For those who have visited the Vatican museums, how long did it take you to go through them? What did you like the best and like the least? Any tips you suggest? Thanks.

Hi Matt,<BR>Spent pretty much an entire morning there. Highlights were the Map Room and the Sistine Chapel. Can't say there was anything I didn't like or found boring, to be honest. I had a guide from the American Express office & was really glad I did; made a world of difference to have someone explain things & answer questions.<BR><BR>Buon Viaggio,<BR>BC

I think that is a personal question. I spent just the morning going through the Egyptian relics. It was my first time seeing a mummy. <BR><BR>Could easily spend a day there.. I remember we had to rush in the end.

We went to the Vatican recently. We were there 6 hours with a guide from Scala Reale. I really enjoyed the tour- focused entirely on art history. Get your reservations ahead of time. The line for tickets was extremely long 4 to 5 hours. Because of the guide we walked right in. Good Luck!

We spent about 4-5 hours in the Museums, but the time depends upon what interests you. The Sistine Chapel was very crowded and kind of a let down...it's not illuminated(lighting might fade the restoration) and better looked at in books. The Map Room is great and the collections of furniture throughout are true highlights. On my next trip I will definitely look at the Borgia apartments, I felt bad missing that.

Having already been there before, I decided to focus only what I really wanted to see, not what I felt like I should. I also have a limited attention span in museums and start to tune out after a while. <BR><BR>On my last trip I spent about 3 hours and went to the Pinacoteca (religious art painting gallery) where I had the almost to myself, including a beautiful and moving Raphael assumption of the virgin. Then I went to the Raphael stanze which were packed, and one of the rooms was covered by scaffolding. Definitely go there if you haven't seen them before but I wouldn't say the experience was exactly pleasant. In getting to the Raphael rooms I breezed through the map rooms. I got the point after a few minutes so decided not to linger although I understand why others find them very interesting. Then I went to the Sistine Chapel where I allocated a good 45 minutes to really look at the ceiling. Of course, it was packed in there too but I had enough time to wait for a good seat and sit and enjoy the room without being on my feet (which is not possible in the Raphael stanze). <BR><BR>I bought the guide of the Vatican Museums which is sold there and found it quite good. The eyewitness books have a good guide to use before you go to help you chose what you want to see but it isn't very useful once you are there. <BR><BR>Since you have to stand in line for a while to wait to get in, I'd either do a cursory overview and try to see almost everything quickly (especially if this is your first trip). Or I'd pick a few things you want to see and spend time on those. You will be too tired to try and see everything in detail. I also recommend the antique scultpure collection.

Having already been there before, I decided to focus only what I really wanted to see, not what I felt like I should. I also have a limited attention span in museums and start to tune out after a while. <BR><BR>On my last trip I spent about 3 hours and went to the Pinacoteca (religious art painting gallery) where I had the almost to myself, including a beautiful and moving Raphael assumption of the virgin. Then I went to the Raphael stanze which were packed, and one of the rooms was covered by scaffolding. Definitely go there if you haven't seen them before but I wouldn't say the experience was exactly pleasant. In getting to the Raphael rooms I breezed through the map rooms. I got the point after a few minutes so decided not to linger although I understand why others find them very interesting. Then I went to the Sistine Chapel where I allocated a good 45 minutes to really look at the ceiling. Of course, it was packed in there too but I had enough time to wait for a good seat and sit and enjoy the room without being on my feet (which is not possible in the Raphael stanze). <BR><BR>I bought the guide of the Vatican Museums which is sold there and found it quite good. The eyewitness books have a good guide to use before you go to help you chose what you want to see but it isn't very useful once you are there. <BR><BR>Since you have to stand in line for a while to wait to get in, I'd either do a cursory overview and try to see almost everything quickly (especially if this is your first trip). Or I'd pick a few things you want to see and spend time on those. You will be too tired to try and see everything in detail. I also recommend the antique sculpture collection.

Arrive very early.<BR>Push past all the tour groups as fast as you can to get past the crowds. The Sistine Chapel and the Raphael rooms are near the end so push onto them before they get really crowded. Then work your way back. <BR>If you want to know more about something linger around the omnipresent tour guides with umbrellas raised lecturing to their flocks.<BR>I confess I have a VERY cynical attitude.<BR>Sculptures are very good. Tapestries are amazing. It all becomes a blurrr fairly quickly.<BR><BR>Doug