Vatican Tours

There are about a dozen different tours for the Vatican museums. There are several that are early access. These, of course, would skip any lines because you are entering prior to the general public.

Other tours booked through the official site allow you to bypass the ticket lines just before the start of your tour.

Donna

As Donna says, "early access" and "skip the line" are two different things. Any prebooked ticket should allow you to skip the ticket-buyer's line. But for early access (before general admission hours), you have to book a specific tour that starts early. The Vatican itself runs some, as do tour companies like Dark Rome and Walks Of Italy.

Having had a very unpleasant experience with Vatican crowds in 1994, and having read that crowds at the Vatican have gotten worse since then, I'd definitely book an early access tour, to avoid some of the worst of the hordes who visit during regular hours.

What do you mean by “included tickets”? Included with what?

Thanks for the replies! The 17 Day Best of Italy Tour includes: "All tours and admissions — at no extra cost — covering at least 26 group sightseeing events." Specific items listed here include "Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel." So, it seems like you won't have to wait in line to purchase a ticket for these areas. I wondered if the tickets include early access to the sites and if our Rick Steves tour guide accompanies us during these tours... or if it is just the ticket for general admission which starts at the public opening for the sites. I really like the idea of early access but if the Rick Steves included ticket doesn't include this, then it means I would have to book an additional separate ticket/tour for the same locations.

drjdewolfe, you need to look at the itinerary detail for this tour:

https://www.ricksteves.com/tours/italy/best-italy

"Day 16: The Vatican Museums
Today we'll focus on Renaissance (Catholic) Rome. At the sprawling Vatican Museums we'll visit what seems like a limitless collection of treasures as we make our way to one of the world's most famous works of art: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. You'll have the rest of your day free to continue your modern-day pilgrimage at the greatest church in Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica, home to Michelangelo's sublime Pietà. Wander through this immense church, climb the dome if you're feeling energetic, and explore more of the Eternal City on your own."

You will be accessing the museums with your RS tour group and their guide.