Hello all,
It's my first time to the Vatican and I'm wondering if someone could help with the right website to buy tickets. My son will take us all there and be our tour guide so we don't necessarily need an outside tour guide. Thanks so much for helping.
Always purchase from the official site
https://m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en.html
Timed entry needed
Nobody skips security line
St Peter’s is free
Make sure knees and shoulders are covered-men and women
https://www.basilicasanpietro.va/en
You can book an entry with audio guide
From what I've read, it is really smart to pre-book St. Peter's with the audio guide even if you don't plan to use it. That seems to get you into a much shorter security line. The regular security line is usually extremely long.
I'd love to hear experience on the audio guide to shorter line thing. In my experience which was a few years ago so not valid now, this was not true. Everyone went through the same security line and then those with audio guide plans went to the office in the Basilica where they do the audio guides.
If so then it would be useful to know as the security line is incredibly long.
There have been recent reports shared here about quicker lines for audioguide entrues
In my experience which was a few years ago so not valid now, this was not true.
Can't vouch either way, but the ability to book a timed entry is new this year, previously, you could maybe reserve an audio guide, but not a timed entry. You can also book a timed entry for the Dome climb, which also includes the Basilica and the audioguide.
The entry with timed reservation is a separate line, it may be shared with pilgrims with reservations to go through the Porta Sacra during the Jubilee year though. Faster I suppose just depends on crowds.
Thank you all so much for the recommendations. I've just booked my tickets thanks to your recommendations. Grazie mille!
My son will take us all there and be our tour guide....
I sort of hate to wade into the weeds here but while I think that will be OK on Vatican property, the same may not be true elsewhere in Rome due to some licensing mandates. You don't say how many "all of us" is, or if your son will be acting as your guide elsewhere, such as at the Colosseum. A licensed guide overhearing your son impart historical/cultural information, especially if your group is of some number, at other sites may have issues with that and possibly confront the situation.
I'm not an expert on this topic but we have others on the forums who are, such as some posters on this 2014 thread, so I hope they'll weigh in.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/are-groups-required-to-hire-licensed-tour-guides
That said, if he'll only be your helper at the Vatican, it's probably moot point. There are some rules there regarding the need to use radio headsets for groups over of 11 participants, and he's not allowed to provide verbal instruction inside the Sistine Chapel but he likely knows that. :O)
We're just exploring at our own pace without a guide.
