This was one of my least favorite things to do on my trip. This is very much a museum and I don't typically love museums. There is much history here but I didn't love it. One of my frustrations is that I had a guided tour that was very expensive where combined with other attractions and it was a rip-off. You could save some cash and walk through yourself although one advantage with the guided tour was a priority line. Three stars for me. read more

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My boss told me one of his favorites was the Vatican when he went to Italy last year so I couldn't wait for Lisa and I to visit. We met with our amazing tour guide Roberta and headed in. First thing we explored was a replica of Michelangelo's Pieta. This is the closest you are able to get to it and see all the details as the original is protected in St. Peter's Basilica. Next we viewed artwork that represented how to get to heaven and how to get to hell, including Raphael's transfiguration which was his last piece and Caravaggio's the entombment of Christ. We moseyed through the different parts and were in awe of the sculptures, ceilings and just all the great history in this magnificent place. Of course the Sistine Chapel was magnificent and you'll have to come and see for yourself as pictures are not allowed. read more

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Great experience, amazing, beautiful and a MUST DO with a tour guide. I booked this experience with an English speaking tour guide weeks before my trip, with the tour guide you get to skip the lines which made this experience more efficient 2-3 hour tour total I am so fortunate I got to see the most famous art work and sculptures in the world by Michael Angelo, Leonardo DaVinci, Raphael and priceless artifacts There are 24 galleries, or rooms, in total, including the Sistine Chapel My eyes are forever blessed with this amazing experience read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

The Musei Vaticani, or Vatican Museum, is a labyrinth of ART-ifacts. We purchased tickets (20€/adult) in advanced for a timed entry. Don't be tricked by the skip the line tickets, they're just re-selling you the timed entry tickets. Also tour groups did not seem to have any advantages, and at time were stuck to the spots the tour guides wanted to tell you more about. Bring your passport! Luckily I had my passport on hand because they wanted to confirm at least one passport with the names on the tickets. We came at an early time and it was already crowded. Seems like the crowds are inevitable here. The Vatican Museum houses an extensive collection of art, with most of the art being religious. The museum has collections and artifacts from ancient Rome, Egypt and early civilizations. Don't forget to look up at the ceiling. All of the ceilings have intricate designs of their own. My boyfriend joked that it hurt his neck to have to constantly look up the whole time. I thought it was also interesting that they would even display the art in its' broken form, and not as restored as other museums would. The main beloved piece of work here is the Sistine Chapel. However the space is extremely crowded, making it hard to fully enjoy. The feeling of being inside the Vatican museum is like being in a can of sardines. We came on a weekday, first thing in the morning, and yet there was no relief to the crowd. There were also some sus people who were touching everything. I thought that was disrespectful to ancient relics... but there wasn't any staff around to stop them. read more

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No visit to Rome would be complete without a stopover to Vatican City. Situated on the banks of the Tiber River, sprawling over 109 acres within a 2-mile border, the Vatican is forever associated with the Catholic Church and began with the construction of a basilica over St. Peter's grave in Rome in the 4th century A.D. The name Vaticanus traces its etymology back to the word "vaticinium," which means "oracle," since many psychics used to occupy the place during the Roman Classical Antiquity. Millions of tourists make their way to the world's smallest independent city-state each year, whether they be devout pilgrims, art enthusiasts, history buffs, or just hopelessly curious. No passports required! Founded under the papacy of Clement XIV in the middle of the 18th century, the Vatican Museums were established to display the extensive papal collection, where my partner, our friends, family member, and I came in mid-September as first-timers. Reservations were easily made at the Vatican official website for 6 persons at the 8:30am tour, which we were lucky to get and was reasonably priced. On the day of the tour, don't arrive too early like us. The tickets were timed, and we had to step off the line until 30 minutes beforehand. After going through security, which did not take too long, we were on our way to pick up our audio headset and enjoyed the art and history deemed awe-inspiring. With thousands of people, one is herded through miles of long, huge, and spacious corridors, everyone inching along towards the prize of the Sistine Chapel. Our guide, to Michaela's credit, tried to point out and describe certain artworks. However, the art one's passing is almost impossible to see due to the incredible multitude of people. The route back was much less crowded, as most seem to go on to St. Peter's Basilica right from the Chapel. What an incredible experience, which we can recommend. read more

