About Rome
Why Choose It?
- Skip the regular lines to ensure privileged entrance to the Vatican.
- Customize the morning exactly to your liking on this exclusive, private tour.
- Choose your own itinerary or let our expert guide you through the highlights.
Tour Description
Experience a personal tour of the Vatican‘s collection with your own private, licensed guide an hour before the masses arrive. Described as one of the best experiences in Rome, this tour takes you on a journey of discovery. Revere priceless masterpieces of the Renaissance together with sculptures and mosaics from antiquity. All part of the papal collection. All waiting for you to discover.
Taking a private tour means you can customize your time in the Eternal City’s epicenter to include exactly what you want. The Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Museums‘ mind-blowing collection await you, but so too do such wonders as the stunning mosaics of the Cabinet of Masks and the unforgettable frescoes of the Raphael Rooms.
Spend time among the hauntingly lifelike statues of the Gallery of the Candelabra, explore the cartographical masterpieces of the Gallery of Maps, and lose yourself in the incredibly intricate decorations adorning the walls of the Gallery of Tapestries. After your private three or four-hour tour, you’ll feel you’ve truly experienced the Vatican.
Experience exclusive access to the Cabinet of Masks
The Cabinet of Masks, named after the mosaics in the room’s center taken from Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli, can’t boast the same frescoes as the Raphael Rooms. It can, however, claim one of the Vatican’s most stunning collection of statues. Among the sculptures on display are the marvelous Three Graces, a nymph which was a favorite of Goethe, and several statues of Aphrodite – the Greek goddess of love.
Meet the Laocoön – a statue soaked in pathos
Discovered on the Esquiline in 1506 (though sculpted perhaps 1,500 years earlier), the Laocoön statue is one of antiquity’s undisputed masterpieces. Mentioned by Pliny the Elder, Mount Vesuvius’ most famous victim, the artwork depicts one of the most famous scenes from the Trojan War in which the gods punish a Trojan priest named Laocoön for revealing the Greeks’ trickery and warning them not to lead the wooden horse into Troy’s walls.
Dragged into the sea by a serpent along with his two young sons, the statue powerfully captures Laocoon’s agonizing desperation – a helpless father struggling in vain to save his children. The Vatican is home to a host of other ancient statues you can choose from, including dozens of busts of Roman emperors and the Pantheon of gods they worshipped.
Explore the Vatican Museums’ exquisite galleries
Your Private Early Morning Vatican tour offers you the opportunity to choose from any of the Vatican’s most prized highlights, many of which lie off the museum’s beaten path. Immerse yourself in the statues of the Gallery of the Candelabra, nourish yourself with the knowledge of how medieval geographers understood the world around them in the immersive Gallery of Maps.
You then have the chance to lose yourself in the intricate detail of Flemish designs in the ornate Gallery of Tapestries to see the masterful frescoes of the Raphael Rooms which most say rival those of Michelangelo.
Pay homage to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel
Marvel at Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel, in the peace and tranquility it deserves, practically alone and free from any crowds. Your specialist guide will inject life into the frescoes of this private papal chapel, bringing it to life and crafting a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Discover the story behind Michelangelo’s creation of the Last Judgement, see if you can spot key figures and scenes on the Sistine Chapel Ceiling – even try to identify Michelangelo himself who painted his self-portrait into the torso of a certain saint.
Soak in the sights of Saint Peter’s Basilica
If choosing a four-hour tour, the final Vatican highlight on your complete early morning Vatican experience is the majestic Saint Peter’s Basilica. Admire its marvelous mosaics, still cared for by the Vatican Mosaic School, and come face to face with Michelangelo’s Pieta, and Bernini’s Baldachin in all their resplendent glory.
Conclude your private adventure outside the basilica, in Saint Peter’s Square, where the Pope still holds his audiences. In the shade of the ancient Egyptian Vatican obelisk, you can absorb the incredible experience of having had the morning in the Vatican to yourself.
Many consider our Vatican Early Morning Tour as being “one of the best experiences in Rome.”
Book yours today and experience it for yourself.
*Please note, shoulders and knees need to be covered during the tour. No vests, shorts, or skirts above the knee will be allowed inside the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.*
- Itinerary:Vatican Museums highlightsRaphael Rooms or Cabinet of MasksGallery of the CandelabraGallery of MapsGallery of TapestriesSistine ChapelSaint Peter's Basilica (optional inside)Saint Peter's Square
- Included:Private guidePriority entrance, half an hour before general opening
- Wheelchair accessible:Yes
- Meeting Point:Vatican Museums entrance (under the statue of Michelangelo and Raphael)
Show on Map
excellent guides
Our guides are fluent in English and have a contagious passion for the inspiring cultural heritage of our Italian cities. Experts in their fields, they will immerse you in the hidden histories and intriguing lives of history's great protagonists. So much to see, so easy to miss out: with the help of our guides, visit the most absorbing sites and uncover the stories that have changed the world. Don't miss this fascinating journey!
Wonderful Wine Tour My husband and I did the secret wine bar tour with Sara. She was an absolute delight—so easy to talk to, and very knowledgeable. She took us places we would... read more 
- A great evening with Marcos. I always wanted to know how to make the perfect pizza and gelato. Here, Marco the expert will show you how. It was a great participation event with lots... read more
- Exceeding Expectations in Unexpected Location This is an essential tour. After many trips to Rome this is an excursion we were excited to take. Our expectations were exceeded. Sara was great and made the tour... read more
- Geeking out at The Vatican Rosi was our guide for the experience and she was A+. Not just knowledgeable but also passionate and a great story teller. She was patient w questions and made the... read more
- The 2 villas of Tivoli We did the Private tour of Villa D'Este and Villa Adriana in Tivoli. The driver picked us up from the hotel in Rome and drove to the Villa Adriana, where... read more
- Gracious, Knowledgeable, Experienced Walk Inside Rome has the best, most informed guides and they never disappoint!
From the first inquiry through the tour they are also the most gracious and accommodating. Our most... read more - So fun! So much fun! We had two teenagers and 3 adults and loved every minute. Marco was a great teacher and so fun.
- Pizza perfection Incredible experience. The Chef was perfect, funny and knowledgeable. We would highly recommend this experience to anyone.
- Great Guide and Tour Very impressed and happy - From booking to the tour, everything was very smooth. I had some questions about the tour before booking - sent an email with responses prompt... read more
- Making Pizza & Gelato in Roma This was a fun, educational experience. I enjoy cooking, baking, etc so learning to make authentic Roman style pizza and a simple recipe for gelato is a skill I... read more
