Attractions

Vatican

The Vatican is an independent city‑state and spiritual center with St Peter’s Square, the basilica, and world‑class museums.

Highlights

St Peter’s Square
Bernini’s colonnade frames the iconic piazza.
Vatican Museums
One of the world’s most important art collections.
Sistine Chapel
Michelangelo’s frescoes are the centerpiece.

Pro tips

Arrive early for security
Queues form quickly around St Peter’s Square.
Dress code applies
Shoulders and knees must be covered at religious sites.

Plan your visit

Getting there
Metro A: Ottaviano or Cipro
Entrances
St Peter’s Square for the basilica; Viale Vaticano for museums
Timings
Hours vary by site; mornings are the least crowded
Amenities
Cafes
Restrooms
Gift shops
Accessibility
Wheelchair routes available in most areas
Restricted items
No large bags
Dress code enforced
Photos
TripAdvisor
Vatican Museums
Rating 4.3 · 42013 reviews
Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome Italy
With more than five miles of corridors, this vast complex of museums chronicles the history and accomplishments of mankind over the last 2000 years, featuring classic masterpieces such as Rodin's "Thinker" and the Sistine Chapel.
https://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Skip-the-Line-Vatican-Sistine-Chapel-St-Peters-Tour/d511-144099P1
More on TripAdvisor
Inflexibility and poor communication from entrance staff
★☆☆☆☆
Very disappointing service from entrance staff. We booked a timed entry ticket for 11am. We finished visiting St Peter's Basilica earlier than expected and when we arrived the museum at 10am the man told us we had to wait but could come back at 10:30am. It was searing hot so we went to the cafe across and waited and then came back at 10:40am but he said we still couldn't go in because our tickets were for 11am. I accept that we were early but he shouldn't have told us to come back at 10:30am if we could only come in at the dedicated slot on the dot. In this kind of heat and when traveling with a family with a young child, a little compassion and flexibility would be appreciated. I went to the effort of booking the timed entry ticket so we could avoid this sort of thing. The family were so hot and stressed out that we decided to skip it and go back to the hotel which is a shame.
jrhsingapore
Must See
★★★★★
I would highly recommend taking a tour to the museum to skip the very long lines to the museum as well as to the cathedral. We found tickets for the tour at the official Vatican Museum website. Our group had only 8 people and the tour guide uses headphones to communicate with the group, so you can hear everything. The tour last about 2,5 hours for the museum and you go to the cathedral without the guide. Overall, it's very compact and not overwhelming. Of course Sistine Chapel is always completely packed but very organized with security. No photos are allowed. The Cathedral is breathtaking. Make sure you don't miss it. P.S Our hotel front desk told us to take passports with us since Vatican is a separate country, however no one asked for the passports at the security, that you need to pass to enter Vatican.
Rchristina
Amazing museum, just prepare for the heat
★★★★★
Our visit to the Vatican Museums was a fantastic experience 😊. It was quite hot while we waited to enter, but once inside, there are restrooms and a water fountain, which is greatly appreciated. We took the guided tour with Civitatis and were lucky that our guide was Elena. She explained everything very clearly, engagingly, and interestingly, making the visit much more entertaining and easy to follow. It was evident that she knew the history very extremely well and answered all the questions with great kindness. The art and architecture were simply amzing to see in person, and having someone knowledgeable with us made all the difference 🙌. Without a doubt, a highly recommended experience. We would definitely do it again!
O368NNsophiag
Rome, Italy terrible- worst experience!!!!
★☆☆☆☆
Got robbed right outside the Vatican!! Rome is dirty and overpriced and the Vatican and other museums are overrated, overcrowded, with long line ups, police not helpful, overall very bad experience and would not do again!!! Stay away from Rome, Italy.
mirb527
Source: TripAdvisor
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