We will be visiting Rome in a couple of weeks for 4 days and will be staying in an AirBnB that is right across the street from the Vatican. Would anyone recommend visiting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica on separate days? Since we are staying so close to Vatican City it would not be difficult to get there early and in my head I am thinking we would be able to skip the long lines. Thank you for any input
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11848 posts
It is wonderful to go to the Basilica early in the morning, as soon as it opens. Certainly you can do that on one day and the Museums on another. My recommendation on the Museums is to go on an early-entry tour, the "Pristine Sistine" with Walks of Italy.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
I am thinking we would be able to skip the long linesI
I would definitely pre-purchase tickets for the first morning time slot at the museums versus just planning on showing up early, especially during high season. The line can start forming very early, and reserved tickets will give you the luxury of a little more time at breakfast. They will allow you to skip the long ticketing line and go directly to the security queue (which moves quickly).
A large amount of visitors will be making a beeline to the Sistine...which creates another queue to get into the chapel. The best way to see that part of the museum without the mob is to book one of the tours which provide early entrance - as Laurel has suggested - or get tickets for a Friday-night late opening, should you be in Rome on that day.
Posted by
Minnesota
96 posts
when we were there last spring, we did an early morning vatican tour, which was one of our absolute highlights. We got to tour the vatican without elbow to elbow crowds, then we were one of the first into the sistine chapel and it was truly one of the most incredible experiences to be in there almost alone - no big crowds, and not pushed in and out like cattle. The best part, however, was a little secret our guide told us... there is a door at the rear end of the chapel where you can exit, go down the stairs, and end up right at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica - WITHOUT having to exit the main vatican, walk around, and wait in more lines to go through the security again. We followed that, and were one of the first into St. Peters, just as they were opening the areas to see the Pieta. It was one of the best things of our time in Rome. We got to see both with NO lines at all. (If you have kids in tow, hold them close when the crowds start thronging in, though... our 6 yo got swept up with the tide of tours entering St. Peters shortly after us and we had to search to find her again - pure parental panic!).
Have a great time on your trip!