hi,
this is my second time visiting Rome, but I'm a little confused. When I go to the Vatican, do I need to buy tickets to go inside the St Peter's or to go up? I really don't remember. Where are the Vatican museum's located?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16708 posts
Veru, the basilica (which is St Peter's and not St Patrick's) and museums are in the same area of Rome; they're both part of Vatican City. Reference a map of Rome to see where they are.
The Basilica is free to visit although the security-check lines to get inside can be long. There is a fee to access the cupola; ticketing is to the right, inside the church entrance, follow the signs for "cupola". Tickets are 6 or 8 euros depending on whether you climb the entire way on foot or take a lift partway. Queues for the dome can be long as well.
You do need tickets for the museums - which are in a different part of the tiny "city" - and it is highly advised to pre-order them to avoid much longer and slower lines. You do that through the museum website, and must pick a specific day/time of entry. Tours are also available through the website:
http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html/
There is a dress code for both museums and basilica: no bare knees or shoulders, women OR men.
Posted by
OP
34 posts
thank you very much Kathy. I fixed the mistake, and thanks for the info. My trip was more than 13 years ago and I really don't remember much about it, that's why I'm going back.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
St. Peter's opens around 7 am. The earlier you get there, the shorter the line. I don't know what time the dome opens, but the line will get longer . . . there's limited space and I think once it's "full", people are only admitted at the rate others leave. I got there pretty early, no line. When I left a couple hours later (spent a lot time time taking photos) the line was really long. From the front of St. Peter's its a 10-15 minute walk to the museum entrance.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16708 posts
I got there pretty early, no line. When I left a couple hours later
(spent a lot time time taking photos) the line was really long.
We've had the same experience as Chani; getting to the basilica early, a little before the opening hour, worked well for us. Entrance to the cupola opens an hour later than the church itself: 8.00 to 18.00, April to September and from 8.00 to 17.00, October to March.