Vatican Museums tickets official website

When it comes to official websites, the Vatican has two: Vatican.va and Museivaticani.va.

Vatican.va is the official website of the Holy See. It hosts papal documents, news, liturgical calendars, dicasteries, and general information about the Vatican. Tourists can’t book tickets on this website.

On Museivaticani.va, you will find all the information about the museum, and you can also visit the official ticketing system to purchase tickets for the Vatican Museums.

But hold on, don’t rush yet. First, read the whole article and then decide if you want to book your Vatican Museum tickets on the official website or on a travel aggregator that offers more benefits.

Why do some travelers shy away from the official Vatican Museums website

Here are four reasons why some tourists prefer other travel companies over the official Vatican Museum website –

Sold-out dates & sold-out preferred slots

Since most visitors prefer the official website, popular morning or evening time slots sell out quickly.

During peak summer months, all the tickets can sell out months in advance.

If you are looking for tickets at the last minute, opt for either Tiqets.com or GetYourGuide.com.

They may cost slightly more, but you will also likely find more availability.

Less flexible change/cancel rules

General Tickets on the official Vatican museum website have stricter policies – you can’t cancel them if your plans change.

However, on other travel sites, some tours can be cancelled or rescheduled.

Can’t book much in advance

On the official website, tickets are released 60 days in advance, while on other travel websites, such as Tiqets.com and GetYourGuide.com, tickets are available much earlier.

And even this availability is not consistent – for instance, for December 10, I can book the General Entry ticket while the guided tour is “Not Bookable.”

Language/support expectations

The official ticketing system of the Vatican Museum offers customer support only via email.

And since the travel aggregators offer realtime, 24/7 support over chat, some tourists tend to prefer them.

Even though On Museivaticani.va doesn’t offer chat support, many have spoken highly of their pleasant experience with the Vatican Museum’s support staff.

Still want to go ahead and book on the official website? Go ahead, book now!

Why are tickets on the official website always sold out?

Short answer: demand massively exceeds supply at the moment the booking window opens, and the best slots disappear within minutes.

Here’s how the release works (and why it feels “always sold out”), based on on-the-ground experience from frequent bookers:

• Tickets go on sale exactly 60 days in advance at 00:00 CET (Italian time).
• If you’re aiming for, say, June 15, the sale window opens at 00:00 CET on April 16
• Check the status labels a few days in advance. On the official page, dates often display “Sold Out” (indicating past inventory) or “Not Bookable.” The day that reads “Not Bookable” is the one that’s waiting to be released.
• As the clock strikes 00:00 CET, traffic spikes—including heavy demand from tour operators competing for the same slots. The site may time out briefly; keep refreshing.
• Prime morning slots sell out first (≈10–20 minutes).
• In the first minutes after midnight, morning times go fast; within a few hours, most of the day is gone, especially during peak season.
• Midnight rush depends on the season. Winter tends to be calmer. In the summer, booking at midnight is often the only reliable way to secure preferred times from official websites.
• If, due to the midnight surge, you are unable to secure your Vatican Museum tickets from the official website, consider visiting either Tiqets.com or GetYourGuide.com.

A step-by-step plan to improve your odds

1. Count back 60 days from your target visit and set an alarm for 23:58–00:20 CET to cover the whole release window.
2. Log in beforehand (or create your account) and save visitor details so you don’t have to type at midnight.
3. Decide on acceptable time windows in advance (e.g., 08:30–10:00 or 15:00–17:00) so you can click the first available time without hesitation.
4. Use a reliable connection + desktop browser
5. Have payment ready (card unblocked for international transactions, 3-D Secure enabled).
6. If tickets for your preferred date are unavailable, check nearby dates immediately.
7. Recheck later in the day for quick cancellations. They happen often, especially during the shoulder season.
8. Consider evening time slots, as they are easier to book than prime morning slots.

Note: You can’t just walk up and buy Vatican Museums tickets anymore. Post-COVID, sales are online only to manage huge demand (7M+ visitors/year) and streamline entry. Book ahead online.

Where to book – official website or reseller?

When to book officially: You want a straight, official timed ticket (with or without an official museum tour) at the cheaper price that the museum offers.

When a reseller can help: You specifically want a guided package with extras (such as hotel pick-up, bus transfers, or small groups), or you have found a tour slot that fits when official standard tickets are sold out.

Best official Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel tours