Vatican and Scavi questions

Whether the passport is a requirement or not for proof of age of a child, I would have it with me. I wouldn't want to be denied access to the tour.

You may have to stand in line an hour or so the go up to the dome.

I've never heard of your hotel. What is the location?

>>>Also, I think getting a tour of the Colosseum is a good idea. Is Pierici the best option?<<<

Pierreci if the official booking for the Colosseum, but lots of companies offer tours (they will cost more than Pierreci).

I went on the Scavi tour last May and took my passport, since I'd read somewhere they do require ID, but I don't think anyone asked for it. I'd take it just in case. We did the Scavi tour, St. Peter's (we did not climb the dome), then the Vatican Museums. It was a long day but I was glad we did what we wanted to do in that area and didn't have to go back. Since you're only in Rome three full days and plan to stay fairly far out, I'd recommend that. (When is your trip? Any reason for not staying more central?)

I did the Pierreci underground tour of the Colosseum and enjoyed it very much. I don't know if they're still doing the underground tours, but if the same guides do all their tours, I'd have no hesitation booking one. One thing I do wish we'd done is taken a tour of the Forum - I had no idea what I was looking at, even with a map and guidebook!

Hi poutine,

congrats on finally taking the plunge into Rome. it took me 50 years to get there, and I was so glad I hadn't left it any longer. I hope you will be too.

I'm not sure where your hotel is, but with only 3 days, I'm going to suggest that you forget about the Vatican museums, and use that time to see more of Rome, including the wonderful galleria doria pamphilli, which is both stunning and relatively deserted.

Depending on the time that you can get for the Scavi tour, you can either do St. Peter's before or after [or possibly both!]. If, say, you had a tour at 10.30 am, you should be there by 10.15, so if you got to st. peter's by 9am, you could go straight up the Dome, and then do the tour, followed by a wonder around the Basilica.

OTOH, if your scavi tour is later, I would not bother to get to st. Peter's significantly early, as it will take too much of your precious time to queue to get in, but tour st. Peter's after the scavi tour, and take your chance on whether the queue for the Dome is long or not.

as for whether to take your DS's passport with you for the scavi tour, I don't remember what we did as our DS is quite young looking too. I think we took a photocopy of his passport, but I don't remember it being a problem; however if you're worried, why not just take his passport with you on that day?

re the colosseum, we didn't have a guide and felt that we were fine without one, but I've been round the forum twice now, and really wish that we had had a guide there - it's all a pile of stones to me. so I can't help you with which one to choose, but there are several threads on Rome guides here.

as for the rest of the time that you have, the following have been our Rome highlights so far:

The scavi tour
St. Peter's and the Dome,
the colosseum
capitoline museums,
Rick Steves' mosaic church walk
St. Cecila's in Trastevere [more mosaics in the crypt]
Galleria Doria Pamphilji
Any church you care to wander into
the tiny streets near the via coronari
the food!

to this you might add the Borghese Gallery but we've not got there yet.

This is the location of the Relais 6. http://www.relais6.com/inglese/dove_siamo.htm

I had read that there isn't usually a line to go up the dome when it opens. If I take the elevator up as far as possible, then walk the rest, am I looking at an hour (generally speaking)?

Obviously I don't want to miss the Scavi tour!

Like I mentioned, it seems like a lot for one day. If it made any kind of logistical sense, I would split it into two days. But of course there are many more things to see in Rome, and with only three days......maybe I am best covering the Vatican in one day. We won't see everything in the museum in any case.

Thank you all. Annhig it is good to know I am not the only hold out!

Why Relais 6? I had a hard time finding a hotel room for four within budget. (It was 360 euro for four nights). This hotel gets great reviews on tripadvisor (and there are many, even if there is a bit of padding happening) with the caveat being it is a bit distant. But there are plenty of buses nearby, and I am not allergic to public transit.

I think if I have to cut something out of my Vatican day it will be the dome. I automatically included it as the kids (when they were younger) used to really look forward to climbing to the top of a building. And I like looking down at the rooftops. I have taken some really great photos down onto a city from this perspective.

W.r.t the Scavi tickets, I am not allowed to select the time, only the day? I guess I will wait until I find out my ticket time.

I appreciate the advice. I had read that you would have liked a guide at the forum, jent103, and I will look into that. It sounds like Pierreci is best choice for the Colosseum.


We like architecture and ruins, food and life in general! Any other favorite moments in Rome?

I'm sorry - but your hotel seems to be at the end of hell and gone - far from any sights you might be interested in. I would definitely change to something much nearer the center - or you will be doing long treks to get to see anyhting at all. (You need to be significantly inside the Borghese gardens - not far beyond them - you are almost in the suburbs.)

