Beating the queue for the Vatican Museums on the last Sunday of the month

The Vatican Museums are free to visit on the last Sunday of every month from 09:00 to 14:00. However, the queues can be gargantuan, with wait times running into the hours:
We will be in Rome on the last Sunday of October. At that time of the year, how early should we show up at the Vatican Museums to avoid having to wait in line for the free admission?
Photo credit: DAVID ILIFF. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Best Answer
Having done this on several occasions, and once was in an October, optimal times seem to be 8:30 in the morning (after all, it's Sunday and Rome) or 3:30 in the afternoon (the October visit). I've also purchased advance tickets online, and selected the 3:30 time slot, and breezed in, right past long lines, waving the ticket voucher.
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How do I skip the Vatican queue?
The best ways to skip the lines at the VaticanHow long is the wait for the Vatican museum?
Queue 1: The first is for those looking to purchase tickets on the spot. The wait times extend up to 2 hours during peak season. Queue 2: The second queue is for those who have purchased normal admission tickets online. The wait time can go up to 45 minutes on a normal day.Is the Vatican open on the last Sunday of the month?
There is free entry to the Vatican Museums on the last Sunday of every month, between 09.00 and 12.30, leaving by 14.00. It is not possible to reserve tickets, they must be bought that day at the museum ticket office. Aside from the last Sunday of each month, the Vatican Museums are not open on Sundays.What is the best time to visit the Vatican museum?
The Best Time to Visit the Vatican- The Vatican is the most popular tourist destination in Rome. ...
- On that note, April to October can be one of the best times to visit the Vatican Museums, especially on Friday nights, when it is much less crowded. ...
- No matter what, never plan your visit to the St.
Queue to the Vatican Museums on free Sunday, 23.02.2020
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Images: Cosmin Paduraru, Jeswin Thomas, Mat Kedzia, Matteo Basile