Vatican Museums: Tickets, Hours, and Essential Visitor Tips

The Vatican Museums house some of the world’s greatest masterpieces, including the Sistine Chapel. Book tickets in advance to avoid long waits and fully enjoy the experience.

For some, it’s about religion, and for some, art.

Over the centuries, very few attractions have come close to the Vatican Museums, drawing tourists, pilgrims, and artists alike.

The Museums—adjacent to St. Peter’s Basilica—contain a staggering 70,000 artifacts from different eras of civilization. 20,000 of these are housed in 54 galleries, including the Sistine Chapel.

Here’s everything you need to know before buying your Vatican Museums tickets.

Top tickets
# Cheapest Vatican Museums tickets
# Guided tour of Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel
# Vatican Museums Private Tour

It’s highly recommended to book your Vatican Museums 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

Book your Vatican Museums ticket in advance to avoid the serpentine long queues at the attraction’s ticket counters

There are three queues at the Museums’ entrance—one for those without tickets, one for online ticket holders, and the fastest for guided tour groups

Regular tickets start at €40 for adults, last-minute tickets are available for an extra €15, and guided tour tickets are priced higher as these tours offer detailed insights

Early mornings or after 4 pm on weekdays are the best times to visit the Museums. The Vatican also offers special night tours, and these are subject to availability

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

What’s ahead

Dress code

Things to know before booking tickets

You can book Vatican Museums 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.

Vatican Museums queues explained

You can spot three different queues at the Vatican Museum’s main entrance, each serving a specific purpose.

The first queue is for tourists without tickets, the second for those who have booked online tickets, and the third for visitors with guided tour tickets.

This section explains each of those three lines in detail.

Line 1: For tourists with no tickets

Tourists who haven’t bought their Vatican Museum tickets in advance stand in this line.

Depending on the season and time of the day, this line can extend beyond 500 meters (0.3 Miles).

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Image: Paul & Carolyn’s

If you reach the Vatican Museums’ entrance without entry tickets in hand, you need to join this line.

And that means standing at the end of a serpentine queue and wasting no less than two hours of your valuable time!

Vatican last-minute tickets
Many visitors realize the importance of buying Vatican Museum tickets online only after seeing the long queue lines at the counter. If you are one of them, you can still purchase last-minute same-day tickets.


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Line 2: For tourists with online tickets

If you have already bought your tickets online, you can easily get through the entrance, as your queue starts near the entry gate.

Look for a yellow signboard as shown in the photo below.

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Image: Italy-museum.com

Thus, by buying online tickets, you save up to two hours of your precious time.

If you are traveling with kids and elders, especially during peak summer, buying Vatican Museums tickets online in advance makes sense.

Related: Vatican Museums has many entrances

Line 3: For tourists with guided tour tickets

This is the fastest-moving queue at the Vatican Museums.

When you book a guided tour of the Vatican, you need to meet your guide and group at a specific meeting point near the entrance.

Vatican Museum's entry for guided toursPin
Image: Clearedready.blogspot.com

Once all the group members arrive, your guide gives the group similar colored markers to easily identify you amongst the Museums’ teeming crowds.

This done, the guide quickly briefs the group and then accompanies them inside the Vatican Museums through the third line.

Must Read

Vatican Museums night tour: Experience the Vatican Museums like never before! Discover how to secure your Vatican Museums night tour tickets for a more intimate and magical visit under the stars.

Vatican Museum with Roma Pass: Find out if it grants access to the Vatican Museums and how you can make the most of your visit.

Guided tours vs self-guided tours
We recommend guided tours over self-guided ones because an expert guide provides valuable insights into the vast Vatican Museums, ensuring you catch all the important details. Their knowledge brings each tapestry, sculpture, and fresco to life, making your visit more enriching and memorable.

Which is the best ticket to view the Museums?

The best Vatican ticket to buy depends on your budget, time, and interests. Here’s a comparison to help you decide better:

Low price indicatorPin
If you are
on a budget
Go for: Skip the line Vatican Museums ticket
Duration: Flexible timings
Guide: No
Cost: €40/person
Low price indicatorPin
If you want
value for money
Go for: Vatican Museums guided tour
Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours
Guide: Yes
Cost: €90/person
High price indicatorPin
If you want
the best experience
Go for: Private tour of the Museums, Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica, & Gardens
Duration: 5 to 6 hours
Guide: Yes
Cost: €289/person
High price indicatorPin
If you want a
personalized experience
Go for: Vatican Museums private night tour ticket
Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Guide: Yes
Cost: €555/person

Vatican residents consume more wine per capita than anywhere else in the world! The average Vatican resident consumes an astonishing 74 liters of wine every year, which is double the consumption of wine capital countries of France and Italy. 

