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Pristine Sistine Early Entrance Small Group Vatican Tour

13121 reviews

4 hours

Max 15

Why take this tour?

Highlights

Enter the Vatican Museums first thing in the morning, visiting the Sistine Chapel before the daytime crowds.
Visit the Raphael Rooms, thought by many to be as beautiful as the Sistine Chapel, and see where to spot Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo in the frescoes!
Enjoy skip the line access into the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, saving hours of waiting.
Experience an all-encompassing guided tour inside St. Peter's Basilica and see Michelangelo's Pietà (6:45 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM tours excluded).
Get unparalleled access to your art expert guide—the small size of your group will make it easy to ask them all your burning questions.
6:45 AM, 6:30 PM, or 7:30 PM tours only: Gain special early and after hours access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, seeing these sites like only few people can.

Sites Visited
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica (6:45 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM & Weds/Sat tours excluded)
St. Peter's Square (6:45 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM & Weds/Sat tours excluded)
Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello)
Belvedere Courtyard
Pinecone Courtyard
Octagonal Courtyard
Gallery of the Maps
Gallery of the Tapestries
Gallery of the Candelabra

Tour Includes
Skip the line ticket for Vatican Museums
Skip the line access to St. Peter’s Basilica (6:45 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM & Weds/Sat tours excluded)
Local English-speaking guide
Expertly guided walking tour
6:45 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:30 PM tours only: Early or after-hours access to Vatican Museums
Headset

Relish the tranquility of the Vatican Museums in the early hours of the morning.

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Verified Customer reviews

Verified ratings

4.7 /5

based on 13121 Walks’ customer ratings

Overall rating

4.7 /5

13121 reviews

Rating summary by category

Guide

4.8/5

Guest Support

4.7/5

Latest reviews

Excellent

Sabrina, our tour guide, was simply the BEST. Very knowledgeable, personable, and friendly - she made the tour the best it could be. Great job Sabrina!!

Verified · Jason · USA · Male · Jul 06, 2025

Excellent

Spectacular morning at the Vatican with Julia our guide. We opted for an early start with the 7.15am tour and it was so worth getting up early to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds. Julia said she doesn’t like doing later tours now because everyone is packed in like sardines. The admin process was swift and efficient with little to no queueing. We toured the inside of the Vatican Museums which Julia really brought to life with her stories of the artists and sculptors and their rivalries and the Popes and their ambitions and projects. The Sistine Chapel, although still relatively busy when it first opens, was simply stunning and Julia’s pre-briefing about the artworks really helped us appreciate everything and know what to look out for. Words simply can’t prepare you for the wonders of St Peter’s Basilica! As Catholics we found it very moving and spiritual, especially as we were able to walk through the holy door as it’s a centenary year. The tour finishes inside the Basilica so you have time to wander around on your own if you like. Be prepared for the temperatures - the museums tend not to be air conditioned, and go early would be the best advice. Take a scarf or cover shoulders for ladies for entrance to St Peter’s. There are lots of steps and walking so not suitable for anyone with mobility issues or young children with strollers. The cafe the tour met at at the beginning sells amazing, strong coffee - so get there in plenty of time to grab one and a pastry before it starts. You will burn it off!!! The best thing we did in Rome!

Verified · Sarah · United Kingdom · Female · Jul 03, 2025

Excellent

Sabina our tour guide was fantastic. She knowledgeable, informative, caring of our interests and needs and friendly. The best tour guide ever!

Verified · David · USA · Male · Jun 30, 2025

Great

Over all, tour was great! Guide was outstanding!

Verified · Dennis · USA · Male · Jun 28, 2025

Great

Please be aware that you cannot enter St. Peter's on Wednesday's and there is no discount due to this (they replace it with a tour of another Vatican Museum as compensation). That being said, our guide was informative and friendly. We took a 7:45 am tour but the museums were crowded already so if you can go earlier, go. There is limited AC so if you have difficulty with the heat be sure to go as early as possible.

Verified · Diane · USA · Female · Jun 27, 2025

FAQs

Walks Tours is an Accredited Tour Operator at the Vatican Museums. What does that mean?

Walks Tours is proud to be an Accredited Tour Operator with an official ticketing agreement with the Vatican Museums.

Do I need to bring my passport/ID with me?

Yes! All guests (including children) must bring a government-issued ID/passport on the day of their tour. Failure to bring an ID can result in the security staff refusing your entrance to the monument. The full names of all participants are required at the time of booking and must match the names on their ID/passport. Name changes are not permitted.

Will St. Peter's Basilica be open during the 2025 Jubilee?

St. Peter's Basilica will be open throughout 2025 and we aim to include it on our tours as much as possible. However, starting December 2024, access to St. Peter's Basilica may be limited due to the Vatican's Jubilee Year 2025, which includes special events and ceremonies. These closures are determined by the Vatican and are beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding.

