No doubt one of the most hotly debated topics on any Rome travel board is the question: Do I pay extra and purchase a “skip-the-line” ticket or do I chance it and wait in line to get into the Vatican Museum? There are many stories of 2-3 hours lines to get into the Museum and these “tales” persist into 2009. If you’re aware of the line patterns you may not need the “skip the line” feature… it’s all a matter of timing! I do understand your pain and apprehension. Our first trip to Rome many, many years ago we waited in line 2+ hours to get in. Since then, I’ve never waited!
The answer really depends on what month you are coming to Rome, what day of the week you plan on seeing the Museum, and what time of day you plan to enter. Add to that a few other variables – such as holidays and large tour groups – and you can see how difficult it is to answer this question. As a disclaimer I’ll say that my perspective is based on my experience living next door to the entrance to the Vatican Museum for a few years… but on “any given day” things can happen!
Living here, and so close to the Museum, I get asked often, “Do you purchase “skip-the-line” tickets?” The answer is, “NO, I rarely have and probably rarely will.” Why not? I guess mainly because I CAN come back later in the day… or the next day. Travelers on fixed schedules do not have that flexibility.
Some things to Consider
Since 2008 the Vatican has moved to extended hours.
With the exception of “Free Sundays,” the Vatican is open from 9 AM – 6 PM. The last entry into the Vatican is at 4 PM. These hours are far different than back in 2003, 2004, etc. when I first came. And also far different than when folks who write of the 3-hour lines were here. Frankly, other than “Free Sundays” we just do not get those 3-hour lines anymore. In the picture below, taken in 2005, you can see the hours of operation were from 8:45 AM to 3:20 PM. The extended hours and better organization of the tour groups, implemented by the new director, Mr. Antonio Paolucci, in 2008 have really cut down the length of the lines!
Sign outside the entrance to the Vatican Museum, circa 2005
The last Sunday of every month the Vatican Museum is open and FREE! Naturally, as it is free, there are huge crowds on these days, and there is no skip-the-line system in place. I would strongly suggest to avoid “Free Sundays.” The Vatican becomes a cattle run! Some folks wait in lines for hours and still do no get in as they limit the entry times to 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and then close the Museum at 2:00 PM. In addition, it’s so crowded in there you can’t even move – Hardly the best way to see the art and treasures of the Vatican Museum. Spend the €15 (eff. Jan 2010) and “see” the Museum, rather than be carried by the “tide” of folks who swarm on “Free Sundays!”
The next “busiest” days are always Mondays.
Except for the last Sunday, Monday always follows a day when the museum is closed. Thus, folks who have limited time in Rome seem to always come on Mondays! So Mondays are very crowded and lines often run to later in the afternoon during season.
Saturdays are the NEXT busiest day because the locals go to the museum on that day …. and if the Pope is in town, avoid Wednesdays, because the Papal Audience draws a larger crowd… who then go to the museum!
Thus the best days to go…
are Thursday, Tuesday, and Friday, probably in that order. If there’s a holiday during the week you come, those “trends” go right out the window… You’ll have to adjust accordingly. Days immediately before and immediately after closure days (Sundays and church holidays) are the busiest. If you’re coming During Holy Week in Easter or at Christmas, it might be better to reserve a spot… Again, I’ve gone in the afternoons during both those periods and not waited in line!
If you go in the afternoon MOST DAYS, you will have NO WAIT!
That’s correct – NO WAIT! In the off season, you can get in the Vatican Museums after 11 AM on most weekdays with no wait. On a Saturday or Monday, the lines are often gone by 1 PM. During the summer, it’s perhaps around 2 PM (or earlier) when all the lines die down.
The Vatican sells “skip the line tickets”
The Vatican sells their own ticket are you can go with a “Vatican-approved” vendor. These vendors sell them directly to you, or daily, these vendors will sell the “tickets” to “unapproved” vendors who do not have a contract with the Vatican. In 2008, the Vatican decided they could capture more income by selling these directly to the public. The result – MORE “skip the line” tickets are being sold than ever before. One downside, this does create lines for the “popular” entry times – which are 09:00 – 11:30.
