Recent Traveler Reviews
Here is a selection of the most recent reviews of the Papal Audience Ticket at Vatican City submitted by actual travelers. Read what travelers liked, what they loved, and what they thought could be improved.
Picked us up at our hotel (just make sure a day or 2 ahead that you contact them to make SURE they are picking you up versus meeting them somewhere), we switched buses to a bigger bus, and were taken very close to the square. We were there around 8:15am, grabbed our chair(hang on to it!) and waited. It's a long wait, but around 9am a clergyman gets on the microphone and reads a long list of visiting groups. This took about an hour while the various groups cheered when their name was called. Around 10:15 am, the Pope appeared in his Popemobile. The crowd near the Pope's path was very deep, so I suggest standing on your chair to a picture of him when he goes by. He goes around twice, so, if you missed him the first time, there's another opportunity. Then he goes to the stage...great photo op if you have a zoom lense. He speaks and it is translated in various languages, and near the end he blesses objects you may have brought. I bought my rosaries, holy cards, and other religious objects beforehand in the US, but you can also buy them in any of the many souvenir shops in Rome. They are cheap in the stores, like 2-5 euros, but more near the Vatican. It's nice to give as gifts, saying its been blessed by Papa Francesco, as they call him. The ceremony is over around 11:30am, and we met our guide outside the ropes and then walked quite far, maybe 1/4 mile, to get back on the bus. Well worth the trip, one I will never forget!
Reviewed by: Susan M, May 2013
Not enough stars to rate this experience! No words to describe how excited and blessed to be among the nearly 200,000 people in attendance this day. I was able to fight my way through the crowd and get a decent picture of Pope Francis. I am very proud of this picture!
Reviewed by: Cliff C, USA, May 2013
We were picked up punctually .But not early enough to get e good seat/location for the Papal audience.St.peter sq.was packed by the time we got there.We had to squeeze in and still ended up way back,and watched the proceedings on jumbotron.I don't think tickets even mattered when you are way out .
Reviewed by: Florinda F, June 2013
The tour was okay. The tour guide, I feel, should have made more of an effort to get us nearer to the front where we could actually see the Pope.
However, I must say that being there for the Papal audience was a great experience.
Reviewed by: Fionnuala H, June 2013
Very disappointing. The guide didn't tell us what to expect. No suggestions where to stand. Never told us the pope comes out to crowd. He seemed more interested in getting to buy articles in a souvenir shop. It was basically a bus ride to the basilica I would never recommend it.
Reviewed by: Michael C, June 2013
