Time Required For Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel?

Ross, the time you spend depends on how much you want to see. If you stick with the highlights and don't go to all of the museums in the complex, four hours should be fine. You will also need a great tolerance for crowds and noise. The Sistine Chapel is particularly high-volume with the guards constantly telling people to be quiet, don't sit there, and no flash, please.

Thanks for the feedback. Is there a better time to see the Vatican Museum such as late in the day?

Ross, Without stating the flamin' obvious, I'd suggest you get your hands on a Rick Steves' Rome 2012 guidebook. Maybe a library, maybe a leafing through in a bookstore (remember them from last century?) or buying. RS devotes a whole chapter to St Peters and another entire chapter to the Vatican Museums. In there he outlines all the things to be seen and those to miss, and lots of hints. I will say that going in the morning will be busier, going on Mondays is usually the busiest. You will need to decide how much time you want spend involved with what you see or if its pretty much a "drive-by" and peek into the Chapel.

I compared notes with fellow travelers yesterday on Vatican visits THIS month (mid-February, hardly any tourists, right?). I was at the Vatican museums on a Wednesday, arrived at 10 am and there were no lines at security or ticket windows. The only times any of the galleries were crowded was when a couple of tour groups converged. The Sistine Chapel at 4-5 pm was almost empty - seats available on the side and plenty of room to walk around. The people I met all went on Monday, they waited well over an hour to get into the museums, then had to wait close to an hour to get into the Sistine Chapel because it was so packed. Also, if you have any large items with you, you will have to check them at the entrance - then it's a long walk through the museums from the Sistine Chapel back to collect them. Because the Vatican museums are closed on Sundays and most of the other museums in Rome are closed on Mondays, that is the most crowded day at the Vatican.

I'm also planning a trip just a couple of weeks before you. From what I've read, you could spend a full day there but sounds like you could hit highlights in 4 hours. Does anyone recommend doing a tour guide for the Vatican or is Rick's book enough to make your way on your own?

Rose When we went we got good advice and arrived before the ropes fell to allow people in then (we were at the head of the line) Then we sprinted thru the museum to the sistine chapel. We got there and there were perhaps 10 people inside. It was truely wonderful. We left and went thru the museum and had to go thru again and found it shoulder to shoulder people. Wife got a panic attack and had to leave by the side exit. Please experience the quiet nice sistine chapel and not the crowded one.
Jim

Hi Rose,
Can you see the Sistine Chapel first and then go to the museum afterwards?