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

Book a tour! I recommend https://www.yelp.com/biz/what-a-life-tours-roma-2?hrid=Nepze7uG-S4amEaS5cRoPw but you're welcome to use anyone. The tour not only provides a guide to point out the most interesting sights you would otherwise miss but they escort you around some of the long queues and through some of the big delays. There is SO MUCH to see here and without the guide, you'll miss it. I'm not a Catholic but I sure can appreciate arts and treasures. There's nothing like the Vatican Museums in the world. Don't miss it. [Review 19175 overall - 330 in Italy - 145 of 2023.] read more

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Pro tip: buy tickets ahead of time. Don't use a tour guide they only slow you down with the their anecdotes l. I could've seen more of this place if we could've kept moving. Also, relying solely n other people to cooperate is a hassle. Complaints like: I can't hear, it's too loud, you're going to fast. Now I have to deal with that crap too. Do this site at your own pace. Pay for the audio guide if you like, but I don't recommend it. read more

Our high school boys school group from Rio Hondo Prep had a great tour. Our tour guide was Elisa. She was engaging and funny. I especially loved her enthusiasm. It was very evident that she loves doing her job and loves the art and loves Michelangelo. She was very interested in the kids and made sure to keep them engaged the entire time and that they enjoyed their experience. If I ever return for a tour, I will request Elisa. read more

Musei Vaticani - Elisa interacting with students - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

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Like all museums, there is so much to see and it can get overwhelming. Even more so if you go with a guide because they talk non-stop and provide way too much detail, more info than one can possibly retain. Art, like most things in life, requires space in between. To set it apart. To fully appreciate it. To take it in and give it a chance to digest. Next time, I'll pay for the tour to avoid the line but will let the guide know I'll meet them at the end at a specific time. I prefer to browse at my pace based on my interests. No way to do this when in a forced group situation. That being said, the Vatican Museum is spectacular! Because of the wealth of the popes and the Catholic Church, they have amassed a trove of art and treasures. The wall of ginormous tapestries is incredible, such fine craftsmanship, so much detail they could easily be mistaken for paintings. Some, like the Resurrection of Christ, the eyes appear to follow you as you move about the room. The tapestry of Italy has so much detail and accuracy in the topography and borders, it's incredulous to fathom how they charted this with primitive tools and without modern day technology. The hallways with the elaborate painted and gilded ceilings are spellbindingly beautiful. I actually preferred this art over the frescoes in the Sistine Chaoel as the colors were softer. Lots of Roman sculptures to marvel over. The Sistine Chaoel is at the end and the Chapel is quite small. When it's crowded, it gets hot and stifling so be prepared. Also, there is no taking pictures or videos in the Sistine Chapel and silence is mandated. Please don't be one of the obnoxious tourists who thinks rules don't apply to them and snap pics and speak the entire time. It's disrespectful to the Chapel and other visitors. As you leave the Sistine Chapel and make your way out, you will see lots of furniture, jewelry and artifacts. Many ornate. Some primitive. All fascinating. At the window take a peek out to the Vatican gardens, which are beautiful and not open to the public so worth a look. Even with the crowds, the Vatican Museum is a must see while in Rome. We went early in the morning so it started out pleasant but quickly became intense with hoards of people. You exit through a beautiful spiral staircase. I did find it humorous because with all the steps we had climbed during the week in Rome, the one time I wish there were steps to make a quick exit away from the crowds, we had to slowly wind our way down. read more

