Touring the Vatican

Hi Patti. -
Some more info would be helpful:
Who is "we"? Ages can be important as it can be a tough place for very small children and/or folks with mobility challenges, Also, the more of you there are, the more economical a private guide versus group tour can be.
Are you on a tight budget and so are concerned about cost?
Are you open to a group tour (small or not-so-small)
When exactly will you be in Rome, and what are you wanting to see at the Vatican?

With the crush of tourists, a guide, especially for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, is essential. Even the Basilica is often packed. We chose the early morning tour with the The Tour Guy. It was great and we had about 20 minutes in the Sistine Chapel before the throngs of tourists arrived. By 9:30, we were walking shoulder to shoulder with thousands of other tourists. The Rafael room was impossible to move around in. We were traveling in late September.

We (my husband and I) would prefer a smaller tour group. We will be in Rome the beginning of Sept., but only for 3 days. So obviously we need to focus on the high points this trip. We would also love to hear the Christian background of the art. Is there a tour that would include the Basilica, the Sistine Chapel & the Vatican Museums?

Thanks for the additional info, Patti, and you bet, there are multiple options for small-group tours that include the museums, the Sistine (which is IN the museums) and the basilica.

Understand that not everything in the museum collection is Christian, and the collection is VAST: you'll only see parts of it on the average tour. I'm going to recommend an early-entrance tour that get you into the Sistine before the general public. While there will be other similar tours in the chapel as well, it won't be the crush (and it IS a crush) that it'll be in there once the floodgates open. Posters who've done them said they were worth every cent! Note that while all or most are available on Wednesdays, they do not go to the basilica on these days due to the Pope's Wed. morning audiences so book for a different day.

This is the one I see recommended most often:
https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/pristine-sistine-chapel-tour/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8OSDoNG25wIVjIbACh3lyw7tEAAYASAAEgJ_qfD_BwE

This one is very popular as well:
https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/italy-best-sellers/sistine-chapel-vatican-tour?travelDate=2020-04-09

And this one:
https://darkrome.com/vatican-tours/vatican-semi-private-tour

Lastly, this one:
https://www.contexttravel.com/cities/rome/tours/arte-vaticana-vatican-museums-tour-with-skip-the-line-tickets

None of them are larger than 14 people max, and I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

We used WALKS OF ITALY. Having a skip the line pass is a must unless you want to wait in a line that goes on forever and ever. Even with the guide there was a short wait, but it made all the difference. It is a sea of humanity around the entrance area.

Word of warning and sad but true...you need to watch your valuables in the Sistine Chapel as pickpockets abound. They are looking for people who are distracted. If you're not careful, your wallet could be gone. Wear a money belt. There is nothing to fear and I didn't feel unsafe, but don't make it easy for a thief. I was warned ahead of time about this.

The Vatican takes quite a bit of time as it is huge. The artwork is incredible.

If you are Catholic, continue reading, if not you can ignore...
Ask your local Parish priest and/or send an inquiry to your Bishop's office. Say you are going on a Pilgrimage to Rome (as part of a vacation) and would like to know if there is anyone is Rome that might be able to show you around the St.Peter's, the Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Say you will buy the entrance tickets (all very reasonable in price) but would like a "guide".
Most every priest either has been or knows someone at the Vatican. Even better, the Bishop may have a priest from the Diocese currently studying in Rome. Depending on how active you are in your Parish, your Parish Priest standing in the Diocese and your Bishop's standing in the Curia, will determine your actual result. You may get nothing, something or a really good insider tour. Doesn't hurt to ask. If something is arranged, be sure and make an offering to whoever helped you out when you get back. If your guide is an American assigned or studying in Rome, a nice small care package from home would be nice too.

On this last trip I booked with Sonia Tavoletta who was recommended by Francesca Caruso, one of RIck Steves’ local guides. Both my husband and our travel partner are 70+ and have some hearing deficits. My thought was that having a private guide meant they could be close enough to hear and ask questions in area that could be really crowded. Ironically, we went late afternoon and the Vatican and St. Peter’s were practically empty. The Sistine Chapel is always crowded. We all loved her.

My wife and I had an excellent early-morning tour with Through Eternity in Aug 2019.

We were the first tour group among the tour companies in line in front of the Vatican Museum before the door opened.
Size of tour group was manageable, numbering only about 12 people.

Our tour guide, Cinzia was outstanding. Very knowledgeable about the artwork and Vatican history. We especially enjoyed the explanation of the Sistine Chapel paintings. She was nimble at maneuvering our group through the Museum among the other groups entering after us. She set clear expectations with us on how she would focus on certain displays.

After completing the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel portion of the tour we moved directly into St. Peters Cathedral through a passageway.

We thoroughly enjoyed this tour, and learned much. A great value.

Thank-you to everyone who gave input! It has been very helpful.!! :)

Both my husband and our travel partner are 70+ and have some hearing
deficits. My thought was that having a private guide meant they could
be close enough to hear

Just to mention, all tour groups of 10 participants or more are required to use radio headsets (sometimes also call "whisper headsets") in the museums. This is to help keep the noise down...which is going to be a din regardless once the general-entry mob hits. Anyway, with the headsets, guides don't have to shout, and their clients don't have to be right at at their heels to hear. These are also commonly used on group tours at other attractions and on sightseeing walks, and your tour guide will provide them.

Talking is also not allowed in the Sistine.

Walks of Italy! We took the Rome in A Day tour (1/2 was Vatican) and the next year returned to them for Borgese Gallery tour. Vatican and Borgese packed to the gills, but guides as so knowledgeable and you have ear piece to hear them :) money well spent. We would do it again!