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Vatican Museums & The Sistine Chapel: Private 2.5 hr Walking Tour

Rome, Italy
2 hours 30 minutes
Food & Drinks
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Art & Culture
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Family Friendly
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Walking Tours
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Romantic
Date
Monday
July 7, 2025
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Time
8:00 am
9:00 am
1:00 pm
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Child
Ages: 0-11 years old
0
Adult
Ages: 12-99 years old
2
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What You Will Do

Discover the dazzling treasures of the Vatican Museums, including world-famous antiquities, frescoes by Renaissance maestro Raphael, and of course the magnificence of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel on this private 2.5-hour tour. 

On your private tour you will: 

  • Explore the Vatican Museums in Vatican City – the smallest country in the world, home to the Catholic Church and the Pope himself;
  • See all the major highlights of these extensive museums with fascinating commentary from your guide; 
  • Admire some of the world’s best-known classical sculptures such as the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoön;
  • Learn all about the Renaissance of Ancient Greece and Rome;
  • Marvel at the skill of the Gallery of Tapestries and the exquisite Gallery of Maps;
  • Learn the fascinating, complex, and sometimes scandalous history of the papacy;
  • Enjoy the masterpieces by Raphael in Pope Julius II’s private apartments and learn all about the life and times of the Warrior Pope
  • Hear all about the famous rivalry between Raphael and Michelangelo;
  • Stand beneath the awe-inspiring frescos on the Sistine Chapel walls and admire the Last Judgment by Michelangelo on the whole altar wall;
  • End inside the Vatican Museums to continue at your own leisure or exit with your guide.

Vatican City, located in the heart of Rome, is an independent city-state, and the smallest country in the world. It is the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and the traditional home of the Pope.

The Vatican Museums with its hallowed halls and galleries, lined with world-famous priceless artefacts, antiquities, and art, is also home to works by the two Renaissance maestros and rivals Raphael and Michaelangelo.

Your highlights tour of the Vatican Museums will whisk you through the galleries ensuring you see the most renowned pieces. You will see the Belvedere Courtyard with the Appollo Belvedere and Laocoön sculptures, explore the Gallery of Tapestries with designs of the life of Christ by Raphael and the exquisitely frescoed Gallery of the Maps.

You'll hear all about the life and papacy of Pope Julius II who commissioned Raphael to paint his private apartments and Michaelangelo to paint the Sistine Ceiling. Your guide will show you the Raphael Rooms with the School of Athens fresco that would set a new standard in the art world, followed finally by the truly awe-inspiring and magnificent Sistine Chapel with those astounding frescoes painted by Michelangelo in his thirties and later his sixties.

Admire the Creation of Adam on the Ceiling and the perfection of the human form with the 392 bodies in the Last Judgement. Most of us have seen reproductions of the Sistine Chapel, but nothing beats the real thing!

Your guide will give you fascinating in-depth explanations, stories, and analyses of Michelangelo's life and masterpieces.

Your tour ends inside the Vatican Museums.

Please note:

This tour does not visit St. Peter's Basilica. It ends inside the Vatican Museums, allowing you to spend as long as you wish inside to get food and keep exploring at your leisure. 

During the Jubilee Year, Rome is expected to experience increased visitor numbers and heightened security measures. While we strive to provide a seamless experience, some attractions may face last-minute closures without prior notice, longer-than-usual wait times, or time restrictions on visits inside certain attractions due to crowd control policies.

In such cases, your guide will expertly adapt the itinerary to ensure the best possible experience, using their local knowledge to navigate any challenges. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to make your visit to Rome unforgettable despite these unique circumstances.


What's Included?

  • A friendly, professional English-Speaking tour guide for your own private group
  • Timed entry tickets to the Vatican Museums
  • Plenty of time to take photos of your favourite places

What's Not Included?

  • Hotel Pick-Up & Drop-Off
  • Food & Drink
  • Gratuities
  • Guided Tour of St. Peter's Basilica

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 60 days before tour start. 30% cancellation fee applies if cancelled between 60 and 4 days before tour start. Non refundable if cancelled within 4 days of tour start.

Itinerary

Meeting Point

Your guide will meet you in front of Café Vaticano, Viale Vaticano, 100, Roma RM, Italy

1

Vatican Museums

A jaw-dropping Papal collection of art and artefacts.

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Additional Information

This activity is operated by Travel Curious
  • Weather notes: Force Majeure Disclaimer: In the event of unforeseen circumstances such as extreme weather, natural disasters, riots, strikes, etc. and the tour cannot operate as published, we will endeavour to reschedule your tour date/time or we will provide a full refund.
  • Know before you go: - It’s highly recommended to wear comfortable walking shoes. - Please bring any medication you may require during the tour. - In summer, please remember to bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. - Please dress respectfully and bring covers for your knees and shoulders to avoid being denied entry due to inappropriate dress. - Some of the attractions included in our itinerary require a valid photo ID verification for entry. Failure to present a valid ID may result in denied access to these sites. - Please note that during the Jubilee Year, Rome is expected to experience increased visitor numbers and heightened security measures. While we strive to provide a seamless experience, some attractions may face last-minute closures without prior notice, longer-than-usual wait times, or time restrictions on visits inside certain attractions due to crowd control policies. In such cases, your guide will expertly adapt the itinerary to ensure the best possible experience, using their local knowledge to navigate any challenges. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to make your visit to Rome unforgettable despite these unique circumstances.
  • Accesibility: If you have mobility impairments or require any assistance, please let us know in advance so we can plan your tour accordingly to ensure a great experience. Vatican Museums For visitors with mobility issues, the Vatican offers free wheelchair hire from the cloakroom (subject to availability) The museums are accessible also to visitors on mobility scooters or electric wheelchairs in limited areas due to space limitations. In this case, the visitor will be offered to transfer to a regular wheelchair. To facilitate the visit, the Vatican Museums have designed an itinerary without barriers.

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