Vatican Museums Tickets and Tours
The Vatican Museums are one of the world’s top attractions, showcasing incredible art, history, and religious treasures. Visitors can admire 20,000 remarkable Roman sculptures, Renaissance masterpieces, and Michelangelo’s iconic Sistine Chapel ceiling. With ticket options like skip-the-line access, guided tours, and combo passes that include St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, and the Vatican Gardens, visitors can experience this historic site in the best way possible.
Top Vatican Museums tickets
Self-guided Vatican Museums entry ticket
From
€39
- This is the cheapest and most popular Vatican Museums ticket
- You can choose from different time slots between 8 am and 4.30 pm
- Entry is only permitted at your selected time, but you can stay inside until closing
- Grants access to Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, and choose the option with the audio guide
- Children under seven years can enter for free
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel guided tour
From
€116
- This 3-hour guided tour is available at multiple time slots: 7.45 am, 8.15 am, 9.15 am, 11.45 am, 12.15 pm, and 2.15 pm
- Choose from different tour options, including a group tour, small group tour, or private tour, and you can also include St. Peter’s Basilica
- You can choose the tour guide based on your preferred language: Spanish, English, Italian, French, or German
- Infants under 6 years can enter for free
Roma Pass + Omnia Card + Vatican Museums tour
From
€149
- This combo pass gives access to top attractions in Rome and Vatican City: the Vatican Museums, Colosseum, etc
- The 2-in-1 pass is valid for 3 days and includes audio guides
- Includes free public transport (bus, tram, metro, train)
- Omnia Vatican Card: Entry to key Vatican sites + 3-day hop-on hop-off bus tour
- Roma Pass: Free entry to 2 out of 5 top attractions, discounts on 30 top sites, and a travel card.
Papal General Audience ticket
From
€31
- This Papal audience ticket starts at 7.30 am on Wednesday every week
- This group tour is limited to 20 people per guide. However, the Papal General Audience is a grand event attended by thousands
- The Pope addresses the crowd, and you can learn about the history and tradition of the Papal Audience
- A personal audio headset ensures you hear the guide clearly
Vatican Museums, Colosseum & City Center tour
From
€255
- This 7-hour day guided tour covers the Vatican Museums, Colosseum, Piazza Navona, Trevi Fountain, and more
- Enjoy comfortable transportation between the Vatican and the city center
- Guided visit to the St Peter’s Church and the Roman Forum
- Group experience with a maximum of 18 people
- Children below seven can enter for free
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel evening tour
From
€99
- This 2-hour Vatican tour starts at 5.30 pm
- Explore Rome during the day and visit the Vatican Museums in the evening when it’s less crowded
- Experience the attention of a small-group tour with a dedicated guide
- Don’t miss this exclusive chance to explore the hallways in a cooler, quieter setting away from the summer heat
Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter’s private tour
From
€330
- This 2-hour private tour has two starting time slots: 8.30 am and 2.30 pm
- Ideal for tourists who prefer premium and exclusive experiences
- Guided by an Expert Official Vatican Rome Guide
- Includes an illustrated explanation of the Sistine Chapel
- Visit top highlights like the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Maps Gallery, and St. Peter’s Basilica
Which Vatican Museums ticket should you buy?
Duration: Flexible
Guide: No
Why should you go for this?
- Fast-track access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Perfect for budget travelers who prefer a self-paced visit
- Avoid long queues by booking in advance
- Enhance your Vatican experience with an optional audio guide
- Visit iconic sites like the Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, and Caravaggio’s Deposition
Duration: 3 hours
Guide: Yes
Why should you go for this?
- Fast-track entrance to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and optional St. Peter’s Basilica
- Guides share insights into art, history, and culture
- Well-designed tours covering top Vatican sites
- Choose early morning or after-hours slots for a quieter experience
- Tour with a maximum of 20 people
- Headsets to ensure you hear the guide clearly
Duration: 2 hours
Guide: Yes
Why should you go for this?
- Skip-the-line access to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
- Explore the Vatican Museums in the evening, away from the crowds
- Gain valuable insights from an expert guide and enjoy personalized attention in a small group for better interaction
- Panoramic nighttime views of St. Peter’s Dome, Nero’s Bathtub, Raphael Rooms, and more
Duration: 4 hours
Guide: No
Why should you go for this?