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Risking the wrath of God to give a less than perfect rating for this holy museum here! But to be honest, while the collections are beyond spectacular, the experience was below standard. True, few earthlings wouldn't be at awe seeing the Michelangelo's work on the Sistine chapel ceiling, or Rafael's School of Athen frescoes. But those works are so luminary that one would be stunningly impressed no matter what the situation is. My point here is, this museum can be a bit tough for the ordinary visitors. First of all, the map/guide is not very easy to read. There are 3 levels : Basement (0) and Second Floor (2) are printed on one side of the paper and First Floor (1) is on the other side. There are so many items (yes, any one of them could be a crown jewel of a small museum) that it's difficult to match them with what's printed on the map. And lastly, almost every gallery security guard was on their iPhone! One was playing games; another's video was so loud that I thought the museum was playing hip hop music. All but one was impatient when I asked a question! Perhaps they were just tired of the millions of visitors. So, do your home work online first and get educated, plan what you want to see, buy the timed "skipped the line" tickets, avoid having any interactions with museum staff, and be prepared to rub elbows with ten thousand strangers in small galleries. Then, perhaps you'd be calm and clear of frustrations so you can enjoy the magnificent artworks that shaped, if not defined, the world. read more

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The Vatican Museums span so many expansive buildings that would require many visits to see everything. We were hoping to enter without a tour, but the minute tickets became available on the website, they disappeared and none were available. So...we had to pay a much higher price for tickets and a tour through a 3rd party vendor. There are pluses to this such as getting priority entry, and our tour guide was excellent. Our tour hit the "highlights" which meant we saw the most famous and most crowded areas. Since this was our first visit here we did want to see the highlights, so it worked out, but I'm thinking that the only way to get in without a tour if you want to visit less popular areas of the museums would be to try to go in the winter. The crowds are no joke...almost everyone was in an organized 3rd party tour like we were and there were a ton of tour groups packed in. Do not expect any time or space for quiet appreciation of art or spiritual reflection. Even the Sistine chapel which is supposed to be quiet with no photos was marked by guards constantly yelling "silenzio!" Sigh...the irony.... Anyway, despite the crowds and challenges in even getting in, the artwork and museum rooms themselves are absolutely amazing and it's worth muddling through the hassles to visit. Be sure to look up in every room; almost all the ceilings are works of art as well. read more

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After visiting Rome twice before, we finally had time to visit the Vatican City. We did spend most of the day here. But even then you can't just really see everything. So we focused on the parts we were interested most. But surely there will be a next time. We enjoyed the Museo Chiaramonti, the Museo Pio-Clementino, the Cortile della Pigna - the courtyard with nice views over the architecture from the outside and the Cortile Ottagono. A real delight and highlight was the Galleria lapidaria. A dream of countless paintings and lots of gold. And then of course the "Cappella Sistina". It's a lot bigger than one might expect. The painting by Michelangelo is massive. And pictures not allowed. There are loads of visitors in the room. But since everybody has to look up, there's no problem in enjoying the painting. There are so many details. Impossible to see it all at once. Of course the "The Creation of Adam" is the centerpiece, the most famous section. But the whole ceiling is a masterpiece. A timeless masterpiece. There are several other museums within the museum. And with the pass you could visit them all. But there's just not time to do that all in a day. Several restaurants, souvenir shops and bathroom are along the way. Yes, it's a busy place. Sometimes it really doesn't move anywhere and you got to be a bit patient. But it's definitely a place to visit once in your life. At least. We really looked forward to our visit and it did not disappoint. On the contrary. read more

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As it was my lifelong dream to go to Italy I was basically obligated to see the Vatican/Vatican museums when I was there and I don't necessarily regret going to see them but it was a bad experience. Normal tickets were sold out online so I booked a guided tour. The whole place was so packed that we could barely keep track of our tour guide the whole time. Guidance for what to wear was odd - I wore long sleeves and pants but saw plenty of people in shorts. You're basically shuffled along like cattle through the Vatican museums which tbh aren't that interesting...just some sculptures and paintings and tapestries that I feel like you could see in many other world museums. It's shoulder-to-shoulder packed. The highlight is the Sistine chapel but again you're packed in like sardines. Also you can't take photos which is fine but seems like a pointless rule. I would have been much more interested learning about the Vatican itself. How is it governed? What are the demographics of the guards? Etc. Def a one and done experience read more

I've been to a lot of famous museums, and this is definitely one of the most beautiful ones I have been to. The artwork is so stunning, and there is so MUCH of it. I was mesmerized walking through hallways and rooms with paintings all over the ceilings. I made a reservation online in advance, which I absolutely recommend doing. The crowds were crazy. read more

