I found some conflicting information about whether you can head straight to the Sistine Chapel and then go back through the museum. I can confirm that you can, and in fact you should! I know this is hardly new information, but I thought some recent experience might help as I also found a few things were different to what I expected.

It was amazing though. There was barely anyone there, and I spent 30 mins listening to my audio guide and able to sit wherever I wanted to. I left when I felt ready, and it was still quiet when I left. It was a really special moment, and a highlight of my trip.

There are a few things which I think have changed recently - or maybe my experience was a one off. In any case, I thought I would share.

Tip 1: You can’t skip the Raphael rooms, at least not anymore. The short cut is roped off with a guard who was quick to direct me via the Raphael rooms.

Tip 2: The chapel can open before 8:30. I got there at 8:15 and it was open - although a redditor below has confirmed that the chapel didn’t open until 8:30 when they went this week. Probably not a huge deal in any case unless you want to be the first in for whatever reason.

Tip 3: Take a photo of the map room when you go through. It‘s so pretty empty!

Tip 4: You can’t backtrack so you need to head towards the exit to be able to re-enter from the very start. The chapel isn’t all that close to that point though, and will still go through quite a lot of ‘museum’ before the exit. You even go through up flights of stairs and through the gift shop. At this point, I thought I had gone wrong and was on a one way ticket to the exit! Just make sure you don’t actually exit, but I do think that would be hard to do without realising.

Tip 5: The tickets are obviously all timed, but I would still get to the museum for 7:30 and get in line as the line was quite long by 8. Also, make sure you’re not in the line for people looking to BUY tickets… I accidentally waited in this one for like 5 minute before realising my error, lol.

Tip 6: Your ticket has a ‘passageway’ with a number - make sure you’re in the line by your passageway with the number on your ticket or, once again, you’re in the wrong line. I was in the right passageway line for my ticket thankfully, but that was a happy accident more than anything lol.