And for good reason — the Vatican, the world’s smallest independent state, is the home base of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope.

It also houses the world’s most important collection of classical sculptures and Renaissance art within the Vatican Museums — including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, which alone attracts a whopping 4 million visitors per year.

Related: Cheap hotels near Vatican Museums | Best budget hotels in Rome

Tips for visiting the Vatican

You are bound to have company as you visit these popular sights. Fortunately, you can avoid the worst of the crowds and maximize your enjoyment of these sights with some insider tips and careful planning!

1. Book your Vatican Museums tickets online

Don’t be one of those people waiting outside the Vatican Museums in a three-hour line! Book your ticket in advance online at the Vatican website, then head straight for the ticket office to pick up your tickets and go right into the Museums.

Note that there is an extra €4 fee for booking online, but the time you save is worth it. Remember to print your tickets, as the attendant will need to scan the barcode as you enter.

2. Go early or go late

Although you’ll avoid the worst of the crowds by skipping the line, you’ll still be wandering around the Museums with many people – about 25,000 people visit the museum every day. You can have more space to yourself if you visit outside peak late morning hours.

We’d recommend going first thing in the morning when the museum opens at 9 am, or after lunch when the crowds have died down. Make sure to enter by 3 pm to allow enough time to visit the plethora of art–remember that the Museums close at 6 pm.

3. If possible, visit from Tuesday to Friday

If your schedule allows, try to visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica from Tuesday to Friday, avoiding the weekend and Monday. Tourists flock to these sights on Mondays, when other museums in Rome are closed, and, of course, over the weekends.

By visiting on weekdays you will be able to beat some of the crowds and have a more relaxed visit. If possible, visit the Museums on a Wednesday while the Pope is having his weekly morning audience in St. Peter’s square.

4. Visit during the off-season

If you have some flexibility with the timing of your visit to Rome, try visiting the city during “off-season” when the weather is still mild and the city has fewer tourists. Visiting during this time allows you to see sights without lines and crowds, and gives you a unique perspective on how Romans really live.

Although Rome is never a vacant city, you will find far fewer visitors from mid-January to March and from November to mid-December.

5. Visit the Museums on a “free” day… but come early.

The Vatican Museums are free on the last Sunday of each month and on World Tourism Day (September 27). On these days you can visit the Museums without paying the entrance fee.

Note that you should get there very early or go towards the end of the day (4 pm is the last entrance), as you won’t be alone!

Don’t skip the spectacular Map Room in your rush to the Sistine Chapel! Photo: stefanorometours

6. Pace yourself

The Museums are extensive and take at least three hours to get through. It’s important to keep in mind that you won’t see the Sistine Chapel until the end of the Museums visit, and while you can jump ahead to it, that would be a pity, given the amazing works that you’d be skipping over.

Highlights of the Museums include the Map Room and the Rooms of Raphael with the famous School of Athens. Check out this map of the Museums to know where to allocate more or less time as you make your way through the 54 rooms.

7. Take the secret passageway from the Sistine Chapel straight into the Basilica

After you visit the Sistine Chapel there is a secret passageway that takes you straight into Saint Peter’s Basilica. Take it, as it saves you the hassle of leaving the Museums and walking through St. Peter’s square only to face another long line of tourists.

Note that this passageway is technically only supposed to be used by tour groups, so you might just want to hang out and wait for one to start through and walk with them!

8. Take the elevator halfway up to the cupola

The view from the top of Saint Peter’s is a well worth a visit… but the 551 steps to the top can be daunting and difficult if you aren’t in shape or suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia. Seriously.

You can avoid the worst of the climb by taking an elevator halfway up and continue the rest by foot for €7. Note that you will still have to climb 320 steps and that there is only one passage for climbing up and back down, so you should skip this experience altogether if you feel uncomfortable in narrow spaces.

9. Dress appropriately in order to enter

The Vatican is a holy area and to enter the Museums and the Basilica you must dress appropriately — covering shoulders, thighs, neckline, and midriffs. This means no shorts and no tank tops. Long shorts and t-shirts are fine for men. Women should wear longer skirts/dresses (or pants) and bring a shawl to cover their shoulders. All backpacks and umbrellas must be checked before you enter the Museums, as well, so try to pack light as you visit these sights.

