Shortcut from Sistine Chapel to Basilica - Audio guide return?

If you are not in a group it is now unlikely that you can use what you call the shortcut.

If you have an audio guide you certainly cannot. You have to go all the way back through the museums and return the set at the entry/exit where you entered then leave the museums and walk all the way around the walls to S Peters.

The audio guide doesn't allow you to use the bypass door into the basilica, only guided tours allow that. They are checking tour tickets before letting people through.

donna

Can I go though that door to enter Basilica if I book a guided tour from the museum, not from other tour companies?

Thanks.

Yes, if you book a tour you can use the bypass door. If you book simple entry tickets without a guided tour you must use the regular exit to the museums.

Donna

sabrina

You could use the vatican museum guides, available on the website. We have used them twice and they were very good. The museum is a group of small museums with so much history and art that you really need someone or at the very least, an audioguide. When you are with the guide, they provide the headphones and collect them prior to entering the Sistine Chapel (the last museum). Our guide both times allowed us to wander around on our own before departing to the shortcut back to the Basilica.

Enjoy!
Marie

We did the early morning tour last week. Once in the Chapel the tour guide leaves you and you're on your own. We had no trouble exiting through the back door on the right. No on asked for tickets or even paid us any attention. I didn't have an audio guide but I think there was a drop box before entering St. Peter's. Just beware that if you leave the Chapel and go to St. Peter's, you can't get back in to the museums. Our tour took us straight to the Chapel, then we took the door at the back on the left to re-enter the museums, went back to the Sistine Chapel then took the right hand door to St. Peter's.

I would be surprised at a drop box for audio guides, since you usually have to leave photo ID as security. What's more likely is that it was a drop box for the audio listening devices that tour groups use.

Kerri, early in the morning they generally don't check tickets becaused you've paid extra for early entry. It's during normal business hours that they will check tickets to see if you're on a tour.

Donna

I have been asked around and different people saw different things...
Some say there is a guide and some didn't see guide, some say you have to put ID to rent audio guide some say no ID needed.

I won't completely rely on that shortcut. Will use an audio guide so we can be with our own pace and enjoy our time in the museum. If the shortcut doesn't work will just step out and re-entry to the basilica.

Thanks all for the reply!