Home > Rome > Viator VIP: Sistine Chapel Private Viewing and Small-Group Tour of the Vatican's Secret Rooms
USD $379.00
Viator VIP: Sistine Chapel Private Viewing and Small-Group Tour of the Vatican's Secret Rooms
Rome, Italy
See the Vatican like a VIP with a once-in-a-lifetime private Sistine Chapel viewing and tour of the Vatican Museum’s secret rooms. The small-group tour gives unprecedented access to rooms that are usually off-limits to the public. Skip all the lines to see secret spots like the Room of Gold plus classic sites like Raphael’s Rooms, and end with a Sistine Chapel after-hours visit — just for your group of 15 people. It’s a great way to see Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” fresco minus the crowds and earn bragging rights for life.
Skip-the-line Vatican tours are so popular, even the priority lines are long! But this exclusive VIP tour includes access through a reserved entranceway, ensuring that you will not wait in any long lines. Spend three hours here on a small-group tour, accompanied by a Vatican guard to unlock doors to secret rooms. You’ll discover the Vatican as only VIPs like presidents and royal families usually do.
Due to the nature of this special-access tour, the itinerary changes each time. Access to the secret rooms varies and is based on availability, but most tours include the impressive Bramante Staircase (Scala del Bramante), which is actually a ramp on the corner of the Pope's Palace. You’ll also most likely visit the Room of Gold (Sala degli Ori), an opulent, rarely seen room that holds a dazzling collection of papal gold jewelry and precious Etruscan jewels.
The Niccoline Chapel (Cappella Niccolina) is another secret room most likely seen during your tour. Every bit as beautiful as the Sistine Chapel, this secret room is adorned with gold brought back from Christopher Columbus' travels, and frescoes by Fra Angelico, a Renaissance painter whose mesmerizing artwork pre-dates Michelangelo's.
In addition to the closed rooms, see many of the Vatican Museums’ classic attractions. As your expert guide entertains you with tales of Vatican art, power and treachery, admire the statue of Apollo Belvedere and other renowned monuments. Visit Raphael’s Rooms, the public part of the papal apartments in the Palace of the Vatican, and stroll through the Pinecone Courtyard.
Your tour ends on a high note with private access to the Sistine Chapel for your small group. After the doors close to the public, you'll have 30 minutes inside this incredible (and empty!) chapel. Speaking is typically forbidden, but during this private experience, your guide will explain Michelangelo's stunning ceiling fresco, which depicts scenes from Genesis, and his wall fresco The Last Judgement.
Fabulous and an absolute must. Second time we have undertaken this tour in 2 years - different host this time and she was amazing. Couldn't recommend this tour enough.Thank you.
Review by: Vergena C, July 2018
Our after hours and secret rooms tour of the Vatican was amazing. The three hours flew by, and our guide, Gigi, was so friendly and knowledgeable that we could have spent three more hours with him. He knew so much about all aspects of the Vatican and the history of Rome and Catholicism. Every aspect of the tour was exceptional, but the absolute pinnacle was spending nearly 15 to 20 minutes, uninterrupted, with only two other families, inside of the Sistene Chapel, marveling at the amazing frescas of Michelangelo and others, and soaking in the history of the Catholic church. Well worth the time and the money.
Review by: MARK K, July 2018
Just back last nite from Rome and Greek Island cruise. I was a bit hesitant to buy this due to the high cost $825 for 2 of us BUT.... so glad i did. There were only 15 people on the 2 hour tour and the guide was an amazing PhD which brought all the statues, art and history of each room visited to life. When we arrived at the Vatican meeting spot outside the Museum, there were still 1000 people in line and it was crazy and crowded. We were led straight thru all the lines and started out viewing the Vatican Museum while all the other groups were finishing up. Then we had the rest of the Museum and Sistine Chapel to ourselves for the last hour. I had heard that normally people are fighting for position as they are crammed into the Chapel , several hundred at a time. We had only 15 and got to stay around 30+ minutes... The guards treated us as VIPs and even let us take pictures. wow. we also got access to rooms the general public doesn't get to see. I highly recommend this... its that once in a lifetime event... so just do it!!
