Vatican museums: Official guided tour or self-tour?

There are dozens of tour companies for tours of the Vatican and St. Peter's.
Several years ago we found a guy through viator.com and he was excellent.
He was an art major at the local university and so could tell us all about the amazing art (sculptures, paintings, frescos etc.)
I've been a few times through the years and there is always a very long line to get into the museum, put our personal items in a locker, etc. We always meet the guide outside across the street from the entrance.
As for the time.... hard to answer, there is so much to see and it depends on how much time you want to spend and knowing you can't see it all in a single visit.....but you could spend many hours just in the museum, a guide helped us a lot and as we left the Sistine Chapel, we walked a staircase, across a walkway and into St. Peters.
Hope you enjoy your visit and get to see all that you want.
(for an example of the different types of tours that are offered you can look at www.viator.com (they are a tour consolidator and show many different tours of the museum, St. Peters, etc.)
NOTE: probably a bit less to book directly with a tour company than a consolidator.

1) The Vatican museums are well signed. You could do a self guided tour or rent an audio guide. The official guided tour will take you to the most popular rooms and last 2-3 hours depending on the tour you choose. If you only have a few hours and want to get the most information in the shortest time a guided tour is the way to go.

2)The museums close at 6 and the basilica closes at 7. I would say to start no later than 4pm.

Donna

We simply used the free Rick Steves audio tour. If you are really into art, you may want something more, but we were very satisfied with just that. Use the RS trick to sneak into the basilica at the end to save time.

Scott

Thanks everyone for your replies, very helpful!

Scott, I've read that the guards at the Vatican have become strict about not letting you tag along with a tour group at the end, so you can slip into St. Peter's. Did you visit recently, or sometime back?

I was thinking that because taking a tour helps you avoid the line for St. Peter's, that might be the way to go. Also one more thing that I've heard that in the Sistine Chapel, guides aren't allowed to talk, but is there still a commentary running in the headsets (on a guided tour)?

I was thinking that because taking a tour helps you avoid the line for
St. Peter's, that might be the way to go. Also one more thing that
I've heard that in the Sistine Chapel, guides aren't allowed to talk,
but is there still a commentary running in the headsets (on a guided
tour)?

Andy, yes, taking the combo tour of the museums and basilica assures you direct access into the basilica from the Sistine, thus saving time in the security line at St. Pete's. You are not assured of direct access if not with a tour.

As talking is forbidden in the chapel (not that many visitors unfortunately ignore that rule) guides are not allowed to provide any commentary so you'll be given a run-down before entering. From the Vatican's website:

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/consigli-utili.html

"With respect for and in view of the sanctity of the location, during the visit to the Sistine Chapel visitors are kindly requested to observe absolute silence. Guided tour groups, although equipped with radio headsets, will receive all the relevant art-historical information prior to their entry in the Sistine Chapel. "

If you have your own devices along, you could use Rick's audioguide inside the Sistine for additional info before moving along with the tour into the Basilica.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy

Kathy, if we took just a Vatican museums tour, would that allow us to exit at St. Peter's at the end of the tour? Or do we have to take the combo tour?

Any official tour allows you to use the bypass into the basilica. Please don't try to "sneak" through with a tour group. It's unethical to take something you don't pay. People pay for the advantage of taking the bypass so "sneaking" into a tour group is wrong.

Donna

Donna, we don't plan to "sneak" through into the Basilica. If I understand you correctly, let's say we bought only the Vatican Museums tour, not the combo tour, would that still allow us to avoid the long lines to get into the Basilica?

I know there are lots of different group tours offered. Unless there is a compelling reason to buy the combo Vatican/St. Peter's ticket, we would plan to just buy the official Vatican museums tour and then get direct access to St. Peter's.

Andy Scott, yes any official tour will allow you to use the bypass to the basilica from the Sistine chapel. Only regular entry tickets don't allow this.

Donna

And there you have your answer! :O)