Vatican

[user1471464218]

I'm going to Rome next week. I've looked at too many blogs and guides, and just want to confirm that I've understood....

I can go into the Vatican city and this is free and there's no big queue.

But if I want to go into the museums, which includes the Sistine chapel and st Peter's basilica, I pay for this and there are big queues. And I can't do that on a Wednesday or a Sunday.

I don't have loads of time so will probably return to Rome. Is there anything interesting to see in the Vatican city, apart from the museum/ gardens part, and looking at the buildings from the outside?

I went to the Vatican, there were not loads of people and only 18 Euros to get in and absolutely worth it, enjoy Rome, I loved it.

You don't need a ticket to go into St Peter's, though there is often a line.

It does not cost anything to go to the vatican. There is no border control! It is also free to go into St Peter's (although you need to pay to go on the rooftop). Queues for security get very long though. We went when it opened and waited about 10 minutes. The time before I went in the afternoon and it took over an hour.

Castel Sant'angelo is worth a visit but I think it's actually Rome, very close though!

Agree St Peters is free if you queue up. You can wander around the square too. Vatican museum and Sistine chapel is worth it but probably best first or last thing to miss crowds and book a time to skip the queue, Rome itself is great just to stroll around and pop into churches and ruins. Borghese gardens are also free to walk around.

Go as early as you can the queues are less. St. Peter’s is free. Going up into the dome isn’t but it’s well worth it in my opinion. The views are fabulous.
You can go into the Church’s - all of them will have something fabulous or rare to look at. Paintings, relics etc.

You must go to St Peter's - it is one of the most amazing buildings in the world.

Hi I'm here now in rome!!! St. Peter's is free but the museums (including the Sistine chapel) is a paid experience. Make sure you have a shawl or wear a t shirt as they are very strict in the chapel and won't let you in with bare shoulders. The museums are a bit of a walk round the city walls away from the basilica - follow the signs! We went around 8am to St. Peter's today and got in without too much queuing only around 10 mins. Make sure you see the papal tombs behind the statue of st Andrew it's a little unmarked door. Oh and the pieta obvs. And you can send a postcard from Vatican City

anything else you'd like to know? I'm drinking negroni and happy to chat 😂

campo di fiori now

The Vatican Museums are so worth it. Such treasures! They are several buildings in a garden.
Seriously you are in Rome, you can't miss the Sistine chapel , It not even that expensive, less than a takeaway.

Groups go in the morning. If you go a 2pm, and have an online ticket, you won't find queue.
Pantheon is free. Fontana di Trevi, Piazza di Spagna, are nice area to look at.
The colosseum is incredible, and the ticket gets you access to the Forum. If you select the guided tour which is very inexpensive, you have access to the basements and avoid queues/

Thanks all and @Highamite any bars or restaurants that you've been to that are particularly good? Good for us means interesting, bit different to home, don't mind a couple of dearer meals and would like a couple of 2 course meals with wine for £30 if that's possible?!?

Oh, and anywhere nice to chill in the afternoon? We are planning to be up and out early for Vatican one day and pantheon another day so reckon we will need a rest to get through. We've got two full days then fly home evening of the third day.

And I do want to send a postcard from Vatican city. Probably also send one from Rome so they can race and I will see if Vatican postal service is as prompt as they say!

You know it's weird @user1471464218 i haven't had an amazing meal this time it's all been pretty standard. Ok but not spectacular. For example a negroni is €7. Carbonara is €13-15. Pizza is is the same. It's all gone a bit generic now. Red wine my dh is drinking is €25 a bottle and my frascati (when in rome) is €7 a (small) glass. Not a cheap few days - we have spent £1000 in 5 days not including the hotel rooms (2 because our ds is 20) which we booked a year ago. I asked today and for next week the same rooms are £2000. Madness

Buy skip the queue tickets!! This is needed!

we have had this rescheduled a few times we were originally supposed to go 3 years ago when ds was doing classics a level now he's reading classics at uni haha

Here's my bill for tonight

We were in Rome in July. We went to st Peter's basilica at 5pm, (was open until 7.15pm) no queue in the heat, no cost. We didn't do the museums due to queues and cost. You must have pre-booked tickets if you go to the Colosseum, can't buy on site. We had ones which gave us access to Palatine hill and Roman forum. Agree with previous poster about covering shoulders for st peter's and pantheon. You need cash for Vatican post unless over €5 I think! A stamp was about €1.30! Enjoy your trip.

Villa Borghese is a lovely park to wander round and we found delicious ice cream there as well!

Eating out is very very cheap if you avoid tourist traps with hustlers trying to get you in. You're looking for menus with typical dishes- so for Rome, carbonara, amatriciana and cacio e Pepe for pasta dishes. You should be paying in the region of 10-15 euro per head tops for typical pasta. Obviously if you go for meat or fish, you'll pay more.
I can recommend Arlu just outside the Vatican walls or basically anywhere in Trastevere (also within walking distance of the Vatican)

Other places to visit apart from those already mentioned- the Knights of Malta keyhole (the famous view of St. Peter's) the Protestant cemetary, the Pantheon (also free to get in)

You won't need very long in the Pantheon, amazing though it is. We did it in about an hour including the queue and audio guide, and had the best, and cheapest ravioli I've ever had in my life in a tiny side street nearby!

There are loads of small authentic restaurants in Trastevere that were always busy with locals. Also highly recommend a food tour around Trastevere. We found some hidden gems on the tour that we returned to later, tried some amazing food and wine and they also told us how to spot the good gelato and places to avoid.

Food tour sounds very interesting. Which one did you book?

Thanks for all the other tips.

Isn't Vatican City separate to the Basilica though, I.e a principality/it's own country? Can you just wander round?

I'm so so jealous! I ❤️ Rome.

Pantheon is worth visiting early so you can find a spot on the edge and take it in. It's a very impressive structure. When outside look how far down the foundation's go.

There is an amazing coffee shop (standing only) on the corner facing Pantheon

www.tazzadorocoffeeshop.com/