Even if you are a fiercely independent or budget conscious traveler, this is one of the few places where you should really just suck it up and do a tour. This place is so vast, you’ll need as much time, as wisely spent, as you can possibly get. You can skip the long lines, the licensed guides are spectacularly knowledgeable and entertaining and a tour is worth every penny. Among the most memorable sights are the jaw-dropping Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s world famous frescos, Caravaggio’s incredibly lifelike “Entombment of Christ” and the graceful Rafael rooms, absolutely unforgettable..