Vatican Museums ticket prices

You can choose from several types of Vatican Museums tickets, as illustrated above. That being said, here’s a rundown of all the Vatican Museums tickets worth considering for a memorable experience.

Skip the line Vatican Museums ticket

This ticket gives you access to all the open rooms and galleries of the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel.

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel skip-the-line ticket lets you breeze through security in just 2 minutes, avoid long lines both outside and inside the Museums, and give you more time to explore.

Don’t miss out on the Museums’ classical sculptures, Renaissance masterpieces, and ancient Egyptian and Etruscan artifacts.

Also, when booking your ticket, we recommend choosing a time slot near the opening hours or after-lunch hours to avoid the attraction’s never-ending crowds.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €40
Child (6 to 17 years): €24
Student (up to 25 years, with valid ID): €24

*Kids younger than six can walk in for free.

Buy This Ticket

Last-minute Vatican Museums tickets

Many visitors search for last-minute Vatican tickets because they forgot to book them well in advance.

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

Either way, you need not worry.

Popular travel websites buy Vatican Museums tickets in advance and sell them as last-minute tickets.

These same-day tickets cost €15 more than the regular tickets, but most visitors don’t care as long as they get to avoid the long lines.

Ticket Prices

Adult (18+ years): €55
Child (6 to 17 years): €38
Student (up to 25 years, with valid ID): €38

Buy This Ticket

Vatican Museums guided tour ticket

Looking for a fast-track entrance to the Museums and Sistine Chapel? Want a live tour guide fluent in Europe’s top spoken languages?

Well, this guided tour ticket is definitely for you!

This guided tour lasts 2.5 to 3 hours, and you will be provided with a headset so that you don’t miss out on what your tour guide is explaining.

One of the best things about this tour, it’s moderately priced at €90 for adults, and €80 for kids. You also get a lot of information on what’s inside the Museums at a more leisurely pace.

You can either opt for a guide exclusively for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel or include them for your visit to St Peter’s Basilica as well.

Your guide will help you enter through the grand entrance of the Vatican Museums, and then explore the 26 museums, 54 galleries, 3 courtyards, and corridors within the attraction.

You can also opt for an exclusive morning experience at the Vatican Museums with this premium guided tour that starts at 7 am.

Note: After your guided tour is over, you can continue to stay inside the Museums until the closing hours. However, if you have bought a combo ticket that includes the Vatican Gardens, St. Peter’s Basilica, or even the Colosseum, you need to exit the Museums (you won’t be allowed reentry) to continue your tour.

Vatican Museum + Sistine Chapel ticket cost

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

Buy This Ticket

Vatican Museum + Sistine Chapel + St Peters ticket cost

Adult (18+ years): €140
Child (6 to 17 years):
€128
Infant (5 years and below): Free entry

Buy This Ticket

While you can enter St. Peter’s for free, some of the basilica’s best sites—dome, grottoes, etc.—are off-limits unless you pay a fee. Having a tour guide enhances your experience at this Renaissance wonder and the view from the Dome is nothing less than breathtaking! The best time to visit St. Peter’s is after 11 am due to the continuity of masses being held from 7 am to 10 am. Likewise, a visit after 6 pm makes for an ethereal experience.

Vatican Museums private tour ticket

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

Since these are special tickets, you also get access to areas that are normally closed to the public, such as the Cabinet of the Masks.

The Official Vatican Rome guide will ensure you don’t miss the highlights of the Museums.

These private tours are available only on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Private tour price

Adult (18+ years): €250
Child (6 to 17 years):
€125

Buy This Ticket

How much should you tip your Vatican tour guide? If the guide accompanies you for 2 to 3 hours, a tip of €5 to €10 should suffice. Likewise, if it’s a private guided tour for a duration of 4 to 6 hours, you can tip your guide anywhere between €20 to €50.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some questions tourists frequently ask before purchasing their tickets for Vatican Museums in Rome.

Do the Museums offer free tickets?

All individuals get free entry on the last Sunday of every month. On regular days, entry is free for children aged seven years and below, and disabled visitors with certified disability of over 74% and their carers.

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

Yes, tickets are available at the Museums’ ticket office. However, due to the high demand at this world-famous attraction, there are long queues at the ticket counter. Additionally, popular time slots may sell out quickly. Hence, it’s always best to book your tickets in advance.

Do we need to print online tickets?

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

What is the arrival time?

When you book the attraction’s tickets, you must select a preferred visit time. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the time mentioned on your ticket for security checks, queue lines, etc.

What is the Vatican Museums late arrival policy?

