JillDavis

Hello! I want to prepurchase Vatican tickets, however I do not want to prepurchase them from Vatican's website because you have to pick a specific date and time. I don't want to be stuck to a certain day because if by chance there is a rainy day while we are in Rome, I might decide to do the Vatican on that day instead. Also, I know many people's advice would be to go after lunch when the lines are short. We don't want to go in the afternoon. We want to start our day by going to the Vatican and get there by 9 am or 9:30 am. We also don't want to book a tour.

What options do I have? We are going during busy season, Sept 2nd-7th to be exact, and I really don't want to wait in long lines.

Alec

You can't have it both ways. If you pre-book, you commit yourself to visiting on a specific day and time. If you don't, then you take a pot luck that the line won't be too long (no way of knowing in advance, but it's always long in my experience). And if you wait until you are in Rome to book, it may be too late and all your desired slots are gone.
Knowing that the museums are always busy, I'd just pick a date and time and put an end to speculation and uncertainty. You'll never know - it may be wet your whole time there!

joannyc

Not positive... but I thought you could change your pre-purchased scheduled date/time once via their website prior to that scheduled date/time.


Check their website for info.

JillDavis

I checked their website. What does this mean?

"the change of the reservation date requires at least a 72 hour (one hour for the admission tickets online) prior notice"

I would be purchasing my tickets online.

HappyTrvlr

We don't like to be tied to a schedule but did buy tickets for specific times for several special museums in Italy. We walked past long lines to enter. We book these tickets at beginning or end of the day so the rest of the day is free.
As mentioned above, you can't have it both ways. If you visit Italy often, perhaps you can take a chance knowing you'll be back there.

JillDavis

Happy-if I try to book the Vatican tickets the night before we plan to go, don't I risk the chance of the time slot that I want being unavailable?

StCirq

<<don't I risk the chance of the time slot that I want being unavailable?>>

Yes, of course you do. You need to fish or cut bait.

JillDavis

Here's a question - are there "secret" areas to get tickets that have shorter lines? For example, the Louvre has all these different entrances where the lines are shorter. (people that don't go to the glass pyramid)

Does the Vatican have that? I am guessing not.

ParadiseLost

Jill, not an answer to your question but I'd like to throw this out there.

==========================================
if by chance there is a rainy day while we are in [a popular tourist city], I might decide to do the [insert a *very popular* museum here] on that day instead.
==========================================

So will *a horde* of fellow tourists, it's the logical choice to switch a rainy outside day for an indoor museum that is a popular 'must see'.

IME if you have the time and can rearrange your schedule, on a rainy day go to the less popular museum/indoor sites that you had planned to see anyway. Regards, Walter

HappyTrvlr

Book all your tickets NOW if you don't want to be disappointed..I did mine 6 months in advance..Italy will be hot and crowded with other tourists in September.I guess it depends how important seeing these special sites is to you and/or if you don't mind wasting time on long lines in the heat.I go there for the history and the art and wouldn't risk missing these special sites...Rome and Florence have many museums/sites that allow you to book tickets in advance.

joannyc

This is from the Vatican Museum's website:

<<Up to one hour before the tour, it is possible to modify the reservation date depending upon availability. It isn't possible to make changes to the number of participants.>>

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/...sita=26&step=2


<<Change date of reservation

If a reservation has already been made, it is possible to request a change of the date and time provided that all the following conditions have been verified :


1. you must have a valid reservation code;
2. the reservation has been paid;
3. the change of the reservation date requires at least a 72 hour (one hour for the admission tickets online) prior notice;
4. the reservation hasn't already been changed.
5. the change of reservation code is sent via email. If you already have the change of reservation code, click onto the link "I already have the change of reservation code." >>

http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/...ction=modifica