I've been to the Vatican many times with different small groups of family members and have used all the well known guide companies. Prices are now crazy expensive!
Has anyone toured directly with the Vatican Official site and if so, how was your experience? Did they include the Sistine Chapel and Basilica with their tour? There is only a limited description on their site. Thank you
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18221 posts
frppt1, the official Vatican Museums website (https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html) doesn't offer a tour that includes the basilica. They do include the Sistine although guides are not allowed to speak inside the chapel.
Timed-entry tickets to the basilica (which is free but with a ticket you can avoid the longest line) are available here:
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en/
Posted by
Bergamo
9 posts
The official Vatican Museums tour is usually good value and perfectly fine, but it is more of an efficient museum tour than a boutique small-group experience. Depends what you like.
The official Vatican Museums ticket/tour covers only the Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica is separate. However, when we had private tour, we shortcut from the Sistine Chapel into St. Peter’s, which saved a long walk and another security line. I suggest to have a private guide for this tour anyway and not from well known guide companies. We had the tour for 2 hours €180 for 4 people without the tickets.
Posted by
OP
92 posts
Thank you both. 180€ for 4 sound good if it's still at that price. Which service did you use? Otherwise, I am tending to go with the official Vatican site since the museum and basilica have timed entry tickets. This is for October