My husband and I are taking our 4 kids (18, 17, 14, 11) to visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's in mid-June. Are we better touring the Museums and the Sistine Chapel in the morning or later in the day? We are planning to pre-purchase the tickets throught he Vatican's website and not use a guide.
What is the best time of day to see St. Peter's?
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
I don't know that there is a best time to visit either the basilica or the museums, especially during high season. I would say to visit them when they fit into your schedule. If you have a morning free then you might want to visit the basilica, if you have an afternoon free then visit the museums. Regardless of when you go there will be huge crowds inside. Donna
Posted by
OP
Cleveland, OH, US
5 posts
I guess my question should have been phrased differently. Is there a time of day that is less likely to be very crowded? Also, is there a day of the week that is less crowded?
Posted by
Paris, France
34 posts
Hi Noreen,
Unfortunately June is peak season so Vatican Museums will be overcrowded all day. You might want to try and arrive there very early, you will spend less time queuing.
Posted by
St Petersburg, Florida, US
6 posts
@Noreen, have you looked at the night tours? I booked one for our upcoming honeymoon in July.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
If you stay in Rome will include a Friday visit on Friday nights when the museum is not nearly as crowded as during the day. Reservations are mandatory for Friday night entrance.
Posted by
Portland, OR
1091 posts
Hi Noreen, My boyfriend and I were just there on Saturday. We had online, pre-paid reservations and still had to wait in the reservation only line for over an hour. The president of Italy had been there that day so I guess everything was late. I agree with the other posters in that you should plan to go as early as possible.
Posted by
Greensboro, NC, USA
55 posts
Noreen, In mid-August last year we were part of a small group and toured the Vatican starting at 2:00 p.m. We made it to St. Peter's just before Mass at 5 p.m. and are so glad we were there at that time. The sun's rays were streaming through the windows making the altar glow! We did not realize that our tour through the Vatican museum would take so long and that there would not be an opportunity to get water. Take a bottle of water with you on the tour!
Posted by
Bremen, IN, USA
56 posts
Greetings, Noreen, My husband and I were just there last Thursday. We reserved our tickets on line for a 2p.m. appointment. We walked right in and did not wait in line. We spoke with a family a few days later who had gone on Wednesday. Wednesdays have big crowds because there are audiences with the Pope. They said it was packed like sardines. You might want to avoid Wednesdays unless you want to have an audience with the Pope. Enjoy!
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
Just be prepared for very thick crowds whenever you go to the Vatican Museums...there is NO good time in summer. Be ready to wait and wait and wait, jostle, have people stand in front of you, and be in very close proximity. St. Peters is another story. We have always gone at the earliest possible time in the morning and not had to wait in the security line to go in. When we come out around 10 there has been a line but we have been lucky to never have to wait in it -
Posted by
Sammamish, WA
403 posts
What Anita said. If Rome is your first stop, you can use jetlag to your advantage and get to St. Peter's when it opens at 7:00. There will be no line at that time; by the time you come out at 8 or so, the line will be huge.
Head directly for the line to the roof (if you want to do that). Most people head for the basilica first, so again, you can beat the line by going straight there. Book your Vatican museum tickets for late morning or just after lunch. Keep in mind that it's a fair hike around to the entrance of the museum.