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This place is a must see when you're in Rome! We came here specifically to see the famed Sistine Chapel but the journey towards it was full of art, culture, and history. It is definitely crowded but worth it. Be reminded of the dress code (modest, shoulders and knees covered) and be alert of signs and regulations because certains areas don't allow photography. Then, prepare for the journey of a lifetime! read more

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Loved, loved this museum! Get the skip the line tickets- it's definitely worth it. Each room you walked through kept getting more and more beautiful- from Egyptian artifacts to Greek and Roman art. My favorite parts were seeing the papal vehicles/ carriages and the Sistine Chapel of course. There's also a little cafe here (although a little pricy). I wish I had been able to do the garden tour, but just seeing part of the gardens from above was amazing. It was crowded for sure (Friday during late July) and a lot of rooms only had the windows open or some fans for ventilation. It took me several hours to see everything (be prepared to walk several miles through the museum) and I felt like I could've spent more time reading through things at the end. Highly recommend 2025 #55 read more

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What a wonderful museum! While the Sistine Chapel is undoubtedly the highlight, there is so much more here. If you do one thing in Vatican City, this should be it. read more

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If you are a lover of art, the vatican museums are a must. While the majority is incredible Renaissance art, there are sections with Egyptian art and contemporary art. It's really quite amazing to see all of the frescos and imagine what it was like for Michaelangelo and Raphael and all the others painting so masterfully on high ceilings and walls. We have been here a couple of times before on our own, but this was the first time we had a tour guide, and I'm so glad we did. While I really like roaming around on my own, we learned so much that we wouldn't have otherwise. For instance, I did not know that after Michaelangelo's death, the council of Trent hired a painter to strategically paint drapes and fig leafs on the nudes in the Sistine Chapel, as apparently there was too much nakedness. The downside to these museums are the crowds and the lack of air conditioning in some galleries. It was sweltering in some. If you are planning on a visit here, I cannot stress to you enough to purchase tickets in advance. We were able to walk by the line (which we overheard was approximately 3 and a half hours long--just to buy tickets) and go right in. read more

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Going to the Vatican Museums reminded me of the old practice of selling indulgences to church donors who wanted to offset their sins with cold, hard cash. The Catholic Church has a fuck-ton of money, you guys. We booked a guided tour with a small group (highly recommend What a Life Tours) and were able to skip the line with our pre-bought tickets. We went early in the morning, entering right at 8:00, and the crowd was pretty manageable at that hour. It also helped that we were there on a Monday during low season, in mid-November. Our guide kept marveling at how few people there were, though there were certainly more than I ever see in a typical art museum back home. I gather that during peak season, it can be a struggle to move through the museum's many rooms. The place was insane, huge and absolutely bursting with priceless artifacts. I remember one long hallway near the entrance, extending the opposite way from the rest of the museums, so that many people skipped it altogether. I glanced at it before moving on, and it was completely lined with marble statues, with busts and fragments stacked on shelves and mounted on walls. There were many of these hallways, it turned out, just an endless number of antiquities that we didn't have time to contemplate. Much of it was ancient, from before Christ, and more of it merely several centuries old. The rooms and hallways were marvels in themselves, each more ornate and gilded than the last, with crazy details covering not just the walls but all the ceilings. I also loved the Gallery of Maps, a hallway paneled with beautiful regional maps of Italy, painted in the 1500s by a friar geographer named Ignazio Danti and 80% accurate. I couldn't get in and out of Vatican City without a tour guide or at least Google Maps. I was grateful for our guide, who highlighted some of the jewels of the collection. We admired the enormous 1st-century bronze pinecone in the Belvedere Courtyard; the the astonishing Laocoön and His Sons, one of the most famous sculptures in the world, with pride of place in the Vatican since it was excavated in Rome in 1506, already close to 1700 years old. We saw the Belvedere Torso, a giant ancient torso that inspired Jesus's physique in Michelangelo's painting, The Last Judgment, which we saw an hour later. Several works by Raphael, who we learned died at 37, possibly of syphilis. One of them was a huge fresco that depicted several of his contemporaries, including an unflattering portrait of Michelangelo, who was apparently not nice to Raphael. In other words, Michelangelo was cool but rude, while Raphael was the party dude. As far as this rivalry goes, though, Michelangelo certainly wins the battle at the Vatican Museums. The Sistine Chapel was the climax of our visit, and we were warned to visit it in silence, without taking pictures or video. Our tour guide made sure to prepare us in advance, telling us the history and giving us illustrated print-outs to show us points of particular interest. This was very useful, though the Sistine Chapel is so obviously awe-inspiring, it kind of explains itself. I'd seen pictures of the ceiling, of course, but it was unreal to see it in person. 5,000 square feet of frescoes, including the iconic Creation of Adam. The Last Judgment was incredible, too, an enormous, thunderous fresco of the second coming of Christ. We spent two hours in the Vatican Museums and barely scratched the surface. We blitzed through a smaller selection of modern art (anything younger than, say, America), where we saw a room full of giant Matisses (I guess there was one pope who liked Matisse) then passed right by some Dali, Van Gogh, Chagall, etc. without comment. This section was right before the Sistine Chapel, and our guide used the rectangular space of a Francis Bacon painting to illustrate the layout of the chapel and show us where to meet her when we were done. If you're visiting Rome, you have to see the Vatican Museums, and I'd strongly suggest going in the off season and hiring a guide. But even if you're stuck in a throng of tourists, sweating from the summer heat, the Sistine Chapel alone is worth the trouble. read more