Latecomers are not allowed in the attraction, and no refund will be provided.

Do the Museums offer discounts for locals?

The Vatican Museums do not offer a discount for locals. However, upon presentation of a valid student ID, the attraction offers reduced admission tickets to children between seven and 17 and students up to 25.

Does Rome City Pass include access to Vatican Museums?

Yes, the Rome City Pass includes access to the Vatican Museums. It is also a cost-effective option for exploring over 40 top Rome attractions, including the Sistine Chapel. The card also allows you to explore the city at your own pace and customize your pass with 2- to 5-day options.

What is the Vatican Museum’s refund policy?

It has a strict non-refundable ticket policy. Once you purchase the 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 Museums ticket?

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

What is the Vatican Museums rain policy?

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

Are skip-the-line Museums tickets worth it?

These tickets may be a few Euros costlier, but considering they help you save up to two hours of waiting in the sun, they are worth it.

Are Vatican Gardens included in Vatican Museums tickets?

No, access to the Vatican Gardens is not included in the Vatican Museum tickets. To visit the Gardens, you need to buy a Vatican Gardens ticket, which, besides the Gardens, also gives you access to the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel.

Is it better to see the Vatican at night?

The Vatican is much more calm, serene, and bereft of crowds during the night. Everything appears magical thanks to the artificial lighting and shadows they create on some of the Vatican’s masterpieces and imposing structures.

What is the difference between an audio guide and a guided tour at the Vatican?

When you opt for an audio-guided tour, you get a headset with a prerecorded audio tape. There are no wait times; you can decide what you want to see. A guided tour, on the other hand, entails an expert guide walking you through each of the Museums’ masterpieces. It also involves priority access to sites you wouldn’t get with an audio-guided tour.

Did you know?
The Vatican has no maternity hospitals, and no one can be a citizen of the Vatican by birth! The only permanent citizens of the Vatican City are the Pope, Cardinals, Diplomats of the Holy See, and Swiss Guards.

Where is the Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums is in Vatican City, North of Rome.

The Vatican is the World’s smallest country, even though it’s within Rome.

It has a total area of 44 hectares (108 acres) and shares a 3.2 Km (2 Miles) border with Italy.

The Vatican houses four of the major attractions in Rome –

1. Vatican Museums
2. Sistine Chapel
3. Saint Peter’s Square
4. Saint Peter’s Basilica

These four attractions are close to each other, so tourists prefer visiting them all on the same day or exploring them over two days.

Location of Vatican Museums in Vatican City

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Besides Saint Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Square, this map also specifies the location of Vatican Museum within the Vatican City. Thomas Römer/OpenStreetMap

Vatican Museums entrance

The Vatican Museums’ entrance is on Viale Vaticano (Vaticano Avenue). Directions

It is on the northern side of the Vatican and features an arched doorway with sculptured figures on top, and ‘MUSEI VATICANI’ is written just below the sculptures.

Vatican Museum's Main GatePin
Image: Italy-museum.com

Vatican Museums hours

The Vatican Museums opens at 9 am and closes at 6 pm from Monday to Saturday.

The last entry is at 4 pm for the Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Likewise, the Museums’ ticket counter also closes at the same time.

When are the Vatican Museums closed?

Vatican Museums remain closed on Sundays.

The Vatican Museums also remain closed on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June), Christmas Day (25 December), the Feast of Saint Stephen (26 December), and the Feast of St. Sylvester (31 December).

Last Sunday of the Month

The Museums remain open for five hours on the last Sunday of every month.

Visitors can enter the attraction free from 9 am to 2 pm; the last entry is scheduled for 12.30 pm.

Best time to visit Vatican Museums

If you plan to visit the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, the best time of the day is early in the morning before the gates open, or after 4 pm.

Since the attraction remains closed on Sundays, Saturdays and Mondays tend to be crowded.

Longest lines at the Vatican Museums

Ticketing counter queues at the Vatican are legendary, and every tourist has heard about them.

Almost every visitor assumes that reaching the Vatican Museums as soon as they open will help them avoid the long lines. Sadly, this isn’t true.

As a result, everybody lands early, and the queues are long and packed during the opening hours of the day.

If you have already bought your Vatican Museums tickets online, you need not worry about these long lines.

Visiting the Sistine Chapel & Saint Peter’s Basilica

If you intend to visit Vatican Museums post lunch, be mindful of your pace because the Sistine Chapel closes at 5.30 pm.

If you plan to visit Saint Peter’s Basilica, you can take the secret passageway from the Sistine Chapel to avoid queues.

This passageway closes at 5 pm, which means that you will have time till 4.45 pm to finish your tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

Best time of the year

The best time of year to visit the Museums is from the colder months of October to December when the crowds are less, and the Christian festivities are just around the corner.

