Sistine Chapel: Visitor Guide with Tickets, Hours, and Tips

A visit to the Sistine Chapel is often combined with a tour of the Vatican Museums, which showcases an extraordinary collection of art and historical artifacts. The chapel itself follows strict rules, including a dress code and a no-photography policy, to preserve the sanctity and integrity of this sacred site.

Once known as Cappella Magna, the Sistine Chapel—an integral part of the Vatican Museums— was restored by Pope Sixtus IV in the late 15th century and now bears his name.

Famous for its breathtaking ceiling and altar frescoes by Michelangelo, the chapel, located at the tail end of the Vatican Museums, also features contributions from Botticelli, Perugino, and Ghirlandaio.

Here’s everything you need to know before booking your Sistine Chapel tickets.

Top Tickets

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It’s highly recommended to book your Sistine Chapel tickets in advance. These tickets sell out quickly, so securing your spot early ensures you don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience.

Key takeaways

The Sistine Chapel is located within the Vatican Museums and accessible by subway, bus, or tram. It’s a 7-minute walk from the Cipro and Ottaviano metro stations

Tickets to the Chapel are usually combined with Vatican Museums entry. Just make sure you book online and in advance to avoid long queue lines at the ticket counter

The Chapel enforces a strict dress code (covering shoulders and knees) and prohibits photography to preserve its sacred atmosphere.

Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times to visit the Chapel as it is less crowded during these hours. Arrive 15-20 minutes before your scheduled visit for smooth entry

Did you Know?
Michelangelo’s depiction of God—a man with long white hair and a beard—in the ‘Creation of Adam’ fresco was one of the first of its kind. God, till then, had never been portrayed as a person!

What’s ahead

Dress code

Things to know before booking tickets

You can book Sistine Chapel tickets online or at the venue. However, purchasing at the attraction may involve long wait times, especially during peak hours. Online tickets help you skip the queue, are often cheaper, and allow you to choose a preferred time slot in advance. Booking online also ensures availability and prevents last-minute sell-outs. After purchase, tickets are emailed to you, and you can enter by showing the e-ticket on your smartphone—no printouts needed.

Sistine Chapel tickets

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Image: Elsa on Flickr

Since visitors must go through the Vatican Museums to get to the Sistine Chapel, one ticket gets you access to both attractions.

St Peter’s Basilica is free to enter, and the route from inside the Vatican Museums to the Basilica is much less crowded.

As a matter of fact, one ticket gives you access to three attractions: the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St Peter’s Basilica.

Cheapest tickets

The Vatican Museum Sistine Chapel skip-the-line ticket is the cheapest and most popular way to enter the museums. It provides swift access to all the open rooms and galleries of the Vatican Museums.

With this ticket, you’ll enjoy expedited security checks, taking no more than 2 minutes, allowing you to bypass the long lines both outside and inside the Museums.

This means you’ll have more time to immerse yourself in the incredible collection of classical sculptures, Renaissance masterpieces, and fascinating ancient Egyptian and Etruscan artifacts.

When booking, it’s advisable to select a time slot—available from 8 am to 4:30 pm—either early in the morning or after lunch to avoid the busiest crowds, ensuring a more vivid experience at the Museums.

Adult (18+ years): €38
Child (7 to 17 years): €22
Student (18 to 25 years): €22
Infant (up to 7 years): Free

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Recommended


Guided tour

Guided Tour of Sistine ChapelPin
Image: Getyourguide.com

We highly recommend a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel if you can afford it.

This guided tour, available in English, Italian, Spanish, German, and French, gives you plenty of information about the Museums at a relaxed pace.

It begins at the grand entrance of the Vatican Museums. After passing security checks, your guide will lead you through 26 museums, 54 galleries, 3 courtyards, and corridors.

The tour lasts 2.5 hours, and you’ll receive a headset to hear your guide’s explanations easily.

Tour times vary based on the language you select, with options from 8 am to 6 pm.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €90
Child (6 to 17 years): €80
Infant (up to 5 years): Free

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Private tour

When you book a private tour of the Vatican Museums, you can maximize your time with the guide and customize your itinerary to your interests.

Since these private tours are booked in advance, you can avoid the notoriously long lines at the ticket counter.

This private tour of the Vatican is quite popular among visitors.

Ticket Price: €430

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Night tour

The Vatican night tour offers a more intimate and enchanting experience, starting at 5:30 pm with exclusive access to areas usually closed to the public.

An expert guide leads you through the Museums, which are beautifully illuminated in the evening. A highlight of the tour is the time spent at the Sistine Chapel, the Pope’s private chapel and home to the Conclave.