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Absolutely stunning museum with incredible works! Spent like three hours here and was not bored for even a second. Your visit doesn't have to be this long, but there was a lot to see and it was totally worth it to take my time and explore everything. I even stopped by the museum's post office to mail postcards! Definitely a must-see in Rome!! read more

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As they say, "When in Rome". Well you just have to visit the Vatican Museum. You need to set aside at least 2-3 hours to be able to tour and see all of the amazing works of art in this museum. I highly recommend you try to do a guided tour because there is so much to take in. It is difficult to pick a favorite part of the museum because there is just so much. We visited in June and the museum was so packed but you still felt like you could see everything the museum has to offer. read more

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I will preface this review by stating that we had an unfortunate incident en route to our visit to the Vatican. Hence, my mood was not great when we arrived. That may or may not color my judgement of how our overall visit went. FWIW. We had purchased tickets in advance for an entry time of 10 a.m. They will let you go in maybe 10 - 15 minutes early but not much before. When we entered, there was a security screening (bag X-ray). We did not, however, have to check our medium-sized backpack. Next, we had to exchange our vouchers for actual tickets. We tried their automated kiosks for this, but they didn't work. We then got in a short line (maybe 8 - 10 people) and handled it with a staffer in one of 3 - 4 booths. The line moved swiftly. We entered and rode the escalator up to the main (first) level. One of our party had been here before, and suggested that we go and check out the Sistine Chapel first. That was not a bad suggestion, but I'll pause here to discuss how the Vatican handles crowding. The museum has the form of an elongated rectangle (picture it with the long side vertical). You enter at the bottom and the Sistine Chapel is at the top. The only form of crowd control (in terms of entry) that the Vatican does is via ticket sales. Once the crowd is inside, there are few means of limiting how many people at once can access a given area. Their solution to this problem is queuing. They can only control what route you can follow, so as the day goes on they progressively make the route to the Sistine Chapel longer and longer. One result of this is that if you want to see some things at the far end (away from) the chapel, the queue may start to back up there (thus limiting your access). I'd humbly suggest that they consider some sort of timed entry to the chapel itself as opposed to the current scheme, but whatever. The 'rectangle' is also 2 floors tall. We walked the length of one side to the chapel, looking at various art and decoration along the way. If I went her again (which I'm not super inclined to do, honestly), I'd book a guided tour. You'd probably get a lot more out of it. There were some interesting segments along the gallery - a 'map room' with part of the Italian peninsula detailed, plus a lot of super-ornate wall and ceiling paintings. We eventually arrived at the far end and happened to skip or take a wrong turn by which we missed a Raphael-themed room (The School of Athens). Given the conga-line method of access control, we were not able later to come back to this area. The Sistine Chapel - I found it smaller and more dimly lit than I expected. It was interesting to see, but all professional photos I've seen of it were much clearer and brighter. You are not allowed to take photos there, also. The crowding wasn't too bad when we were there, but it seemed to be ramping up. Supposedly you can access St. Peter's Basilica directly from somewhere near the chapel (which would make sense given its function), but we did not take advantage of this. Honestly, given how long the line to the chapel was later in the day, you might save time by going around the outer wall and getting in via the line outside the church... There were some interesting bits of art and artifacts spread around. We were not able to see a few items as the conga-line queue for the chapel got extended all the way back to the other end of the rectangle, such that you'd have to commit to going through it just to see some other rooms... We did end up eating lunch in the Vatican cafeteria. They appeared to have a sort of food court option on one side and (maybe) a table-service place on the other (?). We opted for the cafeteria. Prices were not terrible, but it wasn't super cheap either. They had multiple stations and options (we mostly got boxed salads). Other than exiting and finding a restaurant outside, there really isn't another option. The exit is via a huge spiral staircase. It affords great photo opportunities near the top looking down, so definitely check that out before you leave. My summary - if they offered some deal where you could pay extra and tour the place in the evening without the crowds or the huge line for the Sistine Chapel, I might come back. Otherwise, I don't think I need to re-visit this place. read more

