Vatican Museum

Haven't taken the stairs in a long time. To get a tour of Only the Sistine Chapel and the Basilica, your best bet is to look at some companies that have very small groups or will put together a private tour for you. I used Through Eternity for an early morning start, went to the Sistine Chapel first and then through the museum, ending with a tour of the basilica. It took about 6 hours. Our guide was very enthusiastic. We had about a half-hour refreshment break.

Many people recommend Pristine Sistine.

Thanks for the reply. When you take the tour can you return to the museum if you wanted to have more time there? I am leaning towards Pristine Sistine but wondered if I will feel I have enough time at the museum before we leave to the Basilica. I am hoping to get a picture looking down the spiral stairs and not sure if there will be am opportunity to do so on Pristine Sistine tour.

Most of the early morning tours are set up to do the chapel, then the museums and finish in the basilica. This is the only way to do a tour if you want to include the museums. Once you leave the museums to go into the basilica you cannot return without purchasing another entry ticket.

I don't really think you need to worry too much about the basilica part of the tour. The basilica is huge and you never really notice the crowds. I would just pick a tour company that includes what you want to see and use them.

Donna

We did Pristine Sistine this summer and it was great... I ended up needing to take the kids out for an extended break, but my husband got to stay for the whole thing, and he said he felt like he saw the good stuff he needed to see in the museum. Honestly it was so crowded later (like around 10:45 when I met back up with the group) it was time to go - like a sea of people roaming the halls, not sure how you could even see anything really. The Vatican part (including Chapel) was from about 8-11, I think plenty of time for most people in a museum. Then we went to the Basilica and saw a few things, and then after the tour ended, we stayed a little longer in the Basilica. But no, you can't go back to the museum - you could stay longer in the museum though and try to sneak through the secret door to St. Peters when you are done. There wasn't much tour in St. Peter's - maybe 30 min, so you could do that on your own if you wanted to stay in the museum. But I think it was just enough time and perfect. Bring your own headphones though - the vatican-provided ones aren't that great (esp. for kids).

Oh and re-reading your post - Pristine Sistine also covers the major sites in the museum, wanted to make that clear. From your original post I think you may think it's only the Chapel and Basilica. There is also about 2+ hours of other stuff in the museum.

One thing that you may or may not already know (apologies if you do), but that seems to cause a lot of confusion: the Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums. There is no way to see the Chapel without going through the museums. So, you don't visit the Chapel and then go back to the museums, as they are not separate; you go through the museum (seeing as much or as little as you want, or as your tourguide shows you, etc) on your way to the Chapel. This is part of the problem with going when it's crowded. In addition the sheer numbers of people, lots of people are upset that they can't just see the Chapel, so they're tense and edgy as they "race" through the rest of the museums (which are huge, with few "shortcuts") to get there.

For lots of great tips on visiting the Vatican, here's Ron In Rome's page: http://www.roninrome.com/%20sites-and-attractions/20-tips-on-visiting-the-vatican-museums

The famous staircase is upstairs at the entrance. If my memory is correct, turn to the right after going up the escalator. It's next to or behind the shop. If you take the early tour, you are likely to get photos without people.

We need some tour help. On the Walk of Italy sight all the Vatican tours are Monday and Friday. We will be in Rome Tuesday-Thursday Oct. 21-23, any other suggestions for tours?

Where do you see only Monday and Friday? I see Mon-Sat?

http://www.walksofitaly.com/tour_bookings/tour_all_listing/6/43

Thanks everyone for the help. We booked the Pristine Sistine. The reviews look great! Thinking about booking the Colosseum night tour with underground. Hopefully underground won't be canceled since I know this happens on occasions due to weather. Fingers crossed.