Q: Can I see the Vatican in one day?

A: Maybe. It all depends on the choices you make ahead of your trip.

People who travel to Rome ask this question more than any other. And the answer is not that simple because it all depends on how deep you want to go into the various experiences that are on offer. The most popular draw are the Vatican Museums. Within its literal borders, The Vatican has more priceless artwork per square foot than most art establishments in the world. As you can imagine, it’s a popular hot spot on Rome’s grand tour. In fact, up to 20,000 people could file through to see marvels like the Laocoon and the Sistine Chapel each day! It can be very overwhelming! But, beyond the 9 miles of museum hallways, there is a lot more on offer.

With a little careful planning, you can enjoy the best the Vatican has to offer with a few clicks. First, do not buy any tickets from an outside source. They are inflating the price and are taking advantage of you. Instead, go straight to the source. In addition to getting a reservation at the museum, there are a few other tickets and stops worth looking into.

There is no denying that St. Peter’s Basilica is the finest church in Christendom. The sanctuary can hold over 10,000 people at one time! Luckily there are a lot less visitors at any given time. You can enter for free but you do need to wait in the security check line which can take a while! Once you pass through, you’ll see a smaller line towards the left.

You can climb the 550 steps up Michelangelo’s Dome and take in the breadth of the Holy See and the city beyond. It costs 10 Euro, cash or card. Plus, there’s a little coffee shop up there and the quietest gift shop in the whole country is right next door. The Italians think of everything. Back on ground level, you can access the Scavi.

Get to the Office of the Scavi early so you can pop in to the Teutonic Cemetery just across the way. It’s free to look around. Lastly, if you intend to get in to the weekly audience with the Pope, you’ll need to request your tickets for that as well. There are two ways to go about it. You can either check in with your local parish and find out of your diocese has any available for your dates or request them directly from the Prefecture of the Papal Household.

Through a little known procedure, you can also get a reservation to see the Tomb of St. Peter. To do this, you must make a request through the Office of The Scavi. This will allow you to see the ancient necropolis, St. Peter’s resting place, and the Clementine Chapel if this request is approved. The experience leaves you at the back of the grotto (or catacombs).

Read this helpful tip! Don’t get the Necropolis that is offered through the Museum confused with the one offered through the Scavi. Do go see the second site located under a parking garage if you love archeology. Those tickets can be purchased at the same time you get your full museum pass.

Head back to the museum again if you’d like to walk the Vatican Gardens with a tour guide. The gardens are stunning especially in late Spring when Rome is in full bloom.

So, if we were to let you in on how we would take on Vatican City fully, we’d do it over two or three days like this:

• Day One: Breakfast at the museum VIP ticket, get in before the crowds and spring for the tour guide. Leave no later than lunchtime. Enjoy something else for a while.
• Day Two: Early Scavi Tour stopping at the Teutonic Cemetery and chapel beforehand. The tour will put you in the perfect spot to enjoy the grottos. Wind your way around to the duomo line and go climb to the top for one of the best vies in all of Rome. Stop for a drink after your climb then make your way down to the basilica. Leave no later than lunchtime. Enjoy something else for a while.
• Day Three: Check out the optional ticket choices like the gardens or the necropolis or revisit the basilica to take it in one last time. Leave no later than lunchtime and enjoy something else for a while!

And that might be our best tip. Trying to cram in everything that Rome and the Vatican have to offer is hard, strike a balance between the Roman stuff and the Vatican stuff to ensure that you get the best of both without feeling overwhelmed.