Back in 2021, we had an early guided tour with American breakfast at the Vatican, I understand they no longer offer this tour. Is there anything out there that people have tried to tour the museums with any early entry? Like on Get Your Guide or another tour company?
The tour back in 2021 was so amazing, I'm sad they no longer offer it.
Thanks in advance! And please don't add a link to search the forums, I've already searched through.
If you have already searched the forum you would have found recommendations for early entry tours
Did you filter results by Type and Date?
Walks of Italy
The Tour Guy/The Roan Guy
Through Eternity
are just a few companies that offer early entry tours
Get Your Guide is a third party reseller-they don’t run any tours
Better to book with the actual tour company
This thread might be helpful
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/vatican-skip-the-line-3rd-party-tickets-vs-official-vatican-website-tickets
Be very, very cautious about any company that advertises as early entry. Unless things have changed, such a thing really doesn’t exist anymore. They may meet early, but 8 am remains the entrance time.
If this has changed, I hope someone will post about their recent experiences.
A friend and I scheduled a visit at first entry and arrived about 20 minutes early to get in the queue for entry. We were one of the first to enter the building. Crowds weren't bad but we definitely pushed our pace a bit to stay ahead of the crowd.
Unless someone knows otherwise, the only truly early-entry (before 8:00) tickets or tours are offered by independent companies and are quite expensive. I know that some previous posters have booked "Key Master" tours so maybe a few of them will chime in here.
Lane mentions having taken a "Key Master" tour in this trip review (scroll down to Oct 7):
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/eleven-days-in-rome
I know that poster Nonegativevibes has taken one of them too.
Anyway, here are a few to look at, keeping in mind that any tour pretty much needs to commence by 6:30 AM to get in early. Others that advertise "early entrance" may meet at 7:30 or 7:15 at a location away from main entrance and provide an overview before setting off/along the way: they do not get in before 8:00. Also, don't be taken in by "skip the line" touts as ALL timed-entry tours and tickets skip ticket lines, and NO one skips security queues. For what these tours cost, I'd book with the companies themselves and not through a 3rd party intermediary such as Get Your Guide or similar.
Walks of Italy's site advertises a 6:30 start time for one of their several "Pristine Sistine" tours but for the life of me I can't find it or the price on a random search of their calendar.
Thank you Kate, that was perfect!
