Uh-Oh! Rome Aug. 14, leaving Aug. 18--have I blown it for Vatican--and more?!

What chaos are you talking about?
Most Romans will be at the beach that weekend so the city will be quieter than usual with mostly only foreign tourists in town. Traffic will also be non existent in the city, except for the evening of Sunday 16 August when everybody returns from vacation.
The only thing closed is the Vatican Museums, which are closed on Sat 15 and Sun 16. Just do those the afternoon of the 14 or on the 17. Everything else will be there and since no Italians will be crazy enough to be in Rome with that heat, there will be shorter lines too.

Hopefully you have a room with AC.

And you can make actual timed entry reservations on the Vatican's own website. No need to fret.

If you can get a late afternoon appointment for the Vatican museums and then go into Saint Peter's Basilica before it closes at 7pm, you can fit that into your arrival day in Rome. Check into your hotel or at least drop your bags off if your room isn't ready, and head for the museum. I would try for an appointment time of 3pm at the latest.

That leaves the rest of your time for the other sights, but check their websites for opening/closing times.

Is there a problem with doing the basilica and museums on Monday the 17th? As noted, the colosseum/palatine/forum will be open on the other days, and the Borghese will be as well (mandatory pre-reservations needed). As all the National museums are closed on Mondays, then doing the Vatican on that day will work.

Or put a hustle on and do it on Friday afternoon (yes,make reservations). Really, I think you have enough flexibility that there's not a thing to worry about.

You will need to check the Vatican museum website 90 days prior to your travel dates. We took a Friday night tour of the museum at 1900 with only 200 people. We had the place to ourselves so we went directly to the Sistine Chapel. We had downloaded a Rick Steves description of every one of the ceiling panels to our Kindle Fire. We sat in awe as we listened to the descriptions and there were only 8 or 10 people in the entire place. We then backtracked to see the other marvelous exhibits after spending 45 minutes in the Sistine Chapel. Another group of 200 entered at 2100 but we could stay the entire four hours until 2300. We sent them an email requesting tickets and specified the 1900 entry. We lined up around 1800 to be the first into the place. All we've heard is how packed the place is during normal hours. Not so with the Friday night entry. Since you arrive Friday you might get those entry tickets and have the place almost to yourselves. I just checked and you can only book 90 days in advance. Print the tickets at home. It's the best bargain in Rome.

Yes, I've been reading...and I am grateful for all the counsel.

But I remain a bit perplexed...with the St. Peter's Scavi Tour slated for 9:15 a.m., I know I am relatively "golden" for being able to tour St. Pete's after the Scavi experience. Can I assume a "self guided" tour of St. Pete's is easily doable? Or would we want a guided experience for that as well?

And what about the transition to the Sistine Chapel? (We likely won't be super interested in the VM, but really want to see SC.)

Long story short I remain at a loss for trying to connect St. Pete's and the Vatican in a way that is efficient and makes sense. Not sure people will see this...so I may have to repost...

Sorry I'm so dense :(

Roger,

have you got your copy of Rick Steves' Rome? All the details you need to tie together the Basilica and the Vatican Museums, along with the Sistine Chapel, are in there - with a good map of Vatican City and plenty of details in a very easy to read and digestible way...

I'm sure you will have plenty of fun on your trip, and get to see Ferragosto up close.

Do you know what a Nasone is?

You will have plenty of need for Nasone is the middle of August. Take a big hat and a water scarf, too. And sunscreen. And gelato medicinally - as a cooling medicine.

Roger, I assume that you've moved your Vatican visit to Monday the 17th I'm guessing that based on the time of your Scavi tour…

If this is the case, I would book a 2nd, later tour to the Vatican Museums or Vatican Museums/St Peter's combo through the Vatican website. There is no way that I know of to 'transition' from basilica to museums to see the Sistine but tours from the museums are allowed a shortcut from the Sistine directly into the church. The Sistine is at the end of the museum tour as it's at the farthest end of the museums.

You can do that here:
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Servizi_Visite.html

I wouldn't book a tour of the museums unless you want one. After your scavi tour I would visit the basilica and then get lunch. After lunch I would head to the museums. They'll still be crowded but most of the outside lines will be gone. You can spend the rest of the afternoon inside the museums, taking your time visiting the sites you wish to see.

