We arrived at about 8am and found St. Peter's Square nearly deserted. We got right through the metal detectors - no lines at all. This was in late Sept/early October, so summer may be busier. HOpe that helps!

Hi CarrieAnne,

We had exactly the same time tour, and turned up at about 10 am, which was early enough. [you don't need to go through security for the scavi tour, you just go straight to the left-hand side barrier manned by the spanish guard next to the entrance to the vatican post office]

After the tour, you end up in St. Peter's, so no need to worry about security then either. St. Peter's is so vast that even with lots of people in there, it doesn't seem crowded.

The dome doesn't open until about 9.30 i think [we did it another day, arriving at about 9.15 when the lines were non-existent but we had to wait for 15 mins or so to be allowed up in the Dome] so you might not have long enough to do it before your Scavi tour.

To be safe, I'd wait until after the tour to try to go up the Dome.

I had the English tour at the same time. I visited the Basilica first before 8:30am. As the previous poster noted, it was practically deserted with no one to interfere with taking pictures. By the time I was done touring the Basilica around 9:45am and headed to the Scavi entry, the Basilica was already very crowed and tour groups after tour groups were pouring into the Basilica.

Yes, unless you like crowds, visit Basilica first. When in Basilica, note especially the Baldaquino in the middle of the Basilica. The Scavi Tour makes frequent references to this structure.

>>>We had exactly the same time tour, and turned up at about 10 am, which was early enough. [you don't need to go through security for the scavi tour, you just go straight to the left-hand side barrier manned by the spanish guard next to the entrance to the vatican post office]<<<

That's no longer accurate or wasn't the last time I did the Scavi tour (Sept 2011). The entrance was moved to outside the piazza on the left hand side. You exit the piazza through the columns about middle ways. There is security to go through just like on the other side to enter St. Peter's. The old entry was between #21 and #18 on this map. The new entry, you exit the piazza at #3 and then you will see security.
http://saintpetersbasilica.org/Exterior/SP-Square-Area.htm

The Vatican website says the dome opens at 8.
http://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/it/cupola/orari.htm

kybourbon, Just curious, how do they get you from the #3 point to the Scavi Office and/or entrance after the security check?

And if you don't mind I'd like to put your post on the one I wrote it's getting outdated but most links, history, etc are still valid?
Regards, Walter

Walter, the Scavi office is #28 on my link. I've been on the Scavi tour several times. You used to access the area as annhig described (between #21 &18) and there were a couple of Vatican employees by the steps which are enclosed by a type of fencing (I remember when there was no fencing). Once you got their permission to proceed, you then encountered the Swiss Guard and they gave you permission to head to the Scavi office. No security screening/search.

Now you exit the piazza entirely at #3. There has always been a Swiss Guard stand there (I have pics of a very cute guard at this location from 2003). You then head towards #20 where you will encounter a security screening (bags will be scanned). You can easily see this once you exit at #3. I think the Swiss Guard stand is now right past this screening, but don't recall exactly. From this area you head past #20 to the Scavi office at #28.

This could have been something temporary, but I doubt it since they installed screening for bags. There was construction around the Vatican Post Office on that side (there is another Vatican PO on the opposite side) when I was there last and construction around the Vatican train station (past security) so it's possible this could have been temporary. I thought it was odd they weren't screening people for the Scavi tour, but were for St. Peter's so I would think it's permanent.

For anyone wanting a snack/drink in the area, as you exit at #3, cross the street and walk past Galleria Savelli (btw - they sell everything from Pope on a rope soap to fantastic mosaics and have another store on the other side of the piazza) to the restaurant just past called Il Colonnato. This is a self service cafeteria with pizza/pasta/drinks. Just something to fill you up, if you need it. This street is called Piazza del Sant'Uffizio (it's really a street, not a piazza).
http://www.italiadiscovery.it/dove_mangiare/lazio/roma/roma/il_colonnato/ristorante_pizzeria_self_service_fast_food_pizza___focacce_al_taglio_bar_e_caffe_gelateria_pasticceria/index.php

Make use of the facilities in Galleria Savelli (just inside the entrance near the corner - free and clean last time I was there) or downstairs from Il Colonnato. No lines compared to the facilities by the westside Vatican PO.

Thanks! Sorry I misinterpted your directions, I thought the screening process was done in the outside public area at #3.

I just couldn't figure out how they got you from there (in public) after being screened to inside past the Swiss Guards without walking thru and by unscreened tourists, locals, etc.
Which would defeat the whole purpose of a security screening .

I know exactly what you mean now, I have exited there and recall seeing the entrance farther down with the Swiss Guards.

Thanks and Regards, Walter

We arrived there at about 8:30 am. It was October, and there was already a line, but our tour was self guided. To get into the vatican it was only about one hour wait!

thanks for the update, ky! my info dates back to Feb '10, and no-one had corrected it up til now!

I'm not surprised that they have changed the arrangements - it seemed strange to have security on one side of the piazza, but none on the other.