Rome Forum: Vatican Tour with children

I think rather than a tour, where you will be forced to go with others, or even if private, do it at the tour guide's pace, I would see it at your kids' pace.

Nothing spoils great art faster than forcing it on the observer.

We took our kids to the Vatican museums when they were 12 and 14, if memory serves. A few times we were in a crowded space, but many times we were able to break away from the crowds, so to speak, and just linger where we wanted. I well remember my kids fighting over my camera in the animal room.

It is well worth it, but a long day.

Sorry to answer a question on your thread domrocsmom but it is in regards to something that Prestotours has written

~ this is a great piece of information regarding the late opening on a friday, as we arrive into Rome on the 30th May (wed) so could schedule this for the friday night as it is just myself and my 11 year old. What sort of time would you suggest would be a good time to aim to get there to begin to wandering around, I do not know whether to take a guided tour with my son, or just to wander around and through at our own pace, but this would give us something to do in the evening as well as just doing all museums etc in the daytime, as often we just "wander" in evenings if we don't have anything preplanned.

TIA, Kat x

I consider age 10 to be about the lower age limit that I would consider taking a child to the Vatican Museums. I suggest you try the new audio tour especially for children. Several families have reported that their kids enjoyed it; it's a sort of treasure hunt through the museums.

The Egyptian section should really be a big attraction for 10-year-olds. Tours almost never go there, and it's not crowded. The Etruscan section is even less crowded, and has some wonderful artifacts from this ancient pre-Roman civilization. You might have to do a little research on the Etruscans and explain their history to your sons.

We used Daniella Hunt for our tour of the ancient Rome sights and she was excellent with my daughter who was 13. She also does tours of the Vatican Museums but we didn't do a tour at the Vatican. Her website is:

www.rome-tours.com

UK, they are not doing the Friday nights at the museums right now and I'm not sure which month they will start them again. It's usually during the summer when crowds are very high. Last summer they opened on Friday night at 7 pm. You'll be able to purchase entry tickets online as soon as they announce the Friday nights. You can book about 6 weeks or so in advance so it's much too early now. Not all the rooms in the museums will be open so you'll need to check the list to be sure the rooms you're most interested in will be open, if not, you might want to book tickets for a daytime visit.

Just keep checking the vatican website to see when they make the announcement.

Donna

Thanks so much everyone for your great comments and suggestions. I think we will skip a tour guide and keep checking back on the Vatican website to see if they are going to open up a late night. The Egyptian exhibit sounds perfect (even thought it's not "Roman") and definitely let them wander. If we aren't lucky enough to get a Fri night opening, does anyone have a suggestion as to what time of day would be least crowded? First thing in the morning, or later before closing? Thanks so much again!

Is the Sistine Chapel open during the late night hours?

Hi dbabe

"UK, they are not doing the Friday nights at the museums right now and I'm not sure which month they will start them again. It's usually during the summer when crowds are very high. Last summer they opened on Friday night at 7 pm. You'll be able to purchase entry tickets online as soon as they announce the Friday nights."

Prestotours had posted to say that these evenings were beginning from May (and these tours are bookable on a couple of tour sites and viator) including the date we would be looking at of June1st ~ someone had briefly mentioned on a different place that you had to be part of a pre booked tour/agent and I was just trying to find out if this was the case of if tickets would be available to individuals as well. Unsure if we want a guided tour with my 11 year old, or whether to do it ourselves :)

Thanks so much for your reply. Kat

You don't need to be on a "pre-booked" tour to do the nights at the Vatican. Once they start up you can buy entry tickets or book a tour directly with the Vatican which will save you a lot of money. Any site telling you that you must book now is just trying to take your money. Just wait a month or two and check the Vatican website. It will have it listed for entry tickets and tours.

…vatican.va/musei/tickets/do…

As I said earlier, tickets are not available right now on the website so any company selling them is just guessing at the date they will become available.

Donna