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Vatican Breakfast
Are you searching for the best way to explore the Vatican? Consider an exciting experience that goes beyond the typical Roman itinerary: the Vatican Early Entry Breakfast.
While it was originally available through the Vatican Museums website, this has changed, but you can still book it through various tour companies. By opting for this experience, you’ll get skip-the-line tickets, early access to the Vatican, and the chance to enjoy a unique activity in Rome.
Early Morning Vatican Tour
However, be prepared for an early start.
At 5:30 a.m., my husband Mark accidentally yanked the sheet from under my neck, startling me awake as if I were being attacked.
With my eyes barely open, I exclaimed, “We could have slept until 6:15!”
“But you wanted to go,” he replied.
It wasn’t our finest moment. It was our last day in Rome, we were exhausted from sightseeing, yet we were going to the Vatican for breakfast.
Early Access to the Vatican
Yet I felt a thrill as we were about to witness the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without the usual crowds.
Our early-entry breakfast meant we’d arrive before other tours and nearly two hours before the museum opened to the public.
(At that moment, we weren’t aware that after breakfast, we still couldn’t enter the museums until 8:30 a.m.)
A Unique Experience in Rome
It took a while to convince Mark that an early morning visit was the best way to appreciate the Vatican.
“What if it’s one of those must-see morning experiences like Angkor Wat at sunrise?” I argued. “You have to admit it’s unique. It might even be better than the skeleton chandeliers in the Capuchin Crypt!”
Vatican City Without the Crowds
The highlight would be exploring the Vatican without throngs of tourists.
The last time I visited the Vatican Museums, I waited in line for two hours and then navigated the long corridors amidst a sea of people.
Not exactly a heavenly experience; more like being in a packed subway at rush hour.
“Remember, it’s a full English breakfast,” I reminded Mark, as food often melts his heart.
Apparently, his heart wasn’t awake yet, as he groaned and headed for the shower.
“We’ll be the first ones in,” I shouted through the door.
What Is Early Entrance Breakfast at the Vatican?
The Vatican Museum breakfast includes entry and a buffet breakfast served in either the Restaurant Area or the Pinecone Courtyard of the Vatican Museums, depending on the season.
Be sure to book early, unlike in the past.
After enjoying a hearty breakfast, you can enter the Vatican Museums and head towards the Sistine Chapel, almost alone in the Vatican. Just imagine that!
Booking Early Entry Vatican Breakfast Tours
Deciding whether to have breakfast is up to you. Note: For breakfast tours, it’s best to book up to two months in advance. Finding spots for straightforward early access tours without breakfast is usually easier.
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- Vatican Museums Early Entry Tour with Breakfast – From $140. Check availability here.
- Early Morning Access Vatican Skip-the-line Museum and Sistine Chapel Tour Without Breakfast from $115. Check availability here.
New! Ultra Elite Way to See the Vatican – 6:00 a.m. Key Master’s Tour
The Key Master Tour is incredibly popular and special; I found only a few available slots for the summer.
Envision this: You enter the Vatican with the Clavigero, the keeper of the Vatican keys, as he unlocks the gallery doors.
Everything is tranquil. The art is stunning. You hear only the Clavigero’s footsteps echoing as he moves door to door.
Then you arrive at the Sistine Chapel: almost completely empty.
This is a genuinely intimate experience—beyond what the breakfast provides.
Prices start from $785 per person, with very limited availability, although it’s worth checking for last-minute cancellations. You can find more info on the Key Master’s Tour at GetYourGuide.
Getting to Vatican City Early from Central Rome
Vatican City is located on the west side of the Tiber River, across from Rome’s historical center.
In my mind, I had pictured our luxurious Vatican breakfast surrounded by 14th-century altarpieces and plush velvet drapes, along with a romantic stroll to the Vatican entrance during a delicate rose-hued sunrise.
We would stroll across the Ponte Sant’Angelo, the Bridge of Angels, just like medieval pilgrims once did.
Unfortunately, we were too tired and cranky, so we took a cab.
At that early hour, taking a taxi to St Peter’s Square is quick, but you could also take the metro to Cipro – Musei Vaticani, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Vatican entrance.