10. Eat before your visit

Many of the restaurants and cafés immediately surrounding the Vatican are overpriced and underwhelming. They take advantage of tourists who are hoping for a quick bite to eat before or after visiting the sights. For example, the café located just opposite the Vatican Museums “Caffe Vaticano”, is notoriously expensive and known for charging unsuspecting tourists an arm and a leg for a coffee or simple sandwich.

Instead, try one of these budget eateries near the Vatican before your visit, all within a three-minute walk from the Vatican Museums:

• Habemus Pizza (pizza by the slice)
• Duecentogradi (sandwiches)
• Fa-Bio (salads)

Saving at the Vatican and Vatican Museums

Whereas entrance to Saint Peter’s Basilica is free, discounts are hard to come by at the Vatican Museums, which cost €17 to enter.

You can qualify for a reduced ticket if you are between 6-18 years of age, if you’re a student up to 25 years of age (with valid ID or International Student Card), or a priest or religious employee (with documentation). Children under 6 are free.

See the full list of reduced price tickets on this page.

Hours

Vatican Museums

Opening times: Mon-Sat, 9 am-6 pm (last entry at 4 pm).

The last Sunday of each month the museum is free and open from 9 am-2 pm (last entry at 12:30 pm) but this day is extremely crowded. For more specific information, visit the Vatican Museums website.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

October 1 – March 31: Open daily, from 7 am – 6:30 pm
April 1 – September 30: Open daily from 7 am – 7 pm

Saint Peter’s Cupola

October 1 – March 31: Open daily from 8 am – 5 pm
April 1 – September 30: Open daily from 8 am – 6 pm

Cheap hotels near the Vatican

Get an early start to your visit by staying at one of our recommended budget-friendly hotels near the Vatican, including the Marta Guest House. Or search all hotels available for your dates in Rome.

More Rome advice

Looking for more ways to save time and money in Rome? Check out all of our articles in our Rome guide.

The post Rome: 10 tips for visiting St. Peter’s Basilica & the Vatican Museums appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Welcome to European travel at its most popular—and most frustrating.  And these most popular attractions only seem to get busier with each passing year, filling up with tourists even during the slower seasons.

But before you head back to your hotel to sip a bottle of wine in misery, take a deep breath and relax. Despite millions of other tourists descending upon the same museum, church or ruin every year, there are still ways to beat the crowds and save time in Europe.

Here are 10 insider tips to let you spend more time experiencing these sights—and less time experiencing the line.

9 tips to help you save time in Europe

Beat the crowds and get this incredible view when you visit the Eiffel Tower in the evening. Photo: Miguel Mendez

1. Eiffel Tower: Book in advance, and head up around dinner time

The Eiffel Tower sure is pretty to look at from a distance. During peak summer season, save time waiting in a ticket line by booking your Tower tickets in advance through the official Eiffel Tower website. (Careful — lots of ticket agencies would like to sell you more expensive versions of the same ticket. Buy yours directly from the Eiffel Tower website.)

To avoid the biggest crowds in high season, plan on an early or late dinner and schedule your Tower visit for 8 or 9 pm. Not only will you catch the sunset, but you’ll miss most of the other Paris lovers who will be out to dinner.

Related: Our favorite budget hotels near the Eiffel Tower

2. Louvre: Stay up late on Wednesdays & Fridays

On Wednesday and Friday the Louvre is open until 9:45 pm. We know it’s tempting to visit Mona early in the day when everyone’s fresh, but coming after dark means that you’ll miss the herds of school groups, extended families and tour groups that arrive around 10 a.m.

And no matter what time you come, enter through the Carrousel du Louvre entrance. Waiting to pass through security under the main pyramid is an unnecessary time waster.

