Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Vatican

For anyone traveling to Rome visiting the Vatican is one of the top things to do. The Vatican is the world’s smallest independent country with a population of about 850 people but as the head of Catholic Church draws over 5 million visitors each year. Whether you want to explore the vast collection of the Vatican Museums, marvel at the Sistine Chapel, contemplate Saint Peter’s Basilica or even catch a glimpse of the Pope these tips will help you make the most of your visit to the Vatican City.

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Interesting Facts About the Vatican

-The Vatican is a walled enclave completely surrounded by the city of Rome and at 110 acres is 1/8th the size of Central Park in New York City.

-The Vatican has it’s own post office, pharmacy, communication system and media.

-The Vatican is an absolute monarchy with the Pope having complete executive, judicial and legislative power. The Holy See is the name given to the government of the Roman Catholic Church.

-The Vatican is the only country to be designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

-The Swiss Guard is responsible for the safety and security of the Pope.

How to Get to the Vatican

Rome is a fairly compact city and the Vatican is easy to reach if you’re staying in central Rome. Barring any mobility limitations the most straight-forward way to get to the Vatican is to walk. The Vatican is about a 20 minute walk from Piazza Navonna and Campo de’Fiori and about a 30 minute walk from Trastavere. If you with to use public transportation you can take either the Metro or the bus. Their are two Metro stops near the entrance to the Vatican Museums, Cipro and Ottaviano. From either the Termini Train Station or the Spanish Steps take the A line going toward Battistini. For the bus you can get on bus #64 from Termin Train Station or the #81 bus from the Colosseum area. Taxis are also available throughout the city.

Vatican Museum hours

Typical hours are from 9-6pm Monday-Saturday though on certain Fridays from April through October there are tickets available for an after hours tour (7-11pm) . The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month when entrance is free (expect crowds and extremely long lines).

Getting Tickets for the Vatican

If you plan on going to the Vatican as a DIY tour you can purchase tickets directly from the Official Vatican Museums Ticket Office online up to 60 days in advance. General tickets include entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (Saint Peter’s Basilica is free to enter), there are also ticket options for scholars, pilgrims and those with disabilities and their families. Once you leave the Vatican Museums there is no re-entry but you can stay as long as you like once you are inside.

Lines typically start to form at 7 am and get long very quickly. There are multiple tour companies providing “skip-the-line” tours and I highly recommend going this route. In fact in order to view the collections of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without wall-to-wall crowds I would opt for either one of the early access skip-the-line tours that get you in before the general public or, between April and October, one of the evening tours. If your visiting the Vatican with your family take a look at these tips for touring the Vatican with kids.

What to Wear to the Vatican

As a major holy site for the Catholic church it’s best to dress conservatively for both women and men ( you can be denied entrance if your clothing is inappropriate). Prohibited clothing includes shorts and skirts above the knee, sleeveless tops (including tank tops and spaghetti straps), low cut or revealing tops and hats. Basically ensure your shoulders and knees are covered.

Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums contain one of the largest art collections in the world and include the works of noted artists like Michelangelo and Raphael as well as priceless artifacts from Egypt and Europe. My personal favorite room is the impressive Gallery of Maps. Of note, touring the Vatican Museums is in one direction only, once you go through a section you can not go back (you can however do another loop).

Sistine Chapel

The ceiling of Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is one of the most iconic works of art in the world. The ceiling depicts nine scenes from the Book of Genesis including the Creation of Adam. Inside the Sistine Chapel no speaking or photography in order to maintain an atmosphere of respect and reflection.

Saint Peter’s Basilica

Saint Peter’s Basilica is the largest Catholic church in the world. This sacred space features grand Renaissance and Baroque architecture and was build over the tomb of Saint Peter. The grand dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica offers up one of the best panoramic views of Rome, you can take an elevator to the top for 7 euros or climb 551 steps for 5 euros. Papal masses and other Catholic events are held in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

How to See the Pope

If you want to see the Pope the best opportunities for this are attending a Papal Mass or a Papal Audience. Papal Masses are held to celebrate major events on the liturgical calendar (like Christmas and Easter) and require advanced tickets which can be found on the Vatican website. Papal Audiences are typically held on Wednesdays in Saint Peter’s Square if the Pope is not traveling. Check the official Vatican website for schedules and advance tickets.

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