Visiting the Vatican Museums as a group of 10 adults WITHOUT a tour guide

[u/tedswiss]

I'm leading a group of adults on a trip to Rome in October and cannot for the life of me figure out how to buy tickets. I will serve as the guide for the group, so we don't need to book a guided tour, but the form to buy individual tickets maxes out at 6 tickets. There appear to be university group tickets available (which is closest to our group, though we're not associated with a university) for 11-20 people, but for 10 people, it seems we're just out of luck. Does anyone have any guidance? I'm tempted to just pay for 11 people for get the university group option...

[u/Subject_Slice_7797]

University tickets are subsidized tickets for university students under the age of 25 and their teachers. They require also written confirmation from the university. There's a tab for more information on the booking page that outlines the requirements for each category.

You will not be admitted or refunded if you show up with these tickets and an ineligible group.

As to why you can't book 10 tickets without a tour, no idea. It's probably specifically to prevent people from hosting unsanctioned group tours

[u/tedswiss → u/Subject_Slice_7797]

I saw that just after I posted this. Unfortunate. Looks like there aren't any individual tickets available for mid-October anyway. Guess I'll have to book a tour guide. Maybe I'll book an independent tour guide, have them get us in the door, then giving them the day off.

This kind of thing infuriates me - I put in 10 people, go to book a tour, that says it is for 1-20 people, and the drop down menu to pick the number of people maxes out at 6... Why is this so hard?!

[u/ilove702]

Just place two orders

[u/tedswiss → u/ilove702]

Alas, as I said earlier below, there are no more time slots available for individuals when I'll be there. Group tour upcharge it is, I guess.

[u/suzieismyavatar]

I honestly didn’t even bother going. It’s too crowded and too chaotic. And too hot. October will be perfect. Just go up to the museum and purchase. It’s confusing. The Vatican doesn’t have good signage. I will never go back to the Vatican. I went yesterday.

They left a woman who fainted with no assistance. Shame on the Vatican government.

[u/tedswiss → u/suzieismyavatar]

I get it - it always is a lot of humanity in one place. We'll definitely be going, though, and we'll want to get tickets ahead of time to not have to wait in the VERY long ticket line. With reservations at a certain time, we only need to wait in the line for our specific entry time.