Hi all. We have reservations for the Scavi tour at 3:00 pm and I was hoping to reserve a time first thing in the morning at the Museum and Sistine Chapel so we could be in Vatican City for just one day. Is there going to be time to do those two things before we check in for the Scavi tour. I think we need to do that 20 minutes prior.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
There are various "tracks" for the Vatican Museums, you can follow the one you prefer. Unless you want to see every piece of artwork on display, you can cover the Museum in a short or long morning if you can get in by 9am (you can buy tickets in advance). The Sistine Chapel is in the Museums (it's part of all four tracks, including the shortest one).
I just booked a guided tour for a friend that begins at 7:30am (before the Museums open to the public) and ends at about 2pm, but includes a lunch break (price of lunch not included). Pricey but almost no one is in the Sistine Chapel at that hour, except other early-bird small tour groups.
There is a nice courtyard restaurant at the Museums for a light lunch (stay away from the pizza in the basement cafeteria), or you may have time to go "off property" to have lunch nearby if you take the shorter tracks through the Museums. If you want to spend time in the Basilica before the Scavi tour starts, I would opt for lunch at the Museum courtyard restaurant. Once inside the Basilica, time flies (for me, anyway).
Posted by
OP
Kennewick, Wa
63 posts
Thank you for that info. Can you tell me who you booked the early morning tour through and the approximate price? Considering this as opposed to doing it on our own. Thank you
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Through Eternity Tours (www.througheternity.com). It was €109 per person; I was mistaken about the time, starts at 7:30 and lasts 5 hours with a 30-minute break. Meeting time is 7:15.