Rome

Private Vatican Museums Entry: Hidden Gems Tour

Name: Private Vatican Museums Entry: Hidden Gems Tour
Brand: Eyes of Rome
SKU: 20163P15
Price: 357.30 USD
Rating: 5.0 (207 reviews)

Badge of ExcellenceRome, Italy

From $357.30

Price varies by group size

Select Date and Travelers

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

4 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Skip-the-line at the Vatican Museums on this tour of one of the world’s most renowned collections of art. With a private guide, go straight inside the complex to admire the Vatican’s architecture, marvel at works by masters like Raphael and Caravaggio, and see some of the ‘hidden,’ off-the-beaten-path sites that many visitors miss, including the Pinacoteca. Of course, you visit the Sistine Chapel to see Michelangelo’s famous frescoes, and enter St. Peter’s Basilica from the museums, avoiding the main entrance line.

Explore the Vatican Museums on a skip-the-line tour
See the Sistine Chapel and visit St. Peter's Basilica
A private guide ensures a personalized experience
Upgrades for hotel pickup and drop-off within central Rome

What's Included

Professional Licensed Blue Badge Tour Guide for A Private Walking Tour
Skip The lIne Tickets
Only for LUXURY OPTION: Pick-up and Drop-off included
Only for COMFORT OPTION: Pick-up included
Access to the Pinacoteca Art Gallery
Shortcut to St. Peter's Basilica
Visit to the Sistine Chapel

Food & Beverage

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Meeting point

Caffè Vaticano
viale, Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Roma RM, Italy
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.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

End point

Saint Peter's Square
Piazza San Pietro, 00120 Città del Vaticano, Vatican City
If you have selected the LUXURY OPTION, the drop-off service from Piazza San Pietro to the accommodation is included in the tour offer.

Pickup details

Pick up from centrally located accommodations (within the Aurelian Walls). We kindly ask you to be ready for departure at 9:45 AM.

What To Expect

Vatican Museums

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Cortile della Pigna (Pass By)

Sphere within a Sphere (Pass By)

Gallery of Tapestries

5 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Gallery of the Maps

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Galleria dei Candelabri

15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Sistine Chapel

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Paintings Gallery of the Vatican Museums

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

St. Peter's Basilica

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

St. Peter's Baldachin (Pass By)

La Pieta (Pass By)

St. Peter's Square (Pass By)

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Most travelers can participate
Dress appropriately for worship places and museums; no shorts or sleeveless tops allowed. Cover knees and shoulders for both genders to avoid entry issues.
Wear comfortable shoes for moderate walking during the tour.
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.
Review the confirmation message sent one day before the tour for final details.
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.

Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews

5.0

207 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 207 reviews

Amazing!! Worth the money! Our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging.

Lisa_H, Apr 2024

Worth the money! We enjoyed our guide who was very knowledgeable and engaging. He was super friendly. We especially liked not having to wait in the long lines.

Private Vatican Tour - well worth it!

Katherine_C, Apr 2024

First, be prepared to walk a lot but also see some of the most amazing, beautiful structures, paintings and sculptures to be seen! We were guided through the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica by our private guide, Michela (operated by Eyes of Rome). We visited on Easter weekend (Saturday), so we were prepared for an extremely crowded day; however, Michela did a phenomenal job getting us through the lines and security, working us through the crowds in amazing fashion. The Vatican museum is full of so many interesting and beautiful galleries, and it was so neat being able to walk through prior Popes' living quarters including works by Michelangelo, Rome's only Leonardo Da Vinci painting, Caravaggio pieces and a room painted fully by Raphael. Since you can't take photos in the Sistine Chapel, Michela had a book with photos explaining beforehand exactly what we would see and what different pieces represented. It truly helped to understand the full meaning behind different aspects of the Sistine Chapel's many works. Next, we toured St. Peter's Basilica which was decorated with flowers for Easter. No words can describe the Basilica, it's size, overall beauty and the amazing works of art it contains. It's baffling that everything inside that looks like a painting is actually mosaic!! All in all, we highly recommend this private tour with both the knowledge of the guide and the ability to skip many of the long lines and big crowds.

Fantastic tour guide

Julie_S, Mar 2024

Our tour guide was very informative and told the history in a way that made it fun. She was fantastic!

Just Beautiful

K_T, Jan 2024

I am so glad I booked this tour with Tonia and would recommend her for any of your tours. She was so knowledgeable and showed you things at the Vatican we would have never seen. The line was wrapped around the wall and she got us thru every exhibit with ease. I would 100% recommend her for any tour in this city. Thanks again, Kim & Elizabeth.

Fantastic!

