is not her fault. So disappointing.

Know before you book

From $79
Free Cancellation