Been fortunate to been here a couple times now Similar yet different experiences First time the line was super long around the Vatican walls outside but time things moved quickly yet still busy It can get warm with all the people and sometimes it bottle necks which is normal given everyone what's the picture or view Getting to the main Sistine chapel they make you work for it and even though it takes a loooong time for you to get in when you do it's worth it! The legendary spiral staircase that leads you out and feeling and seeing so much history not just from a religious standpoint but just for the country in general A must visit in Rome read more

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Conclave. A papal conclave is a gathering of the College of Cardinals to appoint a new pope. So interesting to visit the Vatican during the Conclave. Even though the Sistine Chapel was closed, we still were able to see a lot on our guided tour of the Vatican Museum. Check in was easy. Nice to be able to skip the line. Booked a guided tour in English directly from the Vatican Museum for 40 Euros. Our tour guide, Erik, was a professor from Atlanta who has been working at a university in Rome for the past two decades. So lucky to get so much information on our tour. The Vatican Museum is filled with so many treasures. The museum was founded with a single piece. Laocoon and His Sons was found in 1506 by a farmer. This was collected by Pope Julius II on the recommendation of Michelangelo and became the piece that led to the Vatican Museum. Since then, so many priceless objects have been collected. The Bathtub of Nero. The Pinecone Courtyard. The Bronze Statue of Hercules. The Sarcophagus of Saint Helena, the mother of Constantine. The statue of Antinoos, the lover of Emperor Hadrian. Masterpieces by Leonardo DaVinci, Chagall, Van Gogh. Greek, Roman and Egyptian artifacts. Amazing. The Belvedere Torso inspired Michelangelo. He often visited this statue to explore the body in motion. This was important as models were expensive, and it was against the rules of the church to dissect cadavers. He used it as a reference when painting the Sistine Chapel, Apollo Belvedere was another Roman statue that Michelangelo used as inspiration for his art. In The Last Judgement, the face of Jesus shows a striking resemblance to the Apollo Belvedere. The Gallery of Maps is amazing. It maps all areas of Italy. The School of Athens by Raphael is truly a high Renaissance masterpiece. So much packed into the huge fresco. It shows a collection of the world's greatest philosophers, scientists and mathematicians gathered to represent the power of human knowledge. Check out the self portrait of Raphael and the portrait of Michelangelo as an artistic jab between rivals. Tip: Book your tour directly with the museum. The skip the line is a great time saver. Keep your knees and shoulders covered. Go to St. Peter's Basilica after exploring the museum and exiting though the Bramante Staircase. Such a great place to explore, the Vatican Museum with or without the Sistine Chapel being open is stunning. #2400 read more

