Are you contemplating going to the Vatican City? This article will serve as a complete guide on logistics for foreign travelers visiting the micro-state.
When is the Vatican open?
What time does the Vatican Museum open?
Vatican City is made up of various attractions that all have various opening times to keep in mind.
St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square are open everyday from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. from April to September. In the period of October to March they close up for visitors at 6:30 P.M.
Is the Vatican Museum open on Mondays?
The Vatican Museums are open Monday to Saturday from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M, with a last admission of entry at 4 P.M.
There are some variations to these opening hours
- The museums have extended hours on Fridays and Saturdays from March to October.
- There is free entry on the last Sunday of every month, with opening times being 9 A.M. to 2 P.M. Along with limited timings you will be met with much larger crowds.
- Visiting Vatican City on a Sunday is a possibility, but it depends on what you want to see. Whilst the Vatican Museums stay closed on Sundays, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square remain open.
On Sundays you can aim to attend the papal blessing. The pope makes an appearance from the window of the Vatican office balcony to deliver a short speech and then provide an Apostolic blessing to the often massive audience that gathers.
Getting to Vatican City from Rome
Vatican City is very accessible from Rome; you can reach it using many different modes of transportation.
- Metro: Go to your closest metro and get on the Line A. The stop Ottaviano-San Pietro is just a short walk from the Vatican City.
- Taxi: Hail a tai from any area of the city. However, keep in mind that Roman taxis cannot enter the boundaries of Vatican City. You can ask your driver to drop you at Via della Conciliazione, Viale Vaticano or by the Ottaviano metro station- all these stops are minutes away from the Vatican attractions by foot.
- Bike: You can cycle to Vatican City, but you will have to park outside its boundaries and continue your venture on foot.
Entrance to the Vatican
The good news is that no special visa is needed for Vatican City entry!
As long as you meet the legal entry requirements for Italy, you have access to Vatican City.
Entrance for St. Peter’s Basilica and Square are free.
However, if you want to skip the long queues to go inside the basilica, you can opt for a skip-the-line ticker by a tour operator.
Moreover, if you would like to witness gorgeous panoramic views of Rome from the basilica’s dome there is a fee of 10 euros to take the elevator and then climb 320 steps to reach the top.
Please keep in mind that there is a dress code to adhere to- cover your shoulders and knees and take off any hats when entering the basilica.
Tickets are required to enter the Vatican Museums and can be purchase online or on-site (subject to availability).
Best time to visit the Vatican
The best time to visit Vatican City depends on what your personal priorities are.
- Are you looking for fewer crowds? Opt for visiting on one of the weekdays or in the low seasons. Try to steer clear of Wednesdays due to the pope’s Papal Audience (unless that is an experience that you are interested in).
- Do you want to explore Vatican City under more pleasant weather conditions? Visit during Spring (March-May) or Fall (September-November).
- Do you have specific interests? Consider special events when planning your trip. For example, if you want to see the iconic Christmas tree being lit up in St. Peter’s Square, visit Vatican City during Christmas time.
The best Vatican tour hours are either early in the morning when the landmarks open, or just a few hours before their closing time. This way you may be able to avoid a crowded experience during peak hours in the afternoon.
Are the Vatican Museum open on Sundays/Mondays?
To recap, the museums themselves (including the Sistine Chapel) are opening on Mondays but are closed on Sundays, apart from on the last weekend of every month.
Best way to see Vatican City
There are at least two options for exploring Vatican City:
- Take a self-guided tour: You can explore the attractions at your own pace with a guidebook or a downloaded audio guide. However, if you decide to visit the Vatican on your own, be wary that the museums can be incredibly confusing to navigate through, with their sheer size and volume of artifacts. You also may prefer to be more immersed in the art than trying to follow a guidebook or audiobook.
- Join a guided tour: The foolproof way of being able to actually be present in your Vatican experience is by choosing a guided tour, such as our Early Morning Vatican Tour. With an expert guide by your side, you can spend a beautiful morning exploring all the attractions and the contents of the museums through pure engagement, interaction and knowledge. Skip-the-line tickets will ensure that you won’t have to queue in long lines either!
