Vatican Tour by Night | Private

Every Friday and Saturday during the summer, the Vatican opens its doors to allow its guests to explore its storied halls, chapels, and museums in a cool and ambient atmosphere. Enjoy some well-earned respite from Rome’s sweltering summer sun by letting us take you on a cooling, immersive journey through the fresh halls of the Vatican Museums and serene, torchlit ambiance of the Sistine Chapel.

Your tour begins in the museums, home to the most formidable art collection in the world. Spanning a series of impressive palaces, the collection contains 2,100 years of art. It ranges in age from Egyptian to Etruscan, ancient Greek to ancient Roman, and the Middle Ages through to the contemporary age. And it stretches out across an incredible four miles of corridor space. Highlights of the tour include visits to two of the most celebrated frescoes in the world: Michelangelo’s ceiling and Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel, and the School of Athens by Raphael in the Raphael Rooms.

Saint Peter’s Basilica isn’t open during the evenings, so we have more time to dive deeper into the Vatican’s unparalleled collection. And in the company of an experienced, expert guide within the intimacy of your private group, you’ll be able to ask any questions you like and go into depth on the artworks that grab you.

If you like, we can arrange a happy hour-style apritivo in the Vatican’s Cortile della Pigna (Courtyard of the Pine) after the tour. The culinary experience will be served in an exclusive setting and with the ambiance of occasional live music.

This is the perfect tour for those of you who arrive Friday or Saturday afternoon, and want to get straight into the spirit of their Roman adventure. You can start this tour at either 6:00 or 7:00 pm.

*Please note, in accordance with the Vatican Museum's guidelines, guests using or requiring wheelchairs will be directed along a separate pathway. During this time, you will be accompanied only by your escort and will not be part of the main group or with the tour leader. This arrangement applies when transitioning from the Vatican Museum to the Sistine Chapel. Also, 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.*