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It would be criminal to come to Rome and not visit the Vatican. My first time here was 17 years ago during the summer and all I remember is that it was so hot. My clothes felt like it was sticking to my person. This was my fourth visit to Italy and second time here. This time around it was still unbelievably hot, but we're older and wiser so our tickets let us cut to the front of the line. And because we had a stroller, they let us cut through everyone else. Make sure you bring a form of identification because they do in fact check when you go through security. They make sure the name on the ticket matches with the ID. The entrance can be a little chaotic. The amount of tourists trying to get in seem endless. Unless you have the time to waste by standing in line to get in, I highly recommend buying skip the line tickets so that all you need to do is get to the front of the line when you get there for the time slot you signed up for. The earlier, the better. Once inside, the biggest challenge are the stairs. They never end. We were constantly having to carry the stroller by holding on to every corner so it wouldn't be too heavy. Much like the last time I was amazed at everything that I saw. The opulence. The grandeur. But boy are you packed like sardines with everyone else. We got so many steps in admiring all the things. Before leaving, we stopped by the cafe right in the middle of the garden for a quick snack. There's lots to see here I'd probably come back the next time I'm in Rome. read more

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While visiting Rome with friends, the Vatican was high on their 'have to do' list. None of us had made plans to visit the Vatican, so we all stood in a giant line that snaked around the back of the building and stood in the summer sun. For hours. Pro tip: plan and buy tickets before you travel. After standing in the line for hours, a group came round offering tours that allowed guests to skip the line and let us know we may not get in we are so far back. As the visit was important to some, they chose to spend the hundreds of dollars on the tour. We did not worry so much and remained on line. As it turned out, we did get inside, and I wish I hadn't. Tbf, the museum has many, many wonderful things to see! It was also so crammed with guests I had an immediate need to get out of the crowd asap! It was near impossible to get past tour groups blocking the single pathway through the galleries. We followed exit signs just hoping to get out of the crowds which was not available. For me, this museum was a labrynth nightmare. All paths lead to the Sistene Chapel, which is glorious, but equally crowded and a man at the front kept yelling at everyone to move to the back and make room. If you don't know, the famous paintings on the ceiling look like postage stamps from the floor. Bring binoculars. We finally exited into the sun and relief from the crowds finding a shady spot by a column. Our friends luckily ended their tour about the same time and I gratefully got to sit in a nearby shady sidewalk cafe table for a snack (we stood in line thru lunch) and much needed espresso. So do go, but make a plan and be prepared for summer crowds. read more

I had heard that you trudged through endless galleries before the Sistine Chapel. And that's right. You do. That said, it's like the history of western art: Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman .... Even modern art by Rivera and others. It is really impressive. The Sistine chapel itself is mesmerizing. Guards will guide you to the center to stare but there are benches on the outside. Binoculars are allowed; photography of any kind is not. Also there are clean bathrooms with both toilet paper as well as toilet seats. And double also, there are many food options at the end including a pizzeria, cafeteria and restaurant. read more

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Book tickets in advance if you plan on coming here. We arrived early and had to wait before being allowed to enter. There are several long lines. Once inside, the experience was not great. It was overly crowded and I felt slightly claustrophobic as we were herded from room to room. Toward the end, you finally get to the Sistine Chapel. read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

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It is highly recommended you purchase tickets in advance. We did and the only slot available was 8am. I'd rather go early anyways when there's seemingly less people but there was still a line and crowds. The whole experience was mind blowing truly a great collection of historical art and history in there. I didn't do a tour because I felt like I could look up the knowledge online. Truly a magical place where you feel like you're stepping back in time. read more

Make sure to reserve your tickets in advance! We came by for 1:30pm in August and it was so so crowded. Not all the rooms have air conditioning, and there were just so many people everywhere - even on the line waiting to get inside. It's a short walk from the metro station including a flight of stairs up. I reserved the audio guide which included a self guided map. Maybe I'll do a tour next time. read more

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The Vatican City, specifically the Musei Vaticani, was one of the top places on my list to visit while I was in Roma. Growing up Catholic, this is pretty much the mecca of the religion so I couldn't leave without seeing it. It made the most sense to book the museum while visiting Vatican City, so I made plans and then we made our way over during our second day in Roma. The Musei Vaticani are a collection of multiple museums within the Vatican City - there are several packages you can purchase via the official website, and I went with the one that gave us access to the gardens and all the museums - including the Sistine Chapel. I recommend purchasing tickets in advance, especially if you come during the high tourist seasons. After entry we were led straight through to the main outdoor plaza which had loads of photo ops of the gardens. Surrounding us were the museums, each containing art and exhibits from around the world and different time periods. There are honestly so many museums one could spend hours exploring. We eventually wanted to make our way to the Sistine Chapel which is conveniently the final attraction point before the museum exit. It's a relatively lengthy walk to get there, however along the way there are multiple mini museums where we stopped to take in the culture. This was my favorite part of my visit as the ornateness of the interiors were magnificent. After living my best Catholic life in the Sistine Chapel we made a pit stop at the gift shop and then exited. Overall, well worth the trip over - there's so much art and history compacted into a relatively small space. I admit it may be a little daunting to get through, but I definitely recommend taking the time to explore. read more

