Vatican/St. Peter's - Best strategy?

Mary - if you are not with a tour with a "skip the line" option then Monday is a TOUGH day to go to the Vatican. Because it's closed all Sundays (except the last SU of the month) Monday is the busiest day of the week. So there will be a line.

For me I hate wasting time in lines... so I go later in the day. Also, I hate being part of a "cattle-run" through the Vatican Museum and PRIME TIME (right now) seems to be 9:00 AM - 12 noon... although that period extends as you get later in the season.

There are many posts here that speak to this topic and many good suggestions and thoughts. I'd read those but know that they are based on personal experiences... For me, I do afternoons because I like to wander, not be pushed along. But I also can go in Jan & Feb when I have the place to myself!

I've posted before - My perfect day is market on Andrea Doria, St. Peter's Basilica, Lunch, VM, a marochinno (coffee) at a local cafe... then head home - Good Luck!!!

Skip the line tours? Anytime someone mentions one of these, everyone jumps in and says tours still have to wait in line. Also, my husband and I aren't a big fan of tours. We like to take our time and not feel like part of a herd.

Hmmm, Monday is our only option... we might be able to switch it to the afternoon. But I'm afraid of running out of time and feeling too rushed.

Mary, a company has to "buy" the right to have "skip the line" status. It requires a ton of paperwork and a 10,000 Euro deposit. So these companies either sell tours or they sell the pass - so that folks do not have to wait in line.

If you are a member of a groups with "STL" status you will enter in a separate line. This line enters in the right door of the Vatican Museum Entrance, while everyone else -those in the LONG line- enters at the left door.

You can look on specific websites and BUY just the right to skip the line. Usually it's about 29 Euros. It costs the companies 18 Euros to "purchase a slot" for you (14 entrance fee + 4 Euro early entrance fee).

So if you do not want to the tour BUT DO NOT want to wait in line that option is available. These companies will meet you at a specific location and time, you give them you prepaid voucher and then they either give you a pass - or take you through the VM doors.

I'm like you though... I don't want to be rushed! Ciao!

Thanks Ron. It's good to know my options. Since the Vatican museums are open until 18:00 now, maybe we'll try switching our day around and heading over there around 12:00 or 13:00.

I like Ron's idea and if we go on the Monday before we leave, we are going to try his strategy. I also don't like to be herded no matter how much skipping the line I might get.

But I still wonder about the free Sunday (our last Sunday there) and how "packed" it might be. Maybe we could go both days??? :-)

I just came back from rome and i purchased the tickets that you are talking about through presto tours. the tickets were 29 euro. Once we met the tour guide he handed us the tickets and we walked in on our own. we entered around 8:50am. What a privilege after seeing all the people wait in a mile line.

Two things come to mind for our family:
1. check the guide book to make sure of the closed days and times, and
2. men....wear long pants, and ladies....shoulders covered

There are local people outside to sell cheap long pants and shirts...boy did we feel stupid !