Visiting the Vatican - Top tips you need to know!

Planning on visiting the Vatican when you come to Rome?

Here's everything you need to know!

saint peter's basilicaFind out the best way to visit the Vatican, including Saint Peter's Basilica, Saint Peter's Square, and the Vatican Museums.

Visiting the Vatican - everything you need to know

Here is what you really need to know about visiting the Vatican:

The first time I came to Rome as an adult, I missed seeing the Sistine Chapel because I had no idea the Vatican Museums closed at 2pm (long before smartphones and Google, ahem.) 

It must have been a Free Sunday, when the Vatican Museums are open and free but with reduced hours.

Now that I live here, I go often to Saint Peter's Basilica, Saint Peter's Square, and the Vatican Museums.

I also helped thousands of our guests plan their visits in the 17 years we ran our B&B.

Based on years of first-hand experience, I know how to tell you what to do and what not to do.

You can avoid a stressful visit to the Vatican by reading my tips first!

QUICK FACTS ABOUT VISITING VATICAN CITY

  • You don't need a passport.
  • Vatican City is a separate state from Italy, with just over 500 residents.
  • The two main places to visit are Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums (where the Sistine Chapel is.)
  • The pope is head of Vatican City.
  • The pope's church is not Saint Peter's Basilica. It is Saint John in Lateran.
  • You can visit the Vatican, and you can stay nearby, but you cannot sleep inside the Vatican.

Visiting the Vatican - When to go

queue at saint peters in summerWaiting in the queue to get into Saint Peters Basilica in summer
saint peter's square on january 2You will find large crowds at the Vatican the week after New Years in Rome

Proper attire required signThe rules on how to dress in religious places are very strict. At the Vatican there are no exceptions

IMPORTANT TIP:

To visit St Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, you must be properly dressed: no bare knees, midriffs or shoulders.

Sandals and jeans are fine.

Be careful when wearing knee-length shorts and skirts; the opinions of the Vatican guards as to what is acceptable may vary.

You may wish to bring a sarong or wear the kinds of shorts that have attachable legs, such as hiking trousers.

In a pinch, you will find plenty of vendors just outside the Vatican, who sell t-shirts or scarves.


No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 things never to leave at home:

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!


Visiting the Vatican - What to see?

The main things to see when visiting the Vatican are Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.

You can see one and not the other, although visiting both in a single day is very do-able.


Looking for Michelangelo's masterpieces?

Michelangelo’s Pietà is inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums.

Michelangelo's pietàMichelangelo's Pietà - Saint Peter's Basilica
Michelangelo's ceiling in the sistine chapelMichelangelo's Sistine Chapel - Vatican Museums


Just try not to plan any other big visit like another museum or archeological site like the Coloseum for the day you visit the Vatican, as you will be pretty exhausted.

Do you really want to visit the Vatican and Colosseum in one day? Here's how!

Or take the stress out of it by taking this "Rome in a Day" Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center.


St Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter’s Basilica is a Renaissance-era church and by many standards, the world’s largest. 

The Vatican is a basilica but not a cathedral, as it does not have its own bishop.

st peters basilica central naveThe central nave of Saint Peters Basilica, one of the largest, and arguably one of the most beautiful churches in the world.


The main cathedral of the “Bishop of Rome”, as the pope is called, is San Giovanni in Laterano, or Saint John in Lateran.

But the pope is head of Vatican City, where he resides.

It's a little confusing isn't it?

Anyway, just think of the Vatican as a huge church, with a lot to see inside.

Click here to read more about what exactly the Vatican is.

Click here to visit my dedicated page all about Saint Peter's Basilica and its history, and things to see and do there.

St Peter's Dome

It's very much worth visiting the basilica's dome, but you should know it can get a little crowded up there, and there are a LOT of steps.

dome inside st petersMichelangelo's dome inside Saint Peter's Basilica. Yes, you can climb up here!