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A five-star experience if you book tickets early and go with a local guide who can give you greater context of all that there is to see. The collection of art and historical artifacts is amazing, with the obvious crescendo being the Sistine Chapel (when the sign says no pictures or video, they mean it). Without the local guide explaining to me what Michelangelo's story reflected, I would have lost out on so much context. For a price of just €20, this is something that you have to visit when in Rome. read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

We were on a Tauck tour in Italy and last night we got a private tour of this museum. It was very good. Highly recommend anyone do it while in Rome. read more

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Musei Vaticani is a popular destination in Rome. We tried to book as soon as we could, about 3 months before visiting, but they were almost sold out the day we wanted to visit. It was toward the tail end of our one month trip to Europe so I wanted a later check in time so we could sleep in a little bit they only had 8am available so we were forced to take that time slot. Not ideal but at least it won't be super busy and we will get to take our time through all the exhibits. The instructions were clear that we had to come early to validate our tickets and stand in a queue to enter. We arrived a little early but we didn't have to validate our tickets and just had to stand in the correct line to enter per the staff. We recommend getting tickets ahead of time because the queue to enter without tickets was crazy! It was raining and the line was almost half way to St Peter's Basilica. Make sure to ask what line to stand in because there are several lines. When we finally entered, we just followed the path laid out. There were lots of exhibits that no one viewed but we took time to check it out and appreciate the time it took them to put it together. The tour groups just hit up all the popular exhibits on the way to the Sistine Chapel. Everything was amazing and beautiful. The USCITA is shortly after you leave the Sistine Chapel. It's included in the admission. Even if you're not religious, this is worth checking out. So much history to appreciate. read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

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"The Vatican Museums are a timeless dialogue between art and faith, where every step reveals a masterpiece and every corner whispers history." The Vatican Museums combine art and beauty and there is no way to describe it! It's a breathtaking experience! The Vatican Museums are a stunning treasure trove of art, history, and spirituality. Every room reveals incredible masterpieces, and I was lucky enough to go to the Sistine Chapel! OMG!!! The ceiling left me speechless. Well-organized, informative, and truly unforgettable. Highly recommend! read more

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This is definitely one place you should visit when coming to Rome. Not only there are Multiple Museums to see, but some of the world's most precious Art is here. Which includes the famous Michelangelos Sistine Chapel. I would recommend booking a tour in advanced or at least a timeslot. Lines can get very very very long. Never come here on standby. Unless you wanna wait in line. The restaurant in the courtyard is really delicious as well. So if you're feeling hungry, I will check it out. everybody comes here to check out this is Sistine Chapel. Beware that's the only place in the whole museums that you can't take pictures. Also, why would you? it is the most amazing thing I've ever seen in my life and I'm glad pictures won't ruin it. read more

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This was a very nice museum. We were with a tour guide that helped us go through the museum quickly. We also went when it opened with less crowds. We were lining up at 7:30am to go into the museum with our guide. There was so much to see. My favorite would have to be the all the big Roman sculptures. Such masterpieces carved in marble. The visit to the pope's residence was also incredible. Also love the hall of maps. How did they know the lay of the land so perfectly? We were lucky enough and saw the changing of the Swiss guards. Definitely worth it and HIGHLY recommend the early access tours. It was a zoo with lines wrapping around the buildings when we left after 11am. read more

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The Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed Laocoön and His Sons, Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms, and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's ceiling. I think it's still worth visiting, although the museum map is confusing and signs are very unclear. I have to say it's too big to check out all the exhibits at once, and you shall plan at least half day here. read more