Key sights include Nero’s Bathtub, the Raphael Rooms, the Laocoön sculpture, and the Belvedere Torso, all brilliantly lit for a unique, magical experience.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €99
Youth (5 to 17 years): €69
Child (up to 4 years): Free

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Last-minute tickets

Many visitors search for last-minute Vatican tickets or last-minute Sistine Chapel tickets because they forget to book them well in advance.

Some tourists search for online tickets at the eleventh hour after seeing the long lines at the Vatican Museums’ entrance.

Either way, we’ve got you covered.

Popular travel websites buy Sistine Chapel tickets in advance and sell them as last-minute tickets.

These same-day tickets cost more than the regular tickets, but most visitors don’t mind paying extra as long as they can skip the long queue lines.

This ticket also offers you access to Patrizi Montoro Palace, a historic residence of one of the Roman noble families since 1642.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €57
Child (7 to 17 years): €48
Infant (up to 6 years): Free

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Vatican + Roman Forum + St. Peter’s Basilica

Tourists usually plan a trip to the Colosseum and Vatican City because they are two of the biggest attractions in Rome.

This tour provides you with skip-the-line access to St Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and the Roman Forum, along with the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill.

Once activated, your ticket is valid for three consecutive calendar days.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €115
Child (6 to 17 years): €95
Infant (up to 5 years): Free

Buy This Ticket

Related: Looking for a self-guided, free entry to the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica? Buy the Omnia Card!

FAQs about tickets

Here are some questions tourists frequently ask before purchasing their Sistine Chapel tickets.

Does the Chapel offer free tickets?

Entry to the iconic attraction is free for children aged seven years and younger and disabled visitors (74%+ disability) with one carer.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, you’ll have to deal with long queues and miss out on popular timeslots.

Do we need to print online tickets?

Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Sistine Chapel.

What is the Chapel’s 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.

Does the Sistine Chapel offer discounts for locals?

The attraction offers discounted admission to children aged between seven and 17 years and students up to 25 years old upon presentation of a valid student ID.

Does Rome City Pass include access to the attraction?

Yes, the Rome City Pass includes access to the Sistine Chapel as well as 40 other top Rome attractions.

What is the Sistine Chapel’s refund policy?

This renowned attraction of Rome has a strict non-refundable ticket policy.
This means that once you purchase tickets, you cannot receive a refund regardless of the reason for cancellation or no-show. This policy applies to all ticket types, including adult, child, and discounted tickets.

How to reschedule the Chapel’s ticket?

The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.

What is the Chapel’s rain policy?

The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.

Fun Fact
Michelangelo initially wanted nothing to do with the Chapel’s ceiling. He considered himself a sculptor rather than a painter, and he had no experience with frescoes.

Opening hours

The Sistine Chapel opens at 9 am from Monday to Saturday.

From Monday to Thursday, the Chapel closes at 6 pm; on Friday, the closing hour is extended until 10.30 pm, 8 pm on Saturdays.

The Chapel remains closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month when the Chapel opens from 9 am to 2 pm. The last entrance to the Chapel is at 12.30 pm.

The Chapel is also closed on these days—1 and 6 January, 11 February, 10 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 and 16 August, 1 November, and 8, 25, 26, and 31 December.

How long does the tour take

Most visitors spend around 3 hours exploring the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. 

Even if you want to fast-track to the Chapel, you will need at least 90 minutes.

It takes 20-30 minutes to walk from the Vatican Museums’ entrance to the Chapel, and then you spend another 30 minutes admiring the art on display at the chapel.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit the Sistine Chapel is as soon as it opens at 9 am.

If you can’t make it in the morning, the next best time to visit the Chapel is in the late afternoon, between 1.30 and 3.30 pm.

Visitors will crowd the Vatican Museums during both periods, and the Chapel is relatively less crowded. 

Booking your tickets online helps you time your visit better so you don’t waste time standing in line.

The Rome Tourist Pass is a super saver. For just €74 per person, the pass includes entry tickets to Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Pantheon and a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica. You also get a 10% discount code, which you can use up to five times to get discounts on future purchases.

Entering Sistine Chapel for free

The Chapel is open for free on the last Sunday of each month. However, since it is free, you must be ready to brave a massive crowd waiting to get in.

The entry is also free on the 27th of September, i.e., World Tourism Day.

What to see in Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is one of those magnificent creations of the Renaissance era and stands testament to man’s artistic prowess.

The beautiful artwork of the Chapel and its astounding scale make it a one-of-a-kind site for art, romance, and history.

