Best time for tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Laura, how long will you be in Rome? Is there any other day that you can do this? My concern is that booking anything for arrival day is risky as a flight or other sort of delay could throw a wrench in the plan. Also, the Vatican Museums are vast, crowded, involve time/energy to do, and would honestly be at the bottom of Rome's attractions I'd recommend if just coming off of a long, tiring flight.

If you've traveled internationally before, you'll know best what sort of shape you'll be in by the time you arrive in Rome but personally, the museums would have been much too much for us in a similar situation.

Kathy,

We will be in Rome Sept 3 - 6th. I have a cooking class scheduled for Monday the 5th. I know a lot of things are closed on Sunday's. What do you recommend that I do the first day there on Saturday the 3rd and what to do on Sunday the 4th?

What do you recommend that I do the first day there on Saturday the 3rd and what to do on Sunday the 4th?

This is tough. | agree with Kathy that there is some risk in buying timed entry tickets, but (as I mentioned in response to another question) the bigger issue to me is state-of-being after a long flight. You know yourselves, as Kathy wisely said, so if a museum appeals, 15:00 should be a safe entry time unless your flight is ridiculously late. I think you will be at your lodging by 12:30 if the flight is on time. Gives you a little time to freshen up. To me, 3 hours in the museums is about all I can take. The Basilica is open until 19:00 if you have the energy to go there after the museums.

On Sunday the ancient areas (Colosseo, Foro Romano, Palatino) are open so maybe you can combine that with a walk past the monuments and piazzas. I like the Rick Steves Night Walk Across Rome for that.

I doubt there is any way to get your luggage and get to your hotel within an hour. The trip to town takes at least half an hour by express train, more by taxi.

The good thing is that your tickets are valid for the entire day. If you're late you just lose the skip the line privileges. That late in the afternoon there really won't be a horrendous line. I wouldn't buy tickets much before 2pm.

Donna

Thanks everyone.

Laurel, I saw your post regarding this topic on the other feed. I have booked a cooking class that they say ends at 2:00 or 3:00pm on Monday, so we do not have much of the daytime for sight seeing. What is open at 3:00pm on a Monday? Perhaps I should do the skip the line ticket to the Sistine Chapel and Museum on Monday rather than trying to do it on Saturday, the day we arrive? Does every monument require a ticket?

Yes, we are arriving from the US. This is our first trip to Europe so we are not sure what we will feel like after a long trip. However, we do arrive at 10:30 am on Saturday and I hear that we will be to our AirBnB by 12:30pm. We have the entire rest of the day to explore. I have reviewed "Rome in 2 or 3 days" itineraries, but they don't match up exactly since we have this cooking class. Arranging what we will do and when is challenging. I want to make the best use of our limited time in Rome. Suggestions are welcome!

Laura, your challenge on Sunday the 4th is that it's the first Sunday of the month...when all of Italy's State museums are free, and the Vatican museums are closed. The Colosseum will be mobbed: definitely not a day I'd try to do that one. Some of the other museums might be a possibility, though. For instance, the Roman National Museum complex might be an option, and I'm sure the gang here will have some other great ideas.

http://www.rome-museum.com/national-roman-museum.php

A stroll around Trastvevere and the Jewish Ghetto might also be a good Sunday activity.

I don't know what's on your personal must-see list? It's late in the game but Galleria Borghese, while free on First Sundays, requires reservations regardless to maintain their excellent crowd control. You could see if they have any openings left? Or you could see about any arrival-day openings which are still left? I know I cautioned against anything requiring advance bookings on that day but as far as a time/energy eater, that one will be far less taxing than the Vatican as it's much smaller, time slots are restricted to two hours, and it'll be less crowded. The (long but scenic) walk through Villa Borghese to the museum might also be welcome after hours of sitting on a plane

Our arrival-day plan is usually to spend as much time outside walking about as possible to stay awake. There are oodles of churches to pop in and out of: this would work on Sunday as well, being mindful to sightsee between services. A walk will help you get acclimated, and there's so much to see just from the streets that, well, we've never run out of things to marvel at!