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I hope there's someone out there that can appreciate that (my) Review 666 just so happens to be for... the Vatican Museum. (Methinks the Pope would appreciate the paradox.) Having grown up just outside of NYC I thought I'd been exposed to a boatload of legit artwork from all the museums and galleries there. But then you come here. Where every room and every staircase and every floor and every building had a ridiculous amount of riches. And while you weave your way through hundreds (thousands) of important and impressive pieces from every conceivable decade (and continent)... we finally journeyed deep into the Vatican to witness and experience the Sistine Chapel (let's skip over the fact that I was scolded for even trying to walk into a 'holy place' while wearing a baseball cap!). Just being in that room, sans any type of recording device with just a cursory understanding of all that transpired (in creating the work, as well as the stories being told on the ceilings and walls)? One of four times while on vacation that I was shaken up (in a good way) and truly dumbfounded and humbled. (The other times: seeing 'David' as well as The Colosseum and then the Opera Di Santa Maria Del Fiore.) Fun Fact: if you were to actually take your time with every single piece of artwork here it would take you 4-5 days to go through the entire collection. Highly recommended, no matter your creed. read more

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If you want to tour the museum it's best to book directly through the Vatican website. Every other tour group stood in the hot sun while we only spent a few minutes on line. Buying through the Vatican is less expensive and the guides are phenomenal. The Vatican museum is awesome. It's filled with ancient Greek, Egyptian, Turkish and pre Catholicism art in addition to Religious art. There is a painting close to the end of the museum called "The School of Athens". My mom, a mathematician, and I went back after our tour to see how many people we could identify. It is definitely worth exploring. You have to walk through the whole museum to get to the Sistine Chapel. It's so much smaller than I thought it would be and they pack the people in. They're really strict there, no shoulders, no cleavage, no legs above the knee. I watched them escort multiple women out because they violated the dress code. The museum loses a star because there is so much wealth there that could be used to feed, house and cloth the poor. read more

There are two reasons a tourist would go to The Vatican. One would be to visit St. Peter's Basilica ad the other is to come to the Vatican Museum. Do not come here without a timed reservation. I had one but saw the line waiting to buy walk up tickets and it was 3 people wide and about 1/4 mile long. I had decided on a guided tour by a Vatican Museum docent and bought my ticket about a month in advance. It was well worth it. We started on time and our group of 12 were led by Daniella who did an excellent job. The tour lasted about 75 minutes and we proceeded through many rooms filled with art from the Vaticans' collection. It was quite impressive and I'm glad I booked it. The paintings in particular are excellent. At the end of the tour you get to enter into The Sistine Chapel. Unfortunately they have a strict no photo policy inside and they also demand quietness. It was a beautiful room with incredible paintings on the ceilings and high walls. Many people sit and just look upward. Therefore it's hard to find any open seating. So most people stand in the middle and look up. You can stay in there as long as you want. It is really amazing and proves that Michelangelo really was a genius. The museum entrance is about a 10 minute walk from St. Peter's Square so you can visit here and there all in one day. Either visit the Basilica early in the morning and book this tour late morning OR book here first about 2-3 pm and then when finished head to the Basilica because by the time you arrive there (approx. 4-5 pm) the long line waiting to get into the Basilica is usually winding down and becoming much shorter. There are many restaurants and gift shops nearby too. read more

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An amazing collection - if you are an art lover, be prepared to be awestruck. There are so many amazing artifacts and art pieces, so wear comfortable shoes and prepare to spend a minimum of 4-5 hours inside if you want to glimpse most or all of the rooms. The final room is the Sistine Chapel, which is breathtaking. The museum becomes very crowded, and the layout can be confusing at times, which is the reason for the lower rating. After you finish in the museum, grab a quick bite in the cafe to refuel. It was a pretty great way to spend the morning, and a must-do in Rome. read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