The first level is 231 steps, but there is an elevator option. (Someone in a wheelchair or with walking difficulties can take the lift to this first level.)

The second portion is another 320 steps, with no elevator option.

The dome gets narrower as you go up, so you will be climbing this part single file, and with the roof slanting over your head.

I say this as someone with a close relative with vertigo: you may want to avoid climbing the dome at the Vatican if you suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia.

But if none of that is an issue, then do it!

You'll love the views from up there, both of the church and of the surrounding city.

Visit my dedicated page all about Saint Peter's dome and how to climb it.


Michelangelo’s Pieta

My favorite piece of art inside of St Peter's Basilica is Michelangelo’s Pietà.

Actually, it may be my favorite piece of art in the world.

An exaggeration?

I can't help it...just look at it:

michelangelo's pietàMichelangelo's pietà inside St Peters Basilica


It’s on your right as soon as you walk inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

When I visited it with my mom, she cried, saying “look at her face, it’s just about a mother’s love for her child."

Unfortunately, someone wielding an axe once attacked it, and it’s now behind glass.

But you can still see it very well.

And take note of Mary’s face.

It’s really special when you see it in person.


Michelangelo Tidbit:

This was one of Michelangelo’s first major works.

He made it when he was only 22.

He was not sure people would know he did it, so he snuck in late one night and carved his name (Michelangelo Buonarroti) on Mary’s sash.

The Pietà is the only sculpture Michelangelo ever signed (or needed to sign.)

Vatican Grottoes - The Tombs of the Popes

Inside Saint Peter's Basilica, you can go down one level and see the area where some of the popes are buried.


bernini's baldachino (canopy) inside saint peter's basilicaTo visit the Vatican grottoes, go up to Bernini's baldachino (canopy) and turn around. The entrance is right there behind you.

Saint Peter is said to be entombed just underneath the church.

This is why many popes are also buried here. 

It's quite interesting to visit the popes' tombs, called the Vatican Grottoes  - there is a lot of history down there.

Don't worry, it's not dark or claustrophobic.

On the contrary, it's a huge open space full of light and lots to see (no photos allowed.)

To visit the Vatican Grottoes, get up close to Bernini's Baldachin and look for the entrance nearby.

It's free to visit the Vatican Grottoes.

You should make sure you are done visiting the basilica or have a plan to go back up, because the normal route through the grottoes has you exit the basilica entirely.


Not to be confused with St. Peter's tomb

When people talk about visiting the Vatican grottoes, they are referring to a place where you can see the tombs of many popes (as I wrote above.)

But this is not the same as visiting the Vatican Necropolis, where St. Peter is said to be buried.


visit to Saint Peter’s tomb, also referred to as a scavi visit, is a special and wonderful thing to do, and I highly recommend it. ("Scavi" means "excavations".)

It is a delicate archeological site, and they only take 250 people in per day, in 12-person tours at a time, so you must book way in advance. (No photos allowed.)


NEW FOR 2024!

The archeological area of the Vatican Necropolis of Via Triumphalis is now open for visitors.

This is an ancient Roman burial site that is within the Vatican walls and before now was very difficult to get access to.

You can only enter as part of an official Vatican tour group, and tickets need to be purchased through the official website.

This is an entirely separate visit, so you will not have access to either St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums.

Click here to watch my YouTube video about it and see what it's like!

The Vatican Museums

The second major site to visit at the Vatican is the Vatican Museums.

Ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican museumsThe ceiling of the Sistine Chapel inside the Vatican Museums. Michelangelo Buonarotti, 1508-1512.

This is the part about Vatican City that will take most of your time and energy.

The Vatican Museum contains the world’s largest private art collection (and just imagine that much of the art they own is not even on display!)

They are called "museums" and not just singular "museum" because the museums were started in 1506 and have been added to many times over the centuries.

They now occupy many different buildings all connected to on another.

That's one reason there is so much to see!





