Have the Vatican to yourself on this exclusive, one-of-a-kind early morning tour that whisks you through closed doors for a buffet breakfast inside the Vatican Courtyard â€“ before the crowd, you’ll feast on an Italian-American buffet of pastries, meats, cheeses, hot food and even pancakes, flipped by our pancake chef. Dining in the beautiful Vatican Courtyard, alongside one of the Vatican Museums’ most beautiful works of modern art, you’ll experience tranquility rarely (if ever) seen by visitors to the Vatican. This is the Vatican Palace as they were meant to be seen, without the crowds.After breakfast, you’ll follow your tour guide exploring the Vatican Museums. The Museums will still be quieter than they are throughout the rest of the day, and with only 20 people maximum per group, you’ll have the time and space to appreciate the artworks.On your guided tour, your expert, English-speaking guide will show you all the best of the Vatican collection. You’ll see ancient (and inaccurate!) cartography in the Gallery of the Maps, visual illusions in the Gallery of the Tapestries, and even spot Rocky Balboa hidden among the characters of the Raphael Rooms. Raphael’s frescoes are said by many to rival the beauty of the Sistine Chapel. Of course, we won’t forget that highlight, as we visit Michelangelo’s world-famous ‘Last Judgment’ and ‘The Creation of Adam’ in the Sistine Chapel.Finally, your guide will avoid long lines to get you into St. Peter’s Basilica to explore one of the pillars of the Catholic church. Special access means we’ll gain direct entry from the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica without having to leave the Museums, walk 20 minutes to St. Peter’s Square and queue up for an hour. With all that extra time to spare, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the Basilica* with your guide. They’ll explain the incredible work that went into the dome here (and how Bernini almost split the Basilica in half), point out incredible artworks within, such as Michelangelo’s sculpture ‘Pietà’ and introduce to you what is probably the world’s most impressive altar. With so much to take in, you are also welcome to remain in St. Peter’s Basilica after the tour to experience more of this amazing church at your leisure, or step back outside St. Peter’s Square to admire Bernini’s clever optical illusion and the basilica’s heavenly facade.Important information – There may be restrictionsOn Wednesday mornings, St. Peter's Basilica may be closed to the public due to the Papal Audience taking place in St. Peter’s Square. Customers who wish to visit St. Peter’s Basilica are advised to travel on another day. Saint Peter’s Basilica is also subject to last-minute closures for religious ceremonies. When this occurs, we're happy to offer customers an extended tour of the Vatican Museums. While we endeavour to tell tour groups ahead of time if there are any planned disruptions to the Basilica's opening hours, this is not always possible and in these cases we are unable to provide refunds or discounts.Please note that in case of unexpected closures of some of the areas inside the Museums, the guide may have to modify the itinerary slightly. Appropriate dress is required for entry into some sites on this tour. Knees, shoulders and backs must be covered.Due to increased security measures at many attractions,s some lines may form on tours with 'Skip the Line'.