Travelling in July, arriving to Rome from Florence on a Friday morning. There is an after hours 7pm tour available at the Vatican. I like the idea of avoiding the crowds.

1. Has anyone gone on the after hours tour? Any disadvantage of going in the evening with lighting?

2. I have 2 kids that could qualify for reduced rate but I want to book tickets online. The website says to get a reduced rate, I would have to purchase tickets at the counter on the day of the tour. If I purchase online for the adults, does that mean I would lose benefit of skipping lines? Is there a seperate line if its just for kids' tickets when the adults have pre-booked? Wondering if it is just worth paying the full adult fare (16E extra).

3. Reduced rate is for students with student ID. Daughter's ID does not have DOB. Son has no ID. Passport alone enough?

Thanks for your help!

tt

1. << Any disadvantage of going in the evening with lighting? >>

I don't remember any windows although there could be some and I didn't notice. I believe the galleries are enclosed. Lighting won't be an issue.

2. << The website says to get a reduced rate, I would have to purchase tickets at the counter on the day of the tour >>

I started the booking process but ended before entering my credit card information and never saw a mention of what you posted. Please give a link to where the site says that reduced tickets are only valid at the Vatican on day of tour. They are valid with on line booking.

3. For reduced rate tickets it clearly states that you have to have a valid student ID and be no more than 26 years old. You should bring the passports to prove age, if asked for proof.

During the time of year that the Vatican opens on Friday nights, it will still be light out.

>>>3. Reduced rate is for students with student ID. Daughter's ID does not have DOB. Son has no ID. Passport alone enough?<<<

For most sites in Italy the reduced rate is for EU students. Most museums are state museums and they have agreements with other EU countries. The Vatican may be different, but states if you don't have a valid ID, you have to pay full price and any advance purchased reduced ticket will not be refunded. Their wording makes it sound like ages 6-18 need valid ID and ages 18-26 need the ISIC card.

>>>I would have to purchase tickets at the counter on the day of the tour. If I purchase online for the adults, does that mean I would lose benefit of skipping lines? <<<

This is a bad idea. If you purchase two adult tours and the tours are sold out on the day of when you attempt to buy for your kids then you won't get to tour. Tours are limited in numbers and can and do sell out.

http://www.isic.org/

Regarding question #1, I was wondering about the natural light but also if they would be turning lights out in many rooms since it is after closing time giving it a different feel.

You wouldn't be able to see the art work if the lights were turned off and then there would be no point in going. Not all galleries are open all the time but the doors would be closed if the galleries are not open to the public. Those galleries that are accessible will have lights. The Vatican web site lists the galleries that are open on Friday evening.

It's not after closing time. Just think of this museum as any other museum that is open late one night a week. Even my local small museum has one late night per week.

>>>1. Has anyone gone on the after hours tour?<<<

It's not an after hours tour. It's a regular hours tour. The museum has opened on Friday nights in summer for a couple of years now. It will probably be packed just like during the day. The Friday night opening has become quite popular and has been extended. It used to only be end of summer (part of Aug) and early Sept. It's open until 11pm.

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In..._Evento14.html

There are some private after hours tours when no one else is in the museum. They cost about 250€ per person.

The last few years a few other sites have been open a night a week in the summer such as the Colosseum and Capitoline.