Join Vatican’s once-in-a-generation celebration

The Holy Year 2025 is a milestone in Vatican history. Celebrate the 26th Jubilee, themed “Pilgrims of Hope,” and walk the same halls that hosted King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV, the first royal-papal meeting in over 500 years. This is your chance to turn a visit into a story you’ll tell forever.








Visiting the Vatican Museums

  • Ways to explore: All tickets include the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel. Choose self-guided entry, audio guide, or guided tours (big or small group options). Early-morning access for quieter galleries.
  • Additional access: Add-ons include St. Peter’s Basilica entry via special passage (guided only) or Vatican Gardens (open-bus tour).
  • Queues & access: Ticket lines skipped; security (~10–30 min) mandatory. Basilica shortcut available only on select tours.
  • When to book: Summer & holiday dates sell out 3–4 weeks ahead. Early slots and small-group tours go first.
  • Good to know: Single-entry tickets valid for selected time slot. Free cancellation up to 24–72 h (depending on ticket).
  • Best upgrade: Hosted entry is the easiest fallback when tickets sell out with a local representative validating your ticket and pointing you to the priority lane for faster, more reliable entry.

Know your ticket options ↓

Compare your Vatican Museums ticket options

Ticket typeEntrance usedLines skippedSecurityIncludesWhy pick thisCancellation policyPrice fromRecommended experience

Skip-the-Line Entry

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket line

Mandatory 10-15 minute screening

Museums + Sistine Chapel

• Saves ~1–3 hrs wait • Explore at your pace

Free cancel up to 24h

€39

Skip-the-Line Ticket

Hosted Entry Ticket

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket lines

Mandatory

On-site support, Museums + Sistine Chapel

• Local check-in, clear directions, better availability • Hassle-free fallback when sold-out

Free cancel up to 24h

€70

Hosted Skip-the-Line Ticket

Guided Tour

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket line

Mandatory

Guided tour of Museums + Sistine Chapel

• Covers must-sees in 2–3 hrs • Headsets included

Free cancel up to 48h

€55

Vatican Guided Tour

Guided Tour + Basilica

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket line

Mandatory

Guided tour of Museums & Sistine Chapel + Basilica access

• Secret passage to Basilica • Saves 2+ hrs queue

Free cancel up to 48h

€59

Tour with Basilica Access

Early Morning Tour

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket line

Mandatory

Guided tour of Museums + Sistine Chapel

• Enter before public • Quieter galleries

Free cancel up to 72h

€99

Early Morning Tour

Vatican Gardens Ticket

Separate Gardens gate → bus to Viale Vaticano

Ticket line

Mandatory

Gardens tour + Museums + Sistine Chapel

• Rare Gardens access • Panoramic bus ride

Free cancel up to 72h

€51

Gardens + Museums Ticket

Papal Audience Tour

St. Peter’s Square

None

Mandatory

Audience + guide commentary

• See the Pope in person • Secured seating included

Non-refundable

€25

Papal Audience Tour

Private Tour

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket line

Mandatory

Customized Museums + Sistine tour

• Flexible pace & focus • Just your group

Free cancel up to 72h

€599

VIP Private Tour

Combo Tour (Vatican + Colosseum)

Viale Vaticano (skip-the-line lane)

Ticket line

Mandatory

Skip-the-line entry to Vatican + Colosseum

• 2 icons, 1 booking • Can split across days

Free cancel up to 72h

€83

Vatican + Colosseum Combo
High-season slots sell out weeks ahead

Summer and holiday dates fill quickly, especially for early access and small-group tours. Tickets open 60 days in advance and often sell out 3–4 weeks before visit dates. Secure your slot early to avoid disappointment.

Things to know before you book your Vatican tickets

Booking window: Tickets open 60 days in advance. Summer slots sell out 3–4 weeks ahead. Same-day releases are rare but worth checking on the morning of your visit.

Ticket types and entry options

  • Onsite tickets can mean waiting up to three hours. Skip-the-line tickets help you bypass the purchase queue, though security checks still apply. 
  • With hosted entry, you get a redeemed ticket at a nearby point, and clear directions to the right priority queue from an onsite support, saving you the time and confusion of waiting in wrong lines.

Entrances and queues: The Vatican Museums have one main entrance but two queues: a long on-site ticket line along Viale Vaticano, and shorter priority lanes under the white-canopy tents for skip-the-line, hosted entry, and guided tour visitors.

What’s included: Standard entry includes access to all permanent collections and galleries, including the Sistine Chapel, the Gallery of Maps, the Pio-Clementino Museum, and more.

Guided vs. self-guided visits

  • Guided tours combine priority entry with expert insights into treasures like the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms in in 2–3 hours. 
  • Small groups of up to 15 people make navigation easier and allow more personal interaction. 
  • If you’re on a budget or revisiting, audio guides are a good option for exploring independently, without missing on context.

Additional access

  • Early morning and after-hours tours offer a calmer atmosphere and cooler temperatures, great for focused exploration. 
  • While St. Peter’s Basilica is free, it has a separate entrance from the Vatican Museums. Guided tours can access it directly from the Sistine Chapel via a hidden passageway, skipping a 20-minute walk and long entry queues.
  • The Vatican Gardens and Necropolis tours are not included and must be booked separately.

Policies

  • Tickets are nominative; ID may be checked.
  • Single entry only, with no re-entry allowed.
  • Time slots are valid for 30 minutes, so you must enter within this window.
  • Cancellations allowed 24–72 h depending on ticket tier.
  • Visitors aged 6–18 years enjoy up to 40–45% off, while students aged 25 and below with a valid student ID can save around 40% on their Vatican tickets.

Exploring the Vatican City

The Vatican Museums are just one chapter in Vatican City’s story, the world’s smallest independent state houses a constellation of treasures, take a look.

Important galleries of Vatican Museums

Beat the gallery overwhelm with a guided tour

With 7km of galleries and over 20,000 artworks, the Vatican can be overwhelming on your own. A guided tour simplifies it, leading you through the must-see masterpieces in a streamlined 2–3 hour visit with expert context and insights.

Plan your visit to Vatican Museums

Visitor tips

  • Book first or last entry slots (8am or 5:30pm) for calmer galleries and about three hours of access without mid-day crowds.
  • Wednesdays are quieter until noon due to the Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square, perfect for art lovers.
  • Avoid last Sunday mornings when admission is free; queues start early and the pace can feel chaotic.
  • The Vatican has a semi one-way flow, so plan your must-sees (e.g., Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps) before entering.
  • Pinacoteca (painting gallery) and Egyptian/Etruscan museums are quieter, often overlooked by large tours; visit them early.
  • Use a map to plan your route (Octagonal Court → Pio Clementino → Raphael Rooms → Sistine Chapel) and note restroom stops.
  • Bring a shawl or scarf if continuing to the Basilica, as the dress code is strictly enforced.
  • Pause in the Pinecone Courtyard right after security to orient yourself and check restrooms.
  • Snack before entering or grab coffee at the espresso bar near the bookshop to avoid long café queues.
  • If you're tired, you can skip the Spiral Staircase after the Sistine Chapel and take the lift exit option.
  • Carriage Pavilion and Missionary Ethnological Museum are quieter and perfect for a sensory reset.
  • The Gallery of the Tapestries is air-conditioned, wider, and less crowded around 5pm, perfect for a calm visit.

Prep well with insider hacks →

Frequently asked questions about Vatican Museums tickets

Booking online guarantees entry, secures timed slots, and helps you avoid long queues. This is especially important during peak seasons when same-day tickets can sell out quickly.

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