Tour Details
- Duration
- 2.5 hours
- Product Type
- Tour
- Venues
-
- Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
- Raphael Rooms
Photos & Highlights
- Enjoy crowds-free access to the Vatican Museum collections
- The pinnacle of your Context Tour of Italy
Select a date
Tour Description
Your Vatican after-hours tour provides an opportunity to contemplate these exquisite galleries in peace, just as Popes throughout the ages have done. Accompanied by an art historian, we will enjoy a guided exploration of this enormous collection, pausing to take an up-close look at world-class sculptures, tapestries, and frescoes. Our Vatican night tour finishes with a spectacular visit to the Sistine Chapel, which you'll have to yourselves.
Please note: These dates are available by request only, and therefore can be extremely difficult to secure. Please provide your alternate availability in the additional details section at checkout. We do our best to work with the Vatican's highly sought-after timeslots that are available before and after their open hours.
Over the centuries, papal patrons have commissioned renowned works, such as the magnificent frescoes by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel, and those by Raphael in his Stanze. The Vatican is home to many of the most important sculptures from the ancient world – including the Laocoön and the Belvedere Torso. Led by a Context expert, you are able to view this collection as few ever have—without the crush of the crowds.
Together we will take our time learning about the masterpieces that adorn the Vatican Museum galleries. As we encounter paintings and sculptures brought to life by Italian masters, you’ll have the chance to ask questions, engage more closely with Vatican City’s unique historical narratives, and come away with unparalleled knowledge of Italy’s most iconic museum.
- This tour is available by request only. Please share alternate availability when you place your order to maximize the opportunity of securing a date.
- Please note that the availability of certain galleries is subject to change due to unexpected activities or events hosted by Vatican City.
- Not all of the Vatican Museum galleries will be accessible during this after-hours visit, including the Pinacoteca and Egyptian collections. The Belvedere Courtyard is often closed after hours but will be included if possible. St. Peter’s Basilica will not be available.
- We normally spend a significant amount of time (35-40 minutes) inside the Sistine Chapel and divide the rest of our time between the Gallery of Maps, the Tapestry Gallery, and the Raphael Rooms, including other collections as time and security permits.
- Though this is an after-hours visit, there are a small number of other groups that may be in the museums at the same time, which means we may run into other visitors while in the museum. The number of people in the museums after-hours, however, is minuscule compared to daytime crowds.
- This tour meets promptly at 5:45 PM, or 6:45 AM (depending on your booking), so that we may maximize our available time in the galleries together. Meeting point details will be provided once your reservation has been confirmed by our team.
Additional Information
- To assist you in planning your trip to the Vatican, we have created an informative resources page on how to tour the Vatican.
Is this tour accessible?
Visitors with disabilities may be entitled to free entry to the Vatican Museums. Please consult the Vatican Museums website for further information and please contact us to discuss if you qualify. Vatican Museums Accessibility Information.
Visitors with disabilities may be entitled to free entry to the Vatican Museums. Please consult the Vatican Museums website for further information and please contact us to discuss if you qualify. Vatican Museums Accessibility Information.
Where You'll Start
–
19 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
MAGNIFICENT. ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE
Brendan
Dec 27, 2019
The After Hours experience at the Vatican Museum is amazing! As a Roman docent myself, I truly loved it and would surely recommend. I know Patrizia as a colleague with a solid background, notable experience, and wide knowledge - but she exceeded any expectation, especially in terms of making us feel as part of the place. Having the Museums Galleries all for us helped it a lot, too! My warmest thanks to Context in the persons of the Rome staff, and of course to Patrizia for her passion and for her lovely way to convey information to us all: THANKS!
Veronica
Dec 18, 2018
Thank you for organising the after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums for docents. It was such a privilege to look at the art without the usual crowds and in the delight company of other Context docents.
Linda
Dec 18, 2018
After Hours Access to the Vatican Museums
Your keys to exclusive access with Context
Book Now
