We will be in Rome April 12-16 (arriving on 12 and leaving on Easter Sunday). Not the best timing in our part but nothing we can change now! We are still interested in seeing the Vatican sites. Most likely will go there on Holy Thursday or Good Friday. Any suggestion for when to go?! Should we schedule a tour with a company since it will be so crowded?! Any suggestions welcome!! We are not interested in attending mass or other Holy Week activities but want to see the sites. Thank you!
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Washington DC
28247 posts
Latest reports from people who've been to the Vatican Museums (including Sistine Chapel) are hair-raising from the standpoint of overcrowding. The best suggestion seems to be taking a tour that provides access prior to the public opening of the museums. Many people have raved about Walks of Italy's "Pristine Sistine" tour, which I believe is priced above 100 euros per person. If you are budget conscious check for less expensive alternatives, including Dark Rome's "first entry" options. Note that Dark Rome may offer less of a guided experience, less experienced guides, etc.; I haven't taken either tour.
If for some reason the early-morning tours don't work for you, I think I've read that the museums are sometimes less busy late in the afternoon. In Spain it is sometimes recommended that high-traffic sites be visited at lunch time, but perhaps that doesn't work for the ever-popular Vatican Museums.
There are other sites/activities that many people like and which require booking well in advance:
- Vatican Scavi Tour
- Coloseum Underground Tour
- Domus Aurea
- Borghese Gallery