I have a couple days in Rome and for 1 day got tickets for the Coliseum to "skip the line" and then wandering in the area. The second day I planned on just wandering Vatican city in the early morning. As the days come closer, I'm debating if I should get into a tour to skip the lines and see the Sistine Chapel & Saint Peter's & Museum. Things I read show that in May long lines just to get in...and crowded. Then the next dilemma came with sooooo many tours out there for early morning, last after hours, skip all the lines during the day....the more I read the more confused I am getting.
Any advise is appreciate.
TY!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23652 posts
You can skip the line for buying ticket but you cannot skip the line for security. And when we were there the security line was long and slow. That is the bigger hang-up since everyone goes through security.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7305 posts
I can't imagine going to the Vatican and just wandering around without seeing the Sistine Chapel.
We did the Walks of Italy Pristine Sistine and thought it was worth every penny. It consistently gets excellent reviews.
https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/
I don't really recall waiting forever for security as we were one of the first groups in- we saw the Sistine Chapel with a handful of other tour groups- maybe 30-40 people in all inside the chapel. It was amazing, we were actually able to sit on benches along the side and enjoy. The tour then takes you thru the Museum as it got increasingly more crowded. You exit the Museum by going back thru the Chapel and by that time it was downright scary shoulder to shoulder crowded.
Anyway since you plan to be up early I'd do an early entry tour.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
If you are asking about the ticket lines, get tickets in advance on the official Vatican site. Nobody skips the security lines, for obvious reasons.
Saint Peter's is free, you can avoid the security line only entering the Basilica through the back door of the Sistine Chapel, the last "room" of the Vatican Museums.
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
Honestly, how much do you care about seeing the museum (includes Sistine Chapel)? Or St. Peters Cathedral? Think of them as two different sights, because they are - you will have to wait in line at both, unless you take a tour that can go between the two skipping one of the lines.
My thoughts:
-If you care a lot about the Sistine Chapel especially, see if you can take the Walks of Italy Pristine Sistine tour. Early access, you get to see it without many crowds. Also included is a tour of the museum and entry/tour of St. Peters (no line, you go through the underground tour entry). But by the time you get to St. Peters it's later and so it is very crowded inside.
-if you mainly care about the church, go very early and wait in line.
-if you don't care about either that much there is no harm in skipping. Just because something is famous and historically/artistically important doesn't mean you have to see it if you don't want to.
My controversial thoughts - the Vatican museum has an amazing collection of art but the crowds and the layout make it very difficult to enjoy. If you don't really enjoy art, and know what you want to see, it's fine to skip it. Or just make a beeline for the Sistine Chapel. If you really want to see a specific thing there (the Raphael rooms are a top highlight for me) then look at maps ahead of time, go during low crowd times, and head straight to your priority. It's not a museum where you can enjoy wandering aimlessly. Personally, I like art but I find the Vatican Museums so stressful that I can't enjoy it so if you aren't really into the specific art that is there...maybe skip it. I've been to the Louvre and the Prado, as well as numerous other museums. They get crowded, but the Vatican is a whole other level - those other museums are very enjoyable while being popular.
St. Peter's is easier. I've gone early (by 8AM) and not had to wait very long. You can go in, see it in normal level crowds and even climb the dome. I highly recommend the dome climb - great views of the dome and then onto the roof.
So if it's pick one and you don't absolutely love the art on offer at the museum - go to St. Peters.
Posted by
OP
17 posts
Thank you Mira.
So my next question-- If I want to just go inside the church, St. Peter's, what is the layout in entering the area?
Is there just one line going around the Vatican...or is it a free for all once the "doors to the city open" , having never been there, where do I stand to get into the church at 8?
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7305 posts
You will stand at the entrance to the Basilica in St. Peters Square- which is nowhere near the Vatican Museum entrance.
Take a look at a map:
http://stpetersbasilica.info/vaticancity-map.htm
Museum entrance is # 22. If you tour museum you can usually exit via Sistine Chapel which gets you close to entrance of St. Peter's Basilica- if not you would have to walk all the way around the outside perimeter to enter St Peter's Square- 10-15 min walk?.
If you are skipping museum then just start your touring from front of St. Peter's
A good guidebook would be helpful if you don't already have.
Posted by
Colorado
471 posts
My sister and I booked a Pristine Sistine tour based upon the raves on this forum. We're going next week and I have no doubts that it will be well worth the money!