Related: Read more Louvre tips | Favorite budget hotels near the Louvre

3. Anne Frank House: Get your tickets way in advance

There’s no way around it. If you just show up on a Saturday afternoon in summer expecting to saunter right into the Anne Frank House, you’re going to be disappointed. So many tourists in Amsterdam are shocked that you have to get tickets in advance. It is the only way to see the museum now. It’s too bad if you don’t get in as this is one of Europe’s most powerful experiences.

Just plan ahead and get your tickets in advance either two months in advance or the day of (if you’re lucky!). Check out our full guide to getting Anne Frank House tickets for all of the details.

Related: 32 recommended budget hotels in Amsterdam

Tourists mingling and waiting outside of St. Mark’s Basilica. Photo: Dennis Jarvis

4. St. Mark’s Basilica: Skip ahead with online booking

There’s almost always a line to get into this stunning church—no matter what time of year you visit. Entry can easily take 45 minutes or longer during high season. And since this ancient basilica is still used for services, avoid Sunday mornings during mass and major Christian holidays, unless you’re planning to attend the service.

You can book entry tickets directly online to save time during the busier months. Total cost: only €2! This service is available from 1st of April to 2nd November and is a small price to pay for saving so much time.

Related: More tips for visiting Venice’s attractions. | Our 23 best budget hotels in Venice

5. Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s basilica: Visit Tuesdays through Fridays

St. Peter’s basilica has been a destination for pilgrims for centuries, and Pope Francis’ new-found popularity is bringing in even bigger crowds. With so many attractions to see in one place, from the stunning basilica to the fascinating museums that draws up to 25,000 people a day, visiting the Vatican area can be a little overwhelming.

You can book museum tickets online, but the key here is coming mid-week. The weekends (especially Sundays of course!) and Mondays are the busiest, so try to plan your schedule around them. Then go first thing in the morning or after lunch around 3 pm. Late morning usually sees the biggest number of visitors.

Check out 9 other tips on beating the crowds at the Vatican (including our tip for the secret entry between the Vatican museum and St. Peter’s).

Related: More ways to save in Rome | 37 recommended budget hotels in Rome

Tour buses, lines and oh so many tourists are a common site at the Colosseum. Photo: Dzhingarova

6. Colosseum: Get up very early

The Colosseum can only hold 3,000 people at a time, so you can imagine the backups that can ensue on the busiest days. If you can actually pull yourself out of bed and be in line by 8:15 a.m., you will be in good shape to be one of the first to get through the doors when they open at 8:30 a.m. You can also book online, if you prefer to sleep in

Bonus Tip: Another way to save a couple of euros (and some time, too) is to avoid all of the costumed Roman soldiers and gladiators looking to separate you from a few of your euros for a cheesy photo op. (Unless, of course, you want an epic holiday card to send to Uncle Jack this year.)

7. British Museum: Research and come prepared

The Elgin Marbles, Rosetta Stone, Lewis Chessmen, Parthenon Sculptures… it’s like Humanity’s Greatest Hits, and it’s free to visit! Just know that it’s on every other tourist’s list, too. While you can choose to zip through the biggies in under 60 minutes (there really is a guide for that!), we prefer to take our time and soak it all in.

However, do a little prep work or you’ll be wandering around all day. To get a head start, spend some time in the museum’s online collection or listen to a great series of BBC podcasts “A History of the World in 100 Objects.” Figure out what sounds good, and make a plan. Research has never been so fun!

Related: Read all of our tips for the British Museum | Best budget hotels in London

8. Buckingham Palace: Book ahead in summer, guard yourself otherwise

There are royal palaces. And then there’s Buckingham Palace, which boasts 775 rooms that stretch over a football (that’s American football) field long. Not to mention the posh royal ceremonies or the official Throne Room. This is the real deal.

Buckingham Palace opens its doors to tourists every summer from late July through the end of September. You should book those tickets online well in advance.

Visiting around the holidays? Travelers can splurge for one of the palace’s exclusive private tours, available to small groups from December 11, 2015 – January 31, 2016. Ticket prices are a hefty £75 per person.

Looking for a touch of the Prince but the price of a pauper? Swing by to experience the changing of the Guard for free. It takes place at 11:30 a.m. — daily during the summer and alternating days off-season. (Check out this schedule for more info.)