The Vatican isn't an impossibility by any means on Saturday if timing goes according to plan. It was just worth the caution as that one was especially taxing, and we're somewhat taxed to begin with by the time we hit the airport!

One more idea and I'm ready for a hail of rotten veg for it. HA!
I'm trying to fit some of the bigger attractions in around your schedule/Free Sunday/closed days, with Sunday and Tuesday being the only two FULL free days you have. Hmmmm.

The Colosseum/Palatine/Forum are open one hour later (7:00 PM) than the Vatican on Saturday. They are no less taxing as far as being busy and lots to take in BUT you'd be outside in the fresh air. You could also choose to do as much or as little of the Forum/Palatine as you wish, or neither of them if they're not high on your must-do list. This would free up Tuesday for the Vatican/St Pete's. You would not HAVE to order tickets in advance: if you go to the Forum or Palatine ticket kiosks where queues are shorter, you could buy them there and then scoot right over the Colosseum, skipping all but the security check queue. Or buy them online: they're good for any two consecutive days this calendar year.

OK, I'm ready to duck the flying tomatoes.

"the Vatican Museums are vast, crowded, involve time/energy to do, and would honestly be at the bottom of Rome's attractions I'd recommend if just coming off of a long, tiring flight. "

I cannot emphasize this enough. I can think of few worse tortures. If the only day you can see it is your arrival day, skip it - that's how miserable you will be.

On the other hand, the Colosseum being outside, and the fact that it involves much less concentration to appreciate, makes it much more bearable for your arrival day.

Kathy- some great thoughts! Harold and Kathy - Thank you for the tips!

Perhaps I should cancel my cooking class in Rome and book a cooking class in Florence where I have more time? That will free up my Monday to do the Sistine Chapel and the Museums, etc.

Not sure what my "must see" places are. I have heard the the Sistine Chapel, Vatican, Colosseum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, St. Peter's Basilica are all must sees.

We are staying in Trastevere and to me, walking around there is a must see, strangely enough. I want to see many things but do not want to be rushed. I welcome suggestions on anyone else's "must sees".

Perhaps I should cancel my cooking class in Rome and book a cooking
class in Florence where I have more time?

Rome has such a lot to offer! If it were me, I'd probably opt for taking the class in Florence (although we didn't run out of things to do there either) but I also have a kitchen just 'cause it came with the house: that's how not into cooking I am. :O)

Anyway, freeing up Monday would give you time to add quite a bit more without a mad dash to get to everything. Trevi and the Spanish Steps are just walk-bys to do on your way elsewhere: they're a couple of the least interesting things, IMHO, on the usual must-do lists but easy to work into bigger plans. Trevi is also a little more impressive at night than during the day so a stroll over can be done when most other attractions are closed.

We can help you flesh out some great additions to your list. I'll come back with a few of my own favorites later tonight.

Question for you? I've just seen your latest post with full itinerary.

3 nights in Rome - 9/3-9/6
4 nights in Florence - 9/6-9/10
2 nights in Cinque Terre - 9/10-9/12
2 nights in Verona - 9/12-9/14
3 nights in Venice - 9/14-9/17

A previous post on this thread stated "We will be in Rome Sept 3 - 6th" and I read that as having a full day on the 6th (Tuesday). This latest itinerary leaves you with 2 full days (Sunday/Monday) and 2 partials (Saturday/Tuesday) if you plan on using a chunk of Tuesday for sightseeing. What time do you have to be out of your AirBnB? Hotels will usually stow your luggage after checkout time but rentals are a different animal. Trying to get a bead on what sort of time you're going to have on the 6th before throwing a list of recommended attractions out.

Our check out in Rome is at 10:00am. I will ask if they will hold bags. Many AirBNB's do.

Our luggage can be stored at our Airbnb in Rome on Tuesday until we are ready to take the train to Florence. I'd like to leave Rome around 17:00 or 18:00 at the latest to get to Florence and have a nice Anniversary dinner on the 6th in Florence. We will now have most of Tuesday in Rome for additional sights. Switching the cooking class to Florence has also helped give us more time in Rome on Monday as well. Planning is much easier now!

Thanks for clarifying, Laura. Good to know that you have a chunk of Tuesday to work with.