Some of the Sistine’s highlights are:

Ceiling

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Image: Calvin Craig

The Sistine Chapel ceiling is one of the most impressive works of art to emerge from Michelangelo’s masterful strokes between 1508 and 1512.

One of the masterpieces of high Renaissance art, the ceiling to this day is a beauty to behold.

Pope Julius II commissioned the Chapel ceiling, which serves as the location of papal conclaves and many other important services.

The Chapel’s ceiling features the nine scenes of the Book of Genesis, including the Creation of Adam, one of the most iconic representations of God and Man at the moment of creation.

The Last Judgement

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Image: wikimedia.org

Michelangelo painted the Last Judgement above the Sistine Chapel Altar, depicting Dante’s version of the Last Judgement in his Divine Comedy.

North Wall

The North Wall of the Chapel depicts scenes from the life of Jesus by various artists.

Don’t miss Perugino’s The Baptism of Jesus and The Last Supper, Botticelli’s The Temptation of Jesus, and Rosselli’s The Sermon on the Mount.

South Wall

The South Wall of the Chapel depicts scenes from the life of Moses by various artists.

Some masterpieces to look for are Perugino’s Moses’ Journey Through Egypt, Rosselli’s The Ten Commandments, and Luca Signorelli’s Moses’ Final Acts and Death.

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Dress code

Sistine Chapel has a strict dress code to allow entry into its premises.

While visiting the Chapel, you must wear clothes covering your shoulders and knees as a sign of respect.

Therefore, sleeveless or low-cut clothing, shorts, skirts, and hats are prohibited.

If you don’t follow the dress code, you will be denied entry even if you are carrying a ticket.

Visitors who aren’t dressed appropriately can purchase plastic cloaks from the venue.

However, wearing such cloaks can be uncomfortable in hot weather.

Mass times

The Sistine Chapel does not offer mass services for the public; other sites in the Vatican are however open for mass.

Visitors who want to attend a mass can try the ones at St Peter’s Basilica and St Peter’s Square, which are free to enter.

However, you must get the free tickets issued a few days before the event.

St Peter’s Basilica can seat 15,000 people at a time, but entry is not guaranteed even if you have tickets because it is a popular event with both locals and tourists.

That’s why we recommend you arrive a few hours before the scheduled mass time.

Photography inside the Chapel

No photography or filming is allowed inside the Sistine Chapel under a funding agreement with Nippon Television Network.

The Japanese Corporation paid for the 9-year restoration project of all artworks and the Chapel, allowing it exclusive rights to photography and videography inside the premises.

Guards are in place to ensure nobody clicks photographs inside the Chapel.

How to reach

The Sistine Chapel is in Vatican City’s Apostolic Palace, the Pope’s official residence.

Address: Vatican Museum, 00120 Vatican City. Get Directions.

It is at the end of the Vatican Museums, and you can only access the Chapel by going through all the rooms and corridors of the Museums.

From the entrance of the Vatican Museums, it takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the Chapel.

The Vatican Museums are located on the northern edge of Vatican City, on the west side of the Tiber River.

Some of the most affordable and readily available options to reach the Vatican Museums are the Subway, the Tram, and the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours.

By Subway

Subway is usually the most convenient option to reach the Vatican Museums.

The A Line has two stations close to the Vatican Museums—Cipro Metro Station and Ottaviano Metro Station.

Cipro Metro Station is best for early morning visits, and we recommend Ottaviano Metro Station for late morning or mid-day visits. 

Vatican Museums is a 7-minute walk from both the Metro stations.

If you can’t figure out where to go, follow the crowd or look at directions to reach the Vatican Museums’ entrance.

Tram No. 19 can drop you off at the St Peter’s stop (also known as Risorgimento/S. Pietro), close to Vatican City.

However, it isn’t easy to take the Tram from Rome’s city center.

By Bus

The most commonly used bus routes to reach the Vatican are Bus No. 40 and 64.

They start right in front of the Termini Train station and end at the Vatican.

By Car

if you are traveling by car, you must turn on Google Maps and get started.

There are multiple parking spaces around the attraction.

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Researched & written by
Jamshed is a versatile traveler, equally drawn to the vibrant energy of city escapes and the peaceful solitude of remote getaways. On some trips, he indulges in resort hopping, while on others, he spends little time in his accommodation, fully immersing himself in the destination. A passionate foodie, Jamshed delights in exploring local cuisines, with a particular love for flavorful non-vegetarian dishes. Favourite Cities: Amsterdam, Las Vegas, Dublin, Prague, Vienna

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