Private Vatican Museums Hidden Gems Tour with Optional Pick-Up
Embark on this exclusive 4-hour tour of the Vatican Museums and its Hidden Gems for an unforgettable journey through art, history, and spirituality. With your personal storyteller delight in the world's most celebrated masterpieces, including the iconic Sistine Chapel with its world-known frescos by Michelangelo and the fine Galleries, while also exploring the hidden, lesser-known chambers of the Pinacoteca, with exquisite works by Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio. For art enthusiasts, this is a rare opportunity that must not be missed. Admire captivating architecture and a vast collection of classical sculptures, then seamlessly transition into St. Peter's Basilica without queues. Stand in awe of Michelangelo's Pieta and the Bernini canopy. End your tour in the heart of Vatican City, St. Peter's Square, encircled by its iconic colonnades.
Enhance your experience and make it as smooth and comfortable by selecting our Luxury Option with pick-up and drop-off service.
Options
Basic Option
No Transportation: This tour option has NO TRANSFERS included. Meet and greet with the guide on-site at Caffè Vaticano, Viale Vaticano 100
What's included in Private Vatican Museums Hidden Gems Tour with Optional Pick-Up
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Vatican Museums
Treat yourself with a customized private tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica. Visit some hidden gems of the museums and explore rooms closed to the general public at all times. Meet your guide at your hotel where you will be picked-up and travel together to the Vatican Museums. Skip the line for fast-track entry to the world famous Vatican museum complex, made up of galleries with an impressive number of artwork and masterpieces from antiquity to present day. During your visit you will have a chance to see one of the world’s finest collections of sculptures, carvings, frescoes and paintings. Enjoy the impressive Belvedere Courtyard and then stroll through the most interesting rooms and galleries of the museum complex. Marvel at the famous Lacoon and the Belvedere Torso at the sculpture museum, deeply revered by Michelangelo and other Renaissance artists.
Cortile della PignaPass-by Only
The Cortile della Pigna, or "Court of the Pine Cone," is a tranquil courtyard within the Vatican City, named after a colossal bronze pine cone that dates back to Ancient Rome. This pine cone, once a fountain, stands as the centerpiece of the courtyard, symbolizing enlightenment and eternal life. The courtyard, nestled between the Vatican Museums' Belvedere Palace and the Apostolic Palace, is an embodiment of the Renaissance spirit, blending art, nature, and history in a serene setting.
Sphere within a SpherePass-by Only
Sculpted by Arnaldo Pomodoro, the 'Sphere within a Sphere' artwork in the Vatican is a captivating bronze sculpture featuring a large golden sphere with a smaller, intricately textured sphere nested within. Symbolic and enigmatic, it invites contemplation on themes of life's cyclical nature and the interconnectedness of the universe. The play of light on its surfaces adds dynamic dimensions to this thought-provoking piece.
Inclusions
- Shortcut to St. Peter's Basilica (free access)
- Only for LUXURY Option: Pick-up and Drop-off included
- Skip the Line Tickets
- Only for COMFORT Option: Pick-up included
- Visit to the Sistine Chapel
- Access to the Pinacoteca Art Gallery
- Professional Licensed Blue Badge Tour Guide for A Private Walking Tour
- Food & Beverage
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Dress appropriately for worship places and museums; no shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Cover knees and shoulders for both genders to avoid entry issues.
- Please notify us of mobility issues or disabilities.
- Allow at least 20 minutes for monument/attraction security checks.
- Timings and reservations may vary and are subject to last-minute changes.
- Wheelchair users note partial museum accessibility; Basilica not included.
- St. Peter’s Basilica and Sistine Chapel may close last-minute for ceremonies; extended Vatican Museums tour offered in such cases.
- Children under 18 require a valid passport or ID for age verification on the tour day.
- Please review the confirmation message sent one day before the tour for final details.
- Due to the Jubilee, some monuments may be under restoration or closed due to extraordinary celebrations. Please pay attention to any messages we may send regarding potential changes
- Wear comfortable shoes for moderate walking during the tour.
- To ensure the safety and well-being of all our guests, every reservation that includes minors (under 18) must be accompanied by at least one adult. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept bookings made exclusively by unaccompanied minors.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You can choose to be picked up from a list of locations, or alternatively, have the choice to make your own way to the meeting points
Additional Information
Pick up from centrally located accommodations (within the Aurelian Walls). We kindly ask you to be ready for departure at 9:45 AM.
Meeting Points
- If you have selected the BASIC OPTION, you will meet your private guide directly on-site. The meeting point is located on the opposite sidewalk of the Museum's entrance. Your guide will be holding a sign with your name.
End Points
- If you have selected the LUXURY OPTION, the drop-off service from Piazza San Pietro to the accommodation is included in the tour offer.
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
• Visitors must pass through metal detectors at the security check point. Please expect to wait 5-10 minutes to clear security. • A dress code is in place to enter the Vatican Museums and knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women. No shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. This dress code is strictly enforced and you will be refused entry if you fail to comply with requirements • It is strictly forbidden to take photographs in the Sistine Chapel. The staff is authorized to remove any of the photographs and recordings you may have taken. Everywhere else it is possible to take photographs with no flash • Large items such as large umbrellas, camera stands and tripods, walking sticks (except for disabled persons) are not allowed and are to be left in the cloakroom. Sharp objects, such as knives and scissors, and any presumably dangerous items are also required to be left in the cloakroom. Food and drinks are not allowed to be taken inside the museums, with the exception of water. Food and drinks left in the cloakroom and not collected on the same day will be thrown away • Pets are not allowed - Important notice: The Basilica of St Peter's might close for last minute ceremonies or mass
