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Save 1-2 hours by skipping ticketing lines at Rome's most popular museum
Save 1-2 hours by skipping ticketing lines at Rome's most popular museum
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Explore Vatican City's top sites with an expert and exclusive access to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Explore Vatican City's top sites with an expert and exclusive access to St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Gain unique insights on Vatican Museum's history and Sistine Chapel art by an expert guide.
Gain unique insights on Vatican Museum's history and Sistine Chapel art by an expert guide.
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An intimate, personalized tour of Vatican's best with up to 15 guests.
An intimate, personalized tour of Vatican's best with up to 15 guests.
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Start your Vatican journey early with exclusive access before the crowds arrive.
Start your Vatican journey early with exclusive access before the crowds arrive.
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Experience the Vatican with a customizable skip-the-line private tour.
Experience the Vatican with a customizable skip-the-line private tour.
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Explore the Basilica with an expert guide and climb the dome for great city views.
Explore the Basilica with an expert guide and climb the dome for great city views.
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10% off
Tour both iconic sites in one day or on separate days with this convenient combo.
Tour both iconic sites in one day or on separate days with this convenient combo.
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Colosseum
Vatican Museums
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Colosseum
Vatican Museums
Colosseum
Vatican Museums
All Vatican tickets include skip-the-line access, allowing you to bypass long queues. Your ticket includes access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Depending on what you opt for, your ticket may also include a guided tour or a multilingual audioguide.
How to Skip The Line at Vatican?The best way to explore all major and minor aspects of the Vatican is by opting for a guided tour. While a standard Vatican ticket might not include a guided tour, you can opt for one that does include the services of a professional tour guide. A Vatican tour will guide you past the priority entrance into the different landmarks in Vatican City, and enlighten you with interesting trivia and facts. The alternative option is opting for a ticket that includes an audio guide, which you can carry along while you tour the Vatican.
Book Vatican Guided ToursA standard Vatican ticket does not include entry to St. Peter’s Basilica. You can opt for tours that specifically provide access to this landmark. Your professional tour guide will accompany you while you explore the historic church. If you would like to avoid long lines outside St. Peter’s Basilica, opt for a guided tour of the Vatican; this allows you to use the entrance that goes directly from within the Sistine Chapel into the basilica. Only with a tour guide can you access this entrance.
Book Tickets to St. Peter's BasilicaVisiting the Vatican is an experience in itself, but what if you could explore this popular attraction outside the opening hours? Go on a VIP tour where you can explore the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without having to deal with the huge crowds. You will be accompanied by an English-speaking guide, who will fill you in with all the information about the history of the Vatican, the Popes, and artists whose works have been showcased here.
Explore Vatican at NightEnjoy an extremely unique experience by going on the Vatican Necropolis tour. Under the Vatican City, or more accurately, between 5 and 12 meters below St. Peter's Basilica, is a former burial ground, which is also believed to be the resting place of St. Peter. On this tour, which only allows a maximum of 250 people each day, you will be accompanied an expert guide (English, Spanish, French, or Italian) who will fill you in with interesting information about the Vatican Necropolis.
More About the Vatican NecropolisThere’s plenty more to see outside of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. If you would like to further explore, opt for Vatican tickets that provide access to the Apostolic Palace, Villa Barberini, and the pontifical gardens, all located in Castel Gandolfo, less than 30 km from Vatican city. The Palace served as the summer residence of Popes throughout history, making it a must-visit away from the crowds of Rome.
Castel Gandolfo ToursVisitors between the age of 18-25 enjoy reduced pricing on their tickets.
Guests can rent audio guides at the Vatican Museums directly. Alternatively, they can book audio guides with their online reservations.
Yes. All your Vatican tickets include skip-the-line entry, allowing you to bypass the long lines.
The best way to explore all the attractions in Vatican City is by opting for a guided Vatican tour. Not only do you get skip-the-line access with your Vatican tour, but you also get early bird access to the museums in the morning, before the general crowd fills in.
A standard Vatican ticket gives you skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Not all Vatican tickets include entry to St. Peter’s Basilica. You would have to purchase tickets that specifically offer admission into the basilica.
Yes. Your Vatican ticket includes skip-the-line entry into the Sistine Chapel as well.
Yes, only if you opt for a guided Vatican tour; your ticket will also include a guided tour of the Sistine Chapel as well. Please note that all visitors are expected to observe absolute silence while inside the Sistine Chapel. Your guide will provide you with all the information that you would need before you enter the chapel.