You will see a lot of art inside the Vatican Museums, including paintings, sculptures, ancient artifacts, and much more.

I think the number one thing people want to see when they visit is the Sistine Chapel.

For more about the Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel, visit my dedicated pages:

More things you will see at the Vatican:

Besides the two main sites - the museums (Sistine Chapel) and the basilica, there are more things you will see when you visit Vatican City.

Look for these as you walk around:

St. Peter's Square

It would be easy to take Saint Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro in Italian, for granted.

After all, if you're beelining to get into the basilica, you might be focused on the security queues and wondering how long you will have to wait.


saint peter's square at duskSaint Peter's Square is part of Vatican City and something to visit and enjoy in its own right.


But St. Peter's Square, also called Vatican Square, is worth visiting and enjoying by itself.

It's the only part of Vatican City you can visit without any tickets or queuing.

If you have very limited time, you may even decide that this is about as much as you want to see of Vatican City, since everything else involves queues and/or tickets plus an involved visit inside.

Click here to visit my page all about St. Peter's Square, its history, and what to see.


The Swiss Guard

You might spy one or more of the Swiss Guard at the gate to Vatican City.


swiss guard at vatican citySwiss Guard check-point at Porta S.Anna


The Swiss Guard wear different outfits depending on their duties, but they are all dressed in costumes originally designed in the early 1500s (although not by Michelangelo, an urban myth.)


swiss guard at the vaticanIf you visit Saint Peter's Basilica, you will see these Swiss Guard as you exit.


The Swiss Guard have a specific duty to guard the pope's life and Saint Peter's Basilica.

They are the world's smallest army and they are very well trained.

You will not see the Swiss Guard at the Vatican Museums.

There, you will see Vatican Museums guards who dress in more modern attire.

The Leonine Walls

In the 9th century, Pope Leo IV had defensive walls built around Vatican City following the sacking by raiders of Old St. Peter's Basilica in 846.

You can still see those walls today in and around the Vatican, especially if you visit the Vatican Gardens.


leonine walls at the vaticanWhen you're standing in line to enter St. Peter's Basilica, note the original Leonine Walls that run alongside the entry.

You can also see parts of these walls surrounding Saint Peter's Square on the side where the security gates are, and along the way from the Vatican to nearby Castel Sant'Angelo.

Click here to read a more detailed yet brief history of the Vatican.

For more Vatican history, check out these dedicated pages:

The Vatican Post Office


Don't miss a visit to the Vatican Post Office if you want to mail any postcards. 

vatican post officePost office branch at the Vatican.

It's easier and more efficient than going to the Italian Post Office, and your mail will get there faster!

There is also a Vatican mailbox up on the roof (Saint Peter's Dome), and usually another post office in Saint Peter's Square.


More sites you can visit in Vatican City

Besides Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, there are some more sites you can visit in Vatican City.

You have to pay for these (and for the scavi and gardens, you must book in advance.)

You will find more details about each one on their respective dedicated pages:

Which to see first - The Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel, or St. Peter's Basilica?


If you book a tour of the Vatican, usually this means taking a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, which ends with the Sistine Chapel.

Some tours include taking the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel into St Peters Basilica.

There has been some back and forth recently about whether the shortcut is available or not, but for now, it is once again the case that you can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

The Vatican can, and does, change their mind frequently on this matter, so if it is important to you to be able to take this shortcut, I recommend booking a tour that ends in St Peter's Basilica to be on the safe side.

If you are on a tour that ends in the Basilica the decision is made for you.

But if you are taking a Vatican Museums tour that does not include the Basilica, or if you are visiting the Vatican Museums on your own, you'll have to decide what order to visit the museums and the basilica in, assuming you want to visit both on the same day, which many people do.


How long does it take to visit the Vatican Museums?

vatican museums pinecone courtyardWhen you visit the Vatican Museums, you'll probably also visit the famed "pinecone courtyard" where you will see this modern globe sculpture.

