When in the Vatican, you need a map. It’s as simple as it is—no ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do.’ Well, you can do that, and you would still be lost, especially if you are in the Vatican Museums and you know how labyrinthine it is—treasures, artifacts, and galleries included. In fact, central to unlocking the wonders of this attraction is its meticulously designed floor plan.
Here’s everything you need to know on ‘what is where’ inside the Vatican Museums.
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Entrance and Exit
The Vatican Museums are located on the city’s north side, and you can find the attraction’s main entrance alongside the Viale Vaticano. You have to make use of the main entrance to exit the Museums. There are different entry lines into the Museums. Get Directions
Two Floors and a Basement
It would be next to impossible to house all of the Vatican Museums’ exhibits on one floor—considering it has 70,000 artifacts, of which just 20,000 are on display.
That is why the Vatican Museum has two floors and a basement.
The Museum’s jewel in the crown is the Sistine Chapel on the first floor. The second floor houses all the major galleries, and the basement’s carriage pavilion is sure to delight car enthusiasts.
Here’s a rundown of what each floor contains and more.
Note: If you want to visit the Sistine Chapel first, head left after you enter the Museums’ reception area.
First Floor
1. Gregorian Egyptian Museum (Museo Gregoriano Egizio)
2. Chiaramonti Museum (Museo Chiaramonti)
3. New Wing (Braccio Nuovo)
4. Pio Clementino Museum (Museo Pio Clementino)
11. Borgia Apartments
12. Sistine Chapel
13. Room of the Aldobrandini Wedding
14. Christian Museum
15. The Vatican Library
16. Profane Museum
17. Museum Gregoriano Profano
18. Pius-Christian Museum
19. Pinacoteca
Amenities on the first floor
Information desk, special permits (for Vatican guests, concession holders, and those with disabilities), reception, checkroom, luggage storage, guided tours meeting point, group tours desk, ticket counter, booking voucher change, audioguide desk, audioguide return point, first aid, toilets, disabled toilets, elevator for disabled, wheelchair ramp, baby changing table, elevator, cafeteria, bookshop, and Vatican post-office.
Planning a visit to the Museums? Here’s all you need to know about the attraction’s dress code, its three entrance lines, opening and closing hours, how to reach the Vatican, and special tours like the Vatican Museums early morning and late evening tickets, Castle Gandolfo, and Vatican Grottoes & Necropolis tickets.
Second Floor
5. Gregorian Etruscan Museum
6. Gallery of the Candelabra
7. Gallery of the Tapestries
8. Gallery of Maps
9. Room of the Immaculate Conception
10. The Raphael Rooms
Amenities on the second floor
Toilets, disabled toilets, an elevator for the disabled, a baby changing table, and a bookshop.
Basement
20. Philately and Numismatic Museum
21. Ethnological Museum
22. Carriage Pavilion
Amenities in the Basement Area
Toilets, disabled toilets, a baby changing table, an elevator for the disabled, and a cafeteria.
Recommended Reading
# What’s Inside the Vatican Museums
# Things to Know Before Booking Your Vatican Museums Tickets
# Last-Minute Vatican Museums Ticket
# Sistine Chapel Ticket
# Vatican Museums Guided Tour Ticket
