insider tour to the Vatican?

Just as an F.Y.I., the romapass won't work at the Vatican. You can book a tour of the Vatican museums directly through the Vatican website. You can also book a tour of the museums that includes the basilica or a tour of the Vatican gardens. You can also book entry tickets to the museums. All of these options allow you to bypass the lines. http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do Donna

thanks

We enjoyed the "Pristine Sistine" tour with http://www.walksofitaly.com/. The group is a maximum of 12 for a more personal experience, the guides knowledgable and entertaining.

If you want to go on your own definitely reserve to avoid the lines! Most tours handle the tickets for you. Through Eternity (www.througheternity.com) is a good option. Also consider trying to get the Scavi Tour - the private tour below St Peter's Basilica. Only a limited number of people are allowed on the tour each day. For details and booking: http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20090216_en.html

We just came back from a vacation in Rome. We toured the Vatican thru Viator's (viator.com) early morning (8am) tour. there were a lot less people, we got to skip lines including the line to get in to St. Peter's Basilica. We were done by noon and had the rest of the day to stroll thru the gardens and go up to the top of St. Peter's Basilica. They also can arrange to go into the Necropolis, it was well worth the price and would not hesitate to use them again.

We tried to book on line and didn't get a response in a reasonable amount of time so we contacted our hotel and they were happy to help us. Once they got the reservation they sent us the confirmation number. Also, just a note, but unless things have recently changed, you can't get a reservation until a month before you want to go.

The Vatican museums are already booking for the first week of April. The tour is very good and ends at the Sistine chapel. You get an audio headset so you can clearly hear the guide. You'll be able to use the "tour door" after the tour to enter the basilica. Donna