You can easily do the Scavi, St Peter's and the Vatican Museum in one day - since the Vatican is really see what you wish. If you want to see everything you can spend many hours - but you can see a few of the highlights in a couple of hours.) I don;t recall how long it took to get to the top of the Dome - since it was some years ago - but it definitely wasn;t onerous - except for the final ascent up through the hole in the dome.

We also were in Rome last May. We booked the Scavi Tour first and then made our plans around that. We were given a 3:00 tour time which worked out surprisingly well. We had our passports but no one asked to see them (but it's probably best to bring them, just in case). The exit from the Scavi Tour gave us an entrance to St. Peter's that bypassed the long lines, and we really enjoyed our time in the basilica. From there we rode the elevator to the first level of the Dome and then climbed the stairs to the top. What an experience!! The stairs were narrow, windy, slanted, twisted, crowded. And the views were fabulous! This took much longer than I expected. From there we walked leisurely to Piazza Augusto and had drinks and ciccheti at 'Gusto. I believe we were there by 7:30 or 8:00 - just to show you how much time this part of the day took. Try not to be disappointed in the time of your Scavi Tour (you don't really have a choice) - I'm sure you can have a superb day regardless.

We had opted not to see the Vatican Museum that day (or on this trip) because we thought it would be too tiring and too much museum. Instead we spent the earlier part of our day doing other things, including the Cappucin Crypt which I highly recommend. The Cappucin Crypt is near the top of the Spanish Steps. Very memorable.

At the Forum, we used the Rick Steves Audio Guide (on the iPod) which was pretty good - perhaps not as good as a live tour guide, but better than trying to make sense of it on your own.

We did this in late October (stayed directly across Piazza Risorgimento from the Vatican wall, so were able to get there very early): arrived at the Basilica a few minutes before 8 a.m., no line but it was quite long by the time we got back down. Took elevator halfway so we would have more time at the top. Back down and around the corner for the Scavi tour at 9:15 am (no one asked us for ID). Wonderful tour and highly recommend. Afterwards we spent about an hour and a half in the Basilica, then took a break for lunch and hit the Vatican museum (reserved entry) at about 1:30. Do note that even with a reservation, the museum is EXTREMELY crowded and somewhat chaotic. Didn't enjoy it (except the Sistine Chapel) nearly as much as I expected to due to the wall to wall bodies.

>>>W.r.t the Scavi tickets, I am not allowed to select the time, only the day? <<<<

You submit your days you are able to tour (submit more than one if you can) and then you see if you are lucky enough to get a spot. There are no Scavi tours on Sunday and you aren't allowed to take in large bags/backpacks so will have to check them on the opposite side of St. Peter's so allow time for that if necessary.

With such a short time in Rome, I would look for a closer hotel.

I think if I have to cut something out of my Vatican day it will be the dome. I automatically included it as the kids (when they were younger) used to really look forward to climbing to the top of a building. And I like looking down at the rooftops. I have taken some really great photos down onto a city from this perspective. >>

nooooo - don't miss the Dome. Even if you don't go right to the top [and you should for the view if nothing else] at the top of the lift level you get a unique view of the roofs of the Basilica. also you can get up close and personal with the mosaics round the cupola which you can't really see from ground level.

the problem with wanting to cut out bits of the Vatican museums, is that it is very difficult to do that - you just have to follow the common herd from the entrances to the sistine chapel at the end, which can take several hours. Given that there is so much else to see i would really think twice before committing yourself to what could be a very long day.

also, I have to agree about the hotel - as you have such a short time in Rome, you are going to lose a lot of time going backwards and forwards which you could otherwise be spending seeing the city. have you tried putting your dates into Trip Advisor and seeing what it comes up with? you can get it to order the results from cheapest to dearest and also by area.

Did I miss when your trip is? My understanding is that while the Vatican Museums are always crowded, it's worse at some times than at others. On a Monday in mid-May, we did experience crowds but were through the museums in two or two and a half hours. (We are not museum-aholics, though.) As annhig says, you basically have to just follow the crowd - no skipping to the Sistine Chapel.

I'd just try your Scavi tickets, see what you end up with, and go from there. You can't make a firm plan until you have that nailed down.

For €90 you can probably find something nearer the center, assuming your trip is a ways away. Have you thought about an apartment? We rented one from sleepinitaly.com, and I think they had some studios for about that. Our two-bedroom was €120/night, but we saved quite a bit by eating in for several meals (you'd save even more if there are three or four of you).

