We want to visit the Vatican Museums on 21 or 22 December. Do you think there will be long lines then? I am aware of the 2-hour audioguide tour that we can book for 22 Euros each to avoid the lines. I'm wondering if that's necessary right before Christmas, or should I do it anyway?

We went last Christmas -- I believe on Dec 21! We arrived about when it opened, and waited about 1/2 hour in line, which did move fairly quickly but there were a lot of people.

For the dates you are available, the museum closes at 1:45 and they will not let anyone through the door after 12:20. So if you're starving, grab something in the museum's cafeteria, but don't go out the door or you're not coming back in.

I think it's a real guide person that you must hire to avoid the lines, and it must be the official Vatican tourguide, which you have prepaid with reservation in hand. You go up to the guard at the entrance and show your paperwork to him. He will direct you.

My husband got the audioguide with earphones, and it was not 22 Euros nor did he get to avoid the line.

Although it's busy before Christmas that close to the holiday, it's even worse afterward. (We went right by the line as my uncle's hotel was across the street. All the way around Vatican City almost to the entrance of St. Peter's.)

For me, I would get up early and arrive before or at opening to wait in line. I don't like being told which paintings to look at. I usually find out ahead what are the gems not to miss. I like to look at my own pace.

Thanks, 5alive! I'll discuss your advice with my fellow travelers. I don't mind arriving early, but they're not all so good at that. A 30-minute wait isn't bad.

I was there late Dec 2004 and arrived around 10 or 11am. The line was extremely long but did move well. I would either arrive early or later in the day. I think you might miss the longer lines that way.

The audio guides are 6E.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In...i_audio01.html

how do I book a vacatican tour with a real tour guide? any recommendations?

Have you checked the Vatican website for tours?

This is a very helpful thread.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34818435

I e-mailed that thread to myself last night. It is helpful. My guidebook had the same info about the one I'm interested in to avoid the lines. I've pasted the info from the thread below.

From November through February: everyday but Sundays at 10.30a.m.
Rates: full fare € 21.50; reduced € 17.50
The above rates include admission to the Museums, guided tour service and headset.

Judybarnes-Thanks for posting this question. We were wondering the same thing (but we will be there for New Years.) I did get the info about faxing from the Vatican website, but have been having trouble. Does anyone know how to dial out the correct numbers? There must be a country code or something that comes before the vatican fax #, because I can't send the fax. I know it's a seperate country from Italy, so it probably doesn't use Italy's country code right? Any help anyone? Are you out there MaureenB?

Maureen, will you be staying at a hotel in Rome? If so, you could e-mail them for help.

The fax # in my guidebook is 06-69885100

I was at the Vatican Museums last month, so I can't speak to the lines in Dec., but we did use the Vatican-sponsored tour mentioned here, and definitely thought it was worthwhile and time-saving. We were able to go past the long line to the entrance and go right in by showing our confirmation letter to the guard. The tour ran a little over 2 hrs., and our guide was informative and entertaining. It felt a little rushed ... she definitely whisked us past a lot, but showed us many of the highlights and gave interesting stories & background about them. I'm sure we would have spent twice that amount of time seeing the same highlights if we were wandering and trying to find and read about them in the guidebook. At the end of the tour, we got to spend as much time as we wanted in the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's.

I was prepared to request the tour reservation by faxing as directed by the Vatican website, but ended up contacting a cardinal's office (a family connection), and they made the arrangements for the museum tour and for the Wed. papal audience for us. If you're Catholic, you may be able to get help from your parish's office.

I believe the correct way to dial the fax # is: 011 39 06 698 85061.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

Oops. The correct fax # s/b: 011 39 06 698 84019.

kcitalia 10- Thank you! Your dial out number for the fax worked like a charm... now the waiting game begins...

Thanks. I'll do it too. I'd appreciates speeding through, as my son can take forever in museums.

Glad I could help. Good luck with the reservations and enjoy your trip!

KC