For touring the Vatican area, Linea A of the Metro has been expanded and "Cipro" is now listed as the stop for the Vatican Museum. Unless you're looking to do some major back-tracking, don't bother. Exit at "Ottaviano" which is marked for The Vatican. There were many eateries along the way to catch coffee and pastries, but don't linger long.
I'm not sure if I read or was told this, but the biggest secret for enjoying the Sistine Chapel is to get there early!!! I arrived just before 8:00 a.m. for the 8:45 opening and was about the 30th person in line; within minutes, the line had snaked down the long street before disappearing around the corner. Larger escorted tour groups were allowed in earlier through a side door. Once the facility opens, pay your L18,000/$9.00 admission fee and make a bee-line for the Sistine Chapel passing any/everything else - still, a good 30-minute walk from the entrance without even looking! Use your time waiting in line to familiarize yourself with the way. It will make the difference for how you enjoy the most talked about artistic work of Rome.
By following these directions, I was only one of a small handful of people who was able to reverently move about and freely view Michaelangelo's magnificent works. Whether standing or sitting on one of the side benches, I remember feeling kind of numbed to the whole experience. This WAS the Sistine Chapel; small and dark as it was, yet I couldn't help but wonder if all the deserved hype causes one to create a preconceived notion of granduer that the simple beauty could or would never measure up to? I got lost in time with the indepth chapel map in the Eyewitness Guide identifying the various works, sneaking a picture here and there though camera use is banned with or without a flash. Here I was on my birthday in the Sistine Chapel looking...but yet I didn't see. Nor did I get goose bumps or deep stirrings from within unless you count lightheadedness from having my head tilted back so far looking up.
For now I'd had enough and thought I'd give it a second combing over on my way back through. When leaving the Chapel area, you'll be able to leisurely begin enjoying ALL else there's to see...which follows a loose-laid trajectory path. When coming to the exit area, it was no problem bluffing a guard to return to the beginning to catch all I'd passed the first go around.
By mid-day when reapproaching the Raphael Rooms, pedestrian traffic had came to a stand-still in narrow corridors/stairs leading to the Chapel. Once back inside, I could barely push my way thru the crowds that now spoiled uninterrupted views and reverent silence. Couldn't get out of there quick enough; more than grateful for the quality time earlier spent.