I'm a bit confused and hoping someone can help. I am visiting Rome at the end of November and sent a booking request to the Vatican for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tour.

Today, I received an email stating that (quote) "The payment transaction for booking ID XXXXXXXXX has been completed. The attachment present in this e-mail is the booking voucher that has to be presented at the Vatican Museums." There is a Booking Voucher attached.

The thing is, I haven't paid them any money at all. I just sent an email request. The booking voucher does say that the tickets are purchased on the day of the tour, but what about the tour fees and pre-sale fees?

If anyone has done this and can explain the procedure to me, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

Did you request a guided tour? If so, print out the voucher and bring it with you. You should have a date and specific time on the voucher. You pay when you get there at the guided tours desk. My price was approx. 29 euros back in May. Hope this helps.

You need to have the voucher with you. When you come to the museum entrance, you will see a REALLY long line to the left. Do not get in this line. Instead, to the right of the doorway you will see a few guards hanging around, this is where you go. They will show you right in. The Vatican guided tours office is to your left, after you go through security. You pay at the office.

Thanks so much to you both. I did request the guided tour, but I guess the statement that my "payment transaction" had been completed was throwing me off. I was worried that I was supposed to have paid something, and that I'd have a problem when we got there.

I do have a specific date and time on my voucher, and a summary of charges. I will definitely print it out and take it along.

I really do appreciate the help in figuring out where to go and when/where to pay. I'm already pretty nervous about Rome, so every bit of information is so helpful.

Thanks again!

Also, make sure your booking voucher specifies how many people are in your party. When you requested a tour, you probably asked for X number of visitors, so make sure the voucher is correct in that number.

Thanks PeaceOut. That's a good point. I'd hate to have to decide which one of us has to wait outside (not me!)

I did check and it looks correct.

Thanks again!

Something that is really cool and often gets lost in the shuffle of crowds is the tapestry hall.

Look at the tapestries and focus on one as you walk by. The perspective will change as you walk.

Also, when you get to the Sistine Chapel, facing the back of the chapel, exit on the door to your right, if you want to go into St. Peters. You'll see a sign that says something like "tour groups only".

Thanks, Dave. I'm definitely adding these tips to my trip file.

To follow up on Dave's tip, schedule your visit to do the Museum's tour first, because you can avoid standing in line for St. Peter's that way.

At the end of the Museum tour you will be in the Sistene Chapel. The back door from the chapel leads you into an area with access to St. Peter's, without going outside to wait in line again.

I believe you need to exit the Sistene Chapel by 4:30 for this plan to work, or the door is locked. As Dave said, it's marked for tour groups only, or something like that.

Have fun. The Vatican is amazing. Be sure to look around outside, too, at all the statues at the top of the building, from inside the square.

Here's my trip report from Rome, in case you're interested in some restaurants:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34813272

We're actually doing the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel tour at 10:30, and then the Scavi tour at 3:30, so it sounds like good timing. I'm hoping we'll have time to grab a quick lunch in between.

PeaceOut, I'm going to read your report as soon as I get a few minutes. Thanks for the link. I haven't really even begun to research restaurants yet. We're not big foodies...our three daughters are traveling with us, and they could live off of the 3 P's (pizza, pasta, panini). We grown-ups like a little more variety

I've been having a hard time wrapping my head around the Vatican. It seems like there's so much to see, and all I hear is about all the crowds and long lines. We're doing everything we can to avoid that, for sure.

Thanks again for the input. I've never written a trip report, but maybe this will be my first.

Your timing is actually very good.

Leave the Sistine through the door to the right. Go down into St. Peters. I'm not sure if the coffee shop on the roof is still offering a light lunch or not, others can help with that. If not, make some sandwiches, take the elevator up to the roof and have a great snack lunch. Drinks are available there.

When you leave the Basillica, as you exit, go to your right (facing the square). The guards for the Scavi tour entry are just to the right side of the steps.

Be sure to bring your paperwork and enjoy.

dave

There's a cafeteria in the Vatican Museum, if you want to get lunch there before going to St. Peter's. Just ask your tour guide where the cafeteria is after your tour.

mindylt1, we are not 'foodies' either. The restaurants in my report are mid-priced. The nicest one for dinner is near the Vatican.