Vatican City is a city state surrounded by Rome. Rome, Italy is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic church. Vatican City is home to the pope and a treasure trove of art, architecture, history and faith. There is a Vatican museum with lots of sculptures and art, the Sistine Chapel, the famous ceiling dome for Michaelangelo’s painting. St. Peter’s square and St. Peter’s Basilica, and huge gardens.
How to get there
Vatican City is just to the north of the city centre of Rome and is quick and easy through public transport. Even though Vatican City is a separate state to Italy and Rome there are no barriers or checks and Rome has expanded all around the Vatican. For tourists it feels like Vatican City could is just another district of Central Rome.In order to get to Vatican City you head for St Peter’s Square or the Vatican Museums. The street leading from Saint Angelo Castle (id 5) by the River Tiber up to St Peter’s Square is called Via della Conciliazione. You will cross the St. Angelo bridge to get here as pictured above with a great view of the Ponte Vittorio Emmanuel bridge pictured above on the left as well. This is the main and widest road into the Vatican from Central Rome and is where all the hop on, hop off open top sightseeing buses stop. The Metro station is just to the north of the Vatican and the railway station to the south, each about 10 minutes walk from St Peter’s Square. The area that tourists visit within the Vatican beyond the main Vatican attractions is the area to the north of Via della Conciliazion, full of restaurants and tourist shops. This is a great place to buy icons, rosary necklaces and other souvenirs.
Getting to the Vatican by public transport
Rome Metro
Rome Metro has a station outside the Vatican walls at Ottaviano-S. Pietro. Line A of the Metro runs through every few minutes. It’s a 5 minute walk from the Metro to both St Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums.
By Train
St Peter’s also has a train station, St Pietro. Trains loop through Rome to Termini Station. It it is a 10 minute walk to St Peter’s Square from the station.
Public Bus
There are many Rome city buses that stop next to the Vatican. The number 40 and 64 bus run between Termini and the Vatican via the City Centre including the Piazza Venezia for the Roman Forum/Colosseum. There is no central bus stop or station that every bus route goes through.
40 (Limited stop express) – Termini – Piazza Venezia – Argentina – Piazza Pia (for St Peter’s/Vatican)
64 – Termini – Piazza Venezia – Argentina – Vatican
62 – Repubblica – Spanish Steps – Piazza Venezia – Argentina – Vatican
81 – Vatican Museums – Piazza Imperatore (Spanish Steps) – Piazza Colonna (Trevi Fountain) – Piazza Venezia – Circo Massimo – Colosseum
19 (Tram) – Piazza Risorgimento (Vatican) – Villa Borghese
Walking
This is one of the best ways to sight see in Rome. This is because many of the old historic streets are alleys too narrow for tour buses and vehicles. Although Vatican City is just north of Rome City Centre it’s only a 15-20 minute pleasant walk to Piazza Navona in the heart of the city centre.
St. Peter’s Square
This is at the entrance to Vatican City when you arrive. It is a grand piazza with a large fountain and is an official Landmark square with columns, fountains & Egyptian obelisk where crowds gather for the Pope’s address. This square is what holds St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and all of the Vatican City. You can read more information and history describing the meaning of the monuments and architecture here. This is the square where you will see the huge lines formed that you must join to pass through the security and metal detectors to be allowed to enter into the Vatican City. The earlier you get there the better because of these lines. In peak seasons be prepared to wait in line 45 minutes before entry.
St Peter’s Basilica
This is the beautiful Renaissance church by architects including Michelangelo & holds up to 20,000 worshippers. This is a masterful work of art inside and out.
Hours
Open daily, April-Sept 7am-7pm and Oct-March 7am-6pm.
Cost
The entry for this Basilica is free! The church is open to the public at no ticket or entry fee. Even though the entry is free there can be long lines. There are some admission fees for certain parts however of the basilica. There are some ticketed paid options below once you are inside for different experiences. In order to skip the lines of 45 minutes to enter there are fast track tickets book here. All of the booking information can be found here.
Audioguides
When you enter at the door immediately on your right is an information desk that rents audio guides and guided tours in many languages. They are only a few Euros and quite reliable.
Climbing St. Peter’s Cupola dome for a view of Vatican City
If you want to climb up this is a ticketed cost you must buy. This is definitely the best view of the city, St. Peter’s Square and all of the Vatican Museums and beautiful architecture. I did not regret paying for this view and picture. There is a 360 degree view of the square and city of Rome at the top that is breathtaking.
There are two options which are taking the steps all the way (551 steps) or a lift part of the way (320 steps). The cost is a couple of Euros more if you take the lift.
When
8am to 6pm April to September
8am to 5pm October to March.
Vatican Grottoes
The Grottoes are a large underground graveyard or crypt and are just below the Renaissance basilica under your feet and above Constantine’s 4th century basilica. The narrow entrance stairway down inside the basilica is not easy to find so ask at the information desk. This is where the tombs of popes as well as kings and queens are from the 10th century. The monuments to Paul VI (1978) and Pope John Paul II (2005) are also in the grottoes. The grottoes lead to out of the Basilica so be sure you are done before entering them! There is no photography allowed and you must be silent.
The Vatican Grottoes are free and are open every day from:
7am to 6pm April to September
7am to 5pm October to March.
Go to Mass
8:30 am -> Holy Mass (with a homily in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament; the Mass is followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and adoration until 4.45 pm when the Eucharistic Blessing takes place)
Tips
- The dress code is strictly enforced at St Peter’s Basilica. Men must wear long pants (no shorts allowed) and no uncovered shoulders, women must not show either bare shoulders or skirts shorter than knee length.
Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museum is by far the most gorgeous art museum in the city! This is my favorite art museum I have ever been to in all of Europe. The halls that go on forever filled with different frescoes all over the ceilings and walls with different themes, scenes and colors are amazing. These several galleries of classical & Renaissance art masterpieces, plus the Sistine Chapel frescoes are breathtaking. You can easily spend 2 hours here admiring all the art. This is one of my favorite places in Rome and the most beautiful art museum in my opinion.
Hours
9am-6pm Monday-Saturday, closed Sundays. The final entry allowed is 4 pm.
Every last Sunday of the month
(if it is not Easter Sunday, 29 June Sts. Peter and Paul, 25 December Christmas Day, and 26 December Feast of St. Stephen)
09.00 a.m. – 02.00 p.m. (final entry 12.30 p.m.)
Free entry
Visitors are required to leave the halls 30 minutes before museum closing time
Tickets, Tours & Cost
There are many different ticket and tour options available for Vatican City. They range on cost based on wether it is an individual ticket or a group, a group of students or a day or night tour. The three main options below of self guided, audio guided or an official guide and the pricing are shown below. There is a free map here you can see and download for your visit of all the different available galleries. The whole list of tours that are available and ticket booking can be found here. I personally did the open tour audioguide. I loved the freedom and independence of being able to wander at your own pace and not tied to a large group of people on your tour. This is a great individual option as well. You can have a knowledgable guide on your headphones as you go at your own pace.
1. Open tour of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (self guided)
- Full ticket: € 17.00.
- Reduced ticket: € 8.00.
- Online booking fee: € 4.00.
2. Open tour of the Museums and Sistine Chapel with Vatican Museums audioguide
- Online full ticket + Vatican Museums audioguide:€ 28.00.
- Online reduced ticket + Vatican Museums audioguide: € 19.00
- Online reduced ticket + audioguide children FT: € 17.00
3. Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Full ticket: € 33.00.
- Reduced ticket: € 24.00.
- Tour days: from Monday to Saturday during museum opening hours.
- Duration: 2 hours.
- Languages available: Italian, English, French, German, Spanish. Other languages upon written request at tours.musei@scv.va.
- Accessibility: due to the type of standard itinerary, the guided tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.
Unique tours
- Breakfast, Museums and Sistine Chapel (7:15am, 8:15am) € 38.00, including breakfast.
- Lunch, Museums and Sistine Chapel € 39.50.
- Night tour with happy hour drink, Museums and Sistine Chapel € 38.00. Just a night visit without happy hour ticket is € 21.00.
Tips
- Only modest dress is allowed to enter as this whole Vatican City is a religious area and headquarters of the Roman Catholic church. Women according to the Museum rules must not be wearing anything too low cut, no sleeveless shirts, shorts or miniskirts are allowed. Women are safer if their legs to their knees are covered and arms and shoulders covered. Bring a scarf and put it around your shoulders. They will not let you in if you are not dressed appropriately to them.
- You have to go through a security check and metal detector. Be careful not to bring in anything that will slow down your entry.
- There is a free of charge luggage room and you will be asked to leave all baggage there during your visit
- No photography tripods are allowed
- There is no flash photography allowed, only pictures for personal use are permitted and there are no pictures allowed in the Sistine Chapel
Photo Gallery of the Museum
Sistine Chapel
This is the famous chapel in the Vatican Museums, best known for Michelangelo’s 16th-century painted ceiling.
Hours
9am-6pm Monday-Saturday, closed Sundays. The final entry allowed is 4 pm.
Every last Sunday of the month
(if it is not Easter Sunday, 29 June Sts. Peter and Paul, 25 December Christmas Day, and 26 December Feast of St. Stephen)
09.00 a.m. – 02.00 p.m. (final entry 12.30 p.m.)
Free entry
Visitors are required to leave the halls 30 minutes before museum closing time
Cost
This is a part of your entry fee ticket when you purchase a tour into the Vatican Museums. This is included and a part of the same tour in different parts of the Vatican City walking distance. See prices above for Vatican Museums.
Where
The Sistine Chapel is right next to St. Peter’s Basilica in St. Peter’s Square when you enter Vatican City. The building is shown on the map below.
Souvenirs
Many people want to take home a souvenir from Vatican City. There are lots of local artisan icons and rosaries being sold in shops in the market on the main street, Via della Conciliazione leading into Vatican City. They are local artisan handcrafts as well as great souvenirs and reminders of Vatican City.
Rosaries
The cheapest way to get good souvenirs is outside of the Vatican main shops. Savelli Religious giftshop has an immense selection of roasries and silver and gold jewlery of crosses, the pope symbol and different beaded rosaries to choose from. There are wood, olive, pearl, silver and gold rosaries of all different kinds and colors. They are high quality and normally cost around 100 euros a rosary. They have budget rosaries around $17-$30usd a rosary made out of cheaper metal and fake pearls and other beads. They have a wide budget range available.
Icons
Icons are sold in many of the souvenir shops but Savelli Religious gift shop is a great local craft artisans for quality but also more budget than shopping at the Vatican gift shop of course. The icons start at $17usd and go up to hundreds depending on quality, and real gold or silver chosen and the materials they are made from.
Savilli Religious Crafts Store
This store is located inside the Vatican City in St. Peter’s Square but is not the official gift shop of the Vatican meaning that it is more budget items available. This is one of the quality shops that does have some nicer quality expensive items as well as having some more budget priced souvenirs.
