Hi all -
We are visiting Italy first time in June( 4 of us with 2 teenage girls aged 17 and 16).
1. I would like your inputs, if we need to hire a guide or if we should be ok with Rick's audio tour.
2. Also, we intend to spend 1/2 a day at Vatican, probably start early in the morning. Please give me suggestions on what we should be focusing on during the 1/2 day.
3. What is the best place to have vegetarian lunch at Vatican?
Thanks
I loved having a guide at the Vatican Museums as I feel it helped us get the most out of this very complex place. In particular, I recommend Walks of Italy and their Pristine Sistine tour. That is IF it is in your budget. It is expensive but the group is small (12 people max) and makes for a nice experience in what can be a confusing place. Others recommend the in-house Vatican guides with lower cost and bigger groups. Of course many do self-guide using Rick's guide and if all 4 of you have that, I think you will be OK and he certainly knows what highlights to direct you to. 1/2 day is about the max for information input. Sensory overload starts about hour 3 for me! Do go as early as humanly possible, buying your tickets in advance on the website.
You can get a vegetarian meal at any Italian restaurant. Just tell the waiter "Siamo vegetariani" (we are vegetarians).
To get the most out of it you should buy a guided tour guide for the Vatican Museums and St Peters that gives you access to avoid the long lines. I don't think you will be ok with Ricks audio tour if it covers Vatican Museums and St Peters Basilica.
A 1/2 day covers Vatican Musuem, Sistine Chapel (this is at the end of your tour in the Vatican Musuem) and St Peters Basilica.
Someone here should be able to recommend a vegetarian lunch at Vatican.
Thanks Laurel and Jazz+Travels for your inputs.
I'll try to book through a tour per your suggestion.
half a day is not enough -- you really need most of a day for the Vatican Museums and St. Peters -- you will also want to climb the Dome of St. Peters -- it is really quite something to see Rome from the roof.
You might also consider the 3 hour museum/Sistine/St Peter's tour offered on the Vatican's website. It's more economical than the "Walks of Italy" tour - which gets great reviews but would be expensive for 4 - and it gets you into the basilica directly from the Sistine through a passage reserved for tours.
The museums are vast so a guided tour will steer you to some of the highlights, and you wouldn't have to deal with another security check line to get into the church. When the tour is finished, you're free to stay and explore more of St Peter's on your own for as long as you wish to (but can't return to the museums.).
You'll find it here:
It's too early to book for June yet; advance reservations will be possible 2 months before the date of your visit so the corresponding date in April.
