oscar2

Dear Fodorites:
We are three adults who will be traveling to Italy in Oct. of this year and have set our own itinerary. A tour company helping us with the trip connections will purchase tickets for us for pick up in Rome.
The Vatican web site offers tickets for the Vatican Museum and Sistene Chapel at a base price E14,00 but doesn't include St. Peter's Bascilica, a MUST . There are also tickets for a group guided tour (3 hrs duration) at E35,00 which includes all- the Museum, Sistene Chapel and St. Peter's Bascilica. What has been your experience with these tours?
As we expect to spend the entire day in the Vatican. Are there eating facilities there, or do visitors leave for lunch and return using the same entry tickets? We could certainly use your valued assistance on all of this!
oscar2

Luhimari

Oscar2: There is no entrance fee for visiting St. Peter's Basilica. From the Sistine Chapel you can access the Basilica without having to pass through security again.
We have taken the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour a couple of times. The guides have been excellent.
As for eating, what we have done previously is that before entering the Sistine Chapel (which you do without the guide), we walk back to the Museum's cafeteria and have a light lunch there. We then proceed to the Sistine Chapel and from there to St. Peter's.

Alec

Timed tickets @ 14 euro for the Vatican Museums are well worth while, as you skip the usually very long line. And October is a peak tourist season for Rome.
St Peter's Basilica is free to enter and it's best explored on your own, with a good guide book. Be sure to visit the Grotto (with papal tombs) and climb the dome for a superb view (extra charge).
Ther is a cafetetia in the museums, which is said to be pretty decent (haven't eaten there myself). No re-entry allowed into the museum, and AFAIK nowhere inside where you can eat your picnic. So plan your lunch requirement in advance, i.e. get a morning museum ticket and eat outside, stay on and use the cafeteria or book an afternoon ticket.

izzy102954

Try Presto Tours (Internet)Ryan did a super job.You will enjoy your visit tremendously. Unforgetable. Going again this November,to Rome. Happy Travels.

kybourbon

You can book your own tickets directly with the Vatican. The tour offered by the Vatican that includes St. Peter's is new. In the past, they have only offered tours of either the museums (which includes the Sistine Chapel - it's in the museum) or the museums and gardens. If you want to spend more time in the museum, you can book the museum tour and just stay in the museum when it's finished. You can later visit St. Peter's at your convenience. I think if you book the new tour that includes St. Peter's, you will only get two hours in the museum while touring (no re-entry allowed). There is a nice cafeteria in the museum. I would book a morning tour, eat lunch in the museum and see anything else in the museums that interests you and then go over to St. Peter's later in the afternoon (or vice versa). If you want to climb the cupola, it's an extra fee also.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html

oscar2

Dear Luhimari,Alec, Izzy & Kybourbon:
Thank you SO MUCH for your good information. Going to the Museum first, then to lunch, Sistene Chapel and St. Peter's Bascilica makes sense. Guess you know about the Vatican necropolis tour. A separate application to the Vatican's Excavations Office appears to be needed here.
Not every application is accepted, but we will try. Let you know how that went we return!
Thanks again-
oscar2

Alec

You have to stay in the Museums if you want to see the Sistine Chapel after lunch (in the cafeteria). After the chapel visit, take the exit (marked groups only, but anyone can use) to exit the museums and enter St Peter's direct, bypassing the queue and the security check and about a mile walk! If you have hired the audioguide, you have to return it first to retrieve your ID, or if you have checked anything in the cloakroom, this option isn't open to you.