Going to be in Rome at end of August before RS Village Italy tour. I want to get advance tickets to Vatican and Borghese Museum. Those two websites aren't available to purchase advance reservations this far in advance. I searched to see what would be available earlier, just to see how “available” advance reservations would be. SOLD OUT!. Even booking 60 days in advance. So…. I heard about Viator Tours. I booked with them. What is your experience with Viator Tours? Just curious. The tickets and included tours are more expensive than the “book it on your own” experience. is it worth it? I can cancel my reservations up to 48 hours before. Thanks.
Posted by
11609 posts
They are a third layer, buying tickets that you could buy directly. Not advised. If they are the only way you can get tickets . I guess you use them.
Posted by
Barcelona + Sweden
4185 posts
Think of Viator as like an Airbnb or Uber for tours, they provide a platform for people to book with tour operators, Viator does not actually run any tours but get a percentage for providing the platform. I've used them multiple times to book tours, they are good for research and checking reviews. Totally legit not a scam.
Posted by
Washington DC
28249 posts
You referred to "tickets to Vatican..."; did you mean the Vatican Museums? There is no entry ticket for St. Peter's Basilica, though there are tours which cost money. If you just want a tour of St. Peter's I imagine you'll be fine with what you purchased. Whichever company is conducting the tour (as noted above, it is not Viator) should be able to get you into St. Peter's.
The Vatican Museums do require tickets. The Museums are disastrously crowded. The normal advice here is to sign up for one of the early-access tours that get you into the museums before they open to the general public. The least expensive of those tours are run by the Vatican itself, but there are also private companies (including Walks of Italy) offering early-access tours. If the Vatican Museums (which include the Sistine Chapel) are important enough to you that you're willing to pay for a much more pleasant experience, I'd cancel the Viator tour (if you bought one for the Vatican Museums) and buy an early-access tour instead.
Although the general-entry tickets to the Museums for August are not on sale yet, the Vatican's "Prime Experience - Vatican Museums" tickets are now available for August. The ticket gets you into the building at 7:30 AM, includes an "American breakfast" and also includes a guided tour. At 51 euros per adult (slightly less for children), it sounds like quite a deal to me (though I just had an ordinary entry ticket in February). I checked the last ten days of August, and the Prime Experience is available every day except Sunday, when the museums are closed. Nothing is sold out so far. I don't like buying sightseeing tickets so far in advance, but with the Vatican Museums you don't have much choice since they sell out so far in advance.
Here's the official Vatican Museum ticket website:
https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home/calendar/visit/Biglietti-Musei
Posted by
Land of La
9265 posts
Only 1 experience with them. Booked my Last Supper ticket with them. Have no clue why but I was the only person on the tour. Entire bus to myself and only me and the guard in the room with the paintings.
No complaints.
Posted by
OP
11 posts
Excellent info. Yes, I intend to see the Vatican Museums. My Viator reservation is able to cancel within 48 hours of tour, so, I will have it as a back up if the general admission tour is booked. Thanks again.