Vatican and Colosseum!

Hi Liz.
Yes, you can do the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and the Basilica all in one day. Read up in Rick Steves' Rome Guide about the logistics, and also at this site http://www.roninrome.com/%20sites-and-attractions/20-tips-on-visiting-the-vatican-museums from Ron in Rome. We did a guided tour of the Museums and Sistine in the morning, ending up in the Basilica, then returned after lunch for more Basilica time on our own. Some people do the reverse, which I might have done had I not had a guided tour booked that "skipped the line." You'll have to figure out what works for you. Be sure you don't plan this for Sunday, though. The museums are closed except for "free Sunday" once a month, which is a mob scene, we are told. The Roma Pass is valid for three days of public transportation. The busses go right up to Piazza San Pietro. The Metro Ottaviano stop is a stones throw from the entrance to the museums. 3-4 hours will give you enough time in the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill. If you end the tour with the Forum, you will exit near the Campidoglio. Rick describes a neat little "back door" to the Vittoriano (Victor Emanuelle Monument) that leads to the Rome from the Sky elevator and a magnificent view from the top. I'd recommend this in early evening toward sunset, not at high noon. (Of course that depends on when you are there and when the sun sets!) Ciao and Buon Viaggio!

Thank you Laurel! We arrive in Rome on a Sunday around 1pm. so we are hoping to see the Colosseum.
Would you be able to tell me what agency you used to book the Vatican tour? We are debating whether or not to book a tour ... or tour it on our own. Suggestion?

From personal experience, since my son and I just returned from the Vatican to our oh-so comfortable apartment, the answer is yes! Sore feet and very tired, but so worth it!
After a fairly late start, we went to the Capitoline Museum (by bus), had lunch and then traveled by bus and metro to the Vatican. Toured the museums, Sistine Chaple and St. Peter's Basilica. Public transportation was thanks to the Roma Pass. Yesterday, we took the underground tour at the Colosseum (1 p.m.) and then toured the Forum area. We were going to do the Capitoline Museum yesterday, too, but had a very late lunch (around 4:30), then some down time, and then went to the Trevi Fountain for fun. Very long, tiring days, lots of walking, but we wouldn't do anything differently. I'm 62 and have a bad ankle so I move pretty slow sometime, but am glad we did everything. We are also first time travelers to Italy.

Liz, will you arrive in Rome at 1 PM or arrive at the airport? If your stated flight arrival time is 1 pm, at best, you will get to Rome at 3pm. Don't try to pack 10 lbs of sugar into a 5 lb sack.

The Vatican tour we took, and LOVED, was the "Pristine Sistine" with this company: http://www.walksofitaly.com/. Met at 07:45, and ended about Noon. Bob is right: If Rome is your first stop from the U.S., you will not be in your hotel until at least 15:00. I would not plan to "do" a major site. Take a shower, unpack, take a walk to stave off jetlag, have dinner. That's about it for "day one."

Last summer we entered the Vatican at 1:00 PM and followed Ricks' advice to take the far exit from the Sistine Chapel to get to the Basillica. We did not have time to clime to the top, just enough to tour the Basicllica. The downside is that you don't start the Basicllica tour from St. Peter's square, which makes a lot more sense, but you can hit that last after you're done inside. If you are using Rick's audioguide, you'll have to do a little track shuffling for the basillica as a result.

You can definitely do Vatican City in 1 day. If you take the exit from Sistine Chapel after your Vatican Museum tour that Rick talks about (I was with a tour so I was able to exit it "officially"), it takes you right to the entrance to the crypt and also the elevator to the cupola of St Peter's. Make time for those. The crypt is pretty quick, you walk thru and view the pope's tombs. The elevator costs a few euros but takes you to the base of the dome. From there it's 323 steps to the cupola. I'm not in the best shape but my friend talked me into it and am I glad I did. The view is amazing! When you take the elevator down you can then go inside the Basilica and take your time walking around. We went to Vatican City twice and used both the metro and the bus to get there. Also a note about the Colosseo, since you will have your Roma Pass, don't get in that long line on the right side at the entrance. Instead get in the much shorter line on the left side since you already have your entrance ticket to get in. Just a tip I learned from this helpline!

Thank you all sooo much! Valuable information and insight that I would not have found out on my own prior to the trip. Prior to Rome we will be in Paris so we will arrive from Paris at the Rome airport around 11:55 a.m. Is there an advantage in buying the Roma pass online vs. buying it in person at the designated locations? Using public transportation how far would Vatican City be from Rome (we will be staying near the Colosseum)
Again, I appreciate all the responses! Thank you for the Colosseum detail Claudette.

Liz, we stayed by the Colosseum too. We simply bought our Roma Pass at a liquor store by our inn on Via Cavour. Reading up on the pass, I think you can order it online but have to pick it up at a TI so that doesn't seem to be convenient. We actually had to go to a 2nd store because the first one had run out. Regarding transport to Vatican, if you're staying by the Colosseum, just walk to Piazza Venezia where the Victor Emmanuel Monument is (trust me, you'll be walking by this alot if you're taking the bus because it's a main bus hub). Catch bus 64 or 40 to get to Vatican City. Note that they're nicknamed the pickpocket bus so look after your stuff. I think it takes like 15 minutes to get there. We took the bus around 10 at night and the driver kicked us out at his last stop and we had to walk about 10 minutes to get to St Peter's Square itself. We had mistakenly bought Vatican City stamps so had to schlep back there to mail them but it was our last night in Rome so we thought what the heck. I'm not sure if that was the regular stop or if he just kicked us out because he was shutting down his service. We felt safe walking around at night, but I sure wouldn't want to do it alone! If you haven't done so , get Rick's Rome book, it is so helpful, even tells you how to figure out the bus system. Also subscribe to Ron in Rome's website as he is also an amazing fountain of information. Feel free to PM me if you have any more questions. I was just there in October so things are still pretty fresh in my mind.

Thank you for the transportation tips Claudette! Do you suggest any restaurants or places where we can simply relax and 'people watch'?
I am excited we leave this weekend ... Thank you all for the helpful responses :)