Since the Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums, it can only be accessed by going through the Museums and not via a separate entry.
No, you do not need an additional ticket to enter the Sistine Chapel. Your Vatican ticket includes entry into the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Entry into St. Peter’s Basilica is free and does not require a ticket. However, if you would like to skip-the-lines and opt for a guided tour, a Vatican ticket with entry into St. Peter’s Basilica allows you to do so. If you opt for a Vatican tour, you can enter St. Peter’s Basilica directly from within the Sistine Chapel.
Not all Vatican tickets include entry into St. Peter’s Basilica. You will have to purchase specific tickets that offer entry into the basilica.
If you opt for Vatican tickets that provide entry into St. Peter’s Basilica, you are by default eligible for skip-the-line access into the attractions.
Not all Vatican tickets include guided tours into St. Peter’s Basilica. Ensure that you book tickets that specifically offer entry and guided tours of St. Peter’s Basilica.
You can view some parts of the Apostolic Palace’s stunning rooms, such as the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and Borgia Apartments.
Yes, your Vatican tickets include skip-the-line entry, allowing you to bypass the long lines.
Going on a guided tour of the Apostolic Palace will allow you to gain a deeper insight into the purpose and history attached to each room.
Yes, the rooms of the Apostolic Palace that visitors are allowed to view are a part of the Vatican Museums tour.
Yes, your Vatican Gardens tour includes skip-the-line access.
No. Not all Vatican tickets include access to the Vatican Gardens. You will have to book tickets that specifically include entry into the Vatican Gardens.
The availability of Vatican Gardens Guided tours is often limited. You can opt for an audio guide, instead.
Yes, your Vatican Necropolis tour includes skip-the-line access.
No, not all Vatican tickets include access to the Vatican Necropolis. You will have to book tickets that specifically include entry into the Vatican Necropolis.
Yes, the Scavi institution provides a licensed guide to accompany visitors on their Necropolis tours. It is best to go on a guided tour of the Necropolis to understand the historical significance of Necropolis.
No, You do not need separate tickets. Once you enter St. Peter’s Basilica, you can make your way below towards the Vatican Grottoes.
You have to choose tickets that offer skip the line access to St. Peter's Basilica, to enjoy skip the line entry to the Vatican Grottoes.
You can plan your visit to the Vatican Grottoes as part of your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica. Just head to Grottoes towards the end of your tour.
Located about 29 kilometers away from Vatican City is a quaint little town called Castel Gandolfo that looks like it was taken right out of a postcard. Situated on a rocky perch above Lake Albano, Castel Gandolfo is home to the Pope’s summer palace, the Barberini Gardens, Church of St. Thomas of Villanova and world's first postbox! You can also enjoy a quiet picnic by the beautiful lake and enjoy breathtaking views of the lush countryside.
Know MoreA visit to the Apostolic Palace — located in the charming little town of Castel Gandolfo — is the day trip from Vatican City you never knew you needed. Dating back to the 13th Century, the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo was the summer palace of the Pope. The beautiful palace overlooks Lake Albano. On a tour of the Apostolic Palace, visitors get a glimpse of papal history through time; from religious attire, furniture, and art dating back centuries to black-and-white photographs and a beautiful landscape adorned with lush greenery.
Know MorePrepare for a landscape unlike anything seen before: umbrella-shaped pines, patches of fresh fruits and vegetables, brightly-colored flowers, sculptures and more await you at Villa Barberini. First built during Emperor Domitian’s reign, the serene Villa Barberini and its gardens are the perfect escape from the crowds and sweltering heat of Rome and Vatican City. Opt for a guided tour of Villa Barberini and the pontifical gardens to soak in its architecture, rich history and a delightful variety of immaculately-maintained foliage.
Know MoreTimings: Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM. Every last Sunday of the month, 9 AM to 2 PM.
Extended opening hours: From 1 March onwards, on Fridays and Saturdays, the museum will be open until 8 PM.
Last admission: 2 hours before closing time.
Closed: Sundays (except the last Sunday of each month), 1 and 6 January, 19 March, 1 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 and 15 August, 1 November, 25, and 26 December.
Best time to visit: You can expect the lowest crowd between November to March, making it the best time to visit the Vatican Museums. April to September is considered to be the busiest time of the year.
Getting to the Vatican is easy with multiple transport options available. You can take the Metro, a train, bus, or simply walk to Vatican City.
Yes. The Ottaviano-S. Pietro metro station is located right outside Vatican City. You can take Line A of Rome Metro to reach this station; from there, it’s just a 5-minute walk to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Square.