The Vatican Breakfast Early Entry Experience
The Restaurant Area
During our visit, we were taken to what is called the Restaurant Area.
This area featured two long tables and a buffet along the side wall, lacking any notable artistic flair. The decor felt quite simple given the grandeur surrounding it.
The Pine Cone Courtyard Vatican Breakfast
If you visit between April and November, breakfast is served outside in the Pinecone Courtyard, known as the Cortile della Pigna, which sounds much more elegant than the Restaurant Area.
Plus, it boasts a massive bronze Pine Cone cast dating back to the 1st or 2nd century AD.
With 1400 rooms in the Vatican, couldn’t they have found something more ornate than the Breakfast Area? I thought.
While I didn’t expect to dine under the candlelight of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, what about enjoying breakfast in the Gallery of Tapestries or the Hall of Animals? Perhaps even in a modest alcove adorned with a Caravaggio?
“Bacon!” I exclaimed, hoping to shift Mark’s focus away from the lackluster surroundings, avoiding his inevitable “I told you so” remark.
What Is the Vatican Breakfast Buffet Like?
The buffet, I must confess, was quite good. It included bacon, sausages, fresh fruit, pancakes, toast, pastries, coffee, cappuccino, and tea.
The caffeine invigorated me, and I attempted to engage the guests around us in conversation, aware that we were sharing a unique experience. The Vatican is the epicenter of Christianity—rich in spirituality, history, and art.
However, no one seemed interested in chatting, so I munched on another croissant instead.
As the staff began distributing headsets for the tour, my initial desire for a collective experience vanished, replaced by the urge to be the first into the Sistine Chapel.
Tour Guide or Audio Headset?
I highly recommend opting for a guide.
When we visited, we had the choice of a guided tour or an audioguide, and we chose the audioguide.
While the advantage of an audioguide is the freedom to explore the Vatican at our own pace, the downside is that it can be less engaging than a live guide.
It took only a minute to receive our headsets, and we waited at the entrance like racehorses eager to run. Other early access tours were filtering in, and I wanted to ensure we got a head start.
“Get to the Sistine Chapel as quickly as possible,” I advised Mark in a hushed voice. “I read that online. We can’t get distracted; otherwise, we’ll be sharing the chapel with countless other tourists.”
How Big is the Vatican?
Mark turned away, but I suspected he was rolling his eyes. The direct distance from the Vatican Museums entrance to the Sistine Chapel is about 500 meters, but there are approximately 7.5 km (4.5 miles) of galleries and corridors overall.
So Many Masterpieces
Dating back to 1503, the museums house a breathtaking collection of Renaissance art, antiquities, priceless tapestries, as well as both religious and secular artwork.
There is even a marble chariot! It’s hard to avoid getting sidetracked.
Yet I was on a mission, and the moment we were allowed in, I was ready to sprint.
It paid off: Mark and I were the first to enter the Vatican Museums.
It was a brief moment of triumph before we were quickly overtaken by a tour leader holding a flag.
“Quick!” I urged Mark as I dashed down the Gallery of Maps, a lengthy corridor that connects the Papal Palace to the Sistine Chapel.
Sixteenth-century frescoes depicting the regions of Italy flashed by in my peripheral view, while I barely noticed the exquisite ceiling paintings above.
“Why?” he asked.
I stopped suddenly, nearly causing a traffic jam of tourists behind me bound for the Sistine Chapel.
Top Things to See at the Vatican Palace
Sistine Chapel
As much as I disliked admitting it, Mark was right. Why was I rushing?
Though the Sistine Chapel is the main highlight of any Vatican tour, it’s located at the far end of the route, and you’ll pass many rooms filled with masterpieces.
Vatican Masterpieces
What about Caravaggio’s The Entombment of Christ, Leonardo da Vinci’s St. Jerome in the Wilderness, the Belvedere Torso, and the ancient Greek masterpiece Laocoon and his Sons?
What about Giotto’s Stefaneschi Triptych and the Porphyry Basin that Nero famously bathed in? We were passing them by in our rush.
“You’re right,” I agreed.
The Raphael Rooms
In that moment, we deviated from the main path, leading us to the Raphael Rooms, completely empty.
Painted in the early 1500s, these four rooms are adorned with stunning frescoes by Raphael and his workshop.
