There have been a lot of posts lately regarding how to get a Vatican Museums tour booked directly with the Vatican. I recently was one of those posters, and was able to successfully get a Museums tour. It was well worth the effort to navigate the Vatican website, fax the request, then anxiously await the last-minute confirmation from the Vatican which arrived just in time.

To make it easier for anyone wanting the information, below is a cut-and-paste from the Vatican's website, regarding Museums tours, with the fax number at the bottom.
(They have recently added a suggestion to include a Rome contact number, which is a good idea on the Vatican's part, and maybe indicates an awareness of the difficulty in using the fax system.)

"Following tours are available:
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Vatican Gardens
- Vatican Gardens and Sistine Chapel (just for already formed groups with at least a minimum of 20 participants)

GUIDED TOURS FOR INDIVIDUALS:
VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL (2 hours)

The tour itinerary takes visitors through the most significant cultural and religious areas within the Vatican Museums: the Pio Clementino (classical antiquity), the Geographical Maps and Tapestries Galleries (Renaissance art), the Raphael’s Rooms and The Sistine Chapel.

March through October: from Monday through Friday at: 10.30am - 12.00am - 2.00pm; on Saturday at: 10.30am and 11.15am (in Italian only)

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.

VATICAN GARDENS (2 hours)
The guided tour of the Vatican Gardens is also a glimpse of the Vatican City State, the smallest independent state in the world: Journey through natural settings, historic monuments and works of art that span its 2000 year history.
From March through October: at 10.00 am on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

From November through February: only on Saturday at 10.00 a.m.

Rates: full fare € 13.50; reduced € 9.50
The above rates include guided tour service and headset.


GUIDED TOURS FOR GROUPS

VATICAN MUSEUMS AND SISTINE CHAPEL (about 2 hours)

Every weekday with advance reservation

Rates: full fare € 21.50; reduced € 17.50

The above rates include admission to the Museums, guided tour service and headset.

VATICAN GARDENS AND SISTINE CHAPEL (3 hours)

Everyday except on Wednesdays and Sundays, with advance reservation

Rates: full fare € 25.50; reduced € 17.50

The above rates include the admission to the Museums, guided tour service and headset.

VATICAN GARDENS (2 hours)

Everyday except on Wednesdays and Sundays, with advance reservation

Rates: full fare € 13,50; reduced € 9.50

The above rates include guided tour service and headset.

HOW TO RESERVE (FOR INDIVIDUALS)

It is necessary to book in advance by fax.
For the reservation this office requires the names of all the participants to the tour. If we do not receive the list you may not join your requested booked tour. The list must be received at the moment of the reservation.
Bookings are valid only if you receive our confirmation fax.
The fax must be shown at the “Guided Tours” desk on the day of the visit. In case of no written reply from this office, the booking is considered not valid.
An advanced booking is needed from one month to one week prior to the date of the visit. The cancellation is accepted, up to 12 hours before the visit.
While asking for the reservation, we appreciate, if possible, a contact number or address in Rome (or Italy).

HOW TO RESERVE (FOR GROUPS)

It is necessary to book in advance by fax.
For the reservation this office requires the names of all the participants to the tour. If we do not receive the list you may not join your requested booked tour. The list must be sent at least 3 days before the booked visit.
Bookings are valid only if you receive our confirmation fax.
The fax must be shown at the “Guided Tours” desk on the day of the visit. In case of no written reply from this office, the booking is considered not valid.
An advanced booking is needed from two months to two weeks prior to the date of the visit. The cancellation is accepted without charges up to 48 hours.
While asking for the reservation, we appreciate, if possible, a contact number or address in Rome (or Italy).
In the event the confirmed group does not appear, the Museums nevertheless must require the payment for the reserved guide’s fee of € 80.

USEFUL INFORMATION
Tickets have to be purchased the same day of the guided tour.
Meeting point and departure is from the Guided Tours desk inside the Museums.
To avoid any queue, all visitors, individuals or groups, with reserved guided tour through this Office, are entitled to enter through the main gate of the Museums on Viale Vaticano. Facing the Vatican Museums entrance door, the line on the right is specifically for reserved guided Vatican tours.

We suggest to arrive at least 15 minutes before your appointment.

