Discover Italy’s Hidden Gems: Travel Tips from iBestTravel’s Editor in Chief

It was my son’s first trip to Rome, a city I find exhilarating and exhausting—especially in August, when the sun is relentless, and the air-conditioning is weak. The tiger mom in me felt that at seven years old, Bobby was ready to explore the Vatican Museums. However, I didn’t want to battle the midday heat with him and my husband.

It’s a bit of a secret, even among seasoned travelers, that the Vatican Museums typically remain open until 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from April to October. Therefore, we decided rather than joining the seemingly endless lines that form at the entrance each morning, we would test our endurance with an “after-hours” tour. Our flight from New York City landed first thing in the morning, as many travelers from the U.S. do. Consequently, we passed the day with a leisurely lunch at Pierluigi Restaurant and visiting the Spanish Steps.

To make things even easier, we enlisted the help of Access Italy, a local operator that counts time-strapped stars among its clients. Our guide, Simona Manzoni, picked us up from our hotel at 7 p.m.; tickets in hand, we were at the Vatican by 7:30, breezing through the entrance. As the sky transitioned to a brilliant amber, we stopped for an Aperol Spritz at the open-air café in the lovely Cortile della Pigna, the museum’s courtyard. (Who knew the Vatican had a restaurant that serves Spritzes?) As Manzoni set the stage, showing us diagrams of the galleries and explaining papal history, we felt refreshed because it was only midday back home.

The tour was a visual delight for Bobby, allowing us to navigate the exhibits at our own pace. The rich hues of the Raphael tapestries are magnificent when you only have a handful of others sharing the space. Moreover, the golds in the frescoes that adorn the Gallery of Maps make for a stunning view, particularly with Manzoni guiding us through Italy’s many regions without the distraction of other tourists. It’s easier to appreciate the blues of “The Last Judgment” and imagine Michelangelo crafting it from such heights when you can find a quiet spot to take it all in.

The era of COVID-19 has reshaped travel, teaching many of us to embrace unique opportunities. Instead of rushing to an iconic attraction at the break of dawn, it is often advantageous to wait until after dark for a more intimate experience.

A version of this story first appeared in the March 2023 issue of iBestTravel under the headline “Timing Is Everything.”