Can someone recommend a group tour guide for the Vatican? We will be in Rome 4 days, Oct. 3-6. Thanks, Adrienne
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Context Travel offers several different Vatican tours. They consistently get high marks on this and other bulletin boards. We plan to use them in May. They limit their group size to six, which makes for a much better experience than larger tour groups. Info here: Context Travel Vatican Tours
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11359 posts
We absolutely loved Walks of Italy and their "Pristine Sistine" tour. Small group (max 12), highly educated, passionate, and entertaining guide. You make a beeline for the Sistine Chapel and have a bit of time to enjoy the chapel and hear about it from your guide before the hoards arrive. read about it here http://www.walksofitaly.com/tour_bookings/tour_all_listing/6/43.
Posted by
San Jose, CA
1994 posts
I second the vote for Context Travel (Context Rome). I've used them in Rome, Florence, Venice, and Paris... probably a dozen times... and the experience has always been wonderful. Well educated guides (typically with a relevant graduate degree), engaging, good English, small groups (no more than 6 people in group walks; also do private tours). I did a tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter's with an art historian who teaches at the university level and is a specialist in Baroque art. I learned so much and it was fascinating.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
You can book a tour directly with the Vatican that allows you to bypass the lines and use the "tour door" to get to the basilica. They also cost less. The information is very good and entertaining. I've done this tour several times with different guides and learned more information each time. http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do You use headsets so hearing the guide is not a problem. Donna