Reduced rates for pilgrimages and school groups: on the day of the visit a letter of the parish signed by the local Diocese or from the school signed by the Principal must be presented at the Guided Tours desk.

All the reservations, dates and departures times may be changed or cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances related to activities of the Holy Father.

Cancelled guided tours may be rescheduled.

Visitors not attired properly will be refused admittance.

OFFICE FOR GUIDED TOURS
Fax reservation : 06 6988 5100

If I have understood it well..you don't have to be in the line for tickets with a guided tour booked ? Only for that , it deserves the booking !!!

Kenderina, you are exactly right. I am not sure, but I think the Vatican's tour is the only one that gives you a reserved entrance time. So, yes, that's why it's worth all the trouble to get one.
We were so happy to be walking to the head of the line at our appointed time at the Vatican Museums, since the line was about two blocks long, and about four people abreast. It saved us literally hours standing in the sun.

I did the line some years ago and I really don't want to repeat if I happen to be in Rome again, I was tired before seeing anything So it's good news to know a way to avoid it !!!

I just faxed my request a few minutes before I decided to check the board. I wasn't able to give them my Rome contact nos.

Maureen, did they fax the reply back to you overseas? Was the reply prompt? I'm afraid I'm reserving quite late right now.

I don't understand the issue of allowing cancellations up to 12hrs before the scheduled reservation. Are we supposed to send payment details in the fax note?

And do you specify the time that you want or do they give you whatever is available?

Zizz, I faxed a couple of times to the Vatican, before I realized that they never confirm receipt of your request.
I received my tour time and confirmation on Saturday at 5 a.m., here at home. My tour was for the following Monday, so they cut it very close.
In my fax requesting a tour, I stated how many people, their names, what date and time we preferred. I was able to get it all as I'd requested. Probably sheer luck, plus I'd requested over 3 weeks in advance.
You do not pay until you arrive, and I believe they only take cash. I guess the cancellation policy is just so they can better manage their system.
Be sure to bring IDs and your faxed reservation from the Vatican.

Can you tell me what Vatican website you are referring to? I get one site that links to many more. I do see the fax number you gave but am curious what website you got the info from. Thanks!

The website for the Vatican is : www.vatican.va

You can then choose your language and go to "Vatican Museums" to see the information Maureen posted here.

Thank you so much!!

TTT

In March, we went on the Vatican Museums Tour offered through the Vatican. We did not have to wait in line, and the guide was excellent. We were given headphones so we could hear the guide clearly.

Woody

We did a Vatican tour that we arranged when we got thru the line. Maybe we got the last resort guy because we didn't reserve--but--our experience was this:

He was difficult to understand. We couldn't hear him alot of the time because the crowds in there are so dense and noisy. He had a thick accent. He rushed us along so to finish up in the alloted 2 hours (or 3 - can't remember). We had no time to linger and look at things. One time we did and he got very annoyed and reprimanded us! Next time I would difintely go on my own and just rent the audio tour then I could wander at my leisure. I think they should take reservations and limit the number of people they allow in at one time. The whole experience felt like a cattle auction!

bking

The official Vatican tour guides use headsets to communicate with their groups, so there's no difficulty in hearing them.
>-

Could you please let me know if the Vatican Museums tour also offers the tour in English (in some of the descriptions it said "Italian only&quot? If so, should we indicate language preference in the fax?
Thanks,
Anne

The tour we reserved directly with the Vatican for May 2006 was in English. It's probably a good idea to write your request for English on the fax.
Good luck. Be patient. Don't expect to hear back from the Vatican until a few days before your requested tour date. Be sure to send your hotel's fax number if you'll be traveling at that time.
>-

Thank you so much, Maureen!
Anne

Can anyone please explain what they mean by "Full Fare" and "Reduced" when listing the prices for the various tours?

This thread is a bit of old so some of the info is out of date. As of Jan 2008, the Vatican extended their hours and changed the guidelines for tours and early entrance. Reduced fares are usually for EU residents of certain age, EU student groups or Catholic pilgrimages.

I'm thankful I saw this thread, even if old. Just went on the web site www.vatican.va - you can find the instructions under Vatican museums -> Info museums -> visitors services -> guided tours. It's only a shame you cannot apply online but have to send a fax. You can also call for a wheel chair.