The high season in Rome will officially start with the Easter Day, the 21^st April. We are expecting that the month of May will be very crowded.

Save your time and don’t get stressed with the following few tips we are about to give you.

As we mentioned in our previous article, we have experiencing delays at the security checks of the Vatican and the Colosseum, therefore choose the best days to visit these sites.

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel openings in May

During the month of May 2019 the Vatican Museums will be closed on the 1^st May and on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month the 26^th May, when the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel will be open for free from 9am to 12.30pm (last entrance).

Also, throughout the month, every Friday evening the Vatican Museums will be open from 7pm until 9.30pm (last entrance).

From our experience we can suggest you to avoid the 2^nd of May and also the 3^rd and the 4^th May might be very crowded at the Vatican. In that case you can opt for a visit to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums in the evening of the 3^rd May. On the 2^nd and the 4^th May the Vatican Museums will be open until 4pm (last entrance) instead of the usual 3pm closure.

On the 1^st of May and every Sunday except for the 5^th May the Pope will hold the Angelus, the Benediction at the St Peter’s Square. The Angelus is at 12pm.

Also the Papal Audience will take place every Wednesday at the St Peter’s Square at around 9.30am. For the Audience you must book your tickets or you can collect them, the day before the Audience, at the Swiss Guards at the St Anna’s Gate.

May Colosseum and Roman Forum

From the 31^st March, the Colosseum and Roman Forum will be open from 8.30am until 7.15pm (last entrance is at 6.15pm).

The entrance will be free on the 9^th May for the whole day. Please keep in mind that the security check line, especially at the Colosseum might take longer than usual.

The tickets are valid for all three sites: Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and the cost is 12€ if purchased directly at the site or 14€ on line. They are valid for two days and for one entrance to each site: one entrance to the Colosseum and one entrance to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (that have the same entrance for both sites).

Please keep in mind that the Colosseum and Roman Forum might close on the 1^st May 2019.

For any further information or in case you want to plan your visit and book a guided tour please contact us and we will offer you our best option and prices. If you’re staying in Rome for few days let us know and we will give you the best dates to visit the Colosseum, the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel.

In our next next article we will give you the latest news about the openings, closure and the best days for a visit to the Vatican and Colosseum in June 2019!