Vatican admission ticket or official tour guide?

Hi Donna, I've read a lot of your posts while planning this trip (will it ever get here?) and you have a lot of great information - thanks!
We will visit Venice, Florence, Rome & Sorrento - of those places, which would you recommend we buy tickets in advance? Our hotel in Florence has booked the Uffuzi and Accademia already. I think I will go with the audio guide because with three young adults in tow, they tend to like to 'see what they want to see'. Many thanks!

I think the audio guide will be enough. I've done both the tour and on my own and find benefits to both. Having an audio guide will allow to to go at your own pace and see exactly what you want to see. There is also an audio guide you can rent from the Vatican but I've ahead good things about the RS audio guides. Donna

Hi, Yvonda! Just returned last night from Rome/Florence/Rome. I've been to Rome a number of times and always, always go to St. Peters/Vatican/Sistene. This time I took a friend who'd never been, so we got the guided tour and felt very rushed. I will forever more, do it on my own with help from the Audioguide at the Museum, or just use RS downloads. Everyone should have their own, though. I would have liked to have spent twice as much time, and the expensive guide gave us info using the maps at the entrance of the museum, and took her audios with her when we entered the Sistene. It WAS Easter week, but still, I felt very ripped off, since I've had much better, slower tours in the past. JMO~!

Self guided is the way to go! The groups look as if they are just following along like cattle listening to the guide read from Rick's books anyway. Go on your own and you control flexibility in how long you want to spend on different exhibits.

Donna, Now I see they offer a night time visit to the Vatican on Friday nights (which we could do)but with specific exhibits - have you ever heard about that ticket? - you know now that I think about it - it doesn't start until May. The specific exhibits available are: MUSEUM SECTORS OPEN TO VISITS: Egyptian Museum, Pio-Clementine Museum, Upper Galleries of the Vatican Museums, (Gallery of Tapestries and Candelabra, Hall of Maps), Raphael's Rooms, Borgia Apartment (limited to Rooms I, III, IV, XIII, XXVIII), Collection of Modern
Religious Art, Sistine Chapel I emailed them and they said it is less crowded at night so that is a plus. Anybody else done the night tour? Thanks!

The nights at the Vatican museums are much less crowded than during the normal day operations. Only specific rooms are open for Friday nights. The rooms open at night are the same rooms as you would see during a guided tour. It's really a great time to go as it's less crowded and not quite as hot. Donna

Thanks Donna - my husband wondered if there was anything - like stained glass windows or the Sistene Chapel was best viewed during the day? Thanks for all your help!

They do have special lighting so seeing the ceiling is not a problem. No stained glass that I can think of. You should really enjoy it and have a wonderful time. donna

We did everything ourselves.Last summer was the first time we went to Italy and it was a great experience. We booked many things before we traveled. The hotels and places we saw before we went on our trip. I must say we got asked on many things on our trip and all I can say is read Rick Steve's
Book it tells it like it is. We also saw many people along the way reading the book. Enjoy, Relax It's an adventure.

There is a great free tour available at St. Peter's Basilica if you want a tour option oriented towards Catholics. Reply if you are interested and I will supply the details.

FYI...if you do decide to try the English tour with the Vatican, order soon as you can. I tried 6 weeks out and the English tours were sold out.
Have fun!

Hi Julie - I actually just bought the Vatican museum admission tickets online and will get the free RS audio download for the Sistene Chapel. There were plenty of tickets for 6/2 at 9:30. It was easy and I've already received the confirmation email.

Glad you got one more thing off your huge list of to dos. Mine is so..long ;) Did you try for the Scavi Tour? We got one scheduled and I am so excited, they say it's fantastic.
:)

Hi Julie- What is the Scavi tour???? Great day! - so much to see and do!When are you going? Have you booked all of your 'things to do' in advance? Thanks!

the scavi tour is a tour under St. Peter's basilica to what is believed to be the tomb of St. Peter. It is a very capacity controlled tour because the excavations are so fragile. It's a very interesting tour and hard to get on. Also, if interested in the free tour of the basilica they are everyday at 2:15. You can check for them at the information office to the left of the basilica. There is also a free tour that meets near the obelisk, usually around 10 am. donna

Hi Julie- What is the Scavi tour???? Great day! - so much to see and do!When are you going? Have you booked all of your 'things to do' in advance? Thanks!