Hello Forum folks! Does anyone have experience with the Vatican tours vs say Context or other companies? Thanks
Holly
Posted by
winchester
39 posts
Holly, I recently did the three hour guided Art and Faith official tour and it was excellent.Guide was informative and headsets worked well. It was 35 euros. http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-Info/MV_Info_Servizi_Visite.html If you are going to Colosseo, read Rick's book carefully. A lot of people stood in long ticket line that you do not need to if renting audio or video tour. We did video where they get you a iPod and it was great.
Pam
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
I've done the official vatican tour a few times. The guides have all been very nice and very knowledgeable. You wear the headsets so you don't need to be next to the guide to hear what they're saying. The tours last about 2 hours and end just before the Sistine chapel. Donna
Posted by
Escondido, CA, USA
4 posts
My husband and I decided to spring for the Vatican Museums night tour through Dark Rome Tours and could not have been more pleased! Although it was almost $100 each, it was beyond magical at night, the tour guide was amazing, and we did not have to fight the crowds and heat that are typical for daytime. We were in Rome with two other couples who went to the Vatican Museums during the day, and while we came back filled with insightful stories about the treasures we saw and the history we learned that we will cherish forever, all they could talk about was the heat and the crowds and how they felt like cattle being moved from one room to the next. Do yourself a favor and go on the night tour with Dark Rome Tour--give yourself a once in a lifetime experience--it is worth every penny!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
You don't need to book an overpriced tour to get a great experience. The Vatican website also offers Night tours of the museums. They are great with wonderful guides who give you the same information as those other companies but at less than 1/3 the cost. http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking Donna
Posted by
OP
Winter Springs, FL, United States
36 posts
Unfortunately the night tours are offered only on Friday nights and we are leaving for Florence on Friday afternoon. It sounds like the early morning will be cooler. I guess my question is really are the Vatican guides as good as the private tour companies -Context, Dark Rome? they only have a 1:00pm time available for the Vatican guides left. Thoughts? Holly