Cally

My wife and I will be passing through Rome in the first week of August. On our last trip to Rome, we toured St. Peter's, but didn't have time to line up to get into the Sistine Chapel, the catacombs, or the Vatican Museum. This time around we do not want to miss them. Any ideas on how to do it without endless waits? We don't mind paying for a tour if that is what is required.

cruiseluv

I have always been lucky by going to the Vatican museums (Sistine chapel is part of it) around lunch time (ie 1:00PM) and found no lines. however, now you can prebook online:
http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/
No need to pay for a tour unless you want to.

daveesl

I'm not certain if they are still doing the early entry, but if so, go to the Vatican Museums website. Sign up for the 8am entry. It costs a tad bit more, but is well worth it, as there is really no line to speak of. Get to the entrance about 7:30 and after you enter go straight to the Sistine Chapel. You will be essentially alone in the chapel. Then go back and see what you want, by this time the mass of people will be in.

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html

SavTrav

One of our highlights was taking the Scavi tour. This takes you underneath St Peters and lets you see the excavated ruins. The tour finishes inside St Peters, so you don't have to wait in line. Buy tickets for the tour as soon as possible because they sell out early. You buy the tickets directly through the Vatican website. As I remember you have to send a request, and then you have to wait to see if you get them a few weeks later.

This tour won't get you into the museum though, sorry.

micarda

We arranged for a private guide and she bypasses the lines and you go in with the guide: you also see much more of the Vatican that way. I would highly recommend using a guide.

ekscrunchy

Yes, the only sure way is to take a private tour.

For example, you can take the night tour and be among the only visitors in the entire museum. Pricy at 275 per person, but many of those who have taken it say it is worth the cost.

http://www.italywithus.com/vatican-after-hours.php

Ann1

micarda: Do your remember the name of the private guide?

Fashionista

Just get there early. I went last April with no pre booking and just walked in with no queue.

By the time we came out St Peters queue was around the block so did not bother, but guess the same principal applies to that side as well.

I was a little underwhelmed by the Sistine Chapel and was more impressed by other exhibits.

Gina817

Hmm...we went in June (on a Wed as the Pope's address was finishing up) and experienced no wait. I'm wondering when you'd have to wait 6 hours. I am not saying there is never a wait...just curious.

Alec

'By the time we came out St Peters queue was around the block so did not bother, but guess the same principal applies to that side as well.'

You could have taken the exit (signed groups only) from the side of the entrance to the Sistine Chapel, which leads directly to St Peter's, bypassing the line.

catherinehaas

When we went the first time in 2007, we got tickets ahead of time. The wait was at least 6 hrs. We bypassed it. In 2009 when we went back, we got tickets through the Vatican's website. No waiting in line this time either. I do recommend having a tour guide. We went through the first time without one and this caused us to have to go back a second time. August I feel is going to be a busy month for tourists and I would get tickets ahead of time.

alanRow

Prebook your tickets and walk in at your stated time. That's all there is to it. No need to stand in a queue with the hoi polloi

lmfisher

I went at the end of June in 07 and went at lunch time, walk straight in no lines at all. FYI the Chapel is at the very end of the Vatican Museum.

jabez

Go after 1pm and the wait is short. The audio tour is not bad also.
Both Scavi tours are good,but the one to Peter's bones is better.

basingstoke2

Become Pope and die?