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Do not book guided tours at vatican museum. My guide left me right after entrance after the stairs. There was a crowd and even though she counted us at first and made even some stupid jokes etc waisting our time, right after stairs, I could hear her at first from earphones then disseapeared. I paid in vain for this tour and did not enjoy a minute walking on my own looking for them. And they do not refund money! read more

One way route to the Sistine Chapel is the least efficient way a museum could be designed. It's basically just one long line. No AC is the cherry on top of it all The chapel itself is amazing, but it's overcrowded and loud which takes away from the awe of Michelangelo's most famous works. read more

It's beautiful and the home of the Sistine Chapel so if you've come all the way to Rome, then you must come here. You can reserve your spot ahead of time or pay for a guided tour but you will pay more. You can wait in the line for those who don't have a reservation, and you will wait a good but, but it's only 17 euros to see everything in the museum. No pictures in the Sistine Chapel and yes, there are people walking around monitoring that. read more

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The best site to see unless you are a heathen or heretic. Absolutely stunning and detailed inside when artists had talent and love with inspiration that cannot be duplicated today. read more

Simply outstanding! There is more here to see than can be seen: More to do than is possible to do (Cue the "Circle of Life Music")! While the Sistine Chapel reigns supreme here, there are so many other wonderful things to see that it requires multiple visits to be able to engage. The wonders are all around you: Above, below and at the sides. While spotting an amazing ceiling in one section, I noted that the floor was covered in mosaics...wow! Yet, perhaps the most important thing for me is that this is more than a museum, it's sacred ground. A lot of us have forgotten how to act and dress in places that are set apart...which is too bad. Bottom line, this is worth you time and effort to get here. read more

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"My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness. " - Michelangelo I once had a dream that I met Michelangelo and the other legendary artists from the Renaissance. It usually ended with me waking up for another mundane day of work. The Musei Vaticani aka Vatican Museum has always been high on my bucket list even as a young Roman Catholic boy growing up in faith. I even promised Dad that we'd go one day. Then I remember we have just one lifetime to live. Finally the opportunity arose when I booked flights to London, Paris and Barcelona. I was all set via British Airways and Orbitz, yet that dream kept reminding me that Michelangelo was waiting for me in Roma! Enough! The time is now and so I booked a flight to Leonardo Da Vinci Airport too. And so glad I did... High on my "When in Rome" list was Musei Vaticani in the Holy See. I mean Sistine Chapel, Raphael, Leonardo, Pope Francis;). Of course, meeting Michelangelo and chatting "The Creation of Adam" was a must! The early morning finally arrived where I would meet my private guide who would lead me into Musei Vaticani before the doors opened to the general public. I have absolutely no regrets paying the premium to get my VIP treatment. I mean it's not like everyday one visits the Holy See. I enter with my guide and after two or three security check points I am officially in Musei Vaticani. Words can't describe how incredible it is walking into the Renaissance and seeing all the masterpieces from the greats. Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo at the top of the heavens. The art from the old world mingling with the Vaticani's holy relics - breathtaking! And with all the paintings, statues, and frescoes to admire.. the one that resonated with me was the tapestry of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ following you. You need to be here to understand! Sistine Chapel was next, but I'll save it for my next review... Musei Vaticani House Rules: 1.) Clothing - Shoulders must be covered. No shorts, no miniskirts, no hats allowed. Be respectful, please! 2.) Bags - Luggage/large bags not allowed, but you can check it in the Cloakroom if necessary. Use discretion. 3.) Food - No food or drinks allowed. Again you can check it in the Cloakroom if necessary. 4.) Photography - Photography is welcome, however absolutely no flash photography or tripods allowed. The Sistine Chapel prohibits absolutely no photos or video. 5.) Mobile phones - You can use mobile phones as a camera, however it must be on vibrate or silent. Again, it is prohibited in the Sistine Chapel. In the end, I highly recommend Musei Vaticani, but realize I was on a private tour so I had more access without the crowds. I do know that pre-pandemic the lines seemed endless just to enter this historic museum, so if possible I'd suggest a private tour as well, or at the very least early arrival. Another tip is to purchase tickets in advance! You don't have to be a scholar, or a believer, or a Princess to enjoy Musei Vaticani and all the treasures she holds. Remember we have just one life to live. So live it! Michelangelo will be waiting for you... "I live and love in God's peculiar light." - Michelangelo This one's for you, Dad! Ti Amo... read more

