Things to know before you book Vatican Museums tickets

Ticket for the Vatican Museums

Your Vatican Museums experience can be greatly influenced by some of the choices you make while booking your tickets. Here are some tips to help you plan better: Looking for the best tickets that’ll give you an up-and-close experience at the Vatican Museums? We recommend booking the guided tour ticket, the night tour tickets, and … Read more

Sistine Chapel Ticket

A closeup of the Sistine chapel frescoes

The Sistine Chapel lies at the heart of the Vatican Museums and is, by and large, one of the most revered artistic and cultural treasures in the world today.  A Sistine Chapel ticket, whether a self-guided or guided tour, basically means a tour of the entire Vatican Museums and its open galleries.  Apart from its … Read more

Vatican Grottoes & Necropolis Tickets

Interior of the Papel crepe

Beneath St. Peter’s Basilica lies a mysterious subterranean world of papal tombs (Vatican grottoes) and ancient catacombs predating everything we know about the Vatican. The first level underneath the Basilica’s nave consists of the Vatican Grottoes, home to the mortal remains of at least 90 popes. In fact, historians regard it as a true underground … Read more

Castel Gandolfo Tickets

Aerial view of Castle Gandalfo

The Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, also known as the Apostolic Palace or the Papal Villas, has been the summer residence of the Popes for centuries. It is a 135-acre (54.6-hectare) complex surrounded by beautiful gardens and buildings right out of a postcard. The view from here, too, is breathtaking as the sun-soaked Castel Gandolfo … Read more

Private Papal Audience Ticket

The pope greeting private audience ticket holders

The Wednesday Papal Audience, is, without a doubt, a momentous occasion where people from around the globe gather in St. Peter’s Square to witness the Pope in person. However, getting close to the Pope with a general Papal Audience ticket is always daunting, as only a limited number of attendees are accommodated in the closest … Read more

Dress Code at the Vatican Museums

Statue in Vatican museum entrance

The Vatican follows a strict dress code for both men and women across all its attractions—St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and Vatican Gardens.  This is because the city is not just a major tourist attraction but also a holy site for Christianity and Roman Catholics in particular. As a rule, you shouldn’t expose … Read more

Vatican Museums: Getting There

Transportation facility to Vatican museum

The Vatican is well connected by most modes of transportation, including the metro, bus, tram, taxis, and even airports.  Here’s everything you need to know about getting to the Vatican Museums. Metro There are two metro service points on Line A (Orange/red line) that offer you easy access to the Vatican.  The most important of … Read more

What’s Inside the Vatican Museums

The beat statue in Vatican museum

The Vatican Museums is home to an extraordinary collection of art and historical artifacts amassed by the Roman Catholic Church over centuries. As such, it remains one of the most visited attractions in the world. But navigating through its many halls and galleries can be nothing short of daunting due to its immense size and … Read more

St. Peter’s Basilica Tour Ticket

St Peter's Basilica in the evening

St. Peter’s Basilica—also known as Basilica di San Pietro in Italian—stands testament to centuries of enchanting art, faith, and the enduring power of belief. This edifice is built over the tomb of St. Peter, the first Pope of Christianity and one of Jesus’ disciples.  Visited by more than 10 million tourists each year, the Basilica … Read more

Vatican Garden Tickets

Vatican gardens with St Peter's Dome in the background

The Vatican Gardens, also known as the Pope’s ‘personal garden of Eden,’ are housed within the imposing Leonine walls enclosing the Papal city. It is adjacent to the Vatican Museums, and if your ticket includes such access, you can visit both attractions by using the spiral staircase in Bramante’s Belvedere Courtyard. We understand that the … Read more