Can I Realistically Do the Vatican Necropolis at 15:15 and Enter the Museums by 16:30?

Hi all — hoping someone here has some experience or insight to share.

I’m visiting the Vatican in less than a month, and I booked an entry ticket to the Vatican Museums for 16:00 (not a guided tour — just timed entry). At the time, I hadn’t heard back yet about my request to visit the Scavi/Necropolis under St. Peter’s Basilica.

Since I read online that Scavi spots are extremely limited and museum tickets tend to sell out weeks in advance, I went ahead and booked the museum entry to secure a spot.

Of course, I just heard back that my Scavi tour was approved — for 15:15 on the same day. The tour lasts about an hour, so it would likely finish around 16:15. The Vatican Museums entrance is on the opposite side of the complex, and from what I’ve read, it’s about a 15–20 minute walk. I emailed the Vatican to ask if they could shift my entry to 16:30 (since that time slot still shows availability), but they said no changes allowed.

They did mention there’s a 30-minute grace period, so I technically have until 16:30 to enter the Museums. But I’m cutting it really close, and if the Scavi tour runs long, I’m worried I’ll miss my window.

So my questions are:

• Has anyone successfully done both in one afternoon?
• Are they strict with the museum entry time and the grace period?
• Given the tight timing, what would you do in my situation?

I’d really love to do both, but I don’t want to stress the entire time or end up being denied entry. Any advice or shared experiences would be super appreciated!

Thanks in advance!