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I booked the English-guided tour. Talked to the staff and was told just to wait for 10-15 min and he would let me in. There was no line - I guess I was the first in line. After some more people showed up, they let us in. I did see some long lines around, perhaps for individual entrance. There were also groups of people coming in organized by outside vendors. Our group had about 20 people or so. Our tour guide was enthusiastic throughout the tour. Many places in the museums were crowded but our lady guide was steadfast in leading us through the crowd, no easy task, which made this an enjoyable experience. If we had been left to explore on our own, we would have been lost quickly due to the enormous crowd. We were able to finish the museums (guided tour part), and the Sistine Chapel (which was just one large room full of people so it went pretty quickly), and then we bought the tickets to elevate/climb to the dome. Great experience (but need physical fitness to do that). When we came down the elevator, we found ourselves inside of the St. Peter's Basilica, which saved us hours of waiting to get in. Tip: buy the tour ticket through their official website (see links above). It is the best deal in value. I had a great experience without waiting in long lines. read more

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Vatican Museums We made the mistake of buying Lunch at the Vatican tickets. Yes, we got in without standing in line, but there are WAY better options as the food is just plain AWFUL. Cold, over-cooked, tasteless. The museums are wonderful but the Vatican (understandably) has a strict one-way policy. To get the hideous lunch we skipped an aisle that led to a room we particularly wanted to see - too bad for us - the guards would not let us reverse. They told us to go back outside and return that way. It was pouring rain, so we simply left. The Sistine Chapel is lovely and the museum is crammed with years of glorious art. It's open on Monday when other museums are closed, so is crowded, Tuesdays are also packed so choose other days to go. It will still be crowded, but not as bad. Definitely get advance skip the line tickets or go with a tour read more

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That first sentence I wrote a couple years ago is confusing! It should say there was literally no one *in line* to get into the museum. I walked right in, bought a ticket, and continued on. However, earlier in the day when we first arrived in The Vatican, the line snaked down the block. read more

Even though had front of line tickets AND a tour it did not make it worth it because you CANNOT see anything with how many people they pack in here. Think of sardines (and then think smaller) It's unbelievable because there is SO much beauty to look at but you cannot pause and actually enjoy because you are herded like sheep to pass through because there are that many people. They really need to think of limiting the max amount of people in here because I truly would recommend to *skip* unless they change their max # so people can actually enjoy the museum. read more

Like Colloseum, you have go have a reserved ticket, or arranged tour by a travel agency to get in faster. There are some deals on Tripadvisor you can get. Will let you know that the tour guides are making a lot of money of you with the packages selling you, but it is well worth it!!! The lines are extremely long to get in, not minutes, you will be waiting hours to get in, the earlier you go, more you will see!!! Again, they were saying Christmas is low season to them, i cannot imagine, how the high season is, because, it is insane, but also good to see people come and visit such a sacred place!! Love it. After you pass the security check, the tour guide proceeds to get the tickets, this is time you need to go use bathroom, you will not have any other chance while you are in there, because there will be so much to see. In Rome, do not leave Rome without seeing Vatican Museum, unbelievable, they have previous Pope's tombs, Michelangelo's paintings, statues, rugs!! You feel it in your bones, while you are walking around. It is a definitely a go to place every time you go over there. Came here Christmas Eve, couldn't get into the Basilica, watched it outside, it was a great feeling to be there! read more

