Hey folks,
It's been a few years since I've been to Rome and I'm headed back this summer. On my last visit, we could surruptitiously exit through the group tour exit in the corner and then remain within the "secure zone" so we could skip the line at St. Peter's, which was a huge benefit. Does anyone know if this is still an option? Or did they catch on and this door is off limits now? Thanks for the help!
Darren
I have no idea, but I would totally go see a movie called "Escape from Sistine Chapel."
I suppose you could ask the door attendant when you wish to depart…….
We used this door this past October but it was required that you have a tour guide with you to do this and there was a guard at the door checking this.
As Valerie said, that exit is for group tours only and yes, they have 'caught on'. Copy/pasted from Cyn's post on another RS thread::
In 2022, we hired a private guide. The “secret” short-cut door is now
being closely monitored. Only guided visitors are permitted through.
Our guide was checked to see who his clients (us) were.
That door was never supposed to be available to individuals who were not on a tour which specifically mentions that benefit. Even some year's ago, whether you were able slip through by tagging onto a tour or not was up to the whim of the guards on duty; some visitors had reported being turned away. I've since read that it's more tightly restricted/monitored, and my guess is that it's due to complaints from tour companies whose customers had paid for the privilege.
I'm now hearing that this door isn't monitored the way that it has been in 2023. Does anyone have any recent experience using this door sans groups in 2023?
Thanks!
I was able to go through it last November. I just followed a tour group and tried not to look guilty. I’m not usually one to break rules, but it seemed like a fun challenge, not to mention a time saver.
I was there in late April, early entry guided tour through the Vatican site and the guide told us we could use the door in the corner to get to St Peter’s, though we continued on to the breakfast area she said it was okay if we circled back and used it…after breakfast what seemed like the entire world was suddenly in the museum so I didn’t attempt it.
I was there in late May with the early morning breakfast tour, and was told we could use the door. We did return to the Sistine Chapel to exit and everyone was using the door. As I've mentioned in other threads, if you don't take an early morning tour, be prepared for wall to wall humanity slowing oozing to the chapel. Our return trip to the chapel was miserable.
I think the lesson is, hope you can use it, but don't count on it.
