Nnlsbin

Hi,

I have done a search of the forums, and I know similar questions have been asked but nothing that answers my question that I could find.

I was just wondering what time people would recommend booking for Vatican museum tickets after a 9am scavi tour.From what I can gather the tour goes for about an hour and a half, and finishes at St Peters, which is about a 20 minute walk from the vatican museum entrance?

So I had been thinking of booking for about 12, so I have time to grab something to eat as well? Do you think this is realistic? Or should I book for a bit later in the day?

Thanks

Alec

That's what I did. Spent about an hour in St Peter's after the tour, and had enough time to get a takeout pizza and eat on the hoof before walking straight into the museums.

nytraveler

As well as St Peter's itself you may well want to climb to the Dome and also see the Treasury. I would do that, get an early (12-12:30 or so lunch and then head to the museums.

Nnlsbin

Thanks for the replies, will book in for museums at 12

annhig

once you have done the scale tour, I suggest doing the Dome straight away - the queues can get quite long later in the morning.

you can then spend some time in St Peter's, or leave that until after you have been round the museums - as has been posted here many times before, there is a door at the back of the Sistine chapel [marked "groups exit] which you can use to get down the back stairs of the museums which deposit you at the front of ST Peter's without having to walk all the way back round the Vatican walls and going through security again.

you can only do this if you have not hired an audio guide, as you need to go back to the museum entrance to return it.

annhig

Scavi tour - that darned auto correct strikes again.

Nnlsbin

Thanks annhig, I was thinking of doing the Dome before my scavi tour.

As from what I have read online St Peters opens at 7 and the Dome at 8, so I was thinking of getting there early, having a look around and then doing the Scavi tour.

Having a bit of a break for lunch and then doing the vatican museum and Sistine Chapel at 12.

Nnlsbin

Also probably something really easy to find, but I am having great difficulties.

Does anyone have an app recommendation that shows the art within the vatican museums so I can kinda plan my way through a bit better.

All the maps I have found so far are in italian!

annhig

if the Dome opens at 8 am, then it's a possibility, but you need to be at the Scavi offices at least 10 mins before your tour is due to start.

add to that the time needed to get round from one side of St Peter's to the other, you are really limiting your time to get up to the top of the Dome, look round, and then get down again, to 45 mins max.

I'm not saying that it can't be done, but you're cutting it fine.

it would be a shame to rush - once you get up to the base of the Dome [walking or by the lift] you walk round inside its base right tup next to the mosaics that can only be seen from afar otherwise. Then you make your way up inside the dome itself - all that takes about 15-20 mins. then you will want time up at the top, and possibly for a look round the roof when you get back to roof level; it's very interesting as you can see all the old roofing tiles, the backs of the statues, etc. there are loos and a cafe on the roof too!

i think that you cold do it, but you'd have to keep an eye on the clock.

Nnlsbin

Thanks annhig, I might try to get to St Peters earlyish, have a look around and then do scavi tour.

After the scavi tour, climb the dome, and then head to the vatican museums, with a pre booking for 1230 to give me enough time to also get something to eat.