vatican advice needed! leave in 10 days

When you exit the Scavi Tour you will be able to head towards the exit gate but instead of exiting IMMEDIATELY turn left and go up the steps to the entrance of St Peters. This way you will bypass the line and go straight in. Dark Rome Tours: I would book entrance tix directly with the Vatican Website. You can also book a tour guide there if you want.

Have you thought on what are you going to do from 10:30am till 2:30 pm? Because the Scavi tour is only about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs long

Mike, As for other suggestions, I would recommend the Context Rome - Arte Vaticana (with Reservation). They limit their tour size to 6 people. They don't use headsets. This tour includes St. Peter. They have an afternoon tour that starts at 1PM.

Tim- there are no Vatican-run tours with availability that day except 915 and 1030am. Is it to overwhelming to do the museum without a guide the first time? Is the audio guide sufficient? Gaby- I was figuring on time in St. Peters and then time to get on the roof to eat and go to the top of the dome.

Mike, I'd get a guide, there's just so much to see. I went with Angel Tours the first time, and enjoyed it. The second time, we figured I could bring my husband up to speed, since I'd been before, and I'm not a total slouch when it comes to art history. I did OK, but if we had a do-over, I would have gone with a guide again. You won't have to go through security after your scavi tour; ours ended right in the grottoes by the stairs leading up to Saint Peter's. Perfect! I like your plan, it's pretty much exactly how we did it.

"Our plan is to bring a lunch and eat on top of the church by the cafe. (as suggested in Rick's book)." I must have a different book! :-) Are you referring St. Peter's as "the church?" I understand the Vatican Museum has a cafeteria and there is a cafe on top of Castel San'Angelo. Not certain, but I think picnicing inside of Vatican City would be frowned on. Can someone else elaborate? I have only read about the Vatican, but we will FINALLY be there in October!

Mike - I've been in the Vatican Museums 3 times - 2 times with a guide. I guess I'm not quite educated enough in art so the guide just absolutely bored me to death. I've never done the audio guide, but if there is a fast forward button to skip the things that don't interest you then by all means go for it. The first time we went we just walked through on our own. Admittedly I didn't know much about anything, but that was OK. I knew I was seeing great masterpieces and I also got to see the Sistine Chapel...good enough for me.

Hi Mike, Sounds like a full day, but certainly doable! Like other posters, I'm confused where you're expecting to eat lunch. Here's what I'd suggest: Do St. Peter's after the scavi, then exit. (You will have to go back through security with Dark Rome anyway, as everyone does on going into the Vatican museums - it's a separate entrance from St. Peter's Basilica). Have lunch - some of your best bets in the area, which is NOT known as a culinary treasure trove, are Duecento Gradi (a panini place) and Insalata Ricca (a reliably good salad and pasta place) on Piazza Risorgimento. Both have outdoor seating, although it will depend on the time of year. Then meet your guide at 2:30pm. Hope that helps! www.revealedrome.com

I agree with Tim. I was in the Vatican Museums twice without a guide and treated the museums like any other - if I wasn't interested in a section, I moved on. If I was interested, I lingered.