Hi everyone ! I need help planning my day at the Vatican. I just got confirmation for the Scavi tour: I have a spot on Wednesday Nov 30th at 1.45 PM. I know that at 10.30 AM there's a Papal audience, which I'm not interested in attending, but I understand that it would be a good time to visit the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel. Is that so? Should I take a guided tour or visit on my own?
If I take the Vatican guided tour which starts at 9.30 AM and lasts 2 hours, I figure after that I'll have time to have lunch and go back for the Scavi tour. Then, after the Scavi, around 3.30 PM, I could visit the St Peter's Basilica and climb the dome. Is this plan possible? Is it too much? Is it too crowded on a Wednesday afternoon given that the Basilica is closed during the morning? Should I split the visit in two days ?? I'm lost! I don't want to suffer the crowds and I really want to enjoy the beauty of the Vatican. Please, let me know your thoughts on this! Thank you !!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Visit the museums in the morning during the papal audience to avoid those crowds. After the museums you can get some lunch, go a few blocks away from the Vatican are to find good, inexpensive food, then head back for your scavi tour. By the time your scavi tour is finished the basilica should be fine for a visit. Most of the papal audience crowds will have come and gone by then so it shouldn't be an issue.
I wouldn't split this up to two different days, there really is no need for that unless you wish to come back twice.
Donna
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16752 posts
Just backing up Donna's suggestion here: her itinerary should work well. It also makes sense to do the museums and basilica on the same day so you don't have to backtrack to that same area of the city again.