To visit the Vatican Museums (where the Sistine Chapel is), you need a purchase a ticket (unless you come on the Free Sunday.)

Once inside, even if you go quickly, you will need about 2 hours for this this visit.

If you are not able to take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to Saint Peter's basilica, you will exit the museums where you entered them.

vatican museums entrance and exitIf you don't visit Saint Peter's Basilica after you visit the Sistine Chapel, you will exit the museums at the same place you entered them.


This is about a 15-20 minute walk from Saint Peter's Square and the entrance to the basilica.

Click here to see a map of Vatican City and how far apart the entrances of the Museums and the Basilica are (it opens in a new window.)


St Peter's Basilica Shortcut

You can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

The shortcut is open from 9:30 am - 5 or 5:30PM, and it's ONLY accessible to tour companies or private guides that you book OUTSIDE the Vatican Museums website.

The Vatican Museums does not have any ticket or tour that includes the shortcut.

This means that you won't have access to the shortcut during the KeyMaster tour, the Extra Time tour, or any other tour that does not specifically include the basilica.

If you book any tour of the Vatican Museums, you can check the details to see if it finishes in the Sistine Chapel or the basilica.

Click here to view a map of Vatican City (it will open in a new page.)

How long does it take to visit Saint Peter's Basilica?

A visit inside Saint Peter's Basilica could take anywhere from 1-2 hours, not including the time you spend in line waiting to go through security (assuming you go through security in the front and do not take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel.)

To visit Saint Peter's Basilica, you do not need (nor can you buy) tickets, as it's free to go inside.

But you do have to wait in the line for security, which is airport-style - there is an x-ray machine to put your items in and you will walk through a metal detector.


long lines at saint peter's basilicaIn this photo, you can see the snaking lines that are up close to the security booths (on the right)...the rest of the line loops all the way around Saint Peter's Square.


And that can cause the queues to get pretty long.

Lately, the lines to get into Saint Peter's Basilica have been so long, they are looping back again around the square.

Wondering which tour to take of the Vatican Museums?

Visit my page about Vatican Museum tours to find out all the options!


If you book a Vatican Museums tour that does not allow you access to the Basilica, and/or you want to visit the Basilica separately, even on a different day, I'd suggest getting to Saint Peter's Basilica when it opens at 7 AM (if you want to avoid the line).

The lines are longest from about 10 AM - 5 PM, and in high season can be long throughout the day, even from 7 AM until closing!


Skipping the lines at Saint Peter's Basilica


The easiest way to skip the lines at Saint Peter's Basilica is to visit it using the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel (which currently is only available on booked museum tours that end in Saint Peter's Basilica).

There has been some back and forth recently about whether the shortcut is available or not, but for now, it is once again the case that you can only take the shortcut from  the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

As of now, you cannot do this unless you are on a tour.

If you only plan to visit Saint Peter's Basilica, and not the museums, or you decide to visit these two sites separately, you can avoid the queues by following the tips in my video above:

Wondering where the bathrooms are at the Vatican?

Find out here.

Brief History of Vatican City eBook

The history of the Vatican stretches back thousands of years, and to know everything about this incredible micro-state would take a lifetime to learn.

With this eBook, discover the brief history of Vatican City - where it got its name, who built the basilica, where the Popes are buried and more!

Topics covered include:

  • Details about the Vatican's origin, going back to the time of Ancient Rome
  • The role important artists such as Michelangelo played in the creation of the Vatican as we know it today 
  • How the Vatican came to be an independent city state within the boundaries of Rome

What else is included in this Brief History of Vatican City e-book?

  • 50+ pages of information covering all areas of the Vatican's history
  • Dozens of stunning and original photos showcasing the Vatican
  • Insightful diagrams and drawings to help illustrate the more detailed elements of the Vatican's history
  • + much more!
brief history of vatican city ebook

Look inside:

brief history of vatican city preview
brief history of vatican city preview
brief history of vatican city preview

Only $8.99!



