Would you guys recommend doing a tour of the vatican that continues into St Peter's Basilica, but does not include Dome tickets so you have to purchase them when you get to the basilica? Or would you rather do a Vatican guided tour, and follow that up with a separate St Peter's basilica self guided audio tour that includes Dome access tickets?
Posted by
SEA
26 posts
We just did the Vatican Museum this morning. We did not use a tour guide. Some if this may be helpful or not.
We had 8am tickets and arrived by bus from our apartment about 7:30 and cued up. We got through security and in the museum just after 8 I believe.
I had planned for everything to be crazy busy and was pleasantly surprised how empty the rooms felt. We used the Rick Steve's audio tour and it is a very leisurely pace. At one point we noticed several tour groups catching up and making crowds so we moved on from one of the first rooms a little early but still got the full experience. Those tour guides just step right up to the front and weasel the group in so we wanted to stay a head of them. I honestly didn't notice them after that.
We did a side trip into the Egyptian hall, viewed it rather quickly again to stay ahead of the masses. We are currently studying Ancient Egypt for homeschool so that was especially important!
No other crowds really until we got to the Sistine Chapel. We were able to get seats along the wall and listened to the RS audio guide (almost 30 minutes) enjoying the artwork. Then got up and walked around before moving on.
After that it takes some more winding to get out of the museum. We grabbed some snacks for the kids and headed around the wall for the Basilica. I was expecting a que...it was crazy! We were fifty fifty on staying in line or coming back later. We decided to go back later. As we got into the St Peter's Square area we could see it was blocked off and set up for an event this evening. I was able to find out information about that when we got back to WiFi...but have yet been able to find a schedule of events outside of the regular Papal Audiences and mass. So timing for us was just bad. Hopefully we will try again late one evening later in the week. Even if we would have stayed in line they were closing it at 1pm and we wouldn't have made it.
There are many tours that are able to use a set of 'secrets stairs between the museum and the Basilica. I think if you are doing tours for both that would be very nice to avoid the craziness outside the Basilica. Another option I would suggest is doing two early morning tours. One of each.
Romewise youtube channel has some great videos on vatican/ Basilica tours, expectations, etc...highly suggest her!
Posted by
46 posts
Thank you for the Post!!!! We will be there October 2nd for a 8:00 am entry to the Vatican Museums and I was just sitting here wondering what time to get there, how busy it might be, then I saw your post! Very helpful. We have tickets for St. Peter's at 3:30 in the afternoon so will take a lunch break then head back. Hope you had a wonderful trip.
Posted by
SEA
26 posts
When you get to the museum there are lines 1,2, and 3. Check your tickets so you get in the correct line. Under the box a5 the top of your ticket it should say "Accesso/Entrance: CORRIDOIO1\PASSAGEWAY1" or Passageway 2. I believe 3 was for tour groups. We used downloaded digital tickets and pictures of our passports on my phone.
If you are coming from the bus stop the first line you see is not the one you want. Continue along the wall until you see some vendors and the museum entrance. The lines for ticket holders, the "Accesso/Entrance: CORRIDOIO1\PASSAGEWAY1 or 2" begin facing the entrance and the pop up tent in front.
We complete missed the Paintings Gallery "Vadican Pinacoteca". This is accessed through the courtyard by the cafeteria (after the Sistine Chapel). There is a RS Audio tour for that as well. Our boys were ready for lunch at that point anyway so it was okay.
October should be lovely. It has been in the mid 80's and humid. We have been constantly sweaty.