Vatican Gardens Tour
Explore the History & Beauty of the Gardens
The Vatican Gardens can only be visited on a pre-booked guided ticket — independent access is not permitted. Two options are available: an open-top bus tour with audio guide (from €81 adult), which begins with a bus circuit of the Gardens followed by skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel; or a guided walking tour (from €97 adult) with an expert guide through the Gardens on foot, then the Museums and Sistine Chapel. The Gardens cover 23 hectares — roughly half of Vatican City’s total area — and have been the Pope’s private retreat for over 500 years.
The Vatican Gardens are one of Rome’s great overlooked spaces — 23 hectares of Renaissance and Baroque landscaping, over 100 fountains, 16 Marian shrines, and landmarks including a section of the Berlin Wall that most visitors to the Vatican never see, because the only way in is with a ticket. This page covers both tour options, what you will see, prices, and practical details.
Top Tickets
What Is Included in a Vatican Gardens Tour?
All Vatican Gardens tours include access to the Gardens (not open for independent entry), skip-the-line Vatican Museums entry, and the Sistine Chapel. The open-top bus tour includes a guided bus circuit of the Gardens with multilingual audio commentary, then self-guided Museums entry with an audio guide. The guided walking tour includes an expert guide through the Gardens on foot and then through the Museums. Neither option includes St. Peter’s Basilica — that is a separate free entrance with its own queue.
- Vatican Gardens access — the only way to visit; not available for independent entry at any price
- Skip-the-line Vatican Museums entry — included in both tour options after the Gardens portion
- Sistine Chapel — included as part of the Vatican Museums entry
- Open-top bus (bus tour option) — scenic circuit of the Gardens with audio guide commentary
- Expert walking guide (guided tour option) — licensed guide on foot through the Gardens, then Museums
- Headsets (guided tour) — so you hear your guide clearly throughout
- Audio guide in multiple languages (bus tour) — English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Vatican Gardens Tour Options & Prices
Open-Top Bus Tour with Audio Guide
A 40-minute bus circuit through the Vatican Gardens past the fountains, formal gardens, woodland areas, the Pope Emeritus’ House, and the Berlin Wall section. Followed by skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a multilingual audio guide.
Price: from €81 adult · Child (7–17): €61 · Under 7: not permitted (bus safety rules)
Duration: approximately 4 hours total
Start times: 12:30pm and 1:30pm
Audio guide languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian
Note: Non-refundable — confirm dates before booking
Guided Walking Tour of Vatican Gardens + Museums
An expert guide leads you through the Vatican Gardens on foot for approximately 1.5 hours with detailed historical and horticultural commentary, followed by skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Available in English and Italian.
Price: from €97 adult · Child (7–17): €87 · Under 7: free
Duration: approximately 3 hours total · Start time: 9:00am
Languages: English and Italian
Note: Non-refundable — confirm dates before booking
What Will You See in the Vatican Gardens?
The Vatican Gardens contain: formal Renaissance and Baroque gardens with symmetrical hedgerows and topiaries; over 100 fountains including the Fontana della Galera (a bronze galleon) and the Fontana dell’Aquilone; 16 Marian shrines including the Lourdes Grotto; a section of the original Berlin Wall gifted to Pope John Paul II; the Pope Emeritus’ House; the Vatican Radio building; and panoramic views of the dome of St. Peter’s from a perspective most visitors never see.
The Fountains
The Gardens contain over 100 fountains, from Renaissance giochi d’acqua to Baroque set pieces. The most photographed are the Fontana della Galera — a lead galleon with water cannons — and the Fontana dell’Aquilone (Eagle Fountain), created in 1621. Both are fed by the Acqua Paola aqueduct.
The Berlin Wall Section
A 3-metre section of the Berlin Wall stands in a quiet corner of the Gardens, gifted to Pope John Paul II after the Wall fell in 1989. It is one of the first things guides point out on the bus tour — and one of the more unexpected sights anywhere in the Vatican.
The Lourdes Grotto and Marian Shrines
There are 16 Marian shrines within the Gardens, dedicated over centuries by various popes. The Lourdes Grotto — an exact replica of the grotto at Lourdes, installed by Pope Leo XIII in 1902 — remains a private place of prayer for the Pope.
Views of St. Peter’s Dome
From the upper levels of the Gardens, visitors see St. Peter’s dome from behind and above — a perspective almost no photograph captures and inaccessible without a Gardens ticket. It is one of the quiet highlights of both tour options.
Vatican Gardens Opening Hours
| Day | Gardens Open | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monday – Saturday | 9:00am – 6:00pm | Last entry 2 hours before closing |
| Wednesday mornings | Restricted | Papal Audience; reduced access in morning |
| Sunday | Closed | Gardens not accessible |
| Catholic holidays | Closed | Check specific dates before booking |
The Gardens are never open for independent visits — all access requires a pre-booked tour. Bus tours start at 12:30pm and 1:30pm; the guided walking tour starts at 9:00am.
Is the Vatican Gardens Tour Worth It?
The Vatican Gardens tour is worth it if you want to see a part of the Vatican that almost no visitor reaches — 23 hectares of papal history, extraordinary fountains, and panoramic views of St. Peter’s dome from behind. It adds 1.5–2 hours to your Vatican visit. If your priority is the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms with the least time investment, a standard guided tour is more efficient. With a full morning or afternoon to spare, the Gardens add a genuinely different dimension.
- Worth it if: you have 3–4 hours, want to see the Vatican beyond the standard Museums route, or have a specific interest in gardens, fountains, or papal history
- Skip it if: your primary goal is the Sistine Chapel and you have limited time — a standard guided tour covers the Museums more efficiently
- Best combined with: a full morning — Gardens at 9am, Museums from 11am, Sistine Chapel by 12:30pm
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the Vatican Gardens without a tour?
No. The Vatican Gardens are closed to independent visitors at all times. The only way to enter is with a pre-booked guided walking tour or open-top bus tour.
Are children allowed on the Vatican Gardens tour?
Children under 7 are not permitted on the open-top bus tour for safety reasons. The guided walking tour admits children of all ages (under 7 free). The Museums portion is open to all ages.
Does the Vatican Gardens tour include the Sistine Chapel?
Yes. Both the bus tour and the guided walking tour include skip-the-line entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel after the Gardens portion.
What is the best time to visit the Vatican Gardens?
The 9:00am guided walking tour is best in summer — cooler temperatures in the early morning make the outdoor walk considerably more comfortable. The 12:30pm and 1:30pm bus tours work better in spring and autumn. Avoid peak summer midday (11am–3pm) — the Gardens are largely exposed to full sun.
Can I combine the Vatican Gardens with St. Peter’s Basilica?
Yes — St. Peter’s Basilica has free entry and is a short walk from the Museums exit. After your Gardens and Museums visit, you can proceed to the Basilica independently. The Vatican Museums private tour also includes the Basilica, Gardens, and Museums in a single booking.
Related Guides
