I've been reading about different options for having a guided tour of the Vatican Museums. Since I will have my mother (68) and maybe one or 2 kids (7, 12), I would like to get a reservation to avoid the lines.

After researching, I think a good option is to do the official tour offered by the Vatican- about 30E which includes headphone, short line and a guide.

My question is if I fax my request exactly a month before the date, how strong is my chance of getting into a tour? This will be in mid-June - either a Tuesday or Thursday. I'm also going to try to get tickets to the Papal Audience on Wednesday. I just don't want to wait until a month before and then not get in and have to find another option.

What do you experts think? Are my chances strong for getting a reservation? How soon do you get a response back?

If you go to the Vatican website, I understand that they have now added an email reservation option, and you get your reply within a day or so.

We did the fax system last year for both the Vatican Museums and the gardens. We sent separate faxes for each, once a month before and a second time, the week before. We got both tickets by fax from the Vatican at our hotel in Rome a day or two before each tour.

One tip is to follow directions! Give the name and town of each person and any other requested info. Be clear and simple in your language.

I'd try the email option first and good luck.

People are reporting in another travel forum that they are getting replies by email within a few days.

The rule that requests must be made by fax no longer applies. Email requests - include time, date, number of people, language; including names of each person is not a bad idea - can be sent to visiteguidate.musei@scv.va.

Thanks! I'll send an email exactly one month before! It seems to be a great option for avoiding long lines and I think the price is good.

I can confirm that the museum office should confirm your reservation request rather quickly. I received a confirmation for my request for a tour 30 days out the very next day by e-mail. And that was this week.

Great news! Thanks, Mako!

I may a reservation the first week of April for 29 May 2008. I emailed the Vatican one evening and the next morning had the confirmation . I have a morning time which I believe will be cooler others that waited a month prior are getting afternoon times

Here is the email address I am using.
visiteguidate.musei@scv.va

Good luck

quote:

Originally posted by Tcocktail:
I made a reservation the first week of April for 29 May 2008. I emailed the Vatican one evening and the next morning had the confirmation . I have a morning time which I believe will be cooler others that waited a month prior are getting afternoon times

Here is the email address I am using.
visiteguidate.musei@scv.va

Good luck

Interesting! Was it for an individual tour or a group tour? On the website, it says groups can book 2 months ahead, individuals are one month. Maybe I'll try 6-7 weeks before.

It was for an individual tour. I just thougt that I would try and see what happens. Good thing I did too. Would not like to be on that tour in the afternoon it could be hot.

Just to conclude, I emailed my reservation request last night and got my confirmation this morning - for a 10 am tour! We're about 5-6 weeks away from the tour date. Yippee!!! Thanks for all the info everyone!