Plan Your Visit

Why book in advance?

Vatican Museums is the most popular attraction in Rome, with millions visiting each year. It is notorious for its long lines at the entrance. If you don’t buy your ticket in advance, you should expect to spend 2-3 hours waiting in line – or even longer in high season!
Buying your ticket in advance will allow you to skip the long lines and go straight to security check. Though you might incur a small booking fee, your time is much better spent visiting the museums, rather than waiting in a long line, which in the summer can be exhausting due to the extreme heat and lack of shade.

When to visit

The best time to visit the Vatican Museums is either early morning or in the late afternoon as these are the less crowded times. Make sure to start your visit no later than 3pm since it takes at least 3 hours to see the important highlights of the museums, which close at 6pm.
To avoid the crowds, it is better to visit the Vatican Museums between Tuesday and Friday. Saturday is the busiest day of the week and Monday can also be crowded since most other museums in Rome are closed.
If you are trying to decide on when to come to Rome for a weekend, and keen to visit the Vatican Museums when it’s not too busy, you might consider going in the low season, between November and February.

Pick your ticket

Skip the Line Ticket - Buying a skip the line ticket will allow you to pass the long lines and jump straight into your visit. It gives you unlimited access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. There is the possibility to include an audio guide, which we highly recommend as it is a great way to learn about the incredible history of the museums and the art on display.

Escorted Skip the Line Ticket - If you are looking for the hassle-free approach, a good option is to buy the escorted skip the line ticket. With this option you will meet your host at a designated meeting spot, then he/she will accompany you into the museum with no lines. Once inside you will be free to explore at your leisure.

Early Access Ticket - this is a great option. It gives you access to the museum 1 hour and 45 minutes before it is open to the public. Visiting the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums almost alone is a unique experience you will never forget.

Vatican Gardens & Museums Ticket - If you are interested in seeing the Vatican Gardens you must buy a ticket which includes access to this area since it is not included in the standard skip the line ticket. It is well worth the visit, especially in spring. Also included is a 45 minute electric-bus tour of the gardens.

Take a Tour

Visiting the Vatican City with an official guide is highly recommended as it is a great way to experience the Vatican. Usually, the tour includes a visit of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the St. Peter’s Basilica. Private and small group tour options are both available. When you book your tour, you will be provided with details on the time and meeting point with your guide outside the venue. You are guaranteed skip the line access to the museums with your guide.
If you are visiting the Vatican Museums with children, we suggest booking a kid-friendly tour. In these, the tour guide will focus on the highlights and make it a fun learning experience for all the family.

Attend the Papal Audience

The papal audience takes place at 10:30 am on Wednesday and lasts 90 minutes to 2 hours. During spring, summer and autumn this is held in St. Peter’s square - there is not much shade so bring sunscreen and a hat. During the winter it is held in a private hall where space is limited. To attend you will need to buy a ticket in advance and arrive early (8 - 8:30 am to get a good seat or before 9am to make sure to get in). When the hall fills up they close the doors and no more visitors are admitted - even ticket holders will be turned away.
Alternatively you could attend on Sunday when the pope gives a speech from a balcony in St. Peter’s square. It lasts about 20 minutes and is followed by the Angelus and a blessing.

Good to know

• Tickets for the Vatican Museums always include access to the Sistine Chapel.
• The dress code requires that shoulders, knees and abdomen are covered. Sleeveless shirts and blouses, hats, miniskirts and shorts are not permitted.
• It takes about 3 hours to visit the Vatican Museums.
• After visiting the Vatican Museums you may want to visit St. Peter's Basilica. Admission is free and open daily from 7am to 6pm. For access to the crypt and the dome a ticket is required.
• The closest metro is Ottaviano-S. Pietro.
• The last Sunday of the month the museum is open and free, except if this is a religious holiday (Easter Sunday, 29 June Sts. Peter and Paul, 25 December Christmas Day, and 26 December Feast of St. Stephen). Go very early to avoid long lines.
• The 27th of September (World tourism day) is also free.

Opening Hours

• Monday to Saturday: 9am to 6pm (final entry at 4pm)
• last Sunday of each month: 9am to 2pm (final entry at 12.30pm) and entry is free of charge