I had a great tour guide on a Monday evening in September with a company named “Rome Walks” back in 1997. It was kind of survey course that started at the Coliseum, passed the Forum, Trajan’s Column, the Trevi Fountain, the whole walk to the Vatican, and then dumped us at Piazza Navonna after sunset.
Had the same guide the next day (Tuesday) for a Vatican Tour. Started outside St. Pete’s, went inside, then we broke for lunch and we were to meet outside the museum where she would give a quick preview before sending us into the Vatican Museum which ends with the Sistine Chapel passage. I don’t think that the ceiling had finished being renovated (EDIT: it wasn’t completed until 1999), so it wasn’t that crowded.
Taking guided tours is highly recommended in big cities…
FULL DISCLOSURE: After having great guides in Munich & Rome (Berlin, Amsterdam, & Florence guides were mediocre), I ultimately became a tour guide in Buenos Aires from late 2008-2014 and ran a small tour company the last few years.
PS- Went to JP II’s Wednesday mass in St. Pete’s Square with an Italian girl from my hostel on that 1997 visit and so I saw that guy barely speak to the masses in person.
PPS- I took so many tours into Buenos Aires’ Catedral Metropolitana, that was Cardinal Jorge Borgolio’s church, that I am sure that I saw the pope conduct a mass before he became pope. So I have probably seen two popes poping.