Hi there - I have another question that I'm hoping you all might be able to help me with! My husband and I are traveling to Rome in a few weeks with our teens and are planning to do a tour of the Vatican. We're booked for an Early Morning Vatican Tour through LivTours - looks like it will last 3.5 hours, starting at 7:30a. What would you recommend we see at the Vatican outside of what's included in this tour? This is what the tour includes:

• Pinecone courtyard
• Octagonal Courtyard & Belvedere Palace
• Muses Room & Belvedere Torso
• Lacoon statue
• Apollo Belevedere statue
• Gallery of Candelabra
• Gallery of Maps
• Gallery of Tapestries
• Raphael Rooms
• School of Athens painting
• Sistine Chapel
• Michelangelo's ceiling
• St Peter's Basilica
• Bernini's bronze alter canopy
• St Peter's square

THANK YOU!

We've done that same tour with Liv Italy. It covers pretty much everything.
-Don't leave St Peter's Basilica at the end of the tour, you'll have a long security line to reenter & you'll want to spend a little more time.
-Don't take anything but a small purse. If you have to check a bag, it's a long trek to fetch it after the tour
-With teens, consider climbing the dome after the tour ends. Make your way to the stair entrance (you have the option to take the elevator 1/2 way up). Great views! On the way down, be sure to take the detour that leads to the roof of St Peter's. There's a gift shop where you can get wine/coffee, and a truly unique view of St Peter's Square from just above the papal balcony.

I'd also consider getting lunch nearby after, then heading to Castel St Angelo. It's right next door, usually minimal wait to enter, and you can explore it without a tour quite easily.