Hello, I just found out that the tickets on the website of Vatican Museum in the week of March 13 have been available. Does anyone know if there are crowded in Vatican Museums in Mid-March? I'm wondering if I should go for the "Prime Experience - Vatican Museums" tour to get in the museum one hour before the opening time. If it is a low season, then I would rather to go around 9am instead of 7:30am. Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Washington DC
28305 posts
I believe the Vatican Museums are nearly always crowded these days. This is what I'd suggest: Take a look at the availability of standard entry tickets for the next week. Are the early-morning time slots selling out? That means the museum is going to be crowded. If you see that pattern in November, it does not bode well for March.
I've spent a fair amount of time looking at ticket availability for the Vatican Museums for a trip of my own, and the usual pattern on the regular entry tickets is for the first time slots to sell out fast (as do the early-access deals). Whichever way you decide to go, I think you need to get a ticket well ahead of your arrival in Rome. It doesn't appear the standard tickets for March are on sale yet--just those through January 13.
Posted by
OP
52 posts
Great point! thanks, acraven. I just checked the tickets in Nov, and Dec. It seems that it's gonna be a full house every day, with the earliest spots sold out first. I think I will just go ahead and book the Prime Experience tour.
With this tour, we can choose to explore more on our own after the guided tour and breakfast, or choose to leave for the St. Peter's Basilica. I read many reviews and decided not to buy the most popular tour with the secret passage to Basilica, because I would like to have the flexibility to decide how long we are gonna stay at Vatican Museum.
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8941 posts
Expect to not only be busy , but packed. I think the early tour is the only way to go.
Posted by
30 posts
We did early entry on Oct. 31. After doing the tour, having a wonderful guide for 2 hours we went back into the Museums after breakfast. We decided while it was expensive, it was worth every penny. Afterwards we walked down a hall of sardines.
Posted by
OP
52 posts
thank you guys for confirming!
Posted by
ny
12 posts
Hello - for the poster who had a wonderful guide for two hours. How did you arrange? through the direct Vatican web site or via another method?
Thank you
Posted by
OP
52 posts
to Helg, I think they meant the tour I mentioned in the original post "Prime Experience - Vatican Museums". It can be reserved on Vatican's official ticket website. I searched around and saw lots of good reviews about this tour. Personally, I chose this tour due to 1) early entry 2) open ended so I can still wander around after the tour ends.