First timers to Rome in January, 06 for 4 days. We're researching guided tours for the Vatican.

Right now, we're leaning toward the 5-hour Through Eternity tour on Saturday. I've read that one should avoid the Vatican on weekends. Given that late January will be very low season, would you go for the Saturday tour?

PS: jet lag will be affecting me the worst on Thurs and Fri, so I really don't want to do the Vatican on those days. I guess we could look at Sunday...but would that be any better?

Vatican museums are not open on Sundays except I think for the last Sunday of the month, sometimes. On those Sundays admission is free and the lines even longer I have read.

The Vatican museum closes early in January and on Saturdays. They don't list their 2006 schedule yet, but you can get an idea of times from the 2005 calendar.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In....html#chiusura

It will not be the last weekend in January, so it sounds like we'll do the Saturday tour. It starts at 9am, so we'll be done by 2 or 3pm...they don't close THAT early, do they?!

Yes, they do close that early. Last entrance at 12:20 and exit at 1:45 on all Saturdays(year round) and most January days.

Thanks, Kybourbon.

I'll write the tour company and ask about the specifics before we sign up.
I'm glad I asked. There wouldn't be enough time to complete the so-called 5 hour tour.

I'd be surprised if that tour didn't include St Peter's basilica, and that stays open after the Vat. Museums have closed. So does Castel St Angelo.

We used www.angeltoursrome.com Shawn..the owner was terrific. It's a small company..they only have a few people on each Vatican tour. I'm sure they can tell u what's best if u email them. PS We usually don't do the tourthing..but I'm glad we did with the Vatican.