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Even if you have only a passing interest in religion, architecture, or art, it's hard not to be blown away by the incredible beauty of the Vatican. The one area no one is allowed to photograph is the interior of the Sistine Chapel. In fact, it is even for bidden to talk in there, although there was muttering from people within that could be clearly heard the entire time I was in there. This is not a surprise: the beauty of this entire structure is legendary, but photographs and video fail to capture the true beauty that seeing it in person provides. To be honest, The Sistine Chapel was a lot smaller than I expected it to be. It's still a stunning achievement that Michelangelo painted the ceiling almost single-handedly. Our Withlocals tour guide explained that he initially protested that he is a sculptor, not a painter, so he had help in the early stages. But, once he got the hang of it, he dismissed his help. But, Saint Peter's Basilica is undoubtedly one of the greatest architectural achievements of the human race. It seems to go on forever, and every small portion of it is staggeringly beautiful. The only disappointment was the breakfast we had at the Vatican. I was expecting some elegant affair, but it was no better than the breakfast buffet we had at our hotel. And, it cost us €38 each. When in Rome, you must visit the Vatican. But, eat breakfast before you go. read more

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Located within the confines of the Vatican state, the museums hold over 70,000 pieces of artwork. A dual ticket can be purchased to see both the Sistine Chapel and the museums and I would suggest to spend at least half a day to explore this. I have booked online and it saved me at least 2-3 hours. When I was done with Basilica, I started for Museum (its 20 mins walk), and lines were too long, though it was 9 in the morning. Luckily I had booked online so I skipped the line and entered. At the kiosk, I exchanged and got a physical ticket. Tour group..!! God, I thought I would skip them but it seems all tour groups start their day from this place only. I hardly saw any of the art in peace. There were like 50 tour groups (50*30 = 1500 people together) walking with me. I was fed up. Anyway You'll find one of Vatican City's most notorious attractions housed within these walls - the Sistine Chapel (and Michelangelo's famous frescos). A tour of the Vatican Museums grants access to various sections of the palaces, the Sistine Chapel included. Attractions of the museums include the spiral staircase, the Raphael Rooms. Notable piece include the Transfiguration by Raphael, the Entombment of Christ by Caravaggio and the breathtaking gallery of maps, also The gallery of maps Museo chiaramonti Cortile della pigna - Also known as the Pinecone Courtyard, the Cortile della Pigna gets its name from the gigantic bronze pinecone that sits at one end of the square. There is an unusual gold sphere found opposite it known as Sfera con Sfera, or Sphere within a Sphere. The octagonal courtyard The spiral staircase Hall of the chariot & Sistine chapel - yes I mentioned again. It's worthy It's not like Louvre, its one straight walk and you have to move in one direction and it ends at Sistine chapel. So no confusion. The restroom is clean, you will even see post office when you will be done with the tour. Well, you can not afford to miss this when you are in Rome. read more

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Not worth the crowds, heat, money, or rude workers. You must go through a heated maze just to get to the Sistine Chapel. Once there, you are packed in like sardines and yelled at to not take pictures and to be silent . You do not have an option of just going to the chapel, you have to go through the museums that seem more like storage units. read more

People who have bad experiences with tour companies leave bad reviews. This is a 100 acre property which captures centuries of history from the Bible all captured in one location. It is simply beautiful. Yes, it is crowded but if you do your research, go in off times and it won't be bad. Also using a tour company will help with the experience. Simply amazing. So much history for one day. I'm read more

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Tons of history here! Be prepared to be on your feet for a long time as the tour takes you through a series of exhibits and halls before finally ending up to where you started. Oh and there are little to no seats along the way (except at the Sistine Chapel). Again, tons of history with over 2000+ years of artifacts, statues, paintings can be found here. Definitely a must if you're in town with the highlight of the tour is walking through the Sistine Chapel. Imagine how it took Michel Angelo several years to paint the ceilings while looking up, and I was only inside for 10 minutes already complaining how my neck hurts. Plan accordingly. Closed on Sundays. Walking and on your feet for awhile, and hallways that may have too much congestion. read more

