vatican museums night tour

Enter the Vatican before dawn breaks on the horizon in the company of the chief Vatican Key Master (Clavigero). Together, you will unlock the doors of the greatest museum collection in the world on this truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. Your private official Vatican guide will join you on this extraordinary journey, pointing out the highlights and bringing this incredible collection to life as you wander through the maze of courtyards and galleries alone.

Tour Highlights

Sistine Chapel

The Raphael Rooms

The Octagonal Courtyard

The Gallery of Maps

Hidden Gems

Candelabra Gallery
The Tapestry Gallery
Sarcophagi of Helen and Costanza
The Pinecone Courtyard

Tour Includes

Special Opening of the Vatican with the Key Keeper
Expert, fluent English-speaking guide
Headsets for groups of 6 or more

Important Notes

Please be aware that the Sistine Chapel is a sacred space where visitors are required to cover their knees and shoulders. Failure to adhere to this dress code may result in you not being able to enter, so please bring a shawl to cover your shoulders if necessary.

Create Your Custom Journey

Our dedicated team is here to help you design the perfect trip. We’re happy to assist every step of the way.

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Experience the Vatican like the ultimate VIP. Our carefully curated luxury Vatican experience will allow you to explore the Vatican Museums in a way that is usually only accessible to diplomats, celebrities, and heads of state. This is the most exclusive tour of the Vatican available today.

Hallways normally brimming with thousands of daily visitors are eerily silent and serene; the only sound is your footsteps and the jangle of the Key Master’s keys in the dim light of dawn. The Vatican Museums span miles of corridors and thousands of rooms. Unlocking the 2,797 doors is a mammoth daily undertaking, and joining the Key Master and his small team is a rare privilege that few ever experience.

Itinerary

What To Expect On Your Tour

Enjoy a Once in a Lifetime VIP Experience

You will get the opportunity to hold some of the massive keychains that seal this collection every night. The Key Master may also invite you to open some of the ancient doors yourself! The feeling of hearing the click as you turn the key in these historic doors, then the creak as you push them open, is both electrifying and humbling.

You’ll come face-to-face with some of the world’s great masterpieces from the ancient world and the Renaissance. From Lacoön and the Apollo Belvedere to the Raphael Rooms and the iconic School of Athens fresco – you will literally have these works of art to yourself. There is no more intimate way to experience the Vatican Museums.

Come face-to-face with works of genius in the Raphael Rooms and Sistine Chapel

The suspense rises as you descend the steps to the highlight: the Sistine Chapel. The rest of the museums’ keys are numbered and kept on huge metal keyrings, but this key. The key to the Sistine Chapel is placed and sealed inside an envelope every night. The Key Master will unseal the key before you, and perhaps you might be lucky enough to open the most famous door of the Vatican yourself.

You’ll step inside in the darkness, your footsteps echoing around you. Then, look up in awe as the Key Master flicks the switch and illuminates Michelangelo’s masterpiece before you. To be alone with Michelangelo’s frescos is a truly unique experience that will leave you breathless.

Afterward, your guide will lead you to the Pinecone courtyard, where you can enjoy a leisurely and filling breakfast while ruminating on what is genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As you watch the other visitors start to flow through the museums, you know that you have created memories that will last a lifetime.

Important Disclaimer:

This description is an example, and your experience may vary slightly depending on factors such as the season, day of the week, and group size. However, you can always expect an excellent and memorable experience with us.

gaze on michelangelo's achievement in the sistine chapel

Create Your Custom Journey

Our dedicated team is here to help you design the perfect trip. We’re happy to assist every step of the way.

GET STARTED

The Vatican Museums

Home to one of the world’s greatest art collections, the Vatican Museums showcase masterpieces from ancient Rome to the Renaissance. Visitors can admire sculptures, frescoes, and artifacts that reveal centuries of artistic achievement.

The Sistine Chapel

Famed for Michelangelo’s breathtaking ceiling and The Last Judgement, the Sistine Chapel is one of the most awe-inspiring spaces in the world. Every inch of the chapel tells a story drawn from the Bible and Renaissance artistry.

The Hall of Maps

Stretching more than 400 feet, the Gallery of Maps features exquisite frescoes of Italy’s regions painted in the 16th century. The vivid details and gilded ceiling make this corridor a true highlight of the Vatican Museums.

The Tapestry Gallery

Adorned with intricate 16th-century Flemish tapestries, this gallery showcases works originally designed by Raphael’s students. Each piece reflects the craftsmanship and storytelling that defined the Renaissance.

The Pinecone Courtyard

Named for its massive bronze pinecone sculpture dating back to ancient Rome, this open-air courtyard offers a peaceful break during your museum visit. It’s a favorite spot for photos and a moment of reflection amid the art.

Candelabra Gallery

Lined with towering marble columns and ornate chandeliers, the Gallery of Candelabra displays ancient Roman statues and elaborate decorative details. Its blend of sculpture and grandeur captures the essence of Vatican opulence.