I just learned this place is listed under two separate names on Yelp including Vatican City and the Musei Vaticani. I reposted my prior Vatican review under this Musei Vaticani, because we toured both Vatican City and Musei Vaticani. We toured the Vatican museum. We booked this tour through Viator including both Vatican City and Musei Vaticani. Our prior Viator's Colosseum tour was not good as you can read from my prior Colosseum review. This Viator Vatican tour including the Vatican museum on the other hand was far superior. When we got up in the morning there was a rumor that taxis and Uber would strike. We were able to Uber from our hotel to the Viator meeting area on the steps near the Vatican. Many tour guides and tourists were located here. We were able to locate Viator guides on the stone staircase. We were early so we had to wait for our tour to start. Vatican City officially the Vatican City State is a landlocked sovereign country, within Rome, Italy. It became independent from Italy in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, and it is a distinct territory under "full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction" of the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law, which maintains the city-state's temporal power and governance, diplomatic, and spiritual independence. The Vatican is also a metonym for the pope, the city-state's and worldwide Catholic Church government Holy See, and Roman Curia. When our tour started we had an excellent tour guide Antonella, who guided us throughout the Vatican property which was quite large with many buildings. Antonella was very knowledgeable about the Vatican. I got along with Antonella, because my name Tony is the Italian male version, namely Antoni or Antonio. We first visited the grounds and the museum, which was quite large. We had a bathroom break. There is a trove of iconic art and architecture here. Its Vatican Museums house ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed "Laocoön and His Sons" as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's ceiling. The Sistine Chapel was packed with visitors so we could only spend a few minutes inside the Chapel. After the Chapel we were lucky to have a chance to visit the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican, which was scheduled to be closed for renovation. A giant bronze canopy at the center of St Peter's Basilica is getting its first major makeover in more than 260 years to restore its luster in time for Holy Year celebrations in 2025. Saint Peter's Basilica, is a church of the Italian High Renaissance located in Vatican City. Construction started on April 18, 1506. Overall our tour of the Vatican was the highlight of our visit to Rome. Because of that I posted lots of pics from Vatican City. After we finished our tour we were looking for a local restaurant to enjoy a late lunch. More to come regarding our late lunch on the outskirts of the Vatican City. read more

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This place took my breath away. Why were there many naked statues though?! Some are so details, it's inappropriate for little kids. Anyway, It was magnificent and out of the world!! I was here during Jubilee. It's super crowded. Everybody wanted to go through the Holy door. Buy the ticket in advance. It's a long walk. It's huge and spacious. I got a good cardio here. There is coffee and pastry shop inside near the restroom. Charge your battery phone full and bring power bank. You'll take lots of pics here. read more

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My group and I did an extensive tour but it was worth it in the end! The pictures don't quite do it justice, and honestly,when you get there don't worry too much about taking all the right pictures,just take in the moment. I suggest having on walking shoes, and bring an electric fan read more

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Musei Vaticani is another one of those attractions which you absolutely cannot miss while in Rome. Technically not in Rome since the Vatican is an independent state, Musei Vaticani was a 50-minute walk or so from my apartment (the buses were on strike the day I visited so I made the long trek). As you know, the major highlight at the Vatican is Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. It's at the end of the museum, the icing on the cake so to speak, and you're not allowed to take pictures. Seeing the Sistine Chapel most definitely lives up to the hype. It's an elaborate and incredible work of art. And so is the rest of the museum. There's a massive collection of art here. You can easily spend hours, if not close to a full day here. Even as you're walking to the Sistine Chapel, the hallways have an impressive collection of modern art. Most people don't even look at these works of art. At other museums, this collection would be a highlight. Here, it gets overshadowed. Pro tip: reserve your ticket directly through the Vatican weeks in advance. I did a group tour. If you don't, you'll either pay a significant premium to get a tour through a third party or you'll wait in the heat for hours. Plan ahead and skip the line. And after you're done with Musei Vaticani, go to St. Peter's Basilica. You can't make reservations there but the line moved pretty quickly when I went (I waited 20-30 minutes). The Vatican will be a highlight of your trip in Rome. Enjoy! read more

