Security at St Peter's in Rome

Laura:
Two theories:
1) It was an unusual day. Consider if you have ever told someone (in your hometown) to take a certain route to avoid rush-hour traffic, but surprise! On that particular day, there may have been an accident or something that caused traffic to be extra slow on that route.
Maybe there were huge tour groups in town the day you visited St. Peters.

2) Maybe what appeared in the guidebook was true on publication date. But, so many zillions of people purchased the guidebook and followed Rick's advice, that now the pendulum has swung. Talk about 'the power of the pen' !!!!

I doubt Rick's guidebook writer(s) would purposely put out 'bum advice' or dated advice, just to frustrate you.

To expect any publication to get it 100% right on any given day, regardless of all the variables that NO ONE (not even the Pope) can control, is beyond normal expectations.

Laura, I don't know how you got the idea that there isn't "always" a security check to get into the basilica. That's well-known information, and one of Rick's guides states:

"Avoiding lines: to bypass the long security-checkpoint line, visit the Vatican Museum first (though it has its own long lines and checkpoint) then take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel directly to St Peter's. (note that this shortcut isn't always open)"

The last note about the shortcut not being a given is significant so the only way to guarantee entry from the Sistine is with a tour...which many choose to take for that benefit.

There's also no possible way to predict how long the line is going to be at any given time. We had success going very first thing in the morning, and many others have found the 4:00 or later hour to work for them. Time of year can also make a big difference. The line usually moves fairly quickly even if it's lengthy: 30 minutes really isn't that bad compared to the hours some wait to get into the museums if they haven't pre-booked tickets.

Periods of heightened security which are either known or unknown to tourists may also have an impact in how long checks at any top attraction in any city may take.

Two weeks ago, even at 8:15 am, the security line was halfway around the perimeter of Piazza San Pietro, and took about 30 minutes. By 10 am the line completely encircled the piazza.

The security checks for entry to St. Peters have been in place for well over a decade; this is not new stuff. And the 'shortcut from the Vatican Museums' is reserved for tour groups. Sometimes you can slither in amongst them, but when more dutiful guards are present this doesn't happen.

Laura,

The RS guidebooks are updated every year, but keep in mind that these go to print many months before the year that they cover (ie: the Italy 2016 should be available about October 2015). A Guidebook Updates section is also provided here on the website to list any corrections that come to light after the book was issued. I don't know of any other guidebooks that provide similar updates.

This year is predicted to be an exceptionally busy year for tourism in Europe, and that's not something that could be anticipated. I suspect tourist volumes for sites like the Vatican will have longer lines throughout the day, especially now as this is getting into peak season. The airport-style security has been in place for awhile, and I can recall the X-Ray scanners being in place even in 2006.

I find that it's sometimes necessary to adjust one's schedule according to conditions at the time, regardless of what the guidebook says.

The best time to visit is at 7am when it opens. There are never queues.

Ken, I remember having to pass security checks about that time as well.

To repeat. There have been security checks at St. Peters for over a decade; this is not new and it is not optional to time of day. St. Peters tends to have short lines if any at 7 am; the Vatican Museums on the other hand have their longest lines in the morning -- sometimes many blocks long (and hours long) Never visit the Vatican Museums without having a time reserved entry ticket which you can obtain from the official Vatican site.

We always show up before opening because there are security checks and ridiculous lines. I'd never advise going at 4.

Perhaps they should have written: "To avoid the lines at St. Peter's skip going to the Vatican".
It worked for me.

I think everyone is under estimating the amount of tourists in Rome. The Euro is low and many people are finally getting the opportunity to travel to Europe. When we were there three weeks ago it did not matter if you got there late or early you had to wait in line for all the major sites. Even with advanced tickets there still is a security line that you have to wait in. Some longer than others. And security is really high in Rome particularly with military every where.

Even with advanced tickets there still is a security line that you have to wait in

Exactly. EVERYONE undergoes a check.

I think Judy is onto something with her: "I think everyone is under estimating the amount of tourists in Rome. The Euro is low and many people are finally getting the opportunity to travel to Europe. When we were there three weeks ago it did not matter if you got there late or early you had to wait in line for all the major sites."

This may be a permanent change in crowds at Europe sights. We've noticed significantly more crowds in London and Paris attractions in the last two years, compared to ten and twenty years ago.
It may be that this will not change.
I have a theory that when you have a country with over a billion people and even a small % of the population is getting enough disposable income to make Europe tours possible--that it's going to make a difference.

When we're referencing the book, I like to confirm the context used. Here it is, yes, giving a positive spin to visits before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. The crowding issue is not only defined by the security line; it's also your experience once you get inside. (e.g., at the Vatican Museum, an advance reservation can help you skip the ticket line but not the crowds inside.)

Avoiding Lines: There’s no surefire way to avoid the long security lines. The checkpoint is typically on the north side of the square, but is sometimes closer to the church or tucked under the south colonnade.

St. Peter’s is often accessible directly from the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican Museums--a great time-saving trick, but unfortunately not a reliable one.

Avoid the worst crowds by visiting before 10:00. If you come after 16:00, crowds are lighter, sunbeams can work their magic, and the 17:00 Mass (Mon-Sat) in the apse fills the place with spiritual music. But after about 16:00, the crypt is closed, and the area around the altar is often roped off to prepare for Mass.

Best way to avoid the line is to book the special Scavi tour (including St. Peter's tomb). Afterwards, you just walk right into the Basilica - no waiting.

EmergencyDoc, it's not necessary to book a scavi tour to do that: to my knowledge, all tours of just the Vatican Museums or combo of museums and basilica are able to access the stairwell directly into the church.

The important thing to remember is not to bring anything which needs to be checked at the museum entrance: then you have to return to that entrance to retrieve those items.