How to Experience the Vatican Without the Crowds

The Vatican Museums rank among Rome’s most essential attractions—comparable to the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Home to papal collections since the 15th century, this sprawling complex features 24 museums along with countless galleries and chapels. With about 6 million visitors annually, it’s a major draw, and during my first visit with family in 2008, I felt overwhelmed. After hours of navigating through ancient sculptures and Renaissance masterpieces, I questioned whether I’d ever reach the Sistine Chapel. When I finally arrived, it was so packed that I struggled to fully enjoy it.

When I received an invitation from global booking platform GetYourGuide for an exclusive 6 a.m. tour of the Vatican Museums with the head clavigero Gianni Crea, I knew I couldn’t pass it up, even if it meant waking up at 4:30 a.m.

Exploring the Vatican with GetYourGuide

I arrived just in time as our small group entered through a side entrance. Gianni Crea, the Vatican’s head key keeper for over a decade, greeted us. He shared that there are 2,797 keys for the various buildings and doors of the Vatican Museums, all numbered and organized on large key rings stored in a climate-controlled vault designed to prevent rust. However, the key to the Sistine Chapel is different; it’s kept separately in a sealed envelope, signed each night by the clavigero and museum administration, stored in its own safe without any duplicates.

I asked Crea about the age of the oldest key, and he presented a hefty one from the 1700s from his collection, later guiding me to use it to unlock the Museo Pio Clementino, established by Pope Clement XIV in the 18th century and later enhanced by Pope Pius VI.

As Crea navigated us through the vacant corridors, the sound of dozens of keys jingled on the large rings he carried. Each group member took turns using a key to unlock galleries and illuminate the rooms. Along the way, he highlighted notable pieces, including the Belvedere Torso, an ancient sculpture that inspired Michelangelo and many others.

We made our way to the Statues Courtyard. While admiring the ancient Greek sculpture of Laocoön and His Sons, Crea recounted that when discovered in the 1500s, it was missing its right arm. A contest was held to create a new arm by artist Jacopo Sansovino, but it was placed incorrectly. Later, when the original arm was found, it confirmed Michelangelo’s initial placement. Interestingly, the replacement arm is discreetly hidden behind the statue, secured to the pedestal. Crea allowed us to step behind the statue—something usually off-limits to visitors—to see it up close.

As we continued our exploration, Crea paused to highlight a sculpture that he claimed might feature “the best backside” of antiquity before leading us to the original Bramante Staircase, which is typically off-limits. There are two staircases named the Bramante Staircase in the Vatican Museums, but the one most visitors see is a modern version created by Giuseppe Momo in 1932. The original spiral staircase, designed by Donato Bramante in the 1500s, was a double helix structure that allowed ascending and descending visitors to use separate paths, preventing any crossing. It functioned more like a paved ramp, enabling the pope to ascend in his carriage.

We moved on, passing through several galleries until we reached the Gallery of Maps. I wandered through at a leisurely pace, admiring the 16th-century geographical paintings depicting Italy’s various regions, reflecting on the places I’ve visited and those I aspire to see.

We then took a shortcut directly to the Sistine Chapel. Crea placed its unique key—the only one without a number—onto one of his large key rings, teasing that whoever spotted it among the others could unlock the door.

Inside, we had the privilege of gazing at Michelangelo’s masterpiece bathed in the early morning light—an unforgettable experience. I was also granted access to the normally restricted room where the newly elected pope changes into his papal garments for the first time. This small antechamber, brightly lit yet sparsely furnished, is known as “the Crying Room” due to its emotional significance.

As our tour concluded and we were escorted to the courtyard for breakfast, the museum’s first guests began to arrive. Later, Crea took us to one final restricted area—a terrace offering stunning views of the dome of St. Peter’s and the courtyard below. For a brief moment, I felt akin to Jep Gambardella, the main character from Paolo Sorrentino’s film La Grande Bellezza. It was a poignant reminder that just beyond—and often within—Rome’s busiest and most chaotic attractions, hidden gems await discovery.

If you want to experience the Sistine Chapel without jostling with crowds, you have two choices: arrive early or visit late.

Navigating the Vatican Without the Crowds

Before planning your Vatican visit, keep a few things in mind. You do not need a guide for the Vatican Museums. You can easily purchase a Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums ticket (in advance) from the official Vatican ticketing site—museivaticani.va—and explore at your own pace. Tickets cost $22 for adults, plus a $5.50 reservation fee for each booking.

The official Vatican Museums site does provide some tours, but the early and late-hour tours are operated by third-party companies authorized by the Vatican. (During your visit, you’ll notice your guide displaying a government-issued tour guide license.)

Morning Vatican Tours

Early tours, starting before the museums open, provide the most spacious experience. The Vatican Museums are open year-round from 8 a.m. During the months of April to October, the Vatican stays open until 8 p.m. (last entry at 6 p.m.). Throughout April, the Vatican is open every Friday and Saturday until 10:30 p.m. (last entry at 8:30 p.m.).

• The 6 to 8 a.m. tour with the clavigero is available through GetYourGuide (starting at $351) and Walks of Italy (starting at $569).
• A tour from 7 to 10 a.m. or 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. can be booked via Viator and AAA (both starting at $110).

Evening Vatican Tours

A two-hour evening tour (from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.) can be arranged through Headout (starting at $97) and The Tour Guy (starting at $96); LivTours offers a visit from 5:30 to 8 p.m. (starting at $163).

The author was hosted by the global booking platform GetYourGuide.

This article was first published in 2022 and was most recently updated on August 21, 2024, with the latest information. Sophie Friedman contributed to the reporting of this piece.