The Vatican

Patricia,

We are going to Rome for the first time in August and I have been doing a lot of research. Others can correct me, but this is what I know.

You must purchase tickets for the Vatican Museum to see the Sistine Chapel. Therefore, you need to wait in the line or go on a Vatican tour or a private tour that skips the line. However, from my understanding, the private tours that skip the line are only for the early morning times. Some private tours offer other times, but they don't get to skip the line. You can purchase just a skip the line ticket (doesn't include tour) here
http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Skip-the-Line-Vatican-Museums-Entrance-Tickets/d511-3731SKIP/TR-3

There are other tours that people have raved about, do a search.

We also have a scavi tour scheduled at 10:45. I think we are going to see ST. Peter's, climb the dome, and go on the Scavi tour 1 day and schedule a skip the line ticket to see the Museum and Sistine chapel the next day.

We were there in the 3rd week last Sept and did as Brian suggested. Arrived for our Scavi tour around 11. We then walked through St. Peter's and then went up to the dome. When you go up to the dome the elevator down takes you into St. Peter's. You might consder doing the dome first and then St. Peter's. The lines to get into St. Peter's was enormous. Someone on our Scavi tour had got to St. Peter's before 9am and said there were no lines at that time into St. Peter's.
We did the skip the lines tour the next day, but the wait to get in was still about 1 1/2 hours. Our tour company rushed us through the Museum and the crowds and gave us about 15 minutes in a very crowded Sistine Chapel. I was very disappointed in that experience. They then took us to a souvnier shop by bus for 45 minutes before dropping us near our hotel. Hopefully the company you pick will be better then ours.

If you have the time, do NOT take a tour. In September we did the tour because we didn'tt plan ahead and get tickets before we went. Cost us 65 Euros each and while it did bypass the lines, I felt like part of a herd of cattle, especially in the museum. Multiple tours, wall to wall tourists and many languages that were louder than my English earphones (imagine exiting a sporting event in an arena or stadium). Had about 20 minutes in the Sistine Chapel with hundreds of others and more time than needed in St. Peter's. Took me ten minutes in the museum to decide that there was much more I'd like to take my time and see instead of hurrying along with the fear of losing my tour group.

Be brave, read BEFORE YOU GO Rick's book on Italian art history and try it on your own. You'll be glad you did.

In regards to St Peters and climbing the dome. I had been to St. Peters previously, but not climbed the dome, we visited again and I would definitely suggest wandering around in St Peters first, taking in the "wow" factor, then go up in the dome. What will astound you then is the scale of the place, putting into perspective the architecture of the place.

In order to see the Sistine Chapel, you must buy entrance tickets into the Vatican Museums. Reguler entrance tickets are 14 Euro. With special entrance that skips the long lines the cost is def more expensive for entrance tickets. I would recommend seeing everything in 1 day at the Vatican. It gets very crowded and i would visit the Vatican City just once. Maybe you can spend a day in Ostia Antica or take a train to the ocean for a day? I'd spend a good 4 days seeing everything i could in Rome.

If you are interested in purchasing entrance tickets only you can through this direct link at http://www.prestotours.com/vaticantickets.html

I will take Jim's advice because I hate tours. Took one in Mexico city and to this day, my kids roll their eyes at the word "tour."

Can I jump in here to ask a question? Are the tickets to the Vatican Museum the same for St. Peter's dome climb?

Eli, no. They are not. You buy the tickets to St. Peter's dome at St. Peter's near the elevator. As far as I know there is no combo ticket available.

Thanks to everyone who had suggestions. I think the best plan is to try to schedule a Vatican Tour at 2 due to the timing of our scavi tour. It would make for a long day, but would rather see everything at the Vatican in the same day. I wonder if six months out is too early to schedule with them.

The Vatican Museum tour includes the Sistine Chapel and the incredible Raphael rooms. These are both near the very end of the "tour". Everyone is on a tour in the vatican,it is not an option. You follow your guide with a raised colored umbrella through the crowded corridors and awe at the art everywhere! ps - you can schedule the tour on your on directly with the vatican via fax 30 days ahead or less for the regular price of the museum admission. You need to include your dates visiting rome for preference of tour dates, your names, language preference, and the hotel and fax number where you will be staying. They send fax confirmation directly to you hotel a few days ahead of your confirmed time and then you just show up 15mins early &see guard.

As far as St Peter's, you just stand in the line to get it. Don't let the length of this particular line intimidate you as it moves very quickly. See the interior and then try and get the tour of the dome - this line takes longerthough.

Patricia

We been through the Vatican in both ways. 4 years ago we went on our own. The lines for the musuem appear to be very long in the morning so we went through St. Peters first and then the museum after lunch. There was no line at that point.

Last year, we arranged to have a tour of the Vatican Museum with ThroughEternity tours. It was just 7 of us (including my nieces are from 8 thru 17) and that was the best way with that group. We enjoyed and learned quite a bit that way. With the tour, we stood in line in the morning and then went to St. Peters in the afternoon.

If you have a Scavi tour set for the mid-morning, the tour of the Vatican musuem may take too long. the private company may adjust the time so that you can get out in time...but it depends upon the line to the museum in the morning and the tour company's flexibility. Even last February there were issues with too many people trying to get in.

Robert