A truly horrendous experience of extraordinary crowding by the thousands. No way to enjoy art being pushed and shoved for 2 hours with no escape read more

I have a love/hate relationship with the Vatican Museum. On one hand, I don't like throwing even more money at the Catholic Church (and tickets here are EXPENSIVE!) for obvious reasons but on the other hand, the museum houses some of the most incredible works of art ever created by humankind -- so it's something everyone should see at least once in their lives. I've had the good fortune to visit the Vatican Museum twice, and I still haven't seen it all. I would recommend you plan to spend at least an entire day here from opening until closing. Even then, if you're an art lover like me, you won't even begin to make a dent in the exhibits. Most everything has been covered in these reviews, but let me add a few things: 1. Make sure you are covered with your clothing. Modest dress is required, so cover those shoulders and bare legs. 2. Wear your most comfortable shoes because this museum is not only huge, the floors are unforgiving marble. There are few places to sit. 3. Avoid the museum's snack bar, at least if you want a good cup of Italian espresso (you won't find it here, just a tiny plastic cup filled with sludge). 4. Bring mini binoculars to better view the Sistine Chapel. Maybe tissues too, because it moved me to tears when I first saw it (seriously THE single greatest work of art EVER created). Get here early, stay late, plan to spend the entire day. And try to forget what your steep entry ticket fee is going to support. read more

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Wow! It was so glorious walking through the halls, on the pavements and in the majestic rooms of Vatican land! Can you imagine painting all throughout the day and especially at night with candles back in the day hanging sideways to the ceiling? Amazing and dedication right there! Before there was Google maps, they had to paint out the geography of each Italian city. The maps on the walls, are a great sight to see, surely! Sistine Chapel has so much that's left to self-interpretation. One cannot speak inside not take pictures. It was a moment only spent time! The basilica and entirety of the Vatican outside, gave me an awe moment. It's just so majestic! I dared to the Dome steps! The higher you go, the more narrow the steps are. The panoramic view is well worth the entry cash fee. It's admirable and one can be quite content up on top of this dome. It's incredible and historic how the Vatican is left untouched after so many centuries as well as left well preserved! read more

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SO much history here, it's insane. You could literally spend a week in the museums and probably not see anything. I was part of a tour, Key Masters tour which I'm not basing my review on, where you show up early in the morning and follow the Key master around as he opens the door before any of the public gets to go in. So were were walking around the museum, looking at everything, in a small group of 10. And then the Sistine Chapel, you think it's breathtaking when you normally go? Try going when you and only 10 other people are there. I will definitely go back when I visit Rome again. read more

Outstanding. I visited about 20 years ago, and this time around (10 days ago or so), it was still awesome. 20,000 works of art are on display (oh sure, I counted them!). Allow a minimum of 3 hours. [Note: Sistine chapel and St Peter's Basilica will be a separate Yelp review] My favorites: the pope-mobile's (carriages and cars), the sheer architecture, the gardens, the fresco ceilings, many of the statues, and modern collections of religious art. Sunday's are free, expect 2-3 hours in line to get in. The Front of Line passes are a must, seek it out ahead of time and purchase online. read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

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Hot. Crowded. Overwhelming amount of art. I felt as if I was a rat in a BF Skinner maze. The exit process is excruciatingly painful. Never again. €67 for 2 as we paid for fast, easy entry. read more

