Vatican Museum - many ticket variations. What's worth it?

My recommendation would be one of the authorized commercial tours that gives you early entrance to the Sistine Chapel. We did this one with City Wonders::

https://citywonders.com/vatican-tours/sistine-chapel-early-access?gclsrc=aw.ds&gclid=Cj0KCQiAi9mPBhCJARIsAHchl1wCAjLVqkdbZIuUbOGqb7N-Q8HHxjd00UhJ4lg7g1NYVb7cdTo6LccaAp47EALw_wcB

And it was wonderful. We went straight to the Sistine Chapel and were the first people in there—-having it to ourselves with only about 25 other people, and total silence, for a good 25 minutes before other groups starting coming in. After that we toured the museum on our own.

I haven't had an early-entry time slot for the Vatican Museums. In fact, I went so long ago that it was easy to basically walk right in. It is impossible to predict the visitor load in June, so I'd err on the side of caution and plan to go early, before the Museums open to individual members of the public. You will at least see the Sistine Chapel before it's overrun.

I don't know of any reason to prefer a more costly commercial tour rather than the offering by the Vatican itself. However, I haven't taken either type of tour at the Vatican.

If the Vatican Museums are not a high priority for you (you don't care much about art, etc.), I don't see anything wrong with opting for the basic ticket. Just understand that you may end up part of a seething mass of humanity--not because you aren't on a tour, but because you are not getting early-bird access.

I did not see that any of the tours offered at that website included early access to the Sistine Chapel. The “Extra Time” visits to the Sistine Chapel appear to be at the end of the day, after closing, because it says it is “exclusive”. Then you proceed to the Happy Hour, which seems an odd conclusion to the very moving experience of the Chapel in solitude. Perhaps the after-hours time in the chapel would be every bit as serene as the early morning visit we experienced, but the tour is €15 more than the City Wonders early access one.

We took a private tour. Well worth it. Eyes of Rome.

Aimee, I think you were fortunate to go at a less crowded time; in “normal” times, the Sistine Chapel is packed with people and it is not quiet. But in these days of reduced tourism,, especially from Asian countries which normally comprise a large component of the visitors to Italy, it may not be necessary to book an early access tour to have a relatively peaceful experience in the Sistine Chapel.

Thank you everyone for your input. I am having my hotel coordinate everything for me, breakfast at the Vatican, and tours including Sistine chapel. I even asked for un a caffe' with Papa but that didn't work out ; ).
Ciao.

off topic, but...what hotel are you staying at? thanks!

@cissyboca. sent you a PM. I'm a private person ; )

Is the breakfast include a tour guide or do I have to set that up separately? Going in October

caffeen.queen, if it's the "Prime Experience - Vatican Museums" tour offered by the Vatican you're looking at, the guide is included.

Find it listed on this page (2nd one down):
https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home/visit/2/1656399600000/1/1

This from the tour info:
"A proposal intended for visitors interested in enjoying the unique experience, entering into the Vatican Museums one hour before the official opening time. The guided tour is conducted by an authorized educational Guide. Having finished the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious American Breakfast - at a table- in the magnificent setting of the Vatican Museums. After the American Breakfast, it will be possible to visit (without the guide) the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Admission Ticket included."

Full Price ticket: € 63,00
Reduced Ticket: € 54,00*
Duration of the tour: about 2 hours, breakfast excluded
The tour follows an itinerary which includes: Upper Galleries (Candelabras, Geographical Maps, and Tapestries), the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel"

There are two early-morning tours that include breakfast. One has a tour guide; for the other, you could use the Vatican audio guide at an extra cost of €7. I researched this for myself just a few days ago, and the best I can tell, these are your basic options for a morning visit:

• Regular entry from 9 AM. It's €21, plus €7 if you want the audio guide.
• Prime Experience at 7:30 AM. It includes a 2-hour tour and breakfast for €63.
• Breakfast Visit at 7:45 AM. It Includes breakfast then access to the museums for €39; add €7 if you want the audio guide.

It seems that the Prime Experience people get into the museums, and probably the Sistine Chapel, before the Breakfast Visit people, who seem to eat breakfast before seeing the Museums.

LOL, right you are, acraven. And if we REALLY want to dig down, there are two additional breakfast + guided tour options but they're for smaller groups and are more expensive; see the additional guide service fees:

Breakfast at the Museums - Exclusive Guided Tour of the Museums and Breakfast:
Enjoy an American Breakfast in the magnificent setting of the Vatican Museums before starting your guided tour with an educational authorized guide just for you. You will have the opportunity to enter the Museums at 7.45 am, before the official opening time. Having finished breakfast - at 8.30 am – you will meet the guide and begin your exclusive guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. The guide will meet you at your especially reserved table for the Breakfast.
Vatican Museums Admission Ticket included.
Small group of 1-10
Full Price ticket: € 39,00
Reduced Ticket: € 30,00*
Guide Service: € 270,00

Prime Experience - Vip - Vatican Museums
A proposal intended for visitors interested in enjoying the unique experience, entering into the Vatican Museums one hour before the official opening time. The guided tour is conducted by an authorized educational Guide. Having finished the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious American Breakfast - at a table- in the magnificent setting of the Vatican Museums. After the American Breakfast, it will be possible to visit (without the guide) the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Admission Ticket included.
Small group of 1-10
Full Price ticket: € 45,00
Reduced Ticket: € 36,00*
Guide Service: € 320,00

Yes, I think those are for folks who want private tours. And have cash to burn. But that's sort of understandable in the case of the Vatican Museums. There's lots of great art there, and much history to impart.

Right again, acraven. Ooodles and oodles to take in! 😳