Pristine Sistine with kids or other

Only you can determine whether it's worth the $$$ We don't know anything about your kids and how into museums/art they are so it could be boom or could be bust. I realize that some folks think the Sistine is a "Oh Wow!" that can't be missed but I've seen enough other "Oh Wows!" that don't involve that price tag to do.

I'll reference your previous post:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-with-children-10-13-15-top-suggestions

Personally? I wouldn't drop that much when there are SO many other interesting things to see in Rome that don't involve that sort of outlay.

For $500 skip it. Perhaps use the R.S. audio tour on MP3 and let each child follow along. Just make sure you keep everyone together and have a plan if anyone gets separated from the group.

If you had more time to plan it, I would have suggested a private guide for about €250 for the group, but it might be tough to arrange that with the remaining time you have. You might still arrange a private tour here http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/scegli-la-visita/musei-e-collezioni/musei-vaticani-e-cappella-sistina/visita-musei-vaticani-e-cappella-sistina-con-guida-esclusiva.html.

Don't miss the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's, but buy a guidebook and do it on your own.

I have been to the Sistine twice and find it the most amazing work of art in the World. My children loved it. My 7 1/2 year old son was in awe of it and wanted me to explain every figure and who it was and what it meant.

buy a guidebook and do it on your own.

Except that they've waited very late to make a decision if leaving tomorrow. "Open" tickets to the museums on the Vatican website are sold out until Wed and going fast: no morning tickets left for Wed., Thursday or Friday. No idea how long they'll be in Rome.

If you have not yet purchased a tour, try this one. At $63.30 it's a lot less and the guides have to pass the same test to be certified.

https://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33/rome-3-hour-vatican-city-walking-tour-t131925/

Have a wonderful trip.

We did the Pristine Sistine tour and were disappointed with our guide. We had 2 teens (and there were other kids in our group), but our tour guide did not seem to alter her tour to her audience. It was like she was reading from an art history book, giving a lot of details but not really engaging her audience. However, another tour guide from the same company with a different group of tourists was asking interesting questions to get her group interested. (I switched channels to listen when we were close to her, just to see.) We really enjoyed being in the Vatican--it is an incredible place, but I would not do this tour if I had to do it all over again.

(Just noticed the date you posted, so you probably already decided. Oops!)

Thank you! We go tomorrow. I decided on the Roman guy one that was a little cheaper then the Pristine Sistine since it’s at the beginning of this leg of the trip and I’m sure this is not the only place we would have to pay to enter. ;0)
Looking forward to it!

Melanie, we had the same experience except opposite. We wanted the guide's art history knowledge. Personally, I don't like tours where they try to involve the tour participants. Our worst one was at the Colosseum where the guide wanted several participants to role play, it didn't go over well.
It's difficult when there are kids because the people without children don't want a tour that caters to kids. There's really no right answer and tours are expensive. So much depends on the guide and other tour participants.

Baxter22, I completely understand your point. It is difficult to cater to all ages. It's too bad you didn't have our guide! ;)

Role playing?! Yikes! I wouldn't go for that, either.