Hi all, I have read the many tips on visiting the Vatican (thank you all for sharing), but I didn't see this particular type of ticket mentioned. We are visiting Rome in mid April and when I went online a month ago, all the regular admissions to the Vatican were sold out. The Breakfast and lunch visit options either didn't work for us or were also sold out, and I read that often the museums are less crowded in the evening. We will be there the first weekend that the Vatican offers extended evening hours on Friday and Saturday (until 10:30pm), so we purchased a 6pm Happy Hour Admission Ticket. Does anyone have familiarity with this ticket? Does this mean we arrive for the Happy Hour and then can continue on our own to visit the museum? Does anyone know if the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica will be open that evening also? Thank you.
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1046 posts
I love their 'happy hour' offering - have done it a few times. Show up a little before 6. The guards open, and check your tickets. You start 'happy hour' in a large, green courtyard. If you purchased the food portion, it is served there under the tent. Live music will be playing on the other end of the courtyard - usually very good. After you eat (it's a light buffet), the museum is yours! A lot of people just reserve the 6 o'clock entry and skip dinner. You'll be following them but they are mostly way ahead of you! The windows are open, the lights are on and the crowd (has been for me) manageable. Hint: you end in the Sistine Chapel. At 10:30 the guards will announce that it is time to leave. Hang out by the guards as they begin to usher people out! You still have a couple more corridors to go through. If you hang out near the guards you'll be the last to leave. Amazing how many people just head for the exit when the guards make their announcement!
Posted by
1 posts
I purchased the same Happy Hour ticket for probably the same night!
Does anyone know if you can buy more than 1 drink? It definitely says 1 apertif is included.
Also, is there food too? It did not mention food, but it seems like it was a much higher price than regular ticket, for only one drink.
I haven't find any specifics...Any advice is greatly appreciated
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6046 posts
Sistine Chapel is in the Vatican Museums
St.Peter’s Basilica closes at 7 so you’d have to visit before your Happy Hour tour
Posted by
Wilmington, DE, USA
1046 posts
Yes, it's only one drink - a rather small glass of wine or prosecco. but the buffet is really very good - meats, cheeses, salads and desserts. It is SO worth it!
Posted by
18 posts
I too am wanting to go on Friday night. It sounds like the ticket includes St. Peter's so we could see that before the HH?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15806 posts
You can visit the basilica before the museums if you get there before it closes; there are no tickets for it as it's free to visit. You also can't access the museums from inside the church; you have to exit the basilica and walk outside to museum entrance on Viale Vaticano, where you'll show your booking voucher, pass through security, and collect your HH tickets at the reception desk. It's about a 15-minute walk.