Scavi tour and Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel has nothing to do with St. Peters which anyone can see for free. The Scavi tour does end in the Basilica so that is the time to plan to see St. Peters. The entrance to the Vatican Museums is a good long walk from there and you can't reach the Sistine Chapel except by walking for about a half hour through the museum. This is generally not quick because it is pretty much a solid line of people making their way to the Chapel -- you can't just zip ahead. I would book a ticket for the Vatican Museums as early as possible in the morning; you do not stand in the long line if you have a timed reservation. Then take your time with the museum and Sistine Chapel and have lunch before your 3 pm Scavi Tour appointment. It is critical to not be late for that as it goes on time and if you are not there, you have lost your slot. It is a wonderful experience.

You're confusing a lot of things about the Vatican area. The scavi tour takes place under St. Peter's basilica. When the tour ends you are in the grottoes under the basilica and are able to enter the basilica without waiting in the security line.

To get to the museums you must exit the basilica and walk all the way around the outside of the Vatican walls to the entrance. Here is a map of Vatican city. You can see the entrance of the museums at the top right.

http://www.infoplease.com/atlas/country/vaticancity.html

The only way to get to the Sistine Chapel is to go through the museums. You cannot access it any other way. Once inside the museums it's a brisk half hour walk from the front of the museums to the chapel. It usually takes much longer as the galleries leading up to the chapel are packed with people making the trip from the front of the museums take an hour or more.

Since your scavi tour is so late in the afternoon I would suggest seeing the museums first then doing the scavi tour and finishing in the basilica. You can purchase entry tickets online at the official site that will allow you to bypass the lines for the museums.

Donna

One other approach is possible, and it might give you a better experience in the basilica. My favorite visits are when I'm in line when the basilica opens at 7 am. It's uncrowded and quiet, and those have been the times I've most enjoyed the experience. It's harder to appreciate later, with pushing crowds, noisy chatter, and a general lack of decorum.

Just do try to maintain silence in the early morning, since that's when visiting priests say Mass -- you'll see them at many of the side altars. You could then head for the museums later, when they open. Allow at least 15-25 minutes to walk from the basilica to the museums, depending on your walking speed. And as noted above, be sure you're on time.

Hello! wife & I going to Rome early December 2014. We wish to purchase the "early" tour tickets to The Sistine Chapel for Monday, 01 Dec 2014, but have not seen them become available yet. Is it too early or is there some type of construction or restoration this year? I believe one phrase for what we are trying to purchase is called "early access" ... sound familiar? Thanks, Les and Carol Habel.

The Vatican only releases tickets about 60 days ahead of time. There are no early entry tickets to the Sistine Chapel. You can purchase the earliest entry time available but they don't do tickets just for early entry to the chapel. They do offer a breakfast with a chance to visit the chapel but I don't know if they'll continue that in the winter or not.

Donna

We had a 3:45pm Scavi Tour. We arrived at the Basilica at 7 am when it was not crowded and spent lots of time without bumping into people and enjoyed the site of mass. We did the dome climb and the visited the second level crypts. Our Vatican Museum ticket was for 10:30 and we had plenty of time to see the museum, the Sistine Chapel and even had lunch in the museum. We wandered back to the St Peters for our Scavi tour and did end up back in the Basilica. It was much more crowded, but some of the chapels that were closed for Mass in the morning were open so we could see more of the art close up. The light in the morning was very different from the light in the afternoon so I'm glad we were able to see it both times. The Scavi tour was definitely a highlight of our vacation!!

If you will be in Rome for a couple of days, try to see St. Peter's on one of the earlier days. That will give you some wiggle room to try again, should St. Peter's suddenly be closed for a private event (either for several hours or for an entire day).

When we were on a Rick Steves' tour, we were unable to get in since the it was closed for a private mass (and the lines waiting were estimated at 4 hours once St. Peter's reopened). Then on another trip, years later, the beatification wound up being schedule for the exact time period we were planning to visit. But, a week later we were flying out of Rome, and it worked for us to visit then.

Our Scavi tour was earlier in the week, and because the Basilica was closed (for the beatification events) we were not able exit from the scavi tour into the Basilica.

Bottomline: It took us three attempts on different days (one years earlier) to actually make it in the Basilica.

And, if you wind up being early for your scavi tour, just very kindly check with the guards and the ladies who accept the entrance letter.....we did, and we were put with an earlier group.

Also, as a previous poster mentioned, don't miss the dome tour...it really is fun and a beautiful view from up top....do it early in the day when it is slightly not as packed.

Thank you so much for your helpful tips.

Regarding the rules for the Scavi Tour....
Since we will be spending most of the day at the Vatican, we will have our camera and a day bag with us. The rules say that they don't allow bulky items or photographic equipment on the Scavi tour.
Were you able to bring a small crossbody purse? Were you able to bring your camera as long as you didn't use it?

If not, we will probably need to 'check' these items to leave them behind during the tour, but get them back when we are done. Where are we able to do this?
In order to check these items, do we need to wait in line at the Basilica to do this? Or is it quick and easy to get these checks before our Scavi tour?

thanks again - so many questions!!!