It had been about 10 years since my last visit and nearly 40 years since I had been to the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica in my childhood. Every time I returned since the late 70's, it's not as awe inspiring and beautiful as before. Many of the areas that I enjoyed are closed off. Many works of art have been removed and replaced with modern art which doesn't fit in this setting. The best parts in the museum were the long elegantly designed/decorated corridors which connect different portions of the museum that they allow you to walk through. During our last visit in October (2018), there were many sections curtained off due to remodeling/construction. Certain parts of the floor had missing tiles. So it's understandable that the busiest museum in the world would deteriorate so quickly. Sistine chapel was as beautiful as I remember and even better. The colors were restored and very vibrant compared to before. They left certain sections with the aged paint so you could see the difference. Although they said no photos allowed, I kept seeing people taking pictures. Now I wish I had taken pictures as well. My other favorite part of Sistine were the painted drapes on the walls. They looked very realistic and luxurious. Whether you're religious or not, there's art to be appreciated. So there's literally something for everyone. As far as St. Peter's Basilica, they've closed off many sections. I would say that we were only able to walk through 50% of the church. It's still beautiful and for a religious person, it's moving. The only reason for not giving 5 stars us because so many sections were closed off that we couldn't fully enjoy and felt rushed. read more

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For an additional 17 euros, you can enter the Vatican Museums while in the Vatican City. I recommend paying the additional 4 euros to "skip the line", as there is always a long line here year round. In the museum, you will see a beautiful collection of paintings (mainly from the Renaissance period) and many Roman sculptures. The highlight though is the Sistine Chapel. The art on the walls and ceiling are a wonder to behold. Michaelangelo's super famous "Creation of Adam" is on this very ceiling. read more

What can I say about the Vatican Museum that has not already been said? Not much. This is such an amazing and monumental place that takes your breath away. I am not. Religious person by any stretch of the imagination, but I can appreciate the mastery of the works of art I witnesses. The biggest one of them, of course, The Sixteenth Chapel. My husband is a HUGE fan of Michelangelo and we were truly in awe. They tell you not to take pictures, but I snuck a few. Other wonderful things I saw was a huge hall of statues, works from Raphael and countless amazing paintings and religious artifacts. I could go on an on, but it's just too much. A few things I can say that will save you time are. But your tickets in advance, and go with a group. There is an Italian Government program that ia about $100 per person, but includes Vatican, Colosseum, The Forum, and a few others, transportation. And no lines. It is really worth the money. I loved Rome and this museum is one of it's crown jewels among many. read more

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You'll see a massive line, which means you have arrived to the most popular museum in Rome. Purchase your tickets online to avoid waiting 3 hours for entry, arrive at your time slot and you'll be in within 10 minutes. The Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica tour can be purchased at a combo rate online, so plan to see both since they're on the same site in Vatican City. You'll probably only need a couple hours here, there are no photos allowed in the Sistine Chapel but it is absolutely breathtaking. Awesome experience and a must see while in Rome - Best, Charlie read more

Musei Vaticani - Museums Near Me - Rome, RM

The Vatican Museum (Musei Vaticani) is a must-see destination in Rome even thought it isn't quite a 5-star experience. The crowds, costs, and limitations in some places (like photography of the Sistine Chapel) makes the hours you spend there a lot less inspirational and relaxing from what it could be. Regardless of the hordes, there is still A LOT of impressive art throughout Musei Vaticani including legendary huge wall frescoes by Raphael and other Italian masters plus modern and contemporary Christian expressions as well. Of course, THE MAIN ATTRACTION is the Sistine Chapel with iconic (and totally beautiful) ceiling and Last Judgment wall frescoes painted by the one-and-only Michelangelo. The tour groups and crowds around any masterpiece were a real negative with 4-5 guides speaking at once in a variety of languages while tourists (like me) jostled for positioning to see/photograph the art. In the Sistine Chapel, it is MUCH quieter because talking is shushed and no cameras/phones are allowed, but there are even more people and almost no room to breathe during peak hours. They are pretty religious about the no photography and speaking rule in its most popular chapel. We did a pre-purchased 34€ English-language tour with headsets offered by the Vatican Museum. It lasted about 3 hours and included access to St. Peter's Basilica at the end. The guide was a-ok. I learned a lot and we moved at a brisk pace even though by the end I was kind of burnt out on it all and needed a break. I think I'd like exploring the museum at a slower pace and over many days. Again, I'm a fan of the Musei Vaticani and list the museum as a must-do experience at least once when visiting Rome to see the art, the impressive halls, and, of course, the Sistine Chapel. read more

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