getting in line for vatican and Sistine Chapel

I am confused. The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of each month which is free from 9am until 2pm…there are no general admission tickets available for purchase online on those Sundays…you just get in line. It is incredibly crowded on those Sundays and it is usually the day that is best avoided. Did you, by chance, buy tickets for the 3 hour guided tour…if so, how does that work if your reservation is for noon and the museums close at 2pm?
And there is no “quick line” for St. Peter’s Basilica…there is no ticket line and everyone waits in the same security line. Entrance to the basilica is free.

Actually, the museum's website does show a ticketing option for free Sundays. It's "Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel - Sunday Visit" and it's a 3-hour tour:

"A proposal intended for visitors interested in taking part in a tour of the Vatican Museums on the last Sundays of the month with an authorized educational Guide. The visit is available only for the last Sundays of the month according to the calendar of the Vatican Museums."

It's not showing as available or bookable for any free Sundays through the end of the year so they're likely booked up for the next month or two, and tickets for Sundays beyond that haven't gone on sale yet. This is likely the ticket you have? The basilica itself doesn't offer a "quick line" option and i'm not seeing tickets available for that benefit anywhere else...nor not that I'm aware of anyway. So, your option would be to rest your feet a bit and then take on the basilica later in the afternoon.

You could also get in line very first thing in the morning, before it opens, and then have a rest-up in between the basilica and museums.

Kathy…that is why I asked if they had bought the ticket for the 3 hour guided tour on the Free Sunday at the Vatican Museums as that would be the only “tickets” available for purchase on that day. If the 3 hour tour starts at noon, I am curious how that works if the museums close an hour before the tour ends…are they alone in the museums with their tour group for the last hour? If so, that would be pretty nice as it would avoid the tremendous crowds for at least the last 60-90 minutes.

That's a very good question, jconsol! I was wondering the same thing but was unable to check the posted start/end time on that tour - IF it's posted - as I can't do a dummy booking. Maybe tours that start at noon don't run 3 hours if they have to be out by 2:00? Or maybe that 2:00 closing time can be fudged for a tour operated by the Vatican itself?

Apologies for my confusion over your mention of the 3-hour tour; thought you meant the one offered during normal visiting days and not free Sundays. Guess my coffee hadn't kicked in yet!

Kathy…hopefully the OP comes back and satisfies our curiosity about her Vatican Museums tickets!

Our tickets for the vatican are on Monday at 12;noon. Sorry for the confusion.

Thanks for coming back and clearing that up! I am glad you are not going on Free Sunday…the museums are always incredibly crowded, but it is even worse on Free Sundays.

I was told if I purchased tickets online to use the line on the left to get in/ security. How early should I arrive? If someone ahead of me in line has a later time than me- how does that work? They just get to security and get kicked back in line?

Debbie, the usual advice is to arrive 15 minutes before your time slot, Too early and they probably won't let you into the security line to begin with. That said, whether a guard will fudge on someone's entry time (they do check) and let them in line a few minutes early is no biggie so don't overthink it; the security line moves quickly. Just follow the standard advice. :O)