Skipping the line to get into the Vatican Museums

This may be the number 1 question I get about visiting Rome - How to skip the line for the Vatican Museums?

It's quite simple:

  • You can pre-purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums through the Vatican's website. This means that you will not have to stand in the line waiting to buy tickets. You will, however, have to wait in a very short line of others like you, who have pre-booked tickets and have to pick them up. (The tickets you purchase in advance are more of a voucher, and they must be converted into physical paper tickets to enter the museums.) You also still need to go through security as everyone does. So you do not entirely skip the line, but your line will be much shorter.
  • You can pre-purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums through a ticket reseller. There is usually a small surcharge for this but it can be worth it due to 1) Ease of use and/or 2) the possibility of finding tickets available here when tickets are not available on the Vatican Museums' website.
  • You can purchase an Omnia Pass or Turbo PassThese will also get you a tour with a guide from the Vatican Museums, as above. It’s not as simple as it sounds and you will need to be careful to understand what you are getting into. Click here to go to my page about the Roma Pass and Omnia Pass or to this page about other Rome City Passes for more details about these passes.
  • You can book a tour of the Vatican Museums, either with a tour company or with the Vatican Museums themselves. Your entry tickets are included in the tour, so you only have to go through the security line.
  • If you book a visit to the Vatican Gardens, skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums are included!
  • I do not recommend this at all, but if you have not booked tickets, and they are sold out online, and you find yourself arriving at the Vatican Museums, you will ALWAYS find touts selling you a skip-the-line ticket or tour. I don't recommend it because you cannot be sure they are legit, and if they are, you have no idea what kind of tour you are getting. I also just can't stand, in principle, to be so bombarded by these guys every time I am within a mile of Vatican City. But it can be a good option if it's your last recourse and the lines are crazy long. Just be aware that only licensed tour guides may give tours inside Vatican City.

Visiting the Vatican Museums with a Guide

visiting the vatican with a tourTouring the Vatican museums with a guide is one of the best ways to get the most out of your visit. There is just so much to see!

Most Vatican City tourism consists primarily of a visit inside the Vatican Museums, which always includes the Sistine Chapel.

Some tours also include a visit or even a tour inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

You may expect a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Basilica to last roughly three hours total.

To find out about the many different kinds of tours you can book, visit my page about Vatican Museum Tours, which breaks down your options between group tours, early access tours, semi-private tours and more.

Can you just see the Sistine Chapel?

No, you cannot just see the Sistine Chapel.

To see the Sistine Chapel, you must go through the entire Vatican Museums, which can take at least 2 hours if you tour it and see the highlights.

The Sistine Chapel is at the very end. 

last judgement inside sistine chapelLast Judgement inside the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1536-1541.

That said, if you are interested in an "Express Tour" of the Sistine Chapel, you can book this tour that skips the line then beelines to the Sistine Chapel and finishes in Saint Peter's Basilica.

This tour is only 1 hour and 45 minutes and does not include a tour of the rest of the Vatican Museums.

You do still have to walk through them, but the focus of the tour will be the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.

(If you are really pressed for time, you could peel off once you get to the basilica and just not finish the tour.)

is it worth taking the time to explore the museums?


I really do believe that visiting the Vatican museums is absolutely worth doing in its entirety, even if you really only wanted to see the Sistine Chapel.

The rest of the museums are truly wonderful.

You have the Raphael rooms, the maps gallery, the floor-to-ceiling tapestries, papal apartments, Etruscan art, and so much more.

Click here to visit my page about the top 10 Vatican Museums must-sees.

Raphael's "School of Athens" in the Vatican MuseumsRaphael's "School of Athens" in the Vatican Museums

I highly suggest taking a tour to visit the museums. 

They will take care of getting your tickets.

