Does anyone have any suggestions about how to wait less for entry into the Vatican Museums? I heard it can take hours...

I've always arrived at lunchtime & walked straight in.

I think caroline is right..but don't forget it is italian lunchtime

In Nov., that didn't work for us because the line was cut off at about noon-12:30pm. Everyone who had waited for a long time, but were behind the 2 guards that cut the line, were out of luck! The doors closed at 1pm, I think it was.

Somewhere on here, I saw travel company links for "group" admission. Pay online fee, get email conf, take conf & meet at certain place at certain time, walk in as group before the "line" folks are allowed in. I'm going to post a question about what company to use.

Julie

Search this forum for information on reserving a tour of the Vatican Museums directly with the Vatican. It is a fax process, and is relatively inexpensive. It worked for us, and we were able to bypass a very long line and go in at our apppointed time easily.

From the Museums tour, you will end in the Sistene Chapel and you can exit that back door to go directly to St. Peter's, without going outside and getting in line again. I think the Chapel's back exit door closes at 4:30 p.m. most days.
>-

Go offseason

This past July I arrived at lunchtime with a tour group. We waited in line for security for 45min. Didn't have to wait for tickets once inside, but definitely didn't walk straight in.

I have gone several times after 2pm-3pm and walked right in most of the tours are in morning and right after lunch it does close at 5 so you time is shorter

If I get the audio tour, can I still get out the exit from the Sistine Chapel?

So the Museum doesn't close for lunch... I will try faxing them for the Vatican tour, but if I can't get it or find another tour, then I'll probably go during lunchtime. Thanks!!

[Past post]
This is a tough visit with the later Museum general public opening at 1000.

  The two things you *definitely* want to avoid is the very long entrance/ticket queue and the mob scene inside the Sistine Chapel.  
  The Museum used to open at 0845 but last Jan '07 they moved it to 1000.

 Tour companies can now enter between 0800-1000 which gives them a jump on the general public opening.

 But there is a new tour company that will sell you *just* an early entrance ticket for €23.5 with no tour.
So once inside the Museums you are on your own. www.rome-museum.com/vatican2ind.php
  The Vatican charges €13 for a museum ticket plus a €2 reservation fee and this company charges €8.5, so it's €10.5 over cost.
 There will be a tour group queue but with a 0815 reservation you can get quite a jump over the 1000 queue.

 If I was doing it and wanted to spend alot of time in the museums; I would get a 0815 ticket, rent an audioguide inside and beeline straight to the Sistine Chapel.

  Now I'm *assuming* you can rent an audioguide before the general public 1000 opening time but I don't know for sure.   If not I would have 2 choices;

  1. Go to the Sistine Chapel 1st and then return to the audioguide booth just before the 1000 general public opening.

2. Hang-out in that section of the Museums visiting those rooms 1st and later return and rent the audioguide before 1000 and then beeline straight to the Sistine Chapel ahead of the 1000 herd.
[Note; I have read from 2 other posters that they were pretty sure they opened the ticket entrance at ~0930? If so? I'm *assuming* that perhaps when the last tour group enters they open early for the general public?]

Now after visiting the Sistine Chapel exit back to the Museums, using the door in the left-rear wall of the Chapel.

 Another option if you don't have an audioguide or have checked anything at the coat & bag check and you don't want to return to the Museums is too use the exit door in the far right corner marked 'Tour Groups Only' (honestly no one cares if you take this exit.
 This will put you outside and alongside St. Peter's Basilica. And you can go right into the Basilica without passing thru the 'Security Check' (metal detector & bag x-ray).
  This 'Security Check' often has a very long line that does move fast but it still could be a while.
  Also if you had planned on visiting the Basilica after the Museums this exit would save you a long walk around the Vatican Walls if you exited from the Museums.

  IMO You don't want to try and visit the Sistine Chapel during the peak times.
  The queue to get in can be long but what is worst is the shoulder-to-shoulder jam-packed mob scene from Hell inside the Chapel during peak times.
  IMO when it is mobbed like that it is impossible to enjoy the art.

 Now the other option to avoid the Vatican Musuems queue and the Sistine Chapel herd used to be to go later in the day.   But with the later 1000 opening time I don't know?

FWIW: 1 poster *claimed* that in July '07 they waited 2-2.5hr just in the queue for the Sistine Chapel and then when they got in after ~15mins they closed the Chapel 2hrs before the Museum closing hours?   If so? And this poster's timeline is correct? It would make a very tough afternoon visit in peak season!
     

 Another option is too book an official Vatican tour to avoid the entrance queue but I assume not the Chapel's herd? http://tinyurl.com/g2gyd *OR*
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In...zi_Visite.html

VATICAN MUSEUM HRS http://tinyurl.com/2o89wr *OR* http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In...fo_Orario.html  

The other queue you want to avoid in Rome is for the Colosseum and this will get you around that.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34606583

"IMO when it is mobbed like that it is impossible to enjoy the art" You are so right, ParadiseLost - after seeing what the Sistine Chapel was like last time, I wouldn't even bother going again. They should restrict the number allowed in at one time & search peoples for cameras before allowing entrance, IMO.

bkmk