- Comprehensive skip-the-line tour covering the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and Vatican Gardens
- Expert guides bring ancient and religious history to life
- Discover masterpieces by Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Caravaggio, etc
- Minibus tour and multilingual audio guide is available for the Vatican Gardens
Want an audience with the Pope?
Planning your visit to Vatican Museums
From Monday to Saturday, the Vatican Museums open at 8 am.
From Monday to Thursday, they close at 7 pm, while on Friday and Saturday, they close later – at 8 pm.
The last entry to the Vatican Museums is two hours before closure.
The Vatican Museums remain closed on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Sundays of the month (last Sunday entry is free). They are also closed on 29 June, 14 & 15 August, 1 November, and 25 & 26 December.
The best time to visit the Vatican Museums is when the attraction opens for the day. The next best time is late afternoon when it’s less busy.
The best days to visit the Vatican Museums are Tuesday to Friday. Saturdays and Mondays are crowded since the Museums are closed on Sundays.
The best time of the year to visit the Vatican Museums is during the colder months from October to December.
- Metro: Board Line A to reach Ottaviano-San Pietro Metro Station (7-minute walk from the Vatican Museums’ entrance).
- Bus: Bus Viale Vaticano/Musei Vaticani (opposite to the Museums’ entrance) – Bus 49 stops here. Piazza del Risorgimento – Buses 32, 81, and 982 stop here (7-minute walk to Museums).
- Train: Roma Termini to St. Pietro Station (10-minute walk to St. Peter’s Square).
The Vatican Museums are accessible through the Viale Vaticano entrance, located on the north side of Vatican City. This entrance provides the quickest access to the Museums. There are three separate entrance lines:
- Line one – For visitors buying live tickets
- Line two – For visitors having skip-the-line tickets
- Line three – For guided tour ticket holders
Special Entrances for Visitors with Disabilities is located opposite the Pine Cone Courtyard for easier access.
The Vatican follows a strict dress code for men and women across all three attractions.
You won’t be allowed to enter the Museums if you refuse to comply with the Vatican dress code.
If you violate the dress code, you must buy a plastic cloak (poncho) at the entrance to cover shoulders and knees.
No sleeveless, low-cut tops, miniskirts or shorts.
Things to know before you book Vatican Museums tickets
- Always book your Vatican Museums tickets online to avoid long queues at the Museums’ ticket counter and save 1 to 3 hours of waiting time
- Opt for a guided tour for expert insights into the art, architecture, and history of the Vatican instead of just an audio guide
- The best time to visit the Museums would be early mornings or late afternoons because these slots have fewer crowds
- Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but the lines can be long. A guided tour ticket lets you skip the wait, though security checks are still required
- The time you choose when booking your tickets is your entry time for the Vatican Museums. It’s best to visit them first, then explore St. Peter’s Basilica at your own pace since it has no set entry time. These two sites operate at different hours, and their entry doors are 15 to 20 minutes apart.
- For a complete Vatican experience, book a ticket to the Vatican Gardens, a hidden gem often overlooked by tourists.
- The Museums operate from Monday to Saturday and remain closed on Sundays except for the last Sunday of the month (free entry and very crowded)
- The Vatican follows a strict dress code across all three sites. Make sure you dress appropriately
- Some tours are wheelchair-friendly, while others are not. Check your ticket details before booking
- Vatican Museums entrance requires a valid ID or passport as proof of identity
- Visitors must go through security screening (water and liquids are allowed)
- Make sure to arrive on time because late arrivals won’t be allowed in the Museums
Ticket Cancellation and refunds
Most of the Vatican Museums’ bestselling tickets don’t offer you a refund. So make sure you read through the cancellation policies before you book your Vatican Museums tickets. Some tickets offer a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the booked date.
What you shouldn’t miss when visiting the Vatican
St. Peter’s Basilica—also known as ‘Basilica di San Pietro’—is one of the most recognized religious and architectural edifices in the world.
Legend has it that Emperor Constantine built the original church way back in 4 AD at the exact spot where St. Peter was crucified and buried. St. Peter’s is massive by size; it can hold up to 20,000 people sitting and 60,000 standing. The Basilica’s iconic dome has a double calotte and remains the world’s largest dome to date.