We visited in off season and pre-booked tickets; no problems with the online booking process but a bit surprised at the €5/ticket additional fee for advance booking - almost like a penalty for planning in advance lol. That said, it is definitely well worth the cost as there was a constant influx of people around 1030am and when we left 3-4 hrs later, significantly more, literally seas of crowds due to the vast number of tour groups. We arrived a bit earlier than expected and were allowed to enter 1030am for our 11am timeslot, which was fantastic as there wasn't much else to do nearby that early. Once we got inside, there was no time limit enforced. We also had a bit of a hiccup entering that was resolved very quickly - I brought my tickets on my phone as the original PDF they were emailed as. The tickets didn't scan at the automated gate, nor a staff's hand scanner, and so the staff member had to print my ticket off the computer in the booth. The staff were able to get this done quickly and were kind throughout. I saw other people with printed versions of their tickets get through the automated gates smoothly, so I recommend doing that just in case. The museum itself is huge, has lots to see, and the building interior is very modern/clean and well suited for large crowds. Exhibits are mostly one way traffic - some wings we could see there was more to view, but could not access it unless we went back to the intended entrance. Signage for wing names is very clear which helped us ensure we didn't miss anything, but as other reviews mention, the Sistine Chapel is intended to be last. Lighting is decent and allows for good photos, but no photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel. I happened to have bad heel pain on the day I visited the Vatican, and can confirm there are many benches scattered about to rest at. That said, it is a huge museum - there is a lot of walking, many stairs, an overwhelming amount of things to see, and so it might be tough on older / disabled / injured people. Perhaps even too much for children as it's a long visit and took the better half of the day self-guided. For that reason, I was glad I didn't opt for a tour or audioguide, as that would have likely made the visit even longer. As for the wings themselves, there's a good variety of items that you would expect to see in an art/history museum of this size. Some early excavational items, statues, limited objects from other cultures/regions, contemporary art, etc. I've visited a good amount of specialized / broad genre history and art museums and while not many pieces in the Vatican Museum blew me away, I did find some wings very enjoyable and think there's something for everyone. Personal favourites for me were the Greek/Roman sculpture wing and specific works: the Laocoön and His Sons sculpture, the Pieta, the exhibit with black/terracotta colour vases like the ones in God of War, etc. Also I found myself quite mesmerized by the variety of painted ceilings, the mix of 2D/3D elements used , and the variety of lighting used for rooms with paintings, the lit ceiling hallway in the Gallery of Maps, etc. When we arrived at the Sistine Chapel at the end of our visit, honestly we were a bit desensitized to all of the frescoes, painted ceilings, etc that we had seen all day. That, along with the intense, suffocating crowds in the Chapel made us leave in under 5mins. Even in retrospect, while I admire the Sistine Chapel a lot, in terms of the actual frescoes, I personally enjoyed other basilicas/churches more. We passed by the gift shop, which was expensive asf but had lots of unique items like reproduction busts, etc. The items can be seen online but prices soar far higher compared to other museums, other basilicas, and even the Vatican's own St. Peter's Basilica. I was tasked with buying an official rosary for a religious family friend and luckily had bought it at the St. Peter's Basilica where the gift shop was uncrowded and prices were in line with all other basilica gift shops in Rome. All in all, for the casual tourist / non-art enthusiast like myself, I'd say buy tickets in advance to skip the ticket booth lines, research in advance specific pieces you want to see + the exhibits they are in, download a map of the museum online, and book a time when it's less busy to fully enjoy the Vatican Museums. Even if you have to go super early/late, its worth having some peace and quiet to appreciate the works read more

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The ultimate of destinations. Vatican City is hands-down amazing. Starting your day earlier can be to your benefit. It's true, it all can be a little overwhelming. Like much of Rome, there is so much beauty at every turn and compacted in to relatively small spaces. You can spend hours in the bookstore alone, so it's best to set aside two or three days for the Vatican just for basic sightseeing. read more

A dream come true!! I have always wanted to visit this museum, and it was amazing. Very very crowded though! The line outside can take hours, but if you pre buy tickets as part of a tour, you can skip the line! Highly recommend!! So much beautiful art in every wall of every room. The ceilings are magnificent too. It can get really comgested with everyone else in their tour groups, but it's worth it!!! read more

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Most terrible experience in my life. An absolute cluster with zero space to move or see anything. Every staff member at the museum we encountered was incredibly rude. Save your money and go literally anywhere else in Rome. read more

An incomparable museum. A well organized global treasure. If you can afford it, a private tour is worth the cost. You can see a lot more of the collection if you don't have to navigate the crowds. read more

Go in to obviously be in another country! the smallest in the world! :) awing how a museum can be another country! obviously theres also the Pope Peter's basilica and the square. The Pope's home! :) Inside the Museum i like to see the corridor of Italy's maps because of the grand gold frescoes above done by Michelangelo which is the true treasure to see en route to the Sistine Chapel which is also great to see especially if you want to see the best art in the world! :) read more