Paola_B, Nov 2023

She was a great tour guide - very knowledgeable and made the day fun for our family. We were able to see much more because it was a private tour

Response from Host, Dec 2023

Dear Paola, Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience with our tour guide and that the private tour allowed your family to see so much more We appreciate your feedback and hope to welcome you back for more enjoyable adventures in the future! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Highly Recommend

David_N, Nov 2023

Could not have been happier with this tour. Alessandro was the best. He gave us a hidden view of areas we couldn’t normally see. He took all of the pictures we wanted even securing the best views by moving people out of the way. He made us feel like the Vatican was ours. He was so knowledgeable and shared what we should take pictures of. The climb to the Dome was amazing and seeing the view was the best. Recommend this tour and ask for Alessandro!

Response from Host, Nov 2023

Dear David, We are absolutely thrilled to receive your glowing review! Thank you for choosing our tour and for taking the time to share your experience. We're delighted to hear that Alessandro made your visit to the Vatican truly exceptional. We appreciate your enthusiastic recommendation and are grateful for your kind words. Should your travels bring you back, we would be honored to welcome you for another unforgettable tour. Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Would do it again

Richard_S, Oct 2023

Had an excellent tour guide. Who was very knowledgeable and informative throughout the tour. The drivers over and back were also excellent

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Richard, We greatly appreciate your kind feedback! It's wonderful to hear that you had an excellent tour with a knowledgeable and informative guide. We strive to provide the best experience for our guests, and it's always rewarding to know that our efforts are appreciated. We'll be sure to pass on your compliments to the drivers as well. If you ever plan to embark on another adventure with us, please feel free to get in touch. We're here to assist you with more excellent experiences in the future! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Comfy ride and knowledgeable guide

Jasmin_W, Oct 2023

This was a wonderful experience. We decided to climb St. Peter’s done as well which I highly recommend. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable answering any questions we had and giving us so much knowledge on what we were seeing. She also had some interesting stories that were geared towards my 13yo and 10yo boy and girl. I couldn’t imagine a better experience. The pick up and drop off was also in the nice black vans.

Response from Host, Oct 2023

Dear Jasmine, Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience! It's great to hear that your visit to St. Peter's Dome was not only enjoyable but also enriched by a knowledgeable guide who made it engaging for both the kids and adults. We are also happy that you enjoyed the pick-up and drop-off service. We appreciate your recommendation, and we hope you and your family have many more memorable experiences in the future with us! Best regards, Eyes of Rome Team

It was worth every cent of the price.

Nancy_B, Sep 2023

Our guide was a complete professional who exhibited a true “labor of love” in conducting the tour. He made this ‘bucket list’ event for us all the more special by his wealth of knowledge coupled with his warm presentation.

Elisa Dattile a Treasure

Frederic_F, Aug 2023

Our guide, Elisa Dattile was so good. She gave so much information as we traveled thru the museum. Unfortunately my wife got overheated due the the intense heat and we had to leave mid tour. If we ever get back to Rome I would love to have Elisa give us another tour. Anyone who is lucky enough to get her as their guide is in for a real treat.

Response from Host, Sep 2023

Dear Frederic, We are sorry to hear that your tour had to be cut short due to the heat, but it's great to hear such positive feedback about your guide, Elisa Dattile, and it's wonderful to know that you would love to have her as your guide again in the future, and I'm sure she would be equally excited to show you more of Rome's treasures if you return. Thank you for sharing your experience, and we hope your next visit to Rome will be an even more enjoyable one! Arrivederci, Eyes of Rome Team

Amazing Vatican experience

Oksana_S, Aug 2023

Our guide, Mirta, was fantastic. The tour was very informative, we got to see and experience the Vatican and all of its treasures and beauty. I would highly recommend this tour

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Ciao Oksana, thank you for taking time in sending this lovely review! We are happy you enjoyed your time with Mirta. The Vatican Museums are a stunning experience for everyone's eyes and soul, we believe that touring with a private guide makes this even more amazing!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!

Rendel_S, Jul 2023

This tour was absolutely incredible. I questioned the price at first, but after seeing the long lines to get in plus the large groups all trying to keep track of someone with a flag on an umbrella, I was happy we did a private Vatican tour. We had a 17 month old baby in a stroller and a 66 year celebrating her birthday, so we needed the flexibility to make stops or rest on multiple occasions. Our guide Tania was phenomenal and even helped carry the stroller up and down stairs. I would highly recommend this tour!!

Response from Host, Aug 2023

Thank you! We're honored you found our private Vatican tour incredible, especially with a baby and a birthday celebration in tow. Tania sounds like a star, and we're glad she made your experience so special. Looking forward to your next adventure with us!

The guide was terrific. ...