*Each hour* the Vatican was allowing 1300-1500 people to use the “skip the line” feature. As a result, 1500 tickets were sold to outside vendors. These folks are admitted BEFORE the “general public” who is waiting in line along the wall of Vatican City. With people now buying through the Vatican, the Vatican ticket office opened up more slots each hour for “skip the line.” How will this play in June or July – no one knows. Folks are buying Vatican slots at 2 PM and waiting in line to pick up their “skip the line” tickets and there IS NO ONE WAITING IN THE general admission line. It would appear the Vatican is “up in sales” this year and fostering a “fear of the line” IS GOOD for business. You’ll see many post reinforcing this position on travel boards – most often from folks who were here 2-3 years ago, prior to the extended hours now in place.
The Museum opens at 9:00 AM and last entry is at 4:00 PM. Closing is at 6:00 PM, although they start herding you about 5:30 PM. In the morning, all the tour groups who have BOUGHT ALL the “skip-the-line” tickets bring their groups… The result, 1300+ people who have pre-paid get preferred admittance. Thus, the general admission line forms as these folks are let in FIRST… that is why I never go early! Tour Groups like to go early so they can do afternoon and evening tours at other sites and increase revenue.
You might be “approached” as you near the Museum…
to “take a tour with us, starting in just 15 minutes…” Avoid those tours. These folks are called “gatherers” and work on a commission basis for almost anyone! If you want a tour, go through a reputable vendor or someone you know!
Sometimes it doesn’t pay to “pay.”
Here’s why: I live just down the stairs from the entrance and this is where groups often form up. One day I was walking home and saw a group of about 20 British and American tourists on the steps. I struck up a conversation with them and asked, “Why are you here on the steps? (It was about 1 PM). They said they had purchased the “skip the line” feature and were waiting for the other 5 people on the list (WHO THEY DID NOT EVEN KNOW) to come so they could all get their entry passes from the “skip the line” vendor. I asked did they know where the entrance was? They said, “Not really,” as they were told, via internet and phone, to meet here.
I turned them around, pointed across the street and showed them the entrance…. At that time of day, THERE WAS NO LINE! Because they had read so much about the terrible lines – and did not know where the entrance was – they were standing across the street, paying an extra €15 to avoid a line that did not exist! Needless to say they were pretty frustrated. For this extra €15 they were not even getting a tour – just an entry…. past a line that did not exist…
Make adjustments if necessary!
I met some ladies on the Metro last week (SATURDAY!) who were totally lost. I asked them where they were headed and they said to the Vatican Museum & Basilica as this was their only day in town. I told them it was my stop and near my house and would walk them over. We got there and the line was down and around Piazza Risorgimento – at least an hour wait. They felt terrible; it was their only day… So I took them to St. Peter’s Basilica – we did about a 1.5 hour tour and then headed for the Museum. At 11:30 AM we arrived and there were NOW about 3 people in line. We went in and stayed until after 5 PM. They had A GREAT time and left having seen EVERYTHING they wanted to see… So again, it’s a matter of timing!
Picture taken 9:30 AM on a Monday morning
When do you need a “skip-the-line” ticket?
There are time you may need to purchase a skip-the-line ticket… and this advice is coming from a person who probably never will purchase one…
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If you are here during a holiday week, Holy Week, Christmas, or a week in which the Vatican Museum is closed one or perhaps two days, buy a skip-the-line ticket.
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If you have only one day to get to the Museum (and especially if it’s a Monday), then it may be best for you to purchase a ticket.
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If you’ve traveled 5,000 miles and you feel this is your only chance and your schedule is so compressed that this decision is driving you nuts, certainly buy a ticket
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If you must have everything planned out to the last minute, then Yep, buy the ticket
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If you’re going to take a guided tour, certainly make sure the vendor has a skip-the-line feature as one of the benefits of buying their tour.
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If you want to go into the Museum between 9 AM and 10:30 AM during peak season, you’ll probably need the ticket.
