Hello! Does anybody happen to know if a guided tour purchased on the Vatican website currently allows the shortcut to St. Peter's Basilica? If not, how much time before the dome closing should I book my Vatican ticket if I also want to visit the Basilica and climb the dome? Rick says to plan on at least 2.5 hours for the museums and two hours for the Basilica and the Dome climb, but I'm not sure how much time to plan for the transfer between the two including the security line. We'll be there on a Saturday in June, so I'm sure the lines will be long! :) Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18203 posts
The Vatican's own tours of the museums do not include access to the basilica through the internal 'shortcut' passage. You need to book a tour through an independent company which clearly includes that benefit in the description of their museum tours. That passage is also not accessible to tours during on Wed. mornings due to the Pope's Wed. audiences, and may occasionally be closed for other special religious events.
Haven't climbed the dome but hopefully someone else can answer that question.
Posted by
Pennsylvania
428 posts
We climbed the dome in Sat Peter’s a few years ago. I think it took us about 45 minutes total, but it would depend on how much time you spend at the top and how fast you move. So I think two hours for the Basilica and dome would be realistic, but you might spend longer if you like to linger and look at things (of course the Basilica is huge). We used the RS Audio tour for the Basilica, and it was helpful.
Posted by
10070 posts
I have been to the Vatican twice, decades ago. The Sistine Chapel was the most amazing site there. I saw it prior to the renovation by the Japanese and after the renovation.
Also, to see the Sistine Chapel we had to go through the Vatican Museum. There was a place that allowed something of a shortcut.
I did the climb up to the dome (that was designed and built by Michaelengo) and up to the roof. It is worth the climb.