Anyone who has been to the Vatican museums know the term "battle plan" is fitting. Its crowded, big and has tight corridors. Ive been there before (2023) and did the old morning tour. I missed a lot and since the tour was fast paced I ended up with some pretty blurry photos. So this time I want to see as much as possible, as efficiently as possible. Ticket is from open at 8 (or 830 when ever it opens) and I gave myself till 2pm (I have a ticket to st peters afterwards with the dome) at 3.
My understanding is the "typical" route is the Pio clemantine (with laocoon) up through the hall of candelabra, maps, tapestries, raphael rooms and into the Sistine chapel, with an "exit" route taking you back to the beginning. Im thinking taking this route first thing and trying to beat the crowds is the best idea. However id love to see the new wing, etruscan museum, egyptian museum, pinacoteca, lepidary, Chiaramonti Museum, and the one museum I cant remember the name. I believe its at the end and might be the Gregoriano Profano Museum.
Since I took the tour I cant quite remember how we went back to the beginning but Im remembering corridors that had a lot of gifts given to various popes including a ming vase. We ended back at the pinecone courtyard.
So the start, (the first "usual" route) is probably pretty easy to start with. But after that and exiting the sistine chapel how does one make your way back to the pinecone courtyard? And after that what is the best way forward? If my memory is correct heading to the egyptian and then etruscan museum. But to get to the others im pretty sure there is going to be some back tracking. Maps and videos are confusing and dont quite help as much as id like. So id figure here would be a good place to find people who have been there a few times and are more familiar with the best route.
Thanks