Alternately, you could visit the museums on Friday night, when they are less crowded and less busy. This will free up time after your scavi tour and basilica visit. You'll be able to book tickets about 2 months in advance. You can visit on Friday night on your own or book a guided tour. This is a really good option as most sites close at dusk so you'll be able to fit in other things after the scavi tour on Monday.

donna

George - thanks for the tip about the Friday night entry time. If I can ever convince my (Italian!) husband to take me back to Rome, that sounds like a fabulous way to be able to enjoy the Sistine Chapel. From your neighbor, an Okie . . .in Paris.

you can get a reserved timed ticket for the Vatican Museums without a tour; the Sistine Chapel is about a half hour into the museum at a fast clip -- of course it is often shoulder to shoulder all the way and it might take longer.

Let me throw this idea out...you could book an early tour of the Sistine Chapel, that does not include the museum tour. You get in at 7:45 or 8:00, at least an hour before the museums open. There will be only 40-50 people there, so you can really see it all, and spend as long as you need. The ticket to the one in my link includes the museums. Don't be too quick to write them off -- it is really a spectacular collection! You can wander there until it is time to meet your scavi tour. https://www.myvaticantour.com/vatican-tours/sistine-chapel-tickets-early-access

Another thing you might want to do is visit St. Peter's in the late afternoon of the day you arrive. It closes at 7, so if you get there by 5:30 (may still be some kind of line) you will have at least an hour with not much of a crowd, so it is a great time to have a leisurely stroll through the world's most magnificent church.

I think the Galleria Borghese opens for summer reservations on May 1st. I know that is when July will open. Get them as soon as you can. The Villa Borghese is a popular place in the summer, because it is a huge shady green park. Rent bikes and ride around the park after your tour of the Galleria. Rick Steves MP3 tour is perfect for the Galleria.

With most of four days in Rome, you should be able to see all the major sights. It is really fun to just walk around and be spontaneous. Don't miss Piazza Navona (incredible after dark), the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain (which will still be in scaffolding most likely), Spanish Steps, Campo di Fiori (great on Saturday), the National Museum, and so on. Do get RS Rome. It is very helpful, and covers every area, and includes a night walk which is wonderful because all the fountains, monuments and important buildings are beautifully lighted.

Have a great trip!

Here is an inexpensive and brief tour of the Colosseum that includes the 3rd tier and the underground that might interest you. I already have mine booked for this summer!
http://www.rome-museum.com/booking-colosseum-third-tier-hypogeum-porta-libitinaria.php

I don't understand the need to book expensive third party tours. You can book the underground tour through the official website for 25 euros per person. No need to pay 30 euros with another tour company. If you want an early tour of the Vatican museums you can book directly with the Vatican, having breakfast in the pine cone courtyard and then a tour of the museums or just breakfast and entry to the museums and chapel before the main crowds. That starts at 7 am so you can be inside before anyone else.

The Borghese galley books about 60 days in advance. I say "about" because sometimes it's a few days earlier and sometimes it's a few days later.

Anyway, it's up to you which route to take but I would save some money and book with official sites.

Donna

Roger,
Since St. Peter's can, from time to time, be closed for special private masses, I second what Jan posted, suggesting that you see St. Peter's on Friday. That way if there happens to be a private mass (which usually not posted on the web site in advance....think funerals, etc.) on any of the other days, you won't miss seeing St. Peter's.

It took three trips to Rome before we finally got in to see St. Peter's. Private mass with an estimated 4-hour wait (once the line even started moving), then the beatification celebration that was scheduled after our trip was scheduled, then third time 'was charm.' I actually have a photo of myself doing the thumbs up as I entered.

We've been through the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel twice, once with the mass of humanity shoulder to shoulder, then the second time with a private after-hours tour with a group of about 25. What a difference!! Do try to do the after-hours visit...definitely worth the extra cost!

Usually the Scavi Tour ends such that participants can proceed up the stairs and enter St. Peters, but as we learned, not when there is a special, private mass/event going on.

Ok, thanks everyone! Great stuff and mini debates--very helpful.

So, I'm intrigued by the idea of getting the early morning tour that could get us to the Sistine Chapel early in the morning. (7:45 entrance). However, I wonder if we can really pull that off with a scheduled Scavi Tour for 9:15 a.m.?

In actuality, haven't I read that it takes 30 minutes at a brisk walk just to get to Sistine Chapel--which puts us there at 8:15...and then how long would it take us to get to entrance for Scavi Tour? Obviously can't be late for that...anyone know if this is even feasible?

Thanks in advance...