Could someone please let me know if tour groups or guides have to wait in line to get into the Vatican museum-or do they as a group go right to the front and in. Also when one goes to the museum do you get right in then walk upstairs to buy your ticket and go into the museum. Wher is the line early in the morning outside or inside at the ticket window. We are in Rome for only 2 days early June and do not want to spend a good deal of time waiting in line. Any info or help greatly appreciated. Thanks, Paul

Hi Paul. Can't help you out about tour groups or guides, as we just went by ourselves. We went very early on a Wednesday morning (on April 4th) and waited in line to get in the doors for only a few minutes. Then yes, as you surmised, once we got through the main doors, we walked right upstairs to buy our tickets and then went into the museum. There was only a very short line at the ticket windows. <BR> <BR>Note: if you want a free map of the museums, get it at an information booth on the main floor *before* you head upstairs to buy your tickets. <BR> <BR>

Hi Paul, <BR>Believe it or not, I think that the Vatican is online. Seriously. I vaguely remember that it is awfully hard to read about it(it's in Italian) but you should see if you can find some websites that talk about getting tour groups in. Also, ask your hotel if they can find out for you. Have a great time. <BR>Susan

Line outside, no wait once in. <BR> <BR>Tours queue in separate line now, but wait is about the same, so no advantage to go with a tour group as far as I've noticed. <BR> <BR>Best strategy normally is to get there about 30-45 minutes before opening ... say 0800. There are always reports of "we saw no line at xx00" ... but those are statistical anomalies. The odds are in your favor early in the morning. You're fighting the odds at other times. <BR> <BR>The last Sunday (free) is a bad time to go. There some evidence that Monday mornings may be a bit worse than other days. <BR> <BR>twenj

Hi Paul, when we went to the Vatican Museum, in the afternoon. we got in line, and out of nowhere a very distinguished looking gentleman approached me and offered his services as a guide. I was with my husband,daughter, and her boyfriend and we figured, why not, hes got to know more then we do. He bought our tickets, whisked us thru the line into a wood panelled elevator with benches, everyone from the ticket guys to the elevator guy seemed to know him. He gave us 2 hours of the most informative info we could of asked for. He said he was a retired antiquities professor who came up there a few times a week to make some extra cash. Whatever he was he made the afternoon wonderful. His name is Franco and if he approaches you, go with him, you won't be sorry! We paid him for the tickets and gave him 20usd each, and he was probably worth more.

If nothing has changed since we last visited, the only way to get in bypassing the lines was to get a private credentiated guide, as mentioned by Mary. Organized tours, as explained by Ed, had also to wait on line (only difference being that it was the same line). A private guide with a SMALL group (we were 4) just used to walk directly to te ticket booth. <BR> <BR>Paulo