The Vatican Museums at the end of the day: 2 hours with an English-speaking guide through the galleries, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, from $85.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before, with a full refund
- Duration2 hours
- Starting timesLate afternoon; the free departure we saw on October 27, 2026 was at 5:30 pm
- LanguagesEnglish
If you're looking for a Vatican Museums night tour, know this first: the Museums have no fixed night hours. According to the official pages we checked, they open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, with last entry at 6:00 pm, and announce no night openings. This tour is the way to see them at the end of the day: a 2-hour guided tour that starts late in the afternoon (the free departure we saw on October 27, 2026 was at 5:30 pm) and runs through the galleries to the Sistine Chapel. It costs from $85 per person, with an English-speaking guide and groups of up to 20. It is rated 4.4 out of 5 from 470 reviews on GetYourGuide and cancels free up to 24 hours before.
Book Vatican ticketsKey facts
Visita nocturna- Duration
- 2 hours
- Starts
- Late afternoon; the free departure we saw on October 27, 2026 was at 5:30 pm
- Meeting point
- Viale Vaticano, 100: the top of the large staircase between Tmark Hotel Vaticano and Caffè Vaticano
- Price
- $85 per person
- Entry ticket included
- Yes
- Languages
- English
- Group size
- Up to 20 people
- Accessibility
- Not wheelchair accessible: there are walking sections, stairs and uneven floors. A light folding stroller is allowed in the Museums, but the listing recommends a baby carrier.
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, with a full refund
Included
- ✓ Expert English-speaking guide
- ✓ Timed tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- ✓ Guided tour of the Vatican Museums
- ✓ Raphael Rooms and The School of Athens
- ✓ Visit to the Sistine Chapel
- ✓ Headsets (for 6 people or more)
Not included
- ✗ St Peter's Basilica
- ✗ Tips for the guide
Meeting point
Viale Vaticano, 100, 00192 Rome — Arrive 10 minutes early. A representative waits for you with a “The Tour Guy” sign.
Nearest transit: Metro line A, Ottaviano or Cipro stops; bus 49 stops opposite the Museums
Are the Vatican Museums open at night?
According to the official hours we checked, there are no night hours: the Museums open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, with last entry at 6:00 pm, and staff start clearing the rooms 30 minutes before closing. This tour makes the most of the end of the day: it starts late in the afternoon, when, according to the listing, the heat drops and the galleries calm down. The free departure we saw on October 27, 2026 was at 5:30 pm. Before you travel, check the Vatican Museums hours, which change on the last Sunday of each month and on holidays.
What you see and what you don't
You start in the Courtyard of the Pinecone, with a view of St Peter's Basilica, and continue through the Pio-Clementino Museum, with the Apollo Belvedere, the Laocoön and the Belvedere Torso. Then come the Galleries of the Candelabra, the Tapestries and the Maps, the Raphael Rooms with The School of Athens and, finally, the Sistine Chapel. The guided part ends before the chapel, because silence is required inside: the guide explains the ceiling and the Last Judgment beforehand. It does not include St Peter's Basilica, and one review warns that the shops were already closed at the end.
Group, language and rules
The guide speaks English and the group is up to 20 people; for 6 people or more there are headsets. Bring a copy of your passport's ID page (a photo on your phone is fine). Shoulders and knees covered, for men and women; hats and flip-flops are not allowed, and you can be refused entry if you don't comply. Large bags, backpacks, suitcases and tripods are not allowed. State visits or religious events can close areas of the Vatican without notice. More on clothing on the Vatican dress code page.
Price compared with the standard ticket
It costs from $85 per person, with tickets included. The official ticket costs 25 € online (20 € + 5 €) and the standard timed ticket $37: with them you can also pick an afternoon slot, up to the 6:00 pm last entry, but without a guide. Compared with the guided tour with the Sistine Chapel and Basilica, from $71, this one costs $14 more, does not include the Basilica and the guide speaks only English; in exchange, you see the Museums at the end of the day. All the rates are on the Vatican Museums ticket prices page.
Who it's for
For anyone who prefers the end of the day and understands English well. One of the reviews we read compares the two slots: during the day there are far more people, and in the afternoon the end feels rushed because the Museums are closing. It's not for wheelchair users, or for anyone who wants to see the Basilica on the same tour. To get more out of your visit, go over the Vatican Museums highlights first and compare the other Vatican tickets.
| Compared | This late-afternoon tour | Official ticket online | Daytime guided tour with Basilica |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per person | From $85 | 20 € + 5 € | From $71 |
| Time | Late afternoon (departure seen at 5:30 pm) | 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (last entry) | Depending on the time you choose |
| Guide | Yes, in English | No | Yes, in 6 languages, Spanish among them |
| Group | Up to 20 people | You go on your own | Small-group option |
| St Peter's Basilica | Not included | Free, separately | On the 3-hour options |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Non-refundable | Free up to 24 hours before |
| GetYourGuide rating | 4.4 (470 reviews) | Not sold there | 4.7 (19,233 reviews) |
What reviewers consistently say
- 9 of the 10 reviews we read give 5 stars and 1 gives 4; 8 are in English and 2 in Spanish
- 7 of 10 praise the guide
- 2 of 10 say time ran short or the end was rushed because the Museums were closing
- 1 of 10 describes a chaotic meeting point, with many agencies together
- 1 of 10 says they waited about 5 minutes to get in and that the shops had already closed at the end
- The listing's review summary says the pace feels rushed and asks for more time at the key works
Who should not book this
- Anyone who doesn't understand English well: the guide speaks only English
- Wheelchair users, according to the listing
- Anyone who wants St Peter's Basilica on the same tour: it is not included
- Anyone expecting a special night opening: this is a late-afternoon visit
-
Guided tour with the Sistine Chapel and Basilica
$714.7 19,233 reviews
$14 cheaper, during the day, with a Spanish-speaking guide option and direct access to St Peter's Basilica.
Read the full page -
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: evening tour
$167Higher rating (4.9) but very few reviews (59): 2.5 hours in English with the Gallery of Maps, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. It costs almost double.
Check availability -
The Vatican at night in a small group, with the Sistine Chapel
$211A 2-hour small group with a guide in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese or Italian. 4.6 from 52 reviews; it costs $126 more.
Check availability
4.4(470 · GetYourGuide)
Check prices & dates
Book your tickets in advance: popular time slots sell out.
Vatican Museums Night Tour: Late-Afternoon Guided Visit, $85
From$85per person
Check availabilityHow to book
Press the booking button to open the listing on GetYourGuide and choose a date; each day's start time appears when you book. Arrive at Viale Vaticano 100 ten minutes early, with the copy of your passport. You can reserve now and pay later, and cancel free up to 24 hours before. This site may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Vatican Museums open at night?
The official hours we checked are Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, with last entry at 6:00 pm, with no night opening. This tour starts late in the afternoon; the departure we saw was at 5:30 pm.
Do you see the Sistine Chapel on the late-afternoon tour?
Yes, it is the last stop. The guide explains the chapel before you go in, because silence is required inside.
Does it include St Peter's Basilica?
No. From October 26, 2026 the Basilica opens every day from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, so you can see it on your own and for free before the tour or on another day.
What ID do I need to bring?
A copy of your passport's ID page. The listing also accepts a photo on your phone.
Can I go with a baby?
A light folding stroller is allowed in the Museums, but the listing recommends a baby carrier, because there are stairs and uneven floors.
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