There are many vendors on line – Google “skip-the-line Vatican” – and thus you will have many options. The Vatican Museum tickets are €15 (eff. Jan 2010). The skip-the-line feature adds €4 more – so if you do not want a tour with your ticket, make sure you’re only paying €19. Perhaps one of the better sites now is to go directly to the source, the Vatican. Their ticket site is
Ticket Office online of the Vatican Museums: http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do
The line at St. Peter’s Basilica
What about the line at St. Peter’s Basilica?
In St. Peter’s Square, there is often a line to enter the Basilica. This is unfortunately an unavoidable line if you’re only going to the Basilica, Cupola, or Tombs. This line is the security line as the Basilica is Free. But you, and the thousands of other folks lined up, must all go through the X-Ray machines.
Despite 8-10 units available, usually only two or three are manned so you just have to wait in line. The good news is the line moves very fast and even if it is”wrapped” all the way around through the colonnades, it will be usually be less than 30 minutes. Often, much quicker than that!
You can also “skip” this line…. if you’re purchasing a ticket to the Museum. One you’ve completed your Vatican Museum Tour you will come to the Sistine Chapel. There you will have two doors to exit. The door on the left (with the “Last Judgment” at your back) will take you back into the Museum through the Library – Great if you want to do more exploring of the Museum treasures. The door on the RIGHT will take you the back way to St. Peter’s Basilica. Yes, it says for groups only but I often go this way and rarely is it ever manned. Or just fall in with a group leaving! (NOTE – As of late, many visitors are reporting that the “group”only policy is being randomly enforced so FYI).
You will head down a marble staircase and exit outside the Chapel, adjacent to St. Peter’s – AND BEHIND THE SECURITY LINE. (Pictured above) Walk down the stairs on the left of this picture and you are in the Portico that fronts the Basilica. (The line you see on the right is headed to the Tombs – also free.) So this is a great way to avoid the lines if you are going to the Museum first!
Good Luck!
Again, there are many “skip-the-line” options out there. If you can go in the afternoon, you will save some money and frustration, and you can walk right in. The Vatican is a wonderful Museum with many, many miles of corridors. There is plenty of art and history for all to enjoy! I’ll be one of the folks entering the Museum after 11:30 AM but if your time is limited, or your schedule requires you to go on one of the busier days, consider any of these skip-the-line tours:
- Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Tour of Sistine Chapel, Raphael’s Rooms and St Peter’s
- Skip the Line: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Half-Day Walking Tour
- Skip the Line: Vatican Museums Tickets
- Skip the Line: Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Tour
- Skip the Line Private Tour: Vatican Museums Walking Tour
- Skip the Line Private Tour: Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Art History Walking Tour
- Private Viewing of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums
There are more than 900 churches in Rome. Certainly reading in advance with help you separate and enjoy the many churches in the city. Order here or see our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for more books and other travel-related items at amazon.co.uk.
There are more than 900 churches in Rome. Certainly reading in advance with help you separate and enjoy the many churches in the city. Order here or see our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for more books and other travel-related items at amazon.co.uk.
Let Me Coach You, if you’re looking for travel assistance or some help creating an iitinerary! If you want to build your own vacation, please feel free use the information in the articles of the Ron-in-Rome website to help plan your next trip. If you need consulting, head to the Coaching page; For a list of all articles on this website, head to the Postings page. Or use the SEARCH Box, on the top right of each page!
Header: 360° Panorama Piazza San Pietro – Photo by SEIMA
Bryan – glad the blog has helped! Yes, the Vatican will be busy the last week of June. This is the height of the season so it will be packed. Tuesday IS the usually best day of the week to go. The Vatican tours are “basic.” I’ve been on a few and they were okay. Any tour depends on the guide you get. I did a Vatican tour with a nun and she was fantastic. Sometimes the Vatican guides are seminary students. They do a solid introduction, but again, it will depend on your guide.
The headphones on a tour are different that the audio guides (and headphones) you rent at the front. Once you are in the Sistine Chapel the guide will collect your headphones – or you can give them up there… and you don’t have to walk back to the front entrance. Primarily, tour groups DO use the doorway to St. Peter’s Basilica in the Sistine Chapel. Good Luck!
