Hello! Is it good enough to book a 'skip the line' fast track tour for the Vatican, or should we pay a premium to book a 'private entrance admission tour' to expedite entrance? I read that even the so-called 'fast track skip the line tours' still have long waits. Thank you - also, question 2- can anyone recommend a Vatican tour that is approximately 2 hours? On a previous trip to Rome, the 3 hour Vatican tour seemed rather lengthy to me, and this time, i think my husband won't have the patience for a 3 hour tour....he's never been to Italy....and is not a true art lover. The main tours I see are all Viator tours and are 3 hours.
Posted by
California
1625 posts
I highly recommend a tour. Viator is a 3rd party reseller and I would advise you to book directly with the tour operator. No matter which "Skip the line" ticket you buy, everyone MUST go through security, so this was the only line we had. The Vatican is HUGE and there is much to see and learn. I would book a tour, we used Walks Of Italy, as they will get you in at 7, before the opening time, affording you the opportunity to be free of the crowds for a little bit. The tour is long, but it does not feel like that, probably since you start so early you end early (before lunch) and get left off at Saint Peters Basilica to stay longer or go grab some lunch. You meet at a café where, if you get there early, you can grab some breakfast before the tour.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
I just want to reinforce what Letizia said. Walks of Italy's "Prisitine Sistine" tour is fabulous. Yes, it is longer than 2 hours.
Viator's 3-hour offering probably quotes the tour time, and you will have to meet them about an hour in advance to get sorted out and get therough Security, therefore it will be closer to 4 hours total.
Check the size of the group before you book. Cheaper prices means bigger groups. Walks of Italy sticks to 12 persons max., which is a benefit in moving around.
FYI, the ultimate is a private guide: just the two of you and a guide for about Euro 50-55 per hour. Then you can specify more of a fast-track/highlights.
Seeing the Vatican without a guide is not something I recommend. It is just too large to manage alone efficiently. if you have endless time and patience, perhaps you can self-guide. Does not sound like your hubby is one of those people....
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Do you really want to see the Vatican Museums, or just the Sistine Chapel? You can reserve an appointment time, use the RS audio guide, and get in and out at your own pace. I remember four color-coded routes marked on the floor, the shortest going directly to the Sistine Chapel, but lately there are so many people that I can't see the floor. Signage is very good, though.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
You don't need to take a tour in order to bypass the long lines. If you want to book entry tickets or a tour you should use the official website:
https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do
There are many different tours available. All of them allow you to bypass the long ticket lines that you'll see wrapped around the building.
The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour is a two hour tour and ends at the Sistine Chapel.
https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking&codiceLivelloVisita=4&step=1
These are really good tours. Everyone wears headsets so you can clearly hear the guide. At the end of the tour you can use the bypass door into the basilica without the need to go around and wait in that security line.
Donna