But if you go your own without a tour, you could get the audio guide, or follow my instructions here for the best way to visit the Vatican Museums.

And you will have to book your tickets on your own.

If you are heading to the Vatican in the morning, as I said above, I suggest you visit Saint Peter’s Basilica first, and the museums later, because the queues for Saint Peter's Basilica have gotten so long (sometimes it's a 1-2 hour wait to get in!)

If you decide to go to the Vatican Museums first, just make sure to leave enough time to stand in line to visit Saint Peter's so that you get inside while there is still some daylight, so you can enjoy the sun coming through all the stained glass.

saint peter's basilica inside with rays of lightI love when the sunlight pours into Saint Peter's Basilica in the afternoon.

Can you see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds?

Perhaps the easiest way to see the Sistine Chapel with fewer crowds is to come in really low season.

But we hardly have a low season anymore in Rome, and even when we do, somehow the Vatican is always still crowded.

So how can you see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds?

It is possible!

With the below tours, you will have a VIP, exclusive experience, and you'll get to enjoy the Sistine Chapel almost alone:

Open the Vatican Museums with the Key Master

On this exclusive tour with Walks of Italy, you will have true VIP access to the Vatican museums - literally accompanying the guard who opens all the doors to get the museums ready for visits.

You will accompany the Vatican Museums Key Master as you walk through the museums, turning on the lights, even inside the Sistine Chapel!

Watch my video to see what it's like:


How to plan all your Vatican trips during your stay

The typical way of visiting the Vatican is to spend half a day seeing the Vatican Museums and Saint Peter's Basilica.

These are both easy to fit into a typical 3-day visit to Rome.


The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Castel Sant'Angelo, and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers.


vatican museums spiral staircaseThe spiral staircase inside the Vatican Museums is one of the most photographed things in the museums.


I have found that often when people can get tickets to special things at the Vatican, like St Peters tomb (the Vatican Necropolis, or scavi), the Papal Audience, or the Vatican Gardens, they often want to also visit the Vatican Museums on the same day.

Here's my advice for visiting Vatican City when you want to see more than just the Vatican Museums:

Including the Papal Audience

How to visit the Vatican Museums and attend the Papal Audience


Papal Audience tickets are not difficult to come by, and since it's "in the morning", many visitors assume it would be a good idea to go to the Vatican Museums right after the audience.

pope francis greets the crowdsAfter the Papal Audience, Pope Francis gets in his popemobile, and goes all through the crowd. I got this close shot by being there at 7am and grabbing a seat front and center!

I don't agree.

If you are really short on time, then, you CAN go to the Vatican Museums after the Papal Audience.

It's just that this is going to make for a pretty exhausting day.

To go to the Papal audience, you need to get there by 8am to get a decent spot, let alone a seat.

The audience begins around 9:30 AM and finishes around noon.

You'll probably want to grab at least a snack or lunch somewhere in there.

This means going inside the museums from about 2 PM once you have made your way to the Vatican Museum entrance.

If you also visit St. Peter's Basilica after the museums (which is typical), that is a 3-4 hour visit.

And a very long day. (Also, if you want to climb the dome, you likely won't get there in time.)

My suggestion?

If you can break these visits up over two days, I would.

Attend the Papal Audience and then go inside Saint Peter's Basilica (and climb the dome if you want.)

Then on a separate day, visit the Vatican Museums and see the Sistine Chapel.


Including a visit to the Scavi (St Peter's tomb)

HOW TO VISIT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS AND also take a scavi tour

At the end of the scavi tour (St. Peter's tomb), you wind up inside Saint Peter's basilica.

So you will already see that.

You could also climb St. Peter's dome if you have time and energy.

St. Peter's Dome insideThe dome of St. Peter is a masterpiece with impressive numbers. From the inside it reaches a height of 117 meters


Visiting the Vatican Museums takes easily 2.5 - 3 hours, and that does not include the time it takes GETTING there once you leave the basilica.

