Should I take a guided tour of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel? Should I buy the advance ticket on the internet? Or should I just take a day and wait in the lines, etc. I'm 70 and traveling alone.

Or should I just take a day and wait in the line? Absolutely not. Queues can be horrendous

Should I buy the advance ticket on the internet? Absolutely. I don't think you need to book more than a few hours in advance. Play with the site and see what happens if you try booking for a slot, say, in three hours' time

Should I take a guided tour of the Vatican & Sistine Chapel? How can any of us possibly answer that? The Vatican Museums are, after the Hermitage, the world's biggest museum complex (and they've got far more artefacts on display than the Russians) Some people might feel reassured at letting someone else decide what they're going to see: me, I'd rather saw my finger off. Either way someone - you or a guide - is going to select out 99% of what's on display.

Why people can't get a copy of the Blue Guide and decide for themselves what to miss is beyond me. But it takes all sorts, and only you know what sort you are

Hi passportplus, it would be a good idea to book in advance. The lines can be horrendous and you'll get tired enough doing the slow shuffle through the museum and the Sistine Chapel as it is.

I've been through both twice, once with a tour guide, and once without. The advantages of the guide is that they may tell you interesting things you wouldn't otherwise know or learn. The disadvantages are if you want to stop and look at something longer than the guide gives you, you will feel rushed along.

The Vatican museum is one of those museums that for me, kind of end up making me feel sucked into a time lapse/warp because I lose all track of time and I'm amazed how long it takes to go through, even with a guide.

Both it and the Louvre in Paris create that sensation for me. I think it's the vastness of the place (a total warren of rooms in which I lose all sense of direction), and the hordes of people. Both tend to be a bit overwhelming for me.

Oh, and I don't know when you are going, so that could determine the lines.

The first time I went was in September and the crowds were awful. This was when I used a guide.

The second time I went in December, and I remember the happy circumstance of walking right up to an empty ticket booth and getting right in with no wait. But it was very crowded once inside. If I recall correctly, we arrived around 11:00 a.m at the entrance, so perhaps we missed the opening crowd.

Most hotels will make a reservation for a guided tour for you. They will come to your hotel and pick you up--very worthwhile in my opinion.

I agree with all the above posters.

Book all you can in advance.

The lines are looooooooooooooooong and tiresome , and the weather could be a little rain or wind.

When I was in Rome I had my guide book ahead for everything I could.
You want to save time and hassle!