Review by: Kimberly W, July 2018
I am not Catholic and wasn't sure this was going to be worth the expense, but glad we decided to go for it. It was an amazing experience, the entire tour was great, we learned so much and saw so many areas that are not generally open to the public. The tour culminated in an unforgettable experience of being alone in the Sistine Chapel, save for our small tour group and at one point a sweet cleaning person. We were all quiet and in awe for a bit, and then our knowledgable tour guide pointed out things in the mural and chapel. It wasn't rushed and was truly amazing. Our children remember it well. Everyone we know talks about being pushed together like sardines and rushed through the Sistine Chapel but we had the chance to linger and really study the mural and aura of the place. This was probably the best tour we have been on with Viator.
Review by: leecollier29, June 2018
Expensive and worth every single penny!! Our tour guide call me Gigi he said, I hope thats how he spells it was knowledgeable, passionate and entertaining. Cannot imagine anyone better for this tour. Late afternoon time so Vatican museum was much less crowded. But the highlight was time ALONE in the Sistine Chapel. Just 15 of us on the tour plus Gigi and a Alessandro, the Vatican guard who was just the nicest guy. A definite WOW of a tour!!!
Review by: Irene B, June 2018
Words can not describe how happy we are that we purchased this amazing Tour. Our guide GG was beyond informative, he took such good care of us, his passion for history was obvious. With his stories and facts, he took us back in time, it was magical!!!. I highly recommend this tour and would purchase it again next time we visit. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you - you made our trip so much more special.
Review by: Wendy N, June 2018
This is one of the most amazing tours I have ever done! Our guide Geo was absolutely amazing. Encyclopedic knowledge of the art in the Vatican, truly loves art and art history, and really entertaining as well. It's a full three hour tour - you see many areas of the Vatican that are not available to the general public. Of course, the highlight of the tour was that we spent 30 minutes in the Sistine Chapel - with just 15 of us in the room. We were able to spend time to really look closely at the ceiling and our guide was able to talk us through much of what was seen. We were even allowed 5 minutes to take pictures of the paintings on the ceiling. Incredible experience and incredible guide. Highly, highly recommend - very costly - but absolutely worth it.
Review by: Russell H, June 2018
This is an experience that you want to sign up to go on. The private viewing is well worth it. There were no crowds to speak of at this point. The guide was awesome. The guard that assisted us was the best. If you only have one tour to take, do this tour while you are here.
Review by: WGW, June 2018
Worth the money - highly recommended. The secret rooms were fascinating, our guide was extremely knowledgeable, and the Sistine Chapel after hours was...well, not sure words can adequately express. Forget braving the crowds for a few seconds of viewing the Sistine Chapel and take advantage of the opportunity to just sit and look while hearing the nuanced stories of this magnificent accomplishment.
Review by: bkjones61888, June 2018
This tour was well worth the price we paid. Being the only 15 people besides our guide and a guard in the Sistine Chapel was priceless. All the extras that we were allowed to do was amazing!
Review by: Joanne H, April 2018
Totally breathtaking experience! Our small group of 14 had a full half hour alone in the Sistine Chapel with the guide, who had a degree in art history..She pointed out the techniques used to create this special place, and made the experience more fascinating by adding details of Michelangelo's personal life and times. Worth every penny!
Review by: Tony C, April 2018
While we were swept up with the madding crowd at times, we were also treated to some private spaces that enriched our understanding of vatican history. Theres no doubting that sharing the Sistine Chapel with just a dozen other people is the highlight and it was an unforgettable privilege to take in Michelangelos masterpiece in a peaceful setting.
Review by: Joann2210, March 2018
A must do! The Sistine Chapel after hours alone is worth the price.
Review by: John T, March 2018
The tour guide did not speak English well enough for us to clearly understand her. Did not know our group was going to be 12 people. Do not book this if you are expecting a personal tour. Very disappointing.
Review by: Jane A, March 2018
It is almost impossible to capture the sense of wonder standing in the Sistine chapel with just your group and having enough time to learn about the paintings and to see them clearly. The secret rooms were great too, but the chapel is a once in a lifetime experience
Review by: Deb and Chris, February 2018
Would do it again and recommend the evening tour. FAbulous
Review by: anisem2001, February 2018
There were only 10 of us on this tour. Our guide was so knowledgeable on the history of the Vatican and the art. Part of the tour was during the museum opening hours and the private viewing was after hours. The Vatican has such a rich history and your appreciation should only grow after this tour. The highlight was the private viewing of the Sistine Chapel. Only our group was there and to listen to our guide and then have quiet time to enjoy the Chapel. This is one of the most unique tours I have ever been on.