Prepare to be awestruck at La Sagrada Familia. If you get up early and beat the crowds. Photo: Antonio Tajuelo

9. La Sagrada Familia: Arrive early or go to mass

Barcelona is a feast for fans of architecture and Gaudí, with Park Güell, several residences like Casa Batlló and La Sagrada Familia, all easily accessible within the city’s boundaries. But if you only have time to see one of his master creations, La Sagrad Familia is probably the best bet—as long as you hit the sack early the night before.

The church opens at 9 a.m. every day of the year (including Christmas and New Year’s), so early arrivals can get a jump on the crowds no matter what season they come. Admission will cost you more than a handful of euros, but even on our cheapo budget, we think it’s well worth it. You should also consider attending mass at the Sagrada Familia — it’s not just free, it’s a moving experience.

Related: Read all of our tips for La Sagrada Familia | Recommended budget hotels in Barcelona

Your tips

Have some additional ways to save time and money at any of these tops attractions? Did we overlook something big? Share with us in the comments section below!

The post Secrets to saving time at Europe’s top attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

As the saying goes, when it rains it pours and the last place you want to be when traveling is stuck outside in the rain. When it’s raining like mad in Rome, you don’t want to be hanging out in the middle of the Roman forum, as there’s nowhere to take cover.

Never fret. Here’s a few of my favorite things to do when it rains in Rome:

1. Museums

An obvious first choice is to check out one or two of Rome’s famous museums. There’s the MAXXI, MACRO, Capitoline, Ara Pacis and of course, the mother of all museums, the Vatican Museums.

Even in the rain, the Sistine Chapel dazzles. Photo: Jim Forest

It’s probably already on your checklist, anyway. Who comes to Rome and skips over the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel? That would be sinful. What better way to spend a rainy day than losing yourself amidst works by some of the greatest artists in the world, including Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raffaello and Caravaggio.

Vatican Museums
Viale Vaticano
Metro A Ottaviano-San Pietro
Tel.: 06 69884676
Admission: €15
mv.vatican.va

Cheapo Tip# 1:

On the last Sunday of the month, the entrance is free. Beware of the long lines on any given day, especially when it’s free. However, if you don’t feel like waiting in line, you can simply buy the tickets online for €4 more and you can skip straight to the head of the line and into the museums. Simple as that!

Cheapo Tip #2:

On September 27, 2011, World Tourism Day, entrance to the Vatican Museums is free. The only catch is you have to make a reservation online to get the free entrance and pay a €2 per person reservation fee.

2. Pantheon

Not too many monuments can be fully appreciated during the rain. But there’s nothing more fascinating than entering the Pantheon during a downpour.

This temple-turned-Catholic church is something truly special to marvel at from the outside with its colossal dome. During a rainstorm, once inside the Pantheon you’ll witness a cascade of rain entering through the large circular hole at the top of the dome, creating a waterfall onto the resplendent marble floor, before draining away. The best part? It’s free.

3. Church Hopping

You’ll need an umbrella to get from church to church. But once inside, you’ll be nice and dry and you can also take in the beauty of each one at your own pace. Here are a few of my favorite Roman churches:

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Millions of pilgrims flock to Saint Peter’s Basilica, the largest and most important Catholic church in the world, every year. The burial site of its namesake, Saint Peter’s construction involved Italian masterminds Michelangelo, Raphael and Bramante, and took more than a century to complete.

Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Our Lady of the Altar in Heaven)

Nothing is more enchanting than the monumental sweeping staircase leading to the entrance of the Santa Maria in Aracoeli basilica, perched atop the Capitoline Hill. Its 137 steps were designed according to myths that celebrate the passing of the plague, the “Black Death.” Whew. Now that’s a climb! It’s best known for its carved wooden figurine of the Baby Jesus, the “Santo Bambino.”

