Looking for suggestions on how to fit a visit to the Sistine Chapel on a very limited schedule.
We'll arrive in Rome before noon on a Saturday, staying there till we head to Tuscany on Tuesday morning. We have a tour scheduled Monday morning for the Coloseum and its underground chambers. We then have reservations for the Scavi (Necropolus) tour that afternoon at 1:45pm, and I understand from bloggers we should expect it to last 90 minutes.
Vatican website offers last entrance to the Sistine Chapel (along with Vatican museums) to be 3pm, for both Saturday and Monday. We now realize there are no tours or admissions available Sunday, Sep 6. So, unless we're missing something, our only options are: (1) Check into hotel Saturday and head to Vatican for 3pm entrance (tired from travel) or (2) Monday, get 3pm entrance and try to scoot out of Scavi tour after an hour and head to Vatican entrance (con: too much for 1 day...and is exiting Scavi early even possible?). Feedback much appreciated!
Posted by
693 posts
Can you push back your departure for Tuscany to Tuesday afternoon?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
The last entry to the Vatican museums on Saturday and Monday is 4 pm. They won't start ushering people out until about 5:30. I'm not sure where youre getting 3 pm from because according to the official website the 5th and 7th are regular days. You should have enough time after the scavi tour to visit the musuems and see the chapel..
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Calendario2015.html
donna
Posted by
OP
MD
3 posts
Tho RIck's Rome 2015 book says last entry time is 16:00, after checking various dates and even changed #of participants, Vatican ticket site (http://mv.vatican.va) always shows latest time to select is 15:00. Maybe new hours. Looks like we might need to consider going early on Tuesday before leaving Rome for Tuscany. Just hoped to avoid morning crowds.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
The last entry into the museums is at 4pm with a closing time of 6pm. You can enter until 4pm and the chapel is usually the last thing to be cleared as its at the end of the museusms. The official website states that the last entry time is 4pm. This doesnt mean that it closes at 4 only that they don't allow entry after 4 since the museums will be closing 2 hours after that. The vatican website will only let you book entry tickets until 3pm because there is usually no need for pre-booked tickets after that becaue there is usually no line up after 3pm.
Donna
Posted by
OP
MD
3 posts
Thanks so much, Donna, for giving more info. Only by other travelers could I find out the length of the Scavi tour and now the Vatican entry timing! Will get those 3pm tickets and trust we can enter a little late after we come back up from St Peter's. God Bless! Karen
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Try to be as close to 3 as you can. If there is a line and you're late for your time slot they can make you wait in the line and perhaps not get inside.
Donna
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
Plan to do the entire Scavi tour. It is not possible to leave early. It's an escorted tour, and movement between areas is controlled at several points along the way.
Also, it is a meaningful walk from the exit of the Scavi tour to the entrance to the museums. Unless you were into jogging, I'd allow 15 minutes, and maybe a little more if you need to thread your way through big crowds.
Finally, try to schedule it so you can be on time for your museum entrance. Latitude around admission time can vary depending on the museum and the guard on duty. It's best not to test this.