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I want to buy a guided tour of the Vatican Museums from their official website. Their options only include the museums, not the Basilica. I don't want to spend endless hours waiting in the queue for the Basilica, so does this tour entitle me to use the door that connects the museum to the basilica?

I don't want to buy a tour from a private company, because even the cheapest one is literally double the price. But short of a tour that includes the Basilica- i can't find an option to skip that queue. And there has been no consensus on travel forums on whether someone who has taken the official tour can use that door.

V Prah
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3 Answers3

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Yes, you can. When you are in the Sistine chapel, there are two exits, the signs aren't particularly prominent, but one will lead you to a corridor the endpoint of which is past the security checks for the basilica, i.e. you are still outside the basilica, but past the queues. You might have to ask a guard in the chapel if you can't see it and the guides in the Vatican museums also know this - that's how I learned where to go. (Did this at the beginning of June.)

From @GoodDeeds comment who remembers more details than I did: "when you exit the Sistine Chapel, take the exit on the far right corner, instead of the one on the near left corner. The exit you need to take will also have signs saying that re-entry to the museum will no longer be possible"

Mark Johnson
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Marianne013
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No, you cannot. After the museum tour you'll need to join the basilica queue. Good news: it moves relatively fast.

This is from my personal experience last year. If things have changed since - great.

oh whatever
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You don't want to try to use the back door from the museums to the basilica. It's not a good idea for many reasons. First of all, you could be breaking the rules and get in trouble with the security.

They might kick you out or ban you from coming back. Second, you could be trespassing on a private area that is not meant for visitors. That could get you into legal trouble or even arrested. You would also be cutting in line and being rude to other people who are waiting patiently for their turn. That's not very nice or respectful. Remember that the Vatican is not just a tourist attraction, but a sacred place of worship and history.

You should follow the proper procedures and show some reverence. Taking shortcuts is not the way to do that. You could end up ruining your whole trip if you get caught and have to deal with the consequences. It's not worth the risk for a few minutes of time. So please, don't try to sneak into St. Peter's Basilica from the Vatican Museums. It's better to go through the main entrance and enjoy the experience as it is meant to be.

Uk rain troll
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