Kim, Thursday or Friday will work great. You can head to St. Peter’s before or after – depends on who much time you want to spend in the Museums. Since you have the whole day, I might head to the Basilica in the AM, as late in the day, parts are blocked due to Mass. So I’d head to the Basilica perhaps 09:30, do the full tour, including climbing the cupola, seeing the tombs, and then head to lunch about 12:30. After lunch, spend the rest of the afternoon in the Museums. Then go crash at a cafe’ for a well-deserved glass of wine!
Hi Ron
Thanks for the great tips!
I’m here from Wednesday 8 Feb – Sunday 12 Feb.
Based on your advice I think Thurs or Fri would be best to visit Vatican city .
What time would you recommend heading to St Peter’s in order to spend the afternoon at Vatican museums? Or would it be better to visit the museums first then try your shortcut to St Peters.
Many thanks in advance!
Another extreme note of appreciation for all your tips. I also love your writing style as it makes things extremely easy to follow. Now a days there is so much information available you can go into overload and not be sure of anything, but you manage to package it perfectly.
I have a few specific questions. We will be visiting Rome this summer and it appears that Tuesday, June 26th will be our “Vatican” day. We already have our Scavi tour booked for 3pm that day.
1. Do you think the lines will be heavy that Tuesday? It is two days after the “free” Sunday, but is also three days before the Festival of St. Peter and Paul.
2. Are the tours offered directly through the Vatican worth it? Their price (provided we can grab a slot 10:15 slot when they come available the next few months) is far less than outside groups, but again is it worth the extra cost. 2b. If we do get a tour booked through the Vatican, it shows renting headphones. Is this different from the headsets you talk about in your “Vatican Tips” post that you have to go back to the entrance to return? We’d hope being on a group tour we would be able to get out the “good door” in the Sistine Chapel.
Again, thank you so much for the help and thoughts on this site.
Derek,
Not sure where you’re starting from… but if you’re arriving into Rome from the States, I’m not sure I’d go to the Vatican Museums on your day of arrival after an overnight flight. If you’re coming from inside Italy, 14:00 would be okay. For many folks – especially if they’re headed to the Museums for the first time – a guide can quite helpful, but that’s a personal choice. There are various tours available. The Vatican probably has the least expensive “group” tours. There are many, many tour options. You might also look at http://tinyurl.com/other-vatican” title=”viator” target=”_blank” rel=”nofollow”>these folks if you decide to go that route. A lot of this depends on your level of interest, what you want to see, and how long you want to stay…
As far as Castel Gandolfo, we’ve been there many times. We primarily get there by motorino and car. It is on the opposite side of town from the FCO airport and would take you perhaps 30-40 minutes from downtown Rome driving. You can get there by train also. Castel Gandolfo is the Pope’s summer residence so he often holds audiences there in the summer on Wednesdays. In May he will still be holding audiences at St. Peter’s. It has a wonderful lake… There are many great towns in the area like Marino and Frascati. But these are far easier to get to with a car. You could also look at heading to Tivoli and/or Villa Adriana for a day-trip. They are easier to get to by train or bus. You can find links to those spots on my website.
Thanks, Ron, for an excellent, informative site.
We are going to be arriving in the early AM of 30 May (a Thursday) of this year, and after reading your site, we are thinking of going that afternoon around 2 o’clock. Previously, some of the people travelling with us was even contemplating spending a bunch on a private tour to go the next morning at 8, but it does not seem worth it to spend the extra 35 to 50 euros per person for this. I hope I am right?
Another question, if it is not too much to ask. In one of the posts, you mention Castel Gandolfo. We are going on a cruise, and will have a free day on our return, before leaving. We will be staying near the airport, but were looking for a nearby place to enjoy the countryside. Have you ever been there, and would it make a nice day trip?
Thanks again for your great info, and I will encourage all readers to use the links on this page for hotels, etc.
Derek
Thanks Ron! Your site is awesome!!
Depending on the time of year you are going, Fridays are one of the slower days. Certainly after lunch there would be no lines. At 11:00 in February, there’s probably no line on a Friday.