Reba_R, Jun 2023

The guide was terrific. We learned so much and really appreciated the added areas we were able to see as part of the tour. Getting to get out of the crowds and see something special was a real treat.

Response from Host, Jul 2023

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a terrific experience with our guide. It's delightful to know that you learned a lot and enjoyed the additional areas we included in the tour. Escaping the crowds and discovering something special is what we aim for, and we're glad you found it to be a real treat. Your kind words mean a lot to us. We hope to welcome you back soon for more memorable adventures! If you have any other feedback or questions, please don't hesitate to let us know. Safe travels!

Ornella was incredible!

eugene_z, May 2023

Our guide, Ornella, was incredible. She was very knowledgable and thorough. She explained the history, the nuance of the art and made it very interesting. The sistine chapel, the rafaello rooms and the climb to the dome are a must.

Totally worth it!

April_T, Apr 2023

Such and incredible tour. Our guide was highly educated in the history and made the tour so much more interesting! We also got to go in a private section of the Vatican museum. Super cool experience!

Wasted valuable money on these tickets.

Linda_G, Apr 2023

Super disappointed in this trip! We splurged on very expensive tickets as we expected to skip the lines and get to see some Vatican ‘gems’ that were not on a general admission tour. That was not the case. Other than the first line to purchase entry - we waited in line along with everyone else. We saw nothing hidden and I guide’s English was difficult to understand.

Response from Host, Apr 2023

Dear Linda, Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback about your recent Vatican Museums Hidden Gems tour. We are sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we would like to address your concerns. First and foremost, we appreciate your honesty as it helps us to improve our services and offer better experiences to our future clients. We have taken the time to investigate the issues you mentioned, and we would like to share some insights with you. Regarding the hidden gems, we can confirm that our guide took you to the Cabinet of Masks and the Room of the Animals, which are exclusive areas reserved only for a few tour operators in the world. We apologize if you did not feel that these were unique experiences. Regarding the lines, we would like to clarify that our tour includes skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. However, we cannot control the mandatory security line, which is necessary for all visitors, including those with skip-the-line tickets. Additionally, during the high season and Easter period, the number of visitors to the Vatican Museums can be exceptionally high, leading to longer wait times. We understand that you did not feel that your skip-the-line tickets were useful for the security check line. Regarding St. Peter's Dome, we regret that we could not provide you with the tour due to an unexpectedly long queue. As a place of worship and a free admission site, we cannot purchase skip-the-line tickets in advance. Our guide informed you of the queue and asked if you wished to wait in line, but you declined. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We value your feedback and appreciate your consideration of our services in the future. We would be delighted to offer you special treatment on your next visit to make up for any shortcomings you experienced on your previous tour. Thank you again for choosing Eyes of Rome for your Vatican Museums tour. Best regards, Eyes of Rome Customer Care Team

OUTSTANDING IN EVERY WAY

Karen_W, Feb 2023

This was absolutely a very in depth tour of the Vatican that I could never have planned on my own without missing anything. Our tour guide was absolutely top notch. I highly recommend this tour.

Response from Host, Mar 2023

Hi Karen How lovely is to receive your feedback. We are pleased you rate both this tour and your guide as outstanding! Great memories like these ones are what we love to achieve for our customers on a daily basis. Thanks for choosing Eyes of Rome again and we hope to see you again!

Highlight of my trip to Rome!

Jerome_H, Nov 2022

St. Peter’s Basilica is staggeringly beautiful, and the opportunity to see areas of the museums off limits to most tourists was well worth the modest added cost. Overall, this private tour was beyond any expectation… and having a lovely and brilliant guide like Azzurra made all the difference. Strongly recommend!

Response from Host, Nov 2022

Thank you so much, Jerome, for your kind review and words. The Eyes of Rome team and Azzurra send you our best greetings, hoping to see you again in Rome soon!

Great experience

Brian_B, Sep 2022

Tour was amazing. Saw everything possible in the timeframe and didn’t feel rushed. The dome was a great experience. Our guide was exceptional.

Response from Host, Sep 2022

Ciao Brian, Thank you so much for your feedback! We are extremely pleased to learn your experience was great. Thank you for choosing us! We hope to see you soon in Rome again!

Excellent Tour!

Brandon_R, Aug 2022

The Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica were absolutely a joy to tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. The pick up and drop off at our hotel was seamless and made the trip very easy. Our guide provided great narration of all the art pieces and various places throughout the tour. He also pointed out some great spots to take pictures. Highly recommended!

Response from Host, Aug 2022

Dear Brando, Thank you so much for taking the time to write this lovely review. We highly appreciate your feedback and we are pleased to see you enjoyed the tour with us. Since your guide name isn't mentioned, we will share your positive comment among us all :) We hope to see you again in Rome!

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