Rick Steves's St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square IPOD TOUR

Don't know much about Blue Guides except that they are expensive and heavy. Just picked one up at the bookstore in anticipation of a trip and thought there would be no way I'd carry it. Maybe a library copy before you go is a better idea? Hope you have a great trip.

Lisa - Thank you very much...been trying to find the answer to this question by going into the Vatican Bookstore and searching for Vatican Museum Guide Book....nothing came up...it would be nice if they had a booklet one could purchase to help them do the Museum on their own..i do have info from the I'net though...

One other question...since i'm starting to see the Vatican in the Museum then the Sistine Chapel then St. Peter's Bascilica IS THERE A PLACE TO GET LUNCH Somewhere along the way doing all this? Shelly

Thank you...I'm starting to figure it all out....I'll just stay inside the Basilica and walk to where the Ipod tours starts and do it that way. Then leave the Basilica and walk to the part of the Square where the Ipod starts and do that part. I'm feeling a little stupid but i guess this is how one can do it...the Ipod tours are awesome though!!!

By-the-way...i read on a post about getting a BLUE GUIDE for touring the Museum....does anyone know what this is....does it help you tour the Museum on your own...is it any good? Shelly

The Vatican Museum has a cafeteria near the entrance. There is also a cafeteria-type place on the roof of St. Peter's (you can take the elevator up to that point but you have to buy the full ticket.) There are restaurants outside of St. Peter's Square but they tend to be bad and overpriced. You might want to just pack some munchies in a bag though.

I happened to find a blue guide - the Official Vatican Guide - in a used bookstore (travel section) in Chicago. It was about 4 years old and cost $4. I found it very useful at the Vatican, both for individual items and generally for floor plans and getting around. You can buy a new one at any of the shops throughout the Museum. They were either 12 euro or 18 euro - can't remember exactly, just that I saved a lot. Since they hardly ever move anything around, an old one is good enough.

I found the RS tour too confusing to be useful, because I went into the church from the museum.

I found the RS tour of the Forum difficult for the same reason. His tour starts at the Colosseum, but that entrance was closed, so after walking up to it, I had to walk down and then all the way around to get in and then back up to the Colosseum end to start the tour.

I was just there with a fabulous tour by Through Eternity. We had feared being dropped at one of those restaurants that sells $12E sodas and $15E panini. Through Eternity took us to the Vatican cafeteria which was quite budget friendly.

Thank you Chani and Kay...How lucky you were to find the Blue Guide in a used bookstore....maybe i'll try googling it....does it have a title?

Also...where is the Vatican cafeteria? Is this the one on the roof of the Cupola or the one at the entrance to the Museum?

Again...Thank you for great help...Shelly

On our last trip we started in the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel then wandered a few blocks out to find lunch and then went to the Basilica. We rented audio guides for the Museums so we exited out the main exit after returning those and headed about 2-3 blocks away from the Basilica to find a very nice little place, sorry, can't remember the name to save my life, but I had a great pizza with zucchini flowers on it there. We then wandered back towards the Basilica finding gelato along the way..... It was a great day over al for us.

"Guide to the Vatican Museums and City"

It is subtitled Edizioni Musei Vaticani"

Copyright Ufficio Vendita Pubblicazioni e Riproduzioni dei Musei Vaticani, Vatican City

I have the sense that it is only sold at the Vatican. But check your public library.

It is roughly the size and weight of a Michelin green city guide.

Chani - Thank you for title of Vatican Blue Book...will try to find before trip but if not will look for it in Rome!! thank you...shelly

Nadine - Thank you for practical advice....i have one concern though....when you went back to see the Basilica after lunch was there a line to get in?....

Is there usually a line to get into the Basilica most anytime of the day? Shelly