Review by: MARK S, January 2018
Excellent tour - no crowds able to view some of the hidden rooms not normally open to the public._br/_ Guide friendly and very knowledgeable great for all those interested in the art and its history.
Review by: Delilah, January 2018
Absolutely fantastic. This was so worth it and will treasure the memories! Wonderful guide, Laura was so knowledgeable, cant rate this high enough
Review by: David K, January 2018
Costly but worth every penny. Loved getting into the areas that we couldn't on our first tour through the cruise ship. Especially wonderful was the private tour of the Sistine Chapel with only 24 of us. We could talk, ask all the questions we wanted, take all the pictures we wanted and move all about the Chapel unimpeded. Also very impressed with our knowledgeable guide.
Review by: Linda F, January 2018
Bucket list must!
Review by: Audrey J. R, January 2018
Most memorable tour of Rome for us! To be a party of 8 touring The Vatican's Secret Rooms and to be able to sit in the Sistine Chapel, take photos and have our guide go into the details of the painting of the ceiling was beyond what we had anticipated! Fabulous!!!!
Review by: Richard P, January 2018
Honestly it was worth the cost just to skip the line. You do not realize how crowded this place is until you actually visit. The Louvre, The MET, the British museum are nothing compared to the crowds at the Vatican. The tour guide and extra rooms were a bonus after that._br/_ The guide was knowledgeable with a unique sense of humor. The extra rooms and extra time you get at the end were very nice.
Review by: Angela P, January 2018
Our tour guide was AMAZING! My fiance and I ended up being the only ones on the tour and wow she and the tour completely blow us away!!! So many surreal opportunities we got to have that the generally public is not allowed to do. This was definitely a once in a lifetime experience that we will always hold in our memory.
Review by: info, January 2018
This was one of the highlights of a 3 month trip--seeing the Sistine Chapel with 14 other people, being able to wander around and talk and ask the guide questions was phenomenal. We were even treated to a procession of cardinals including the one who sponsored Pope Francis as they were on their way to some event as we were leaving the Vatican--even this non-Catholic was impressed and our guide was literally shaking in her boots!. If you can only splurge on one thing, splurge on this--it is well worth it!
Review by: katims, December 2017
This was by far the best tour I have ever had of anything. the guide was great and i could have spent more hours with him. the best in every way
Review by: Elizabeth S, December 2017
Once in a lifetime. Truly vip experience. It will be in my top ten greatest experiences.
Review by: Elizabeth S, December 2017
Amazing! Have brought back two sets of family to have this experience. Top 10 favorite experiences
Review by: judy.inouye, December 2017
Fantastic guide, small group, locked rooms, Bramante staircase - well worth the price! Had been to the Vatican twice before and still saw mostly areas not seen before!
Review by: m.a.hanson, November 2017
This was the most amazing experience. There was less than 15 of us. Our tour guide Tiberius was beyond words. He has been doing this type of tour since 1998. His knowledge and love of the Church was immense. No pictures in the Sistine Chapel...but everywhere else was good. We were allowed in 4 private areas and it was only us in the Sistine Chapel. Ti explained the artworks of DaVinci...and Botticelli...the history...the meanings. Tiberius truly made this tour more then just a tour. Tiberius has the ability to bring you into the period in history when events were happening that contributed to the art work.
Review by: Jing H, November 2017
Amazing! Hope I can do it again one day to see more secret rooms.
Review by: raydepa, November 2017
Amazing! Once in a lifetime opportunity. My family loved this tour. Id highly recommend.
Review by: Gerard P, November 2017
Fabulous. Absolutely the best tour we have been on. Very knowledgeable and an excellent teach.
Review by: Margie, November 2017
The guide was very knowledgeable and very helpful, with lots of great background stories. It was an incredible feeling to be one of only 9 people to be standing in the Sistine Chapel, being able to take our time to look in detail at the artworks. My disappointment with the tour was that we got to see the Bramante Staircase, but not the Sala degli Ori Room of Gold or the Niccoline Chapel, both of which were said Youll likely also see ... in the What You Can Expect details of the booking. It did said that the itinerary could change but I didnt expect that 2 of the 3 Secret Rooms listed would be missed on the tour. This was a very expensive tour so it was very disappointing
Review by: Patricia C, November 2017
Excellent behind the scenes artifacts- amazing to be in the Sistine Chapel with only 15 people.
Review by: Albert J, November 2017
Knowledgeable guide and interesting Vatican curiosities.