If there’s one name synonymous with the Sistine Chapel, it must be Michaelangelo.
The Sistine Chapel—Cappella Sistina in Italian—is home to the Renaissance master’s world-famous ceiling frescoes, which depict the Last Judgement and the Creation of Adam, among other things.
Commissioned during Pope Sixtus IV’s tenure and erected by Giovanni dei Dolci from 1473 to 1481, the Sistine Chapel had one sole purpose—to function as the Pope’s private chapel, which it does to this day!
Also known as the Pope’s ‘personal garden of Eden,’ the Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani) cover over 50% of the city’s area and sit adjacent to the Vatican Museums.
These gardens are also home to numerous fountains, sculptures, and the Papal helipad and railway station that ferries the Pope and other state dignitaries to the Pope’s Summer palace, Castel Gandolfo.
The Vatican Grottoes are on level with the first basilica Emperor Constantine built in 4 AD and sit directly below the modern-day St. Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican Necropolis is an ancient Roman burial ground situated below the Vatican Grottoes. It is of recent discovery (1940-49), and excavations to date suggest there are around 22 burial buildings capable of accommodating 1000 burials.
Castel Gandolfo was once a property of the Barberini family and has since gained renown for being the Pope’s Summer residence.
It is also home to the famous gardens of Villa Barberini. Apart from its papal connection, Castel Gandolfo offers pristine views of Lake Albano below and, if weather permits, the Mediterranean Sea, too.
Frequently asked questions about the Vatican Museums
Are skip-the-line Vatican Museums tickets worth it?
The Museums’ Skip the Line tickets tend to be a few Euros costlier, but considering how they help you save up to two hours of waiting in the sun or rain, we say they are surely worth it.
Can I buy tickets at the venue?
Yes, you can buy tickets at the Museums’ ticket office. However, due to high demand and long queues, most popular time slots sell out quickly. Hence, it’s always best to book your tickets in advance.
Do I need to take a printout of my ticket?
Not really; you can show the e-ticket on your mobile device to the security guards at the entrance and walk in. Once you pass the security checks, you only need to scan your tickets at the entrance turnstiles and visit the museums and galleries.
Can I change the time slot of my booked ticket?
No, you cannot change the time slot of your booked ticket due to the high demand for the Vatican Museums ticket. Nor can you pre- or postpone your ticket to any day of your choice once you have booked it.
Are there any discounted tickets available for the Vatican Museums?
Visitors between the ages of 7 and 17 years, and students up to 25 years with valid IDs, are eligible for a discount and pay a reduced fare to enter the attraction.
What are the amenities available inside the Museums?
Signposted restrooms are available for both regular and disabled visitors, baby changing facilities, a nursing room, vending machines, and refreshment areas, as well as relaxation areas along the Museums’ itinerary.
Do the Museums have a rain policy?
The Vatican Museums are an all-weather experience and remain open come rain or shine. All tickets are final and cannot be rescheduled to another date.
What’s the best ticket to buy to visit the attraction?
Several ticket options cater to different groups visiting the Vatican. If you are short on time, you could opt for the skip-the-line or last-minute ticket. If you want a more varied experience, you can buy a Vatican-guided or private tour ticket.
Can I get a Papal audience with the Pope when I book my Vatican Museums tickets?
While we can’t guarantee you’ll be able to meet the Pope with a Vatican Museums ticket, there are specific tickets that assure you an audience with the Pope.
Is St. Peter’s Basilica and Vatican Gardens included in the Museums’ ticket?
If you buy a private tour ticket to the Vatican Museums, St Peter’s, and Gardens, you can visit all three attractions one after the other. You can also opt for the Vatican Museums + Vatican Gardens bus tour ticket if you want to skip the Basilica.
Which is better – an audio guide or a guided tour of the Vatican?
A guided tour always entails an expert guide walking you through the Museums’ masterpieces and getting you access to sites unavailable with an audio-guided tour.
What is the Vatican Museums‘ late arrival policy?
Latecomers are not allowed in the attraction, and no refund will be provided. Arrive at least 15 to 20 minutes before your scheduled visit time.