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Friday Evening Vatican visit- logistics/questions

Posted by on

In July, we will be arriving in Rome on Friday around 1 or 2pm (from 6 days in Tuscany, already adjusted to time change, relaxed, etc..)We leave on Tuesday morning back to the states.

Wanted to get some input (in case I'm not taking certain logistics into consideration), but I'm thinking the best time to do the Vatican museums and St. Peter's would be Friday evening? I know a few things are closed, but it seems that the main exhibits are open and it would give us 3 full days for everything else.

I figure we would get the 7pm reservations for the museums. Then, maybe do St. Peters beforehand? (doing the Basilica early next morning is also an option, but I'm guessing it be best to hit both at the same time unless the Basilica crowds are outrageous).

Is getting there by 5pm enough to do the Basilica and the Dome (including getting through the lines and security) before our 7pm reservation? Also, we will be staying at the Albergo Cesari (close to the Pantheon). Considering that I'm guessing there will be Friday rush hour traffic, what would be the best way to get to the Vatican at that time of the day?

Finally: I'm guessing we will be leaving the museums somewhere between 9 and 10- what would be the best/safest way to get back to our area? Are there cabs around there at that time of night? Also (and this might be a stupid question) would this be too late to get dinner somewhere back by our area? Any suggestions would be appreciated :)

Thank you!

Posted by
4152 posts

Try to get to the basilica before 5pm to give yourself enough time for the visit and the climb up the dome. You can take a taxi from your hotel to the basilica. After the museums visit you can take a taxi back to your hotel or walk back. It's a really nice walk and you're sure to find some nice restaurants along the way. Dinners usually start around 9pm.

Donna

Posted by
52 posts

Hi Donna,

I think you may have also answered this question for me in the TA forum, (sometimes I post on both because I figure the more input and readers, the better! ), but if not, I just wanted to thank you for this info (and in that case, I coincidentally had two separate Donna-s reply to my posts lol). I know I thanked the reply on the other post and I just realized I never followed up and thanked you in this forum (my apologies- I try to be good about that!).

I am buying the tickets during my lunch hour tomorrow (thought they would be up today, but I think tomorrow is really the 60 day mark). Thanks again -getting so excited! :)

Posted by
12113 posts

To go through security, see the Basilica AND do the Dome climb and get to the Vatican Museum entry ( half mile or so from the front of St Peters) would leave an Olympic athlete panting.

I am assuming you are not on the Amazing Race and want to do more than just collect your "next clue" by doing all this so quickly. Trust me, Jeff will not be waiting for you in the Sistine Chapel.

The Parthenon area really isn't that far away, so go earlier or break it up into 2 visits and actually take to "see" things ( not just look at as you zoom by)

Your trip. Your choice

This advice and 4 euro will get you a cold half liter water bottle. Use it as you see fit

Posted by
52 posts

Thanks for the heads up Joe! (I didn't realize how far apart everything was away from each other, and although we aren't overtly religious and need to see every single detail, we definitely want to take some time to enjoy and not go at a breakneck speed).

Do you think if we added an extra hour and get there by 4 (which will leave us 3 hours for security, walking around the basilica, going up the dome, and then heading over for our 7pm reservation) that will be enough time?

Also, since the tickets haven't gone up yet, I also have the option of making a 7:30 reservation for the Vatican museums instead of 7. Then, that would give us another extra half hour (and we would still get there at 4 instead of 5). Would that be best?

Finally, if we decided that we wanted to come back to the Basilica early AM of the next day, how early should we get there to be among the first people in? (Wasn't sure how early they start letting people line up before they officially open). I figure I would much rather wait a half hour or hour in early AM when it's not as hot.

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