Review by: SFAS, November 2017
Totally worth the price, specially for the 30 minutes our group got to spend at the Sisitine Chapel, just by ourselves. A once in a lifetime experience! Our guide, Shannon, was excelente and very knowledgeable.
Review by: Saraprohandler, November 2017
We only had 4 people in our group and our guide was from the lovely state of Alabama. Nothing really can compare to the feeling of intimacy we were allowed to have with the Sistine Chapel. We were allowed to talk quietly and take some video's and pictures. A very rare and amazing moment in our lives to be cherished and shared with friends for our lifetime. Thanks so much to Shannon our guide for the tour of a lifetime. I can't recommend this enough. Honestly it's worth the price. To see how many people are usually pressed up against each other hoping for a moment and we had a full 10 mins to walk around and absorb if that's truly possible the enormity of The space your in. Do it. You won't be sorry.
Review by: Tracy H, November 2017
This was the most amazing tour we have ever done. Even 5 years on it is still the best. The fact that you end up in the Sistine chapel with only 10 other people makes this Dark Rome tour the best! For my husband who is disabled this meant he could sit on the benches with no crowds and look upwards. It meant the world to us._br/_ The tour guide was informative and friendly. Next time we are in Rome we will do this tour again.
Review by: Jim Cricket, November 2017
Most amazing tour of our vacation to be in the Sistine chapel with a group of 10 people was an awesome experience one not to be forgotten our guide Makala sure I am spelling that wrong was simply overwhelming with information , insights and historical perspectives. it is a bit pricey but worth every penny
Review by: Dennis M, October 2017
The last time I was in the Sistine Chapel I was shoulder to shoulder with 5,000 other people. This tour is quite different. Worth every penny. I was in the Chapel for 30 minutes with only 4 other people. We could walk anywhere we wanted. And we were fortunate to be able to take photos which is normally against the rules. Our guide was excellent. She knew everything about the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. This was a once in a lifetime experience. Thank you.
Review by: aadrignolo, October 2017
Great tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. We were alone in many of the rooms that being us and the 8 other members of the tour. Very peaceful and great to walk around the rooms without the crowds. It is a bit pricey, but worth every penny for the private after hours experience.
Review by: Scott L, October 2017
Horrendous.
Review by: starbrid, October 2017
This is a must if you are into history and having the Sistine Chapel to our small group of 15 for 30 minutes is not to be missed. The guide was excellent and very knowledgeable.
Review by: Ester B, June 2017
This tour was worth every penny. Sev was our guide and he was excellent.
Review by: cdjspence, June 2017
Absolutely Fantastic - Worth every penny! We were a family of 4 visiting Italy for the first time and I was contemplating doing the early entry tour just to keep the cost lower. So glad I did not skimp- it was worth every penny. It was actually our favorite tour in all of Italy. I was amazed at how many places we got to see that were not open to the public. It seemed like we were always going behind a rope, getting up close to the art, and out of the crowds. The highlight for me was definitely the Sistine Chapel. Having only our group of approximately 14 in the chapel alone was amazing! And this is the only tour where the tour guide can actually talk to you in the chapel. I haven't mentioned our guide yet but she was phenomenal! She gave us an overview of the chapel and pointed out things I would never had noticed if she had not pointed them out. She gave us incredible insight. Then we had time to explore the chapel on our own and if we had any questions our guide was there with an answer. Our tour guide was fantastic throughout the museum and incredibly knowledgeable. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone on the fence. Just do it- you won't regret it.
Review by: EDWIN T, June 2017
The after hours private viewing of Sistine Chapel is simply astonishing. There was NO ONE else but our group. _br/_ For that alone, this is a highly recommended tour. _br/_ The secret rooms are interesting but the museum is big enough to wow you.
Review by: PHILLIP H, June 2017
Very good tour. It is an expensive tour, but I think it is overall worth it. The Sistine Chapel was amazing especially since we were basically by ourselves. I kind of wish it was longer.
Review by: jeremaup, June 2017
This experience was AMAZING, even for some in party not particularly religious or interested in art. Chapel viewing worth every penny. Our 2nd experience on Viator VIP tour with extremely knowledgable guide. We and #39;ll do this again on next visit to Rome.
Review by: Mak M, June 2017
This tour was fantastic. Gio was a fantastic guide, giving us great insight and amusing anecdotes of the various rooms we visited..she is really a treasure. Highly recommended.
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