Santa Maria sopra Minerva

There are very few Gothic-style churches in Rome, but if you had to choose one, Santa Maria sopra Minerva definitely takes the cake! Just around the corner from the Pantheon, this church is best known for its vast collection of art and sublime frescoes designed by Filippino Lippi. The church was built in the 13th century over the Temple of Minerva (the Goddess of wisdom). Also to be admired (with an umbrella in hand) is Bernini’s elephant obelisk in front of the church.

Sant’Ignazio

No, your eyes don’t deceive: It’s actually an optical illusion. What appears to be a dome above the church is actually an elaborate painted optical illusion. Sant’Ignazio, built in 1626, was dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit Order.

Santa Maria in Cosmedin

The Santa Maria in Cosmedin

should be on your must-visit list, rain or shine. Tourists line up here, anxiously awaiting their turn to stick their hand inside the Bocca della Verità (“Mouth of Truth”), an drain cover from the Middle Ages located in its portico. Legend has it that the jaws would clamp down on the hands of those who are untruthful! Unfortunately, tourists rarely seem interested in the church’s well-preserved interior and Romanesque bell tower, the tallest medieval belfry in Rome.

4. Gelato

Sure, it doesn’t have to be raining in order to duck into a gelateria to savor some delicious gelato. But since it is raining outside, why not? Here are a few of my favorite gelaterie:

Giolitti
Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40
Near the Pantheon, Rome

San Crispino
Piazza della Maddalena, 3
Near the Pantheon, Rome

Via della Panetteria, 42
Near the Trevi Fountain, Rome

Il Gelato
Piazza Monte d’Oro, 91/92
Near Piazza Augusto Imperatore, Rome

Fata Morgana
Via Lago di Lesina, 9/11
Near Villa Ada, Rome

Your tips for Rome when it rains?

Have another rainy-day activity for Rome when it rains? Share with us in the comments section!

The post Rome: What to do on rainy days in Rome appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

1. St. Peter’s Square

This vast space is famous for being the home of Papal Addresses (and for being integral to the plot of Dan Brown’s “Angels and Demons“). It can accommodate up to 300,000 people, a number that puts the World Series Final crowd to shame.

Designed by Borromini so that the maximum number of people could see the Pope at any one time (before the days of plasma screens), its elliptical shape is dominated by the Basilica. Stand on the stone discs between the fountains and the Egyptian obelisk to see the rows of columns magically line up.

2. The Basilica

It is hard to put into words the immense size of this building. Look out for the dimensions of the world’s other large churches marked on the floor to give you a sense of its scale. The Basilica is free to enter, and highlights include Michelangelo’s Pieta (now sadly behind glass after it was attacked and damaged), Borromini’s vast altar canopy (the Baldacchino) made using bronze taken from the Pantheon roof, and the 13th-century statue of St. Peter Enthroned. Join the queue to kiss his foot for luck.

3. St. Peter’s Dome

For the best views of Rome, pick a clear day, get there early to avoid the queues, and prepare to make the climb up the 320 steps to the top of St. Peter’s Dome. You can take the lift for the first part, but a long climb still awaits you with a mix of spiral, steep, and strange slopes, taking you up to the viewing point where staggering views stretch out before you on every side.

It will cost you €4 to make the climb (or €7 if you use the lift at the start). Get your tickets at the office just next to the Basilica entrance, clearly marked after you have passed through security checks.

4. The Vatican Museums

The endless rooms filled with Vatican treasures are a great way to spend a few hours. The highlight has to be the Sistine Chapel (which, contrary to popular belief, is not in the Basilica), which you have to pay to see. While everyone knows about the famous ceiling by Michelangelo, look out also for his huge mural depicting the “Last Judgment” and Botticelli’s “Story of Moses“.

Also make time to see the Raphael Rooms, Caravaggio’s “Deposition,” and the Borgia Apartments. The entrance fee is usually €15, though if you visit the last Sunday of the month, it’s free (though you need to get there at around 7 AM to avoid the queue which extends to many hundreds of people).

5. The Necropolis

A little-known tour of the Necropolis takes you under the Basilica to the hidden city below. Excavated in the 1930s, the ancient streets are lined with tombs that are almost untouched by time. The highlight has to be seeing the alleged site of St. Peter’s tomb and looking up to see the dome towering about you through the floor grates. You need to book the tour around four weeks in advance by emailing the excavations office. Tours cost €12.

