is it possible to get vatican reservations ahead of time to avoid the lines?

No one can get reservations!

Kari--The Vatican does not make reservations or sell tickets in advance. Your best bet is to arive 45 mins to an hour before opening and you will be near the head of the line. The other advantage to this is that you can get through the museums without quite so much of a crowd.<BR><BR>If you,are interested in the Scavi Tour, it is only available by reservation. This is the underground tour of the excavations below the Basilica of St. Peter including the grave believed to be that of Peter. <BR><BR>For a lot more info, check out www.twenj.net

Dear Kari,<BR>I know for sure that the authorized guides of Rome avoid the lines. I had some days ago a Vatican Tour with www.romaculta.com, and it were necessary a few minutes to enter the museums. Moreover the guide (Massimiliano) was excellent and friendly.

You don't have to be an authorised guide to avoid the lines also scala reale, through eternity etc, etc get you straight in. Try to avoid Italian official guides they give terrible tours. e.g Dissa wassa bilta inna 13th century, now we go! They also have very little enthusiasm.

As Barb said, get there early - we arrived around 8:15 AM & were back 200 - 300 people - but tour groups to jump to the front. We beelined for Sistine (as many do) - there are signs well-posted, but it will still take 1/2 hour to get there. Then we doubled back, for Raphael rooms $ Egyptian etc.<BR><BR>After 2 - 3 hours, we went to St Peter's. Closed. The pope was giving an outdoor audience! A speck on the stage, but we saw him. They re-opened at 13:00 & we saw dome, crypt & inside. Twenty minute line-up for dome.<BR><BR>Enjoy

Even the tours we contacted said they wait in line, but don't start until 10 so lines are less by then.