I think I read that the Vatican has it's own tours. Does anyone know how much they are? And where they are held? There aren't any free ones I wouldn't think?

Secondly, are the Vatican Museums really closed on Sundays?

Thanks much!
Patricia

The Vatican museums are closed Sundays except for the last Sunday of the month and on that Sunday it is free admission. You can get all the opening/closing/holiday times on the Vaticans website. www.vatican.va

Thanks Ky! I'll check it out. Does anyone know about the guided tours? I'm going to go check out the website.
Thanks much!
Patricia

The Vatican website has a number to contact for a tour.

Anyone know how much it would run? (I'm looking for guided tour of main parts (museum and Sistine Chapel). Thanks Ky! I didn't know I could call...but before doing so am wondering a general figure before even considering it... if anyone has done this before?

Thanks so much in advance!
Patricia

We used a great company called Vatican Tours & Beyond when we toured. They were so good on that tour we used them for a city tour. They have a web site but I don't know how much the direct cost is because we booked it through InItaly.com and I'm sure part of the cost went to them.

Another good tour company is Enjoy Rome at enjoyrome.com. We took their Night tour in June and had an excellent tour guide - an American art history major (can't recall her name, unfortunately). She also leads Enjoy Rome's Vatican tour, offerred several days a week at noon. If we hadn't already visited the Vatican by then (we used the museum's audio guides, which were also good), I definitely would have taken that tour too.

You can book tours in advance via e-mail, and then just pay cash at the start point. I think they will also take credit cards at their office, or over the phone.

I do appreciate everyone's input, but I'm wondering how much the Vatican's tour would be (really the cheapest tour I can get)that would be a pretty good tour. I know it's kind of silly, but I'm a student and can't afford much for an extravagant tour.

Anyone booked directly through the Vatican? Would really appreciate input.

thanks!
Patricia

You may be better off just renting the audio guide for 5.50E. On my last trip to Italy it seemed most tours were using radio sets and headphones. It was very difficult to hear and there were many dead spots in the museum. The guide would be talking and the headset would get interference and start buzzing. If you do book a tour ask if they use radio sets.

The Enjoy Rome tour guide we had was great - an American (possibly the same Art History major that librarygirl used). Her name was Christine I think.
She was very knowledgeable and made the tour interesting. We met near the Ottaviano metro stop and then walked as a group to the Vatican.

Caution - don't go on a Saturday if possible. Our tour was fine but everything was packed! In fact, if we didn't have a tour guide who knew exactly how to forge our way through the crowds, we would have missed alot. Cost for the tour guide was 57 euro (2 adults over 26 and 1 under 26 - can't remember how that breaks down individually) and then the Vatican charges an entrance feel, which totaled 32 euro (again more for the two older adults - students get a discount but must have your student ID).

Besides the crowds, the tour was great and covered both Museo Vaticani (with the Sistine Chapel) and St. Peter's Basilica. Our tour started at 9:30 AM and we didn't finish up until close to 2:00 PM. We finished inside St. Peter's so you could wander at will after the tour ended.

If you're not too tire after touring Vatican City, you might walk on over to Castel Sant' Angelo - very interesting with great views of St. Peter's, etc.

Ken