Best way to see the Vatican?

I've never been to the Vatican before, but I decided to book a tour directly with the Vatican to avoid the queues. The cost for the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour is 23.50 euro, which includes the entrance admission, which is usually 13 euro by itself. I think it's worth the extra 10.50 euro to save time, plus you get the guided tour aspect. You can also tour the gardens for 12 euro. Check out the website:

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Servizi_Visite.html

You need to fax your info to 06 6988 5100 to request a tour. Tell them the type of tour you want, number and names of people in your party, language, return fax #, preferred and alternate dates and times.

Book in advance. I am going in September and got a confirmation back of my booking the next day.

Only thing I don't know is how many people are in each tour group.

from what I understand after going to the ETBD Italy travel Saturday in Edmonds recently, you really have to get on a tour or be prepared to wait for hours in line. Although it is not listed in the Italy guidebook, ANGEL Tours is mentioned as a good tour group on line here and in other ETBD information. Their tours are 25 Euros plus admission. They are run by native English speakers living in Rome. I easily booked two tours on line, no cc needed. One for the Vatican tour and one for the Roman Forum tour. Reviews I have read are good. good luck!

Get a guide, you will thank yourself later. It is expensive but the Vatican is so overwhelming that you really need one to get the highlights without burning out on the other stuff. We got one for about 60 euros an hour, and he drove us there and back.

Maybe it's just my family and me...but if I had to follow a herd of people in a congested group...aughghgh...I think I would lose my mind. There were soooo many groups of people in the Vatican, all following their tour group leaders who had a flag (or pom pon, goofy toy, etc.) on a stick, listening to canned speeches. Our family practically fought to get out of the way of these mobs. We enjoyed the quiet clearings where we could contemplate the treasures quietly and at our own pace.Our total wait time to get in was only half an hour, but I would have gladly waited much longer to have the freedom to explore at our own.It's a matter of personal style and preference.If you like groups, go in a group. If you're independent minded, go that way (it's cheaper;-)

I went with Angel tours and they were great. Yes there are queues - I don't know how to avoid them - but what Angel tours do is the poor guide stands in line and you go off and have a coffee or gelati and then come back at the time you have been told and rejoin the queue. the guides are all young art history students or similar and really know their stuff. You can go on your own but be prepared to get lost. No matter how you do it it will be crowded there is no way around it.
www.angeltoursrome.com.

From all the horror stories I have heard from people, I guess the issue is not only that there are long lines to get INTO the museum, it's that the museum itself can be totally packed with people because they do nothing to try to keep the number of bodies down. So the Sistine Chapel can still be shoulder to shoulder people which makes for a rather unpleasant experience. I suppose you could always book a tour with someone like Angel Tours just to avoid the line to get in, and if you don't like the feeling of being in a group once you get in, ditch the tour in a crowd???

I, myself, would probably avoid the Vatican altogether (not a crowd person) if it weren't for the Sistine. Sigh. :-)

How did you get tickets more than a month in advance?
The Vatican web site says the request for tickets for individuals is to be made no more than one month ahead, and for groups (did you get group tickets) no more than two months.

I faxed the Vatican a few days ago requesting a tour for the 3rd week in September, almost 2 months away. I got a response back the next day confirming my booking. It seems to be real hit or miss.

My reservation was for 2 individuals not a group. I did see the statement on the Vatican website saying to fax your reservation 1 month to 15 days ahead. I figured I'd go ahead and try to fax it sooner just to see. Now I am wondering if the fact that I attached my business card (I work for a University) with the return fax # had anything to do with the quick response. :-)

I booked a walking tour online with Viator. $30 plus 13 Euro for the Vatican and Sistine Chapel (St. Peter's is free). We had a meeting point near the Metro. Our group was about 12 people. Our guide was an American who had lived in Rome for 8 years. She was very good. It helped that she knew her way around and had many interesting things to say. She did a great job explaining what we would see in the Sistine chapel. Although there were a lot of people, we stayed together and didn't have any problems.

Kay
Powder Springs, GA

I would also consider the day/date that you go. We are touring Rome in November and have decided to tour the Vatican/Sistine Chapel on Wed, as the Pope is scheduled to be "in audience" on this day, so everyone will be there. We are hoping to avoid the crowds this way.

Thanks for your suggestions. You have all been a great help.

Judy

If you aren't interested in a tour, you can still get in without waiting in line. I requested a reservation for a guided tour 15 days in advance. I gave them my Rome hotel fax number for the response. We walked right in passed blocks and blocks of people in line. After the security check, we could have just bought the 13 euro ticket and gone on in--no one forced us to go to the tour window. We wanted the tour but now I know what to do if I go back and don't want the tour!