But in June, the height of season, there will probably be some line at 11:00. Of course, if there’s a holiday that week it changes all the parameters. Or if it starts raining heavily. In the US, people at the beach often head for movie theaters on rainy days. In Rome, they head for the museums. Certainly you can’t guarantee there will be no line, but AFTER lunch the line, if any, would be much smaller. My best guess – at 11:00, I think there will be “some” line…. But it might only be a short wait. If you need to go due to time restrictions, then spend the extra 4 euro each and get an appointment. I usually go after lunch and walk right in..
Hi Ron,
You’ve got a great website. Easy to use and very informative. One question, I plan on going to the Vatican museums on a Friday in mid-June 2012. Would you still recommend getting there after 11:00 and buy ticket there and not ahead of time? Thanks for all the great info!
Actually, you head to the LEFT side of the Basilica, near the far left Colonnade as you face the Basilica. There you will see a separate security point that is specific to the Scavi Tour. It opens only about 15 minutes before the tour starts just to allow guests into this section of the Vatican. So you must have your “email” to use this security entry point. And yes, after the Scavi, you are behind security. Just head back out towards the Square and after passing the Swiss Guards, turn left and head up the stairs of the Basilica (against the huge flow of traffic) and you can get into the Basilica.
Ron,
We have a confirmed Scavi tour on Friday, March 19, 2011. We have been told to be at the Excavations office at 9:05 am. Looking at the directions, it looks like we will need to go through the security line in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. Appreciate your thoughts above. It looks like I should plan at most a 30 minute line-up at the security.
Would you agree that after the Scavi tour (ending 10:45 am), we should be able to go directly into St. Peter’s Basilica without having to go through security again. I was going to take your advice and do the museum / Sistine Chapel tour (self-guided) in the afternoon (approx. 1:30 pm).
Ash, If your ticket is for 14:00, then you should arrive perhpas 15 minutes early. Often they will not even look at the time, but Mondays and Saturdays are the most crowded days and thus the may be verifying times. Like most rules in Italy, it depends on who is “manning the door” if you try to go in early. O’ve entered with a pass 30-45 minutes in advance but always knew they might make me wait. Saturdays there is usually a line till after 12 noon – then it’s hit and miss on the line length.
Hello Ron,
So many good info here. And I’m making a mental note to remember how the entrance to the museum looks like, so as not to wait on the steps like the bewildered group you mentioned.
Am going there on Saturday 26th November. Assuming I’m getting a pre-booked ticket from the online ticketing office, say… for a 2pm entrance ticket, should I be present at the museum an hour earlier, or just right on time should be fine? Can’t really imagine the line condition at the time.
Thanks Ron.
The Sistine Chapel is at the “end” of the Vatican Museums route, so you have to walk through the Museums to get to the Sistine Chapel. So I suppose you could walk through the musuems, see the Chapel and reverse your route and then go see the remainder of the Museums. As far as best time on a Monday? That would be the one day I’d book a skip-the-line tickets because most of the day will be packed – even after a “free” Sunday. You could go later in the day, but it gets darker earlier in November so I’d just plan on pre-purchasing your entry tickets to avoid the lines.
Hi Ron,
The information you provide is priceless. We are visiting Rome on Nov26-29 2011 and the day we will be able to see the vatican in on Monday. How could you see the sistine chapel and then the museum? And what time is the best on a Monday to go? Right now I am contemplating whether or not to buy the advance tickets. I know you say that Monday is one of the busy days, but will it be as busy since it will be open on Sunday (a free sunday). I would appreciate the input.
thanks.
Roleta, the Audience usually begins at 10:30. Many folks start arriving one to two hours in advance to get front-row seats, although I’ve showed up around 10:00 and had okay views. The auditorium only holds 6,900 people. You defintely want to pick up your tickets the day before. There is no advance line for climbing the cupola, you’ll just have to wait in line. Choose the €7 option and ride the elevator halfway up. You’ll still have more than 300 stairs to climb! Weather will be brisk, dress in layers and wear a scarf!
Hello ! Ron thank you so much for all the information ,my husband and i will be in rome this coming dec 13-17 ,i have an audience ticket to see the pope on dec 14 ,im just wondering what time i should be in line and what time the pope comes out, is it better to pick up the ticket the day before or the actual day ? And also i want to climb the cupola ,is there any advance ticket a could purchase?and lastly what will be the weather in december ?
thanks a lot ,
Roleta from California
I’m sure you’ll enjoy your visit – According to the Vatican Calendar. the Papal visit on September 28 will be held at Castel Gandolfo, at 10:30 – not St. Peter’s Square.
