We have a group of 8 and will be leaving Riomaggiore to travel to Rome in September, by train. We are staying at Hotel lancelot (which is near the coluseum, I believe) and will be in Rome for 3 nights. The day after our arrival we necessarily have a tour (not the vatican. I, personally, have to leave the group on the 3rd day to go on to our next destination.
Would we have time, after arriving in Rome from CT, to do the vatican/Sistine chapel that afternoon? I've read that tickets and entry are easier to acquire after noon?
None of us has ever been to Italy before, much less fabulous Rome. I know that we can't do it all, but with your help, I'll bet we can have a fabulous time! Thanks so much for whatever help you can give.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
It all depends on how much art you want to see. It took us about 3 hours to go through the Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel. We religiously followed the RS tour in the Rome book. The Sistine took about 45 minutes to listen to the RS audio Tour. Even if you did the "Reader's Digest" condensed run thru the museum, you should probably count on a good 2 hours, just to see the Raphaels and the Sistine Chapel. Yes, the lines for the museum are much shorter in the afternoon. Count on another 1.5 to 2 hours to go through St. Peter's. Add another hour if you want to go up into the Dome (I'd recommend it if you have time). If you get there by 1 or 2, you could make it, but won't be a leisurely trip!
Posted by
Everett, WA
1299 posts
My husband and I had one day in Rome (came in by train in the morning arriving about eight and caught a train back North about 7:30 pm) We spent the morning at the Vatican seeing St Peter's and the Sistine Chapel (did not see much else of the Vatican Museum) and the afternoon seeing other sights. It just depends on how much of the Vatican area you want to see. While we could have spent much more time in the museum, we enjoyed the time we had with no regrets. If one afternoon is all you have, than go for it. (Normally we would have seen more of the museum, but it was a "free" day and there was wall to wall people. We were just "pushed" along until we reached the Sistine Chapel. We kinda tried to see around people, but it was crazy, crazy, crazy- but we had a lot of fun anyway.)
Posted by
OP
Dayton, OH, USA
52 posts
Thank you very much for your opinions. For some reason this group has put me in charge of plans and I have to say that it's a bit daunting - especially since I've never been to Italy! aack! So, I appreciate any and all advice.
Posted by
long beach, ca, us
13 posts
I recently read (somewhere on this site) that the Vatican extended the open hours beginning Jan of this year.
Has anyone experienced this?
Posted by
Bel Air, MD, USA
261 posts
They open earlier. We were on an 8:45 tour, and were not the first thru the door. I don't know if they stay open later. Most museums we were in stay open until 7:00 or later. I guess if you don't eat dinner until 9:00, you can enjoy the art until 7:00.
Posted by
The Hague, NL (AMS)
2207 posts
The Vatican opens at 8:30 AM and has extended hours until 6 PM (with the exception of free Sundays). The last entry time is 4 PM. Here is a calendar of times/dates/hours of the Vatican Museum: CLICK HERE
These extended hours (staying open later) have led to far smaller crowds this summer and less bottlenecks. With the exception of Mondays & Saturdays, there have been smaller or no lines after 11 AM since late-July.
The days around holidays, such as August 15th, were very busy. Free Sundays, the last Sunday of each month, the lines are TERRIBLE, extending from the Museum entrance all the way to the Square at St. Peter's, with the limited entry times, many people waiting in this line NEVER got in...
Ciao,
Ron