Hey everyone,
I just found a website where you can skip the lines at the Vatican. It looks like it is only offered on July 16th, August 31st and September 8th. i found it at vatican-tours.com. Could be other dates too, but these are the dates that i found when searching.
We booked for Monday, July 16th. It is a tour of the vatican gardens and the sistine chapel. Check it out if you'd like to skip th lines! The tour was guaranteed to us.

Couple of things:

1. I don't think you skip the lines. Someone mentioned in their review that they waited in line for 2 hours, but the tour guide kept them entertained

2. Where does it say you will tour the gardens? I believe you can only tour the Vatican gardens with an official of the Vatican.

Ouch, those prices aren't helping anyone out either. From what I've read on here, I can buy them from tour guides that approach the lines for much cheaper than that!

WOW - high prices there, I suggest you get there 45 minutes before it opens , buy a good guide book and save 40 euros a head

I think it is interesting that samiam190's "just found" the vatican-tours . com website, and then just "found" Fodors.

We almost booked an after hours, private tour of the Vatican - but then decided against it because the price just wasn't making sense, to us anyway.

We just arrived early, I got coffee for everyone from a cafe across and we were in after about 25 minutes.

A knowledgeable tour guide (definitely not the ones holding flags) makes all the difference, unless you are well versed yourself. We found Rome In Context incredibly good.

Ok, I really want to skip the lines, what is the best way to get a guide and not wait in line?

Debbie

hi, there are a couple of places here offering the chance to "skip the line" and get a tour, much cheaper than the site previuosly mentioned.

http://tinyurl.com/2srtqa

You will still have to stand in line. I was just there and was with a small tour.There are 2 lines, one for tours and one for individuals. The line for tours was much faster and they let the tours in before the individuals, but "Skipping the lines" totally is just not true.

BTW I think most of the tour companies say that, but what they really mean is your are not standing in the line for individuals which can be miles long. It was when we were there. The line for groups is definitely better. Our tour company said the same thing.

To reall skip the line:
Go to the official vatican website, find their fax # and fax reservation request for a guided tour of the vetican. You must list on your fax all the people that will be on the tour and the time you would prefer ( I think there are 3 choice - we got the 10:30 am )and a fax # to get a response. You should fax no less then 30 days before the date you want to go. Its a tour with a guide of the vetican and sistine chapel for 3 hours. Its a bit more costly but its worth it. We came there when the line was huge (about 3 hours ) and we went to the front with our reservation confirmation and were led right in to buy tix and assigned to a guide. The best line skipping ever.

I have a friend who used vatican-tours and was incredibly disappointed with the service provided. He foud it to be very expensive and not enjoyable at all. He also commneted tat the line-up was not really that long and so really wished that he and his large family had saved their euro and just waited a litte bit.