How to book Scrovegni Chapel tickets when website not working

How to book Scrovegni Chapel tickets when website not working: 

If you're struggling with the official booking system, don't panic—there are several reliable alternatives to secure your tickets to see Giotto's masterpiece, including phone bookings, tourist office purchases, and same-day evening options.

Visiting the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the booking process can be incredibly frustrating. Many travelers encounter technical glitches, payment failures, and confusing website navigation when trying to reserve their timed entry slots. Here's your complete guide to getting those coveted tickets, even when everything seems to go wrong.

Why the Scrovegni Chapel Website Often Fails

The official booking system uses Vivaticket, which frequently experiences technical problems that leave visitors unable to complete their purchases. Common issues include:

• Credit card payment processing failures
• Registration problems requiring phone verification codes that never arrive
• Website redirects that only show expensive city passes instead of individual tickets
• English language settings that revert to Italian mid-booking
• System crashes during peak booking periods

Immediate Solutions When the Website Won't Work

1. Call the Official Booking Centre

Phone Number: +39 049 20 100 20

Operating Hours:

• Monday to Friday: 9am to 7pm
• Saturday: 9am to 6pm
• Closed Sundays and holidays

What to expect: 

Staff can book tickets over the phone and accept Visa, Mastercard, or Diners Club credit cards. For bank transfer payments, you must call at least 3 business days before your visit.

Pro tip: Call early in the morning Italian time (3am EST, 12am PST) for the shortest wait times.

2. Book at Padua Train Station Tourist Office

If you're arriving by train, head straight to the Tourist Information office inside Padua's railway station. This is often the most reliable method for same-day or next-day tickets.

Website: https://www.turismopadova.it

Services available:

• Individual Scrovegni Chapel tickets
• Padova City Cards (which include chapel access)
• Immediate time slot reservations
• Free tram transport included with city cards

Book Scrovegni Chapel tickets  this way when website not working: 

The tourist office has direct access to the reservation system and can often secure tickets even when online shows "sold out."

3. Same-Day Evening Tickets: Your Secret Weapon

Here's what most guides won't tell you: evening visits can be booked on the same day, unlike regular daytime slots that require advance booking.

Evening ticket details:

• Time slots: 7pm to 10pm
• Cost: €10 (cheaper than daytime tickets)
• Duration: 20 minutes instead of 15 minutes
• Availability: Often available when daytime slots are full

Where to buy same-day evening tickets:

• Tourist offices at the train station or Vicolo Pedrocchi
• Eremitani Museum ticket office (after 5pm for same evening only)
• Online if the system is working

Complete Ticket Options and Prices (2025)

Understanding your options helps when booking by phone or in person:

Standard Tickets

• €12: Chapel + Eremitani Museum (Mondays only, non-holidays)
• €16: Chapel + Eremitani Museum + Zuckermann Palace (Tuesday-Sunday)

City Passes

• €28: 48-hour Urbs Picta Card (chapel + multiple sites + public transport)
• €35: 72-hour Urbs Picta Card (chapel + multiple sites + public transport)

Evening Only

• €10: "Giotto sotto le stelle" (chapel only, 7pm-10pm)

Additional fees: €1 booking fee per ticket for online/phone reservations

How to Extend Your Visit (Double Booking Strategy)

The standard 15-minute visit feels rushed for most visitors. Here's how to get more time:

Book consecutive time slots:

• Example: 11:00am regular ticket + 11:15am second ticket
• Total time: 30+ minutes in the chapel
• Important: This only works for evening slots (7pm onwards) due to the acclimatization room requirements

Evening double booking:

• Book 7:00pm and 7:20pm slots
• Each evening slot is 20 minutes (not 15)
• Total experience: 40 minutes without re-entering the waiting room

Alternative Booking Websites and Platforms to book Scrovegni Chapel tickets when website not working: 

When the official site fails, try these legitimate alternatives:

Third-Party Tour Operators

• GetYourGuide: Often has availability when official site shows sold out
• Viator: Includes guided tour options
• TripAdvisor Experiences: Sometimes offers last-minute availability

Travel Agency Options

If you're staying in Venice or nearby cities, local travel agencies often have allocations of Scrovegni Chapel tickets and can book for you.

What to Do If Everything is Sold Out

Check Availability at the Museum

Even if online booking shows no availability, visit the Eremitani Museum ticket office (8 Eremitani Square, about 100 meters from the chapel). Cancellations and no-shows sometimes create last-minute openings.

Consider Guided Tours

Tour operators often have reserved blocks of tickets. While more expensive, this can be your only option during peak periods.

Plan for Less Popular Times

• Best availability: Monday mornings, late afternoons on weekdays
• Avoid: Weekends, Italian holidays, school vacation periods
• Shoulder seasons: November-February (except holidays) typically have better availability

Essential Booking Tips

Timing Your Reservation

• Book as early as possible: Tickets become available about 2 months in advance
• If booking fails: Try again at different times of day; the system often works better in the evening
• Payment issues: Have multiple credit cards ready; different cards sometimes work when others fail

What You Need to Know

• Arrive early: Get to the museum 30 minutes before your time slot
• No same-day booking: Except for evening visits
• Strict timing: Late arrivals are not admitted and must rebook
• Group size: Maximum 25 people per time slot

Items Not Allowed

• Large bags or backpacks
• Food and drinks
• Pets
• Flash photography equipment

Backup Plan: Tourist Office Strategy

If all else fails, build this into your Padua itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Padua, visit tourist office at train station immediately, book chapel for Day 2 Day 2: Explore other Padua attractions in morning, visit chapel in afternoon Day 3: Buffer day in case you need to try alternative booking methods

Final Tips for Success

Multiple booking attempts: Try booking at different times of day if the website keeps failing Clear browser data: Sometimes helps with persistent website issues
Phone backup: Always have the booking center number saved: +39 049 20 100 20 Travel insurance: Consider coverage that includes ticket booking failures for expensive trips

The Scrovegni Chapel houses one of the world's greatest art treasures—Giotto's revolutionary frescoes that changed Western art forever. Don't let technical difficulties prevent you from experiencing this UNESCO World Heritage masterpiece. With these strategies, you'll secure your tickets and witness the birthplace of Renaissance art, even when the booking system seems determined to stop you.

Remember: The chapel visit is only 15 minutes, but those minutes will stay with you forever. The effort to secure tickets is absolutely worth it for this transformative cultural experience.

Planning Your Italian Adventure?

If you're heading to Padua to see the Scrovegni Chapel, you're clearly someone who appreciates authentic Italian culture and art. Imagine how much richer your experience would be if you could chat with locals, ask for directions confidently, or understand the museum guide's explanations in Italian.

Many travelers miss out on deeper connections and hidden gems because of the language barrier. That's why I created my Italian for Holidays course – specifically designed for people like you who want to make the most of their Italian adventures.

What you'll learn:

• Essential phrases for museums and cultural sites
• How to book tickets and make reservations in Italian
• Confident conversation starters with locals
• Navigation and transportation vocabulary
• Food ordering and restaurant interactions

Because the best travel memories happen when you can truly connect with the places and people you encounter.

If you found this blogpost useful you will like this : Where to Eat like a Local in Verona Italy Foodie Guide

Buona vacanza a Padova!