Top tips for visiting the Vatican

· Whether you are visiting the Basilica, the Dome, or the Museums, get there early to avoid long lines.

· In the Vatican Museums, head for the Sistine Chapel first, as the tour groups head there last.

· Cover shoulders and do not wear shorts.

· The queue in the piazza is for the security checks. Once through, keep left for the Basilica. The queue is for the Dome.

· Unless you want a plastic model of the Vatican that lights up and plays “Ava Maria,” or even a “Pope on a Rope” soap, avoid the tacky souvenir sellers.

· Do not buy a coffee or lunch within 1,000 meters of the Vatican unless you want to pay prices that will bring you to your knees.

The post Rome: Top 5 Vatican attractions appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

During his time in Rome, Michelangelo charged the ancient city with works of incredible beauty. His sculptures, frescoes, and architecture still inspire a city-wide love affair.

And, his priceless work is on view at no cost to modern admirers. Angela K. Nickerson, author of A Journey into Michelangelo’s Rome, takes us on a very cheapo-friendly tour of Michelangelo’s Rome.

The Sistine Chapel: (Viale del Vaticano, at the Vatican Museums)

The Sistine Chapel, the ceiling of which is known as Michelangelo’s lifetime achievement, is free and open to the public on the last Sunday of each month. As Goethe once wrote, “Until you have seen the Sistine Chapel, you have no adequate conception of what man is capable of accomplishing.”

St. Peter’s Basilica: (Vatican City)

Michelangelo’s Rome ‘Pieta’, the piece that cemented the 24-year-old’s reputation as a gifted sculptor, occupies a chapel just inside the church’s entrance. Soaring over the central altar, Michelangelo’s dome marks his last great work. Late in Michelangelo’s life, he was charged with reorganizing the architectural design of St. Peter’s. For a small fee (€7; €4 if you just take the stairs), take an elevator to the roof and enjoy a spectacular view of the city. From the roof, take the 300-some steps up the dome and bask in a vision of Rome that Michelangelo himself did not live to see.

Basilica Di San Pietro in Vincoli: (Piazza di San Pietro in Vincoli 4a, Vatican City)

Just up the hill from the Colosseum sits a small, non-descript church called San Pietro in Vincoli. Inside is one of Michelangelo’s most controversial works, a sculpture that depicts Moses with full beard and horns. The statue, and two others (Leah and Rachel) are part of Pope Julius II’s tomb, a project that took Michelangelo 40 years to finish.

Farnese Palace: (250 Via Giulia)

Via Giulia is a renowned street in Rome, and here sits Michelangelo’s Farnese Palace (now the French Embassy), was never bulldozed despite Pope Julius II’s best efforts. Stop here for an afternoon cup of coffee or glass of vino. The piazza and fountains in front are some of the best, and most inspired, in all of Rome.

Santa Maria sopra Minerva: (around the corner from the Pantheon )

Santa Maria sopra Minerva hosts Michelangelo’s statue of a ‘Risen Christ’. Beloved and highly acclaimed in his day, Michelangelo’s depiction of Jesus—as regal, muscular and triumphant—is often overlooked.

Piazza del Campidoglio: (on Capitoline Hill)

When Rome granted Michelangelo citizenship in 1537, the ceremony was held in the mud at the top of the Capitoline Hill. A year later, Pope Paul III asked Michelangelo to redesign the hilltop. Michelangelo transformed its summit into a lovely piazza and redesigned the buildings there as well.

Basilica dei Santi Apostoli: (at Piazza dei Santissimi Apostoli)

When the elderly artist died, at 89-years of age, his funeral was held at Santi Apostoli church and was attended by the entire city including the pope himself. Then, under cover of night, his body was whisked away in a wagon of straw, to be buried in his beloved Florence. However, a plaque was erected at the church in his memory. (Cheapo tip: Knock at the monastery next door and ask about Michelangelo. The plaque with a portrait of the artist is in the monastery’s courtyard.)

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