Thank you very much for all the information provided on this site!
We are planning to visit Rome on Wednesday 28th September and visit the Vatican… (on a papal audience day). Unfortnately we are a bit stuck with our choice of available days…
While I understand that it will be “quite” busy (we are planning to buy our ticket in advance), I am trying to work out if we can still expect an enjoyable visit to the museums & Sistine Chapel… Is it too optimistic to be able to experience a papal audience and also enjoy the visit? It would be great to understand how busy it can get and any tips during such a day!
Anna – The tours provided through the Vatican do include the skip-the-line function.
Hi Ron,
Are the Guided Tours (Museum and Sistine Chapel) on the Vatican website, also “Skip the Line” ? The Addmision Tickets says that they are Skip the Line but under the section of Guided Tours it doesn’t specify this. We are most likely going there on a thursday first week of October, and think that we’ll benefit more from having a guided tour. After the tour, I think we will follow your insturctions and head to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Thanks again Ron,
Anna
Michel, according to the Vatican website (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/calendar/hf_bxvi_calendar_en.html#SEPTEMBER_2011), there is no Papal Audience on September 21, 2011. So your plan to go in at 13:00 should work. There will be no disruption from a Papal Audience and the Basilica will be open all day, regular hours.
Hello Ron,
Your site is very informative for first time visitors in Rome. We are on a cruise ship arriving in Civitavecchia so with the transfer to Rome we do not have a lot of time to spend in the city… unfortunately. Obviously, we would like to visit the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St.Peter’s Basilica. We will be there on Sept. 21 (Wednesday) for only one day. Based on your tips, we would be there at 1:00pm… Is it late enough to skip the line? Or, to be on the safe side, should we buy on-line entrance tickets in advance (because it is a Wednesday)? Also, how can I know for sure that there is or not a papal audience that day? And if there is one (I think it is usually in the morning), do they reopen the Basilica in the afternoon for visitors?
Thank you!
Michel
Beverly, first – know that this is not a short walk. The Sistine Chapel is the farthest point from the Vatican Museums entrance. This is probably a good 45 minute walk through the crowds. Just follow the signs and the crowds into the chapel. Once you’re there and ready to leave. Walk with your back to the “Last Judgment” and take the door on your left. Follow this path through the “library” section of the Museums until you get back to your entry point – which is the top of the escalator. (up from the turnstiles where you came in.
Often when folks first arrive, they want to see the spiral staircase (in case they try and go out the “shortcut’ door in the Sistine Chapel), so when you arrive and get to the top of the long entry escalator, GO HARD RIGHT and you’ll see the post office. The exit and staircase is facing the post office. So you can look at this – don’t go down as that’s the exit!
Once you get back to the front of the Museums from the Sistine Chapel you can then see what parts of the Museum you want!
Hi Ron!
Thanks for all the info on your site. I have to visit the Vatican at 3 PM on a Thursdy and also want to see the Sistine Chapel first. You sent someone else info on how to do this, will you please send me that info also?
Beverly
Me, Myself….Irene.
Yes, you walk around to the front of the Museum doors. There you head for the RIGHT side of the entry doors. The “non-prepaid” folks are enteting on the LEFT side. Once you get to the right side, there will be a guard there and he/she will “scan” your email so you can than enter the Museums at your scheduled time, bypassing those folks in line. You can then, after clearing the X-Ray, head to the left wherre you can pick up your “internet” tickets.
Thanks so much for all the detail information. You have made my life so much easier. I have booked the musume guided tour for my kids for Aug 17 at 2:30pm on line. It is Wed. Luckily there is no Papal audience on that day, so I did not buy the skip the line ticket for myself. Thanks a lot again
Annie
Thank you so much for the detailed suggestions! One question I still have is where the “skip the line” line forms? Does one simply step around the long snaking line of people and go to the head of that line along with the 1300 other people who are “skipping the line” with you? Or is there an obvious separate queue area for those with reservations? Would you mind providing some detail about how to do this efficiently? THANK YOU!
