Hi, I am wondering if I can head directly to the Sistine Chapel following entry to the Vatican Museums at 8:30 AM before exploring the collections to try to avoid larger crowds in the Chapel later in the morning. I took this approach 20 years ago but don't know if visitors are now required to follow a specific route that does not allow for backtracking. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Milan Italy
106 posts
Hi, Giangilberto from Milan.
It works like any other museum, once you've bought the ticket you can move freely inside, so if you want to go straight to the Sistine Chapel you can, and then come back and visit the rest of the collections.
There's no set route and nobody stops you.
So it'll be the same experience you had twenty years ago. That hasn't changed.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
9196 posts
There’s not a mandated one-way route, but crowds that arrive after the 8:30 entry time may hamper backtracking, just because you’ll be “swimming against the flow.” Our most recent visit, just a few years ago, was so much more crowded than our first one 14 years ago, especially inside the Sistine Chapel itself. I don’t know what your situation was 20 years ago, but don’t be surprised if crowds affect every aspect of your visit to the Museums and the Chapel. I suspect it will be a noticeably different experience this time around, but I do hope your Sistine Chapel plan works for you.
Posted by
44 posts
My family took an early morning highlights tour (booked through the museum itself) that ended in the Sistine Chapel. The tour began before the doors opened for general admission, and we were able ti go back and spend as much time as we wanted afterwards. Seeing the Chapel that way was fantastic.
Posted by
Bay Area SF & Uppsala Sweden 🇸🇪
2108 posts
Hey Scandifan, thanks for info about earlier entry before general public into Vatican museums, that's not the Key Master super expensive option. Very useful for our next visit!
For those of you who might like to book directly with the Vatican, I believe this is their official site. https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home/
Posted by
Cleveland
221 posts
We're taking a somewhat opposite approach when we're there in October. We booked the last tour of the day and we will slowly make our way through the museum hoping by the time we get to Sistine Chapel near closing time, it won't be too crazy.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
328 posts
"If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don't eat yer meat?"
Sorry, but that line just popped into my head when I read your post. 😉. In other words you kind of have to go through the museum before you get the "treat" at the end. Not that it is impossible to go back (as far as I know, I never tried it) but I don't think it is that easy or practical to do so. And keep in mind that you still have to walk all the way through the museum to get there, and again - as far as I know - there is no shortcut or entrance directly to the Chapel.
The thing about the Sistine Chapel, since the main thing you want to see is on the ceiling, it really doesn't matter how many people are in there, it doesn't obstruct your view.
Posted by
Atlanta, Georgia
328 posts
We booked the last tour of the day and we will slowly make our way
through the museum hoping by the time we get to Sistine Chapel near
closing time, it won't be too crazy.
The first time I went, I booked a Breakfast at the Vatican event which started at 7:00 am. We got a huge American style breakfast buffet which we really enjoyed and then early entry to the museum before it was open for General Admission. We got a head start and even taking our time through the Vatican Museum, we were still the first ones to arrive in the Sistine Chapel way ahead of the crowds. I don't know if that event is still available, but it was WAY worth it.