If you are coming to the museums from St. Peter's basilica, you need to factor in about 15-20 minutes' walk to the Vatican museums entrance.

This is after you've already done a 1.5 hour scavi tour, and spent time walking around one of the largest churches in the world.

So as you can see, adding the Vatican Museums makes it a pretty exhausting day.

If you need to do it all in one day, make sure to book your scavi tour first, then book your museums visit with at least 4 hours between visits.

My suggestion?

Break this up over two days.

Book the scavi tour.

You have no control over when they will grant you tickets, so if you are lucky enough to get them, you can then book other things around that. 

Plan to see St. Peter's basilica (and climb the dome) on this day.

Then, book your Vatican Museums visit for another day. 


HOW TO VISIT ST PETERS TOMB, THE VATICAN MUSEUMS (SISTINE CHAPEL), AND ATTEND THE PAPAL AUDIENCE

You are definitely going to need two days.

First book the scavi visit which is never on a Wednesday mornings anyway (the Papal Audience is on Wednesdays.)

Plan to visit St Peter's Basilica after that, since you will come out into the basilica after the tour anyway.

If you want to climb St Peter's dome, you will do it on this day.

This is a pretty long and full day by itself.

st peters basilicaVisiting the Vatican can be pretty exhausting. There is a lot to see and do, so pace yourself and if need be, spread your visits out over 2 or more days.

Then, once you get your Papal Audience tickets, book your tickets or tour of the Vatican Museums for after the audience (even if I said above I discourage doing all this in one day, at least if you don't include the basilica it's a little less tiring).

This will be a very full and long day also.


Including a visit to the Vatican Gardens

IF YOU WANT TO VISIT THE VATICAN GARDENS AND VISIT THE SCAVI (St. Peter's Tomb)

TWO Vatican Gardens

On this page, I'm referring to the gardens inside Vatican City, i.e. directly behind Saint Peter's Basilica.

There are ALSO papal gardens at the Pope's summer residence, the Apostolic palace at Castel Gandolfo.

To learn more about the gardens at Castel Gandolfo and how to visit them (it's easy!), visit my dedicated page here.


If you are able to get tickets to St. Peter's tomb (scavi) and also the Vatican Gardens, congratulations!

Here's how to include visiting the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's basilica as well.

vatican gardens turtle fountainOne of my favorite things to see in the Vatican Gardens is this precious fountain with turtles!

First book the scavi visit.

Then book the Vatican Gardens tour on a different day, and plan to visit the Vatican Museums right after the gardens, as it's included in your ticket price with the gardens.

Visit St. Peter's Basilica after the scavi, again, on a different day from the Gardens/Museums.

If you want to do it all - visit the Vatican Museums, vatican gardens, papal audience, scavi tour and st peter's basilica and dome


How you plan your days fitting in these visits will depend on two things - the Papal audience, which is always Wednesday morning 10am - 12pm (although you need to get there by no later than 8am); and the time of your scavi booking (which depends on the scavi office - you cannot control this).

Once you get those two bookings, the next difficult booking to get is for the Vatican Gardens


vatican gardens and vista of st. peter's basilicaIncluding a visit to the Vatican Gardens is a fantastic thing to do. Just make sure you budget time for this if you want to do other special Vatican visits too!

So book that one around the Papal Audience and scavi tour.

Note that tours of the Vatican Gardens are at 9am or 11am.

They are also not held on the morning of the Papal Audience.

My suggestion?

I'd suggest you spread this over 3 days.

Or, to fit this into two (intense) days, try to do the scavi tour after the Papal audience, if you can get scavi tickets for the afternoon.

Then book the Vatican Gardens, Vatican Museums, and St. Peter's Basilica on a separate day.

(And climb St. Peter's dome once you are inside St. Peter's basilica if you like.)

How to Get to Vatican City

You have several options for how to get to the Vatican.

But the most important factor to consider is what you are visiting first.