Another note of appreciation for a most helpful website – thank you, Ron!
This page was especially useful. Our transfer from Naples to Rome went more smoothly than planned and we found ourselves free of commitments last Friday afternoon. Following your advice, we decided to see whether we could get in to the Vatican Museum. We were a bit taken aback by the distance from Piazza S. Pietro to the Museum entrance – had we been aware of its location on Viale Vaticano, we would likely have taken, say, the 81 bus to P. Risorgimento – but we got there at 3pm and, as you predicted, there was no queue at all. Although this didn’t leave us time to look even briefly at all the galleries, we paced our tour to arrive at the Sistine Chapel at 1715, after most of the tour parties had left. We were able to spend almost 30 minutes admiring the paintings without feeling at all crowded. It worked out very well.
For the benefit of others who do it this way, it may be worth noting that the staff began to clear the museum at 1730 and firmly shooed everyone out of the Chapel at 1745. Can you confirm whether that is their standard routine?
For what it’s worth, the three hours we spent in the museum, as well as the rest of our three days in Rome, have merely convinced us that we must return and spend a lot longer there.
Again, thank you for creating this valuable guide,
Russ
Krista – You can always purchase advance tickets through the Vatican for an additional €4. Then you do not have to wait in line! If you want to avoid a scheduled “time” and paying extra, then you’ll have to pick your time carefully. Obviously Monday is a tough day and the lines will last longer into the afternoon. You might shoot for 1:30 -2:00 PM but July is the high season and there still might be a short line. Best solution might be to just pre-purchase tickets for Tuesday mid-morning… then you have plenty of time to make your 4 PM appointment. Good Luck.
Hi Ron! Thanks so much for all of the information. I visited The Vatican in 2007 and did not have to wait long, but I was there in November. I am going again this year with a friend and we will be in Rome July 5th and 6th (Mon. and Tue.). You said Tuesday was an ok day to wait it out and you mentioned that the line clears after 1, but we have reservations at 4 elsewhere that evening. We have more time to wait on Monday. I’m sure that, being July, it is a much busier time for tourists. Would you still suggest waiting it out? I’m just quite torn about what to do.
We’ve just come back from our quick trip to Rome, and it’s true! At 12.30 on Thursday, admittedly in February, there was no queue at all for the Vatican museums, even though there were a lot of people inside.
Great site. Thanks for all the info. We did the 3 hour wait in line back in 2000. We’re heading back June 1 with our son for his high school graduation trip. Italy & Greece. Question. Is it possible to buy a ticket just for the Sistine Chapel? The trip through the museum, though wonderful is a bit too much for these tired legs. Thanks again for all the info.
***** REPLY ****** The Sistine Chapel is located in the Vatican Museums… and the ticket to go in the Museums gets you to the Sistine Chapel. Unfortunately, the Sistine Chapel is at the FAR END of the Museums and also farthest from the Museum entrance… so there is no shortcut. You could also get a skip-the-line tickets and if necessary, get a wheelchair at the Coat Check and ride in style. I’ve taken many folks through the museum in chairs. Good Luck on your trip!
Thanks for that awesome posting. It saved MUCH time
I have reservations for the Scavi tour on Tuesday, June 1st. Is it possible to exit the Scavi tour into the Basilica, thus missing the entrance lines? Thanks so much! This is an excellent site.
*****REPLY***** Yes, most Scavi tours end up back at the office so folks can pick upi their backpacks, cameras, etc. Then you walk towards the Basilica, and turn left and hed up the stairs in to the Basilica.
Have read all topic and printed out your topic as one of guides for my summer trip.
Thanks very much, Ron.
