I'm a last minute planner going to Rome tomorrow and have two problems:
1. The timed entry tickets to the Borghese Gallery are entirely sold out online through Monday, when we leave! Should I just show up at the gallery and try to get in?
2. We did manage to get tickets to the Vatican Museum and plan to go straight to St. Peter's as Rick's book suggests. Do we need a special ticket to climb the dome?
Thanks for any advice
Years ago, we just went to the Borghese Gallery and were able to buy tickets. They seemed to save a few spots for walk-ins. It's worth a try.
thanks!! I really appreciate the advice.
Yes, a paid ticket is needed to climb the dome.
But you can only purchase the tickets to climb from the ticket kiosk just outside the basilica.
They will sell unclaimed tickets at the Borghese Gallery 30 minutes or so before the start of the next session. There is no guarantee that any will be available. The gallery has a strict capacity limit and since they are sold out the odds of getting in are slim.
I don't understand what you mean by going straight to St. Peters. The museums have nothing to do with the basilica. Museum tickets are timed entry so be sure to be there on time or you lose the right to bypass the long ticket lines.
Yes, you need a ticket to climb the dome. These can only be bought on site.
Donna
We just returned from our second Italy trip. We got to St. Peter's around 10:00 AM and the line to get in was at least a three hour wait (it is just a security check no tickets required). We decided to not go to St. Peter's since we had been two years ago. Two years ago we arrived at St. Peter's around 8:30 AM and it was only a short 15 minutes to get through the line and security. So go as early as possible to enjoy St. Peter's! We had tickets for the Vatican Museums, "Sistine Express", through Dark Rome tours, so we got right in at 7:30 AM and enjoyed the Sistine Chapel without the crowds. It was spectacular. We then spent nearly 4 hours wandering the museums by ourselves. We had Friday afternoon tickets to the Borghese Gallery and noticed when we were there, October 6th, that the gallery was sold out until the following Wednesday, but it is worth a try to stop by and see if you can get a reservation. If you can't get in the park is a lovely place to just stroll and enjoy the views of Rome. If you do miss Bernini's amazing sculptures in the Borghese do go to see his Ecstasy of St. Teresa in Chiesa di Santa Maria della Vittorio, the church is not too far from the Borghese gallery. No matter what you will love Rome!
The line is NEVER a three hour wait. The line moves quickly and when it's sticking out of the colonnade still only takes about half an hour. The line is for security and is constantly moving.
If trying to get into the Borghese gallery without a reservation I suggest having the front desk of your hotel call to see if they can get you in. You really don't want to waste time getting to the Borghese only to be turned away.
Donna
It would be nice to hear from OP whether they were able to get same-day Borghese tickets. It's certainly not a risk I'd recommend for anyone who really wants to see the gallery.
In May, we had three Borghese Gallery tickets for 5 p.m., expecting to visit St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums in the morning with our RS tour group. But our guide switched the schedule to an evening visit. We went to the Borghese to see if we could get earlier tickets, but were told adamantly that none were available. We did pick up our 5 p.m. tickets and were able to sell two of them (face value) to two young women standing outside who had been unable to get any tickets at the office. So at least two of them didn't go completely to waste. Obviously, we need to make a return trip to Rome to see the Borghese.
