Is is better to get a tour of the Vatican or just do the audio guide or just wing it on our own?
Is it better to go in the afternoon, but then do you have enough time to see everything, or go in the morning and hit the crowds. ??? And would it be better to get a private tour guide if we go that route. Thanks for any info.

You can book a tour with the Vatican, but they are only booking Nov./Dec. right now. The tours are usually two hours, but you can stay after the tour is over if you want. You can take a break in the cafeteria and get a snack/rest then continue your visit.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In...zi_Visite.html

Going in the morning is best to beat the line. The question is, what interests you, what's your budget, and what are you hoping to take away from this? Whether or not it should be a tour depends on how you feel and whether or not you really prefer all the details, or just soaking things in yourself.....or learning through auditory or visual means.

I assume you are talking about the Vatican Museums? I think going in the early afternoon is a better time (than morning) to minimize time in line if you are going to tour on your own. We did not use a tour and found that was better for us because we could choose the things we really wanted to see, including some of the amazing paintings in the Pinacoteca. We spent about 4 hours total and of course only saw a tiny portion of the collection.

>>>>Going in the morning is best to beat the line.<<<

That's not necessary if you book a tour with the Vatican (or even just admission ticket) because you don't have to wait in line.

We just got back from Rome and did a tour for the Vatican Museums with "Through Eternity" It was a group tour with 14 people. The tour was very good and our guide was very knowledgeable, but it was a long tour. Including a break for lunch at the Vatican cafeteria (food is pricey and so-so) our tour was 6+ hours. The museums will be crowded in all likelihood regardless of time. Pros: a tour guide can give a lot of context to what you are seeing and can answer questions. Cons: well, it is a tour and you are on a bit of schedule. Your feet and your attention span might get tired. The museums are huge and there is a lot to see.
Even if you decide not to book a tour, be sure to book a reservation and avoid the lines. You can book online through the Vatican's website and it is worth the booking fee to avoid the long lines.

I've done all three - gone through with Context Tours (twice), gone through with an audioguide (twice), and walked through without anyone/anything. As stated above, all have pros and cons. But, hands down, I'd recommend the Context Tour for learning most about what you're seeing/experiencing. (I'm very interested in art - took art history in college - don't know your interest level though) This very small group and guide imparts history of the buildings as well as a chronological progression of the most important pieces of art. I've never truly seen a difference in the crowd sizes between morning and afternoon - May, June, September, November - all extremely crowded. Be prepared, mentally, for this and then, if it's not, a pleasant surprise. Hope this helps...

i thought the audio guide was sufficient enough. my husband isnt into museums too much, so i think the 6 hour tour would kill him. but i really do think audio gave some real interesting bits. we went early in the morning in december and were lucky enough that the vatican was not crowded. no line at the entrance and we actually enjoyed Raphael's room and the gold ceiling of the corridor leading to the sistine chapel as a whole , without the clamoring crowds.

A lot of hotels will book your tour for you. Our company came to our hotel and picked us up, which was really nice. It lasted a few hours and was plenty. Of course you can stay longer, if you like.

One of the best things about a tour is it gets you past the LONG lines.