I just sent in my request for the Scavi tickets. Jent103, you have a point, and I will just wait and see what time (hopefully) they offer. Complicating things a little is the fact that my daughter will only be 13 and thus ineligible. I will have to figure out a time and place to meet my husband and daughter after the tour.

We are going in early July. Rome is sandwiched in between Vienna/Budapest and San Sebastian. We decided to maximaze our FF stops, and each of us picked a location. Rome is my son's choice.

I will look again for a hotel closer to the center. It is supposed to be a 10 minute bus ride to termini, so I thought it would be manageable. And it had breakfast, wifi and a nice terrace included. And they have a family room which holds 4. We rarely stay in apartments on holidays, as if I have to cook it's NO vacation! I would be willing to move on that but the apartments I saw mentioned on various threads here were all closer to 200euro per night.

re: the dome - do include it, but keep in mind the following:

We did it some 10 years ago, so I can not say for sure that the situation is still the same - maybe other readers can comment on this. However, it is quite "breathtaking" in more ways than one.

The view from the balcony around the lantern of the dome is for sure worth the climb - although persons with vertigo might think otherwise.

Now, getting onto this "balconcino" (i.e. 'little balcony' in Italian) was another story. Your speed will depend on the speed of the person directly in front of you. The climbing space between the outer and inner shell of the cupola is extremely narrow - it is not a long climb, but it may feel quite claustrophobic, especially if the weather is hot (and in July it will be). The ventilation of this area was minimal. Once you start your climb there is no turning around: no space for that - as a line of climbing bodies is pushing forward "right on your tail".
Also the middle section of the climb will require you to bend your body to the side as the narrow corridor follows the curve of the dome...

At last the view - feel like a bird

A 10-minute bus ride to Termini is manageable, but nothing you'll want to do is right at Termini. You'll still have to get from there to the Vatican, Colosseum... It would just be so much more convenient to be in walking distance of something, at least. You're saving on your budget, but you might also be paying more in transit fares and definitely "spending" a lot on your time.

I totally understand about not cooking on vacation! However, I really loved having our apartment. It was so much more space than a hotel room. We barely "cooked" - the most we did was to get pasta, prepared pesto, salad and a rotisserie chicken from the store for a dinner. Honestly sometimes it was nice to not have to figure out where to go for dinner. This is the one we had - two bedrooms, both with double beds. On the fourth floor with no elevator, but not too far above your budget. It might not work with two teenagers, but Sleep in Italy had quite a few options around the €120-130 range, so one might work.

https://www.sleepinitaly.com/en/show-piazza_del_fico-navona-pantheon-roma/appartam.php?id_appartam=247

You are asking early enough that you might get an early time. I requested our tickets in January for our trip in April and our tour began at 9 a.m. We started the day with the Scavi, then toured St. Peters, went to the top of the dome, then ate lunch around 1 p.m. We did the museums after lunch and were back at the apartment by 6.

I too will recommend an apartment. We had one for 5 of us and loved it. It was nice to have more than one room for all of us. We bought breakfast food so we didn't have to buy that every day. We cooked once, pasta, of course. We would also stop to buy bread, meat and cheese and had lunch most days at the apartment.

poutine - we've rented 2 apartments in rome with our kids and never cooked at all! we mainly used it to make breakfast [sending the kids out to buy the cornetti] and eat the occasional cold collation for supper.

a real disadvantage of staying where your B&B is, is that you either have to spend all day out of the hotel, so never get the chance to go back and put your feet up, or you do go back and waste time coming out again. it really is so much easier if you are staying somewhere central.

We did the same thing that you are thinking and that jscarbary did. We had the Scavi Tour at 9:15, then toured St.Peter's and walked up to the top, then had lunch and then the Vatican Museums. It does make for a lot of walking but we enjoyed our day. We were done with the museum around 3:30 (but this was in January with very limited crowds).

Gelato and wine are good at making your feet feel better once the day is done.

We enjoyed the Scavi tour, but would have enjoyed it more if our guide's English had not been so heavily accented. She also spoke quietly and was hard to hear. Hope your experience is better.

It seems to me that we WERE asked for passports, but I can't remember precisely.

The "order of events" for us was Vatican Museums first (we had reserved entry tickets), then out the side door of the Sistine to St. Peter's, then lunch on Via Angelica, then the Scavi tour and more wandering around the Basilica. We did not climb the Dome.

We didn't due the Scavi tour due to the age of our kids but you mind find some other nuggets on info in our trip report and blog.