Yes. You can take buses 40, 64, 62 and 81 to reach Vatican City. Buses 40 and 64 can be taken directly from Roma Termini.
No, you do not have to pay to enter Vatican City; however, you do have to purchase a ticket to enter landmarks like the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
There are two entrances to the Vatican City: Via Della Conciliazione and Via Vaticano.
If you’re planning on starting your tour at St. Peter’s Basilica, then you should enter Vatican from Via Della Conciliazione.
If you plan to start your trip of Vatican with the Vatican Museums, then enter from Viale Vaticano.
No, you don't need a passport or Visa to enter Vatican City. However, if you wish to enter the attractions inside, such as the Vatican Museums or the Sistine Chapel, you would need to buy tickets.
Your Vatican ticket includes skip-the-line access to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, allowing you to bypass the long waiting lines. You should also consider visiting during the early hours, when the crowds are lesser.
Not all Vatican tickets include guided tours. You will have to opt for tickets that specifically provided a guided Vatican tour.
Your Vatican tickets include access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
Not all skip-the-line Vatican tickets include access to St. Peter’s Basilica. You will have to purchase tickets that specifically provide entry into St. Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican rules and regulations state that visitors must dress modestly during their visit. Low cut clothing, shorts, skirts, etc., are not permitted.
Mobile phone usage is allowed on the premises of Vatican City. However, Vatican rules and regulations state that it is discouraged in the Vatican Museums and completely restricted in the Sistine Chapel.
No. Outside food and drinks is strictly prohibited inside the Vatican Museums. If you are carrying any edible items, you can check it into the cloakrooms.
Yes, Vatican has a dress code, as it is a religious state and is quite stringent about it. Failure to adhere to the dress code can lead to you being denied entry. Clothes that expose your knees, including shorts, skirts, and dresses, are not allowed, as are offensive tattoos.
Shirts are preferred, however, men can sport a T-shirt as long as it doesn’t feature any offensive slogans or imagery. Sleeveless t-shirts or vests are not allowed. Shorts must level with your knees.
Women are not permitted to wear sleeveless, low-cut clothing or crop tops. The rule of thumb to follow is that the midriff and shoulders must be covered. Skirt, dress, as well as shorts, must be at least knee-length.
There’s no specific Vatican dress code for kids. However, the same rules as adults apply to them; shoulder and midriff should be covered. Shorts/Skirts should level with the knees.
Celebrating Christmas at Vatican is a magical affair. The city decks itself in pretty lights, a Christmas tree, and a Nativity scene. The mass at St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most viewed masses around the world. However, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel is closed on December 25 and 26.
To book the Papal Audience tickets, you have to fill out a form and fax it to +39 06 698 85863 at least 2 months in advance. You’ll receive a letter that confirms that the church has received your request. However, this is not a ticket confirmation. You will have to go to the Preffetura Office 4-5 days before the mass, between 8 AM to 6 PM, to get the ticket.
The Christmas mass at Vatican takes place on December 24, at 9.30 PM.
Yes. The Vatican Museum is only accepting online reservations now. You can book your Vatican tickets online.
It depends on the ticket you choose to book. While some tickets offer a full refund on canceling tickets up to 48-72 hours in advance, for others there may be no refund available on cancelation. Please check before you make your reservation.
While the Vatican is accepting reservations for guided tours, it has placed a cap on the maximum number of visitors in a group. Each guided tour group can comprise up to 30 visitors.
The opening hours are now open from 9 AM to 6 PM from Monday to Saturday. The last entry into the museums will be at 4 PM. Every last Sunday of the month provided that Easter Sunday, 29 June, 25 December, 26 December, and 31 December, don't coincide, the museum will be open from 9 AM to 2 PM, with the final entry at 12:30 PM.
Entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel requires you to purchase tickets. On the other hand, entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free. However, if you wish to skip the long lines at St. Peter’s Basilica, it is advised that you purchase a skip the line ticket as the queue can easily be up to 60 minutes long.
Yes, your Vatican tickets do include skip-the-line-access. With this, you get fast-track access to Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel without having to wait in long lines.
Yes, guided Vatican tours do include skip-the-line access. Your professional tour guide will escort you pass the long lines.
Not all Vatican tickets include access to St. Peter's Basilica. You will have to purchase tickets that specifically include access to the basilica.
Yes, the Vatican Museums are wheelchair accessible. In fact, the Vatican offers free entry to all disabled visitors with certified invalidity of more than 74%.