Fast track Vatican Museum

By "fast track" I assume you mean to "skip the ticket lines". Be aware that October is very high season in Rome so the Vatican museums will be very crowded. You can purchase entry tickets or tours to allow you to bypass the long ticket lines but the galleries will be packed with people, most of whom are just going to the Sistine Chapel. The galleries leading up to the chapel will be wall to wall people.

There really is no best time of day or day of the week to go. I would avoid Saturdays and Mondays because of the Sunday closures but all days will be very busy.

** Are they also needed for the Vatican?**

I assume this means the Basilica. The basilica is free. There are no tickets to get inside it. The line is for security and cannot be skipped. The only way to bypass this line is to take a guided tour of the museums, which will allow you to use the bypass door for a more direct route into the basilica. If you don't take a guided tour you'll need to use the regular exit, walk around to the square and wait in the security line before entering the basilica.

https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do

For the basilica be sure to dress properly or be denied entry. Everyone must have their shoulders covered. Women must also cover their knees and men must wear pants to be guaranteed entry.

Donna

Great advice from Donna. Just to add?

Are they also needed for the Vatican?

The Vatican is a complex with only certain areas open to tourists. Other than St. Peter's Square, the basilica* and top layer of crypt underneath - which are free - those other parts all have fees, and some of them require tour reservations, such as the scavi/necropolis. The complex also includes the palace and gardens at Castel Gandolfo, which is outside of Rome. With the exception of the scavi, ticketing/tour info is all on the website Donna provided.

Yes, advance, time-sensitive tickets for the Vatican Museums are absolutely worth it to avoid wasting time in a very long ticket queue.

The dress code which applies to the basilica applies to the museums as well. From the website:

"Entry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens is permitted only to appropriately dressed visitors. Low cut or sleeveless clothing, shorts, miniskirts and hats are not allowed."

Note* : accessing the dome (cupola) of the basilica does involve a fee:
• Elevator up to the terrace level and rest of the way on foot (320 steps) ticket € 8.00
• Walk up all 551 steps, ticket € 6.00

Thank you Kathy!

You're very welcome. Enjoy Rome!