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/rome-with-kids-blog-photos.cfm

we too had a guide for the scavi tour with heavily accented english, but we were still able to understand her most of the time.

the highlight for me was emerging into the little chapel underneath the main altar in the Basilica above, just as the noon High Mass was about to start. Even this died in the wool atheist found that profoundly moving.

so I'm sure that you will get something from it, even if the guide is not the best in the world.

I am waiting to hear back from the Vatican in order to try and plan the rest around my Scavi tour time. I submitted my request only last night, so I suppose a day or two is a normal wait. I know that if I don't hear anything, I am SOL. I would be very disappointed

Indy Dad, I did read your trip report along with several others. I took a look a look at Palazzo Valentini, and will likely make a reservation. I need to guestimate when we have seen enough and just need to chill for a bit! Annhig, I liked the look of Galleria Doria Pamphilj as well. I too am going to leave the Borghese for another time.

I am waiting to hear back from the Vatican in order to try and plan the rest around my Scavi tour time.>>

they can take a little while to reply - perhaps they have different priorities?

so don't panic when you don't hear back immediately.

good idea to be thinking already about your next trip to Rome. I have an acquaintance who has been more than 50 times, and still finds new things to see. I'm sure you'll have a great time, whatever you end up doing.

I'm in!! I have a confirmation for 2 people at 10h30, so I will be able to schedule one activity prior. It will be early July (hot), do you think I should:

1) Arrive at 8 am to climb the dome and visit St. Peter's first. I would then schedule the Vatican Museums for after lunch.

or

2) Try and make reservations for the Vatican Museum for 9 am when it opens. Rick Steves guide (I know..) says that the guards will let you in as early as 8 am if you have reservations.

If I pick option #2, I will probably forego the dome since it would mean waiting in a long line later in the day. Is there another place to go for a great aerial view in Rome?

Another question. On my map I see the Mercato Trionfale is not too far away from the Vatican. Is this an interesting shopping area?

Thanks for all your expertise.

>>>2) Try and make reservations for the Vatican Museum for 9 am when it opens. Rick Steves guide (I know..) says that the guards will let you in as early as 8 am if you have reservations.<<<

I'm not sure Rick's info is up to date. The Vatican Museums did that a year or two ago (groups/tours were allowed in between 8-10 and everyone else after), but they change their rules almost every year (usually in January). If the ticket office doesn't open until 9 (stated on the Vatican website), I'm not sure how you could enter before that. The trek from the museum entrance to the Sistine Chapel can take an hour. I would put the museum visit in the afternoon.

I agree. Trying to do the museums before your Scavi tour is not only risky, but you'll be rushing through the museums and won't really enjoy them because you'll be concerned with getting to the Scavi office. If you want to do something before your tour, I'd make it the dome.

Dome. The Vatican lines will be less in the afternoon than in the morning so you can play that by ear. (my experience and also posted at Ron in Rome, etc.)

I would not try to do the museum before the Scavi - but you might do St Peter's.

You need to be aware that the entrances are in differnt places. The Scavi offic ticket pick up and the entrance to St Peter's and the Dome lead off of St Peter's square.

The Vatican Museums are entered from a completely differnt place - you need to walk a good part of the way around the Vatican (outside the walls) to get to the entrance to the Museum. (Get a good map of Rome so yuo can see this.)

Definitely try to do St. Peter's and the dome first. you simply don't have time to get round the Vatican museums before 10.15, which is the time you need to be presenting yourselves to the Scavi office for a 10.30 tour.

if you get to St. peter's by 9am, you can go straight through the security gates on your right as you face the basilica, up to the Dome, [ticket office and lifts to the right of the building as you go into the entrance area] spend 30 mins or so at the top, then come down and go round to the Scavi office. [with the basilica to your rear, turn right and walk along the front of the building and round the corner - the scavi office is under a canopy on your right. after about 50 metres]. you don't need to come out of the security zone - in fact you should stay behind the barriers or you'll just end up having to go through security again.

if you don't make it for that, you will need your scavi tour reservation confirmation to show to the Swiss guards who guard the entrance to the tour office. as you approach the Basilica, you will see on your left a row of offfices, toilets, and the Vatican post office. the entrance for the scavi tour is just to the right of the entrance to the PO.

then after the Scavi tour, you can go straight into the Basilica without going through the security gates again.

if you wanted to book tickets for the Vatican museums on the same day, I would not go for earlier than 2pm, to leave time for looking round St. Peter's after the tour, a spot of lunch and a rest, ad walking round the walls of the Vatican to the ticket office [about 1/2 a mile]. however, if you could only get tickets for a bit earlier, there is a cafe inside the vatican museums, AND a pizzeria, believe it or not!