Click here to see a Google map showing where the different entrances are for the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter's Square, and the scavi entrance. It will open in a new window.

How to get to the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums entrance is on Viale Vaticano.

If you plan to take a taxi, just tell the driver "Vatican Museums".

Visiting the Vatican Museums and arriving by Metro

Otherwise, the most common way to get there is by Metro.

Rome's metro red line A has two stops, equidistant from the entrance to the museums (about a 10-12 minute walk): Ottaviano and Cipro.

Ottaviano metro stop in romeRome's Ottaviano metro stop is the most commonly used stop for visiting the Vatican.

The Ottaviano metro stop is the first one you will come to if you are coming from Rome's center.

When you emerge from the metro station, you just need to follow the crowd towards Vatican City.

Once you see Michelangelo's bastions (walls), follow them to the right and you will come to the entrance of the Vatican Museums.

If you are visiting the Vatican museums from the opposite direction, or if you forget to get off at Ottaviano, or, better yet, if you want to get off at the next stop to get some fabulous pizza by the slice from Bonci's Pizzarium, then you will get off at Cipro stop. 

bonci pizzaFor me, getting some of Bonci's Pizzarium pizza is one of the highlights of visiting the Vatican. It's right at the Cipro metro stop, so it could not be more convenient (as if I needed an excuse).

However, from this stop, you cannot see the same stream of people, nor can you immediately see the Vatican City walls, so you will need to navigate a little bit to find the walls.

Once you see the walls, follow them until you come to the entrance.

Visiting the Vatican Museums and Arriving by Bus

Another option for arriving at the entrance of the Vatican museums is to take a bus or buses.

Many buses will get you pretty close to the entrance of the Vatican museums.

These include the 492, 49, 23, and the 81.


How to Get to Saint Peter's Basilica and Square


The entrance to St. Peter's Basilica is on Saint Peter's Square.

This is about a 15-20 minute walk from the Vatican Museums, so if you are not visiting the Vatican Museums (or not visiting them first), and want to go directly to the basilica, you can still take the metro, but make sure to get off at Ottaviano, not Cipro.

From Ottaviano metro stop, St. Peter's Square is about a 10-15 minute walk.

Follow the crowds, but at the walls, do not make a right towards the museums, just keep going straight. 

Buses that arrive closest to St. Peter's Square include the 40 and the 64.


How to get to the Scavi/St Peter's Tomb


If you are visiting the Vatican for an appointment to see St. Peter's tomb, the fastest and easiest way to arrive is by taxi.

They can drop you right in front of the entrance where you need to go, which is at the Swiss Guard, to the left of the basilica as you face it.

If you take a bus, get the 64, as it drops you about a block away.

To take the metro, make sure to get off at Ottaviano, and give yourself about 20 minutes' walking time from there to get the the entrance of St. Peter's tomb.


Where to Eat Near the Vatican

There is no place to eat inside St Peter's Basilica or in St Peter's Square (there is a tiny snack bar on the roof of the basilica, which you can only access if you climb the dome.)

There are some cafés and fast-food options inside the Vatican Museums.

There are also fun dining options you can book, and combine with your visit to the Museums.

Otherwise, visit my page about lots of options for eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and aperitivo near the Vatican


Want to share this page on Pinterest? Pin it here!

Top tips for visiting the Vatican, by RomewiseTop tips for visiting the Vatican, by Romewise
Top tips for visiting the Vatican, by RomewiseThe Ultimate Guide to the Vatican from an insider

Get your 100% free Rome trip planner now!

Simply sign-up today for our free newsletter and get the Romewise Quick Start guide to Rome:

We are committed to respecting your data. Click for our Privacy Policy.


Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

Please come over to the private Romewise Facebook group and join in the conversation.

You will often find me there, happy to answer your questions / comments!

You will also meet other Rome lovers and experts, too.

What are you waiting for?

Come join in the fun!