The Best Vatican Tours to Avoid the Crowds in 2025
The Vatican is going to be extra packed this year for Jubilee; here are my recs for the best ways to visit...
Hey friends!
If you’re going to Rome this year and want to visit the Vatican, that is one site I’d recommend splurging a touch on for the best (or better) tour experience.
The Vatican Museums open to the public at 8:00am, and it FILLS UP. (I’ve seen people lining up outside before 6:00am to be the first to enter at 8… wowsa.) This place gets packed in normal years, but for Jubilee, expect even higher numbers.
Honestly, I think the Vatican/Sistine kinda sucks if you’re in it with the masses. It can get wall-to-wall full of people, and the Sistine Chapel is a nightmare. It’s not a great experience that way. It might still be worth seeing if that’s your only option, but if you can, spend a little (or a lot) more for a slightly (or far) better experience.
Here are the BEST ways to avoid the crowds:
The BEST: “Key Master” or “Alone in the Vatican” Tours
These tours usually start around 6:00/6:30 am and you get to be the only group to enter. It’s expensive, ranging from around 500-800€ per person, but to be truly alone in the Vatican is really stunning. Dates are SUPER limited for these, to note. Group sizes will be around 10-20 people at most.
I took the LivTours Alone in the Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums in October, and I teared up at how incredible it was to experience the Vatican like this. There were about 6 people in our group, and we truly were alone…
Here’s a picture I took of the Gallery of Maps corridor. If you’ve been to the Vatican during normal hours, this is unfathomable. You can’t take pictures in the Sistine Chapel, but it was just like this…
LivTours
LivTours VIP Semi-Private Key Master Experience | Opening the Sistine Chapel
LivTours Alone in the Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums | Exclusive Semi-Private Tour
**NOTE: These don’t include St. Peter’s Basilica, some may offer it as an add-on.
The “Key Master” experiences let you be the group to “unlock” the Sistine Chapel and may have an official Vatican guide. But the “Alone” tours are just as worthwhile if that aspect doesn’t matter to you. (You have a tour guide regardless.)
Walks of Italy
They also offer these public tour options and will have different dates:
Walks of Italy VIP Vatican Key Master’s Tour: Unlock the Sistine Chapel
Walks of Italy Alone in the Sistine Chapel: VIP Entry at the Vatican’s Most Exclusive Hours (2h 45min)
Want the Private Tour Version?
These run between 5000-9000€ (total, not per person):
LivTours VIP Private Vatican Key Master Experience | Opening the Sistine Chapel (2h)
LivTours Alone in the Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums | Exclusive Private Tour (2h 45min)
OK, the NEXT Best: Early Morning Entry
If you want a little better price point but still get in a touch before the public, opt for an “Early Morning” tour. These are closer to 150-200€/person and will start closer to 7:30am. To note, you do go in with many other tour groups, but it is better than go in later in the morning. And often, these tours WILL include St. Peter’s Basilica if possible:
LivTours Early Morning Vatican Tour (3.5 hours)
Walks of Italy Pristine Sistine Early Morning Tour (4 hours)
Or Opt for the Private Tour Version:
LivTours Private Early Morning Vatican Tour (3.5 hours)
The Cheapest:
If you don’t have oodles to spend or don’t care for a tour group, the cheapest option is getting official tickets from the Vatican, and you can opt for an audio tour if you’d like.
Official Tickets: Official Vatican Ticket Link (tickets released 60+ days out - this year, because of Jubilee, they are releasing more months in advance)
The Vatican also offers official guided tours that will be much cheaper (but only operate during normal hours). Those typically release 60 days out.
Other Tips
Book well in advance for the best availability and options.
Keep in mind that the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, and St. Peter’s Basilica is closed on Wednesday mornings.
If you aren’t doing early access, go on a weekday or non-Jubilee event weekend - Jubilee Calendar Link
You may need your passport to enter.
Shoulders and knees need to be covered.
I hope that helps a bit! Please feel free to comment with any questions, and I’ll do my best to answer.
Ciao!
Jenna
P.S. The staircase to exit the Vatican…