Originally part of Pope Julius II’s apartments, the Warrior Pope initiated the Vatican Museums by donating his collection.
It’s a miracle, I thought as I gazed around The Room of the Fire of the Borgo. It’s just us and the frescoes.
For the first time since entering the Vatican, history came to life, with the Renaissance spirit flowing through the ornate stone archways and intricately tiled floors.
Saint Peter’s Basilica
After visiting the Sistine Chapel and leaving the palace, there are still many top attractions to see in Vatican City.
Saint Peter’s Basilica is a must-see, of course. A standard early access breakfast tour will naturally lead you to the basilica after departing from the Sistine Chapel.
Don’t Rush Through the Galleries
Once we decided to slow down, the experience transformed dramatically. We meandered through gallery after gallery.
At one point, we found ourselves lost in a stairwell. I wasn’t even upset (well, hardly) at missing the Caravaggio in the Pinacoteca because there was a wealth of art to appreciate.
Breakfast at the Vatican is a unique way to experience Rome, and witnessing the Sistine Chapel with only a few other groups is an amazing opportunity. However, taking your time to enjoy everything rather than racing to one highlight is truly the best way to appreciate the Vatican after all.
PS: The Sistine Chapel wasn’t overcrowded when we finally arrived.
Early Entrance Breakfast at the Vatican Reviews and Travel Tips
There are very few online reviews about breakfast at the Vatican, which motivated me to write this post.
I had numerous questions that remained unanswered, so I hope these tips for visiting the Vatican early will assist you in planning your trip.
What You Need to Know Before Your Vatican Breakfast Tour
Where is the Vatican Museums entrance?
- It’s located on the north side of the Vatican City on viale Vaticano. Look for the large archway.
Do you go through security before or after breakfast?
Can you go into St Peter’s Basilica after your Vatican Museum breakfast?
- We could, directly after the Sistine Chapel. Since we were early, there was no line to get in.
Can you backtrack after seeing the Sistine Chapel to visit the museums and galleries?
- Yes, but be warned—it involves a significant amount of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes. If you want to visit St. Peter’s Basilica afterward, you’ll have to walk back to the Sistine Chapel, where you might encounter crowds trying to gain entry.
Review of the Vatican Audioguide Tour
In all honesty, the audioguide was quite dull, and I don’t mean to offend anyone at the Vatican, but they could take notes from the audioguide at Villa Borghese when discussing Bernini in Rome or the recorded guide at the Doria Pamphilj for a more entertaining approach.
At least the Vatican audioguide provides a general idea of the exhibits; that would have helped us had we not stopped paying attention entirely.
Booking Entry Vatican Breakfast Tour Tickets Through a Tour Company
While it used to be possible to book the breakfast tour through the Vatican website, that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore; you’ll likely need to book through a tour company instead.
- Vatican Museums Early Entry Tour with Buffet Breakfast – Semi Private Tour from $140. Check availability here.
Conclusion: Is an Early Entrance Vatican Tour with Breakfast the Best Way to See the Vatican?
Is breakfast at the Vatican worth it? In my view, it’s one of the top experiences to have in Rome.
The hot buffet is enjoyable—and how many people can say they had breakfast in Vatican City? Even better, a breakfast amidst the splendor of the Pinecone Courtyard!
Hotels Near the Vatican
Staying close to the Vatican offers the convenience of easy access. The area doesn’t have many luxury hotels, with most located on Via Veneto, where we stayed.
For a luxurious option, consider Hassler Roma (on my wishlist), situated at the top of the Spanish Steps. Another notable 5-star hotel we enjoyed was the Rome Cavallieri—though it’s not centrally located, it offers a resort-like atmosphere with beautiful outdoor pools.
5-Star Hotel Near the Vatican – Gran Melia Rome
Gran Melia Rome is the closest 5-star hotel to the Vatican, recognized as a leading hotel in the world.
4-Star Hotels in the Vatican Area
Starhotels Michelangelo Rome
A bit closer is the 4-star Starhotels Michelangelo Rome.
Best Western Plus Hotel Spring House
Even closer is the 4-star Best Western Plus Hotel Spring House.
Explore more hotels in Rome.