Ciao Patty
There are underground tombs of the Popes – under the basilica – which are free. The entrance is on the RIGHT side of the Basilica as you face it (Go up the stairs to the Basilica and go right – towards the Constantine Colonnade and the Gift Shop!). The other “underground” tour you are referring to is the “Scavi Tour.” This is a tour done with Vatican guides only – no one under 15 allowed – no big bags or purses allowed…. And you go WAY DOWN under the basement where the Popes are buried… and into the OLD, OLD, OLD parts of the original St. Peter’s Basilica. (The Basilica you see now was started in the 1500’s – the original was started in the 300’s). The tomb of St. Peter “is” down here – although where it is at exactly is not public knowledge. The Scavi Tour requires advance reservations which you can get through the Vatican website and often takes a couple months of pre-planning to get a tour.
So the tombs of the Basilica are the Popes in the Basement which you can go to for free… just walk down there… this is where John Paul II is buried.
The tombs of the necropolis (Scavi Tour) require a Vatican guide, advance reservations, and there are many restrictions…. And you must PAY a fee!
Hope that clears it up!
Ciao,
Ron
This is great information! I can’t find an answer to this question and I hope you can/will help! I want to see the underground tombs of the Popes and I thought they ended at St. Peter’s tomb (or what’s thought to be his tomb). I am really confused as to where they are and would hate to go to the wrong ones! I’ve been told there is a vatican guide that could be requested. My confusion is there is the tombs of the bascilica and the necropolis and I’m not sure which is which and I can’t find a vatican tour that explains the difference. Can you help me? Thank you in advance for you time!
Hi Ron,
My wife and I are travelling to Rome tomorrow, (Saturday 26th September), and unfortunately I have only just found your website, (via a link on Trip Advisor).
The tips on visiting the Vatican will be priceless to us, and that is exactly the information I was looking for when I found the link to your site.
I’m now going to spend a couple of hours reading through the rest of your information. Congratulations on such a wonderful and informative site.
Can I also say, without sounding too cheesy, that the story about you guiding the ladies you met on the Metro was heartwarming. If everyone in this world had that attitude it would be a much better place to live.
Amazing info, by far THE BEST I ever saw on Vatican Lines. You should get a medal from us tourists – but, then again, you might be killed by angry “skip-the-line” ticket vendors…
Joking apart, I was wondering if you would be so kind as to answer a doubt I have and don’t seem able to find a clear answer anywhere on the web: is it possible to visit the Sistine Chapel first and then go back and visit the Museums more slowly, without having to buy a new ticket/stand on the line/whatever? That is to say, if you go out the Sistine Chapel through the left door and then go to the Vatican Library, can you go back to the Pinacoteca, the Pio-Clementine Museum and so forth?
I would really, really appreciate an answer. Thank you so much in advance. Mille grazie!
Luis, from Portugal
***** REPLY ********** Yes, you can – info sent to you!
thank you for your wonderful web site. I liked it very, very much.
The best answer that I got about visiting vatican. I’m planning to visit Rome from 16th to 20th Aug. i was search for last 2 days for this answer. Tks a lot. I wish I met you in person to tell my sincer thanks. I will follow your advice for sure during my visit
Live and learn… last year,,, I was in Roma visiting my nephew.. he suggested we visit The Vatican Musee”’ ” as “it’s free today “..
Three hours later,, we reached the entrance,, had a wonderful time…and ey’ it was free.
Would I do it again ? Absolutely NO way.
Gregorio
Hey the site’s great, very helpful and informative! I’ll be heading with my other half next 11-14 Aug. Is Aug generally busier or will your rules still apply? Thanks for any tips and advice you can offer. Its his 30th birthday so want it to run smooth and enjoyably.
Thanks for the tips. I am planning to visit Rome in 2 weeks’ time (16-18 August) and I was wondering about the lines seeing as the 15th and 16th are closed. I am pretty flexible on the 17th and 18th, though. Any comment? *** Reply sent***
I just ran across your website, from a link in a tripadvisor forum. I’m so glad I did! I wish I had time to read the whole thing right now, but I know your information will be invaluable to my husband and I when we go to Rome next April!
Love the sight, very helpful, especially the bus training. The sight is replete with detailed, common, everyday information to a local Roman yet most people just visiting simply wouldn’t know. I feel up to speed for my visit in June. You’ve got something here.
Many thanks Ron, most informative and just what we needed for our intended trip in late July. Jan (the good lady) is suitably envious of your location and wishes to know if you have room for flat mate!
Many thank again
Ray