All Rome Tours

Vatican Museums Night Tour with Sistine Chapel

320 reviews

2.5 hours

Max 15

The Gallery of Tapestries in the Vatican

A guide leads a small tour group in the Vatican Museums after hours

Laocoön & His Sons in the Vatican Museums

Visitors look at the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel

The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo

The Pinecone Courtyard in the Vatican Museums

The School of Athens (background) is the most famous work in the Raphael Rooms

The difference between art and architecture sometimes disappears entirely in the Vatican Museums.

A rarely visited corner of the Vatican Museums

Add to wishlist

Why take this tour?

Highlights

Take advantage of extended seasonal opening hours and experience the Vatican museums at night
Learn about the breathtaking art and architecture from your expert Walks guide
Save time with skip-the-line tickets
Includes the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, Belvedere Courtyard, Gallery of the Candelabra and much more!

Sites Visited
Vatican Museums
Sistine Chapel
Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello)
Belvedere Courtyard (Pinecone)
Octagonal Courtyard (Apollo Belvedere
Laocoön)
Gallery of the Candelabra
Gallery of the Maps
Gallery of the Tapestries

Tour Includes
Local English-speaking guide
Skip-the-line ticket for Vatican Museums (exclusive night entrance)
Headset

Take advantage of extended opening hours to visit the Vatican at night!

$76.72

Free Cancellation

BOOK NOW

Verified guest reviews

320

5 star reviews 248
4 star reviews 47
3 star reviews 25
2 star reviews 0
1 star reviews 0

Latest Reviews

Ilaria was an amazing guide for the Night Tour of the Vatican. She shared so many interesting things, ensured we saw all of the highlights from the museum, and did so with charm. Very warm, friendly, and informative!

Erin Jun 20, 2022

Don't think you are avoiding the crowd by visiting at night. It is mobbed, boiling hot and you are jammed into small rooms with 50 to 100 people. The guide was excellent but we all just wanted to leave after the Sistine Chapel.

Margaret Jun 20, 2022

Ilaria is amazing! Thank you so much!

Ekaterin Jun 19, 2022

Doing the night tour was less crowded and more interaction with our guide. Our guide was amazing. I would recommend this tour to everyone

Christopher Jun 13, 2022

Vatican Night Tour. We had the most amazing tour guide Jowita. Her knowledge of the Vatican, the Popes, the history, the artworks and painters was beyond what we expected. She was funny & engaging at the same time managing to continually guide us around the various galleries, finally to the Sistine Chapel, where thanks to Jowita’s stories we could fully appreciate the works. Highly recommended tour. Thanks Jowita Jim & Bron

Bronwyn Jun 11, 2022

Meeting Point

Meeting Point

This tour meets at the green bar called l'Ottagono on Piazza del Risorgimento. We meet just outside the green bar in the middle of Piazza del Risorgimento Square. This is the only bar/cafè located on the square. The bar is on the side of the square towards via Crescenzio - close to Tram stop number 19. The closest Metro/Underground stop is Ottaviano.

Please meet 15 minutes prior to the tour start time.

FAQs

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.

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 wheelchair please contact our customer service department and we will be happy to design a private tour for you. [email protected] We can then work out a suitable alternative.

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.

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.

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.

Can I use a wheelchair on this tour?

Yes, but we require advance notice in order to accommodate wheelchairs on this tour. After booking, please contact us so that we can organize a private tour for you. If we cannot find a guide to lead you that day we'll offer you the same tour on the next avaialbe date or give you credit for another tour anywhere else in the world.

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.

Similar Tours

$72.16

The Complete Vatican Tour With Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

Enjoy a comprehensive tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with an expert guide.

4301 reviews

$102.24

Vatican Highlights Tour with St. Peter’s Dome Climb

Our highlight-of-your-trip Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St.Peter's Basilica tour, with a dome climb for the best views in Rome.

901 reviews

$98.91

Pristine Sistine Early Entrance Small Group Vatican Tour

Step inside the Sistine Chapel an hour before it opens to the public on this special access Vatican tour.

9266 reviews