The Pristine Sistine tour is sold out on my preferred dates. What other tours do you recommend?

Most people only visit the Vatican once in a lifetime (if ever!). Our Pristine Sistine™ Chapel Tour guarantees that you have a once-in-a-lifetime experience while you're there. As it's one of our popular tours, we recommend that you book it early. If you find that it is sold out on your available dates, we have several other very similar tours which we recommend you check out. These include: [Pristine Sistine at Closing Time: Late Entry Vatican Tour](https://www.takewalks.com/rome-tours/vatican-museums-tour-highlights/), [The Complete Vatican Tour with Vatican Museums Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica](https://www.takewalks.com/rome-tours/complete-vatican-tour/), and [VIP Vatican Key Master’s Tour: Unlock the Sistine Chapel](https://www.takewalks.com/rome-tours/key-masters-tour-vatican-museums/).

I am in a wheelchair/have a mobility impairment. Can I take this tour?

The Vatican Museums are equipped with elevators for wheelchair access, but they are not located on the group tour route. If you have a mobility impairment and/or use a wheelchair please contact our customer service department at [email protected] and we will be happy to work out a suitable alternative.

Does St. Peter's Basilica have a dress code?

Yes, although you aren't expected to dress as formally as if you were attending a mass. Unless you actually are attending a mass. The most important rule is NO SHORTS, that applies to both men and women. Shoulders must also be covered, so no tank tops. Small bags and umbrellas are permitted inside but large bags have to be checked at the entrance, next to the official audio-guides desk.

Is this tour accessible for wheelchairs, strollers or for those with mobility impairments?

Unfortunately due to the nature of this tour it is not suitable for guests with mobility impairments, or for wheelchairs or strollers. Please contact the Guest Experience team at [email protected] or call +39 068-596-0143 (Italy) or 888-683-8670 (USA) to make alternative arrangements.

What happens if St. Peter's Basilica is closed on my tour?

The special access passage between the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays and subject to other unexpected closures during special celebrations/festivities, including the Easter ceremonies. On such days we will instead explore the magnificent Pinoteca Gallery. Your guide will still give you an introduction to the church should you wish to visit this on your own at a later occasion.

I want to take a selfie in the Raphael Rooms, can I bring my selfie stick?

No. Selfie sticks are strictly forbidden inside the Vatican Museums, along with flash photography. However, visitors are allowed to take non-flash photographs anywhere besides the Sistine Chapel.

What items can I NOT take into the Vatican Museums

Knives, scissors, and other cutting tools must also be deposited in the cloakroom as a precaution against harming the artwork inside. No hammers, either, as one was once used to smash Michelangelo's Pietá. This probably goes without saying, but firearms are also strictly prohibited for visitors within the Vatican Museums and you can't check them in the cloakroom.

I've heard the Vatican has a strict dress code. What should I wear?

It does, but it isn't anything too formal. The big rule is to make sure your shoulders and knees are covered - that applies to both men and women. Also remember that shorts of any length are not allowed at all in St. Peter's Basilica so if you are visiting both the Vatican Musuems and the Basilica, wear trousers or a long skirt. Occasionally visitors get away with wearing a bit less but it’s best not to risk it. Hats are also not allowed. Walks cannot be held responsible for guests who are refused entrance due to inappropriate dress so please remember to cover up.

IMPORTANT: Can I bring a bag into the Vatican Museums?

Yes, as long as it's within a certain size. You cannot bring any bag, backpack suitcase or container larger that 40cm x 35cm x 15cm into the Vatican Museums. In fact, size limits apply to all items; because of the sheer number of people that visit the Museums, space is at a premium. You can’t enter with medium to large umbrellas, any umbrellas with spiked tips, camera tripods, signage (apart from signs used by certified guides) or walking sticks – except those required by disabled visitors. All of these items can be left in the cloakroom, which is located at the entrance to the Museums. This means that you will need to walk 15 - 20 minutes back here after you finish your tour at St Peter's Basilica. On our afternoon tours you may need to leave the tour early to collect your bag before the cloakroom closes.

I'd like to climb to the top of the Dome of St. Peter's. Anything I should know?

The St. Peter's Dome climb requires separate tickets, one allows you to take the elevator up part of the way then climb a further 320 steps, while another permits you to climb the entire 551 steps. Either way the view from the top is worth it!

Why can't I take photos inside the Sistine Chapel?

When the chapel was restored in 1990 the biggest donors to the project (donating a whopping $4.2 million) were a Japanese television network. In return, they received exclusive rights to photograph and film inside and quickly banned any professional photographers from taking pictures. Although they didn't mind if tourists took photos, the Vatican guards decided to enforce the rule on everyone because it was impractical to differentiate between a normal visitor and who was a professional photographer. The Japanese network's exclusive contract has expired now but the rule persists. If you try to take any images in the Chapel Vatican, security is authorized to make you delete them.