The second best time to visit the attraction would be the non-peak months from January to March. The Vatican witnesses its largest crowds from April to September.

From April to October, the Museums open on Friday nights from 7 pm to 11 pm, making a night tour ideal for such occasions.

Best day of the week

Since the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays—save for the last Sunday of the month, all weekend travelers queue up on Saturdays, resulting in long lines.

Unless you are on a tight budget, the last Sunday should be avoided because it is free and open to the public.

Moreover, there might be more crowds on Mondays and Saturdays than on Tuesdays and Thursdays because they are closer to the weekends.

How long does the Vatican Museums take

Most tourists take three to four hours to explore the Vatican Museums. If you are in a hurry, you can walk through the highlights of the important rooms in around two hours.

If you only want to see the Sistine Chapel, you can walk directly from the Vatican Museums entrance to the Sistine Chapel door in half an hour.

Note: During peak season, there is a two-hour wait at the ticket counter queue. Buy your tickets in advance to avoid wasting your precious time. 

Break up of time taken

There are four main attractions in the Vatican—the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. To see them all, you need at least four hours.

Some visitors explore the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on the first day, and St Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square on the second.

Most tourists try to visit all four attractions on the same day.

Here is a rough breakup of the time taken to explore each attraction:

AttractionTime it takes
Vatican Museums2 hours
Sistine Chapel30 minutes
St. Peter’s Square30 minutes
St Peter’s Basilica1 hour

If you plan to visit all four attractions in one day, you must spare around four to five hours.

Things to keep in mind

  • To explore the Vatican Museums entirely, you must walk 7.5 Km (4.7 Miles). Wear comfortable walking shoes for a better experience
  • Since it is so massive, visitors are worried they may miss some masterpieces. Hence, it would be best to book a guided tour
  • The Sistine Chapel is at the end of the Vatican Museums, and you must enter the Museums to visit the Chapel
  • From the Sistine Chapel, a direct passage leads you to St. Peter’s Basilica. As a result, you don’t have to stand in line again to get into the basilica

Vatican Museums dress code

The Vatican City is a major tourist attraction and a holy site for Christianity and Roman Catholics.

As a result, the guards enforce strict dress codes at all Vatican attractions, including the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Gardens.

Here’s a list of dress items you must avoid during your visit to the Vatican:

– Sleeveless tops
– Lowcut tops exposing the midriff
– Miniskirts
– Shorts above the knee
– Hats

This Vatican dress code applies to both women and men, and the core objective is avoiding exposing your shoulders and knees.

Dress Code at the VaticanPin
Tourists line up next to a board announcing the dress code to enter the Vatican attractions such as the Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica. Image: Vmenkov @ Wikimedia

When your dress is NOT appropriate

If you reach the Vatican Museums in clothes that break the Vatican City’s dress code, don’t worry.

You can purchase plastic cloaks (poncho) that cover your shoulders and knees.

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

Please remember that if you refuse to comply with the Vatican dress code, you will be denied entry even if you have your Vatican Museums entry tickets with you.

Vatican Museums map

The Vatican Museums are made up of so many different Museums, galleries, and rooms that you need lots of energy and a good sense of direction to avoid getting lost.

The easiest way is to get a guided tour of the Vatican Museums.

The cheaper option is to be aware of the must-see attractions of Vatican Museums and carry a map along.

A Vatican Museums’ map will save precious time and ensure you don’t miss the masterpieces.

*Check out the map of accessible areas of the Vatican Museums.

Vatican Gardens

The Vatican Gardens cover more than half of the Vatican State and are a must-visit if you want to experience some natural contrast after admiring the Museums’ rich artistic and cultural exhibits.

They are popular with tourists due to their numerous fountains, sculptures, and statues of the Virgin Mary dotting this lush green landscape.

Vatican Gardens tickets are exclusive, too, with only a limited number of them being sold daily.

Vatican Gardens hours

The Vatican Gardens open at 9 am from Monday to Saturday and close at 6 pm.

The Gardens remains closed on Sundays and other Catholic holidays.

Vatican Gardens tour

All Vatican Gardens tickets include access to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St Peter’s Basilica.

The order of the tour remains the same—Gardens, Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and finally St Peter’s Basilica.

There are two ways to go around the Vatican Gardens: by walking or by bus.

Vatican Gardens by bus ticket

This ticket gets you a 45-minute tour of the Vatican Gardens aboard an eco-friendly open bus.

Tourists can relax and admire the greenery of the private urban gardens and parks, which cover more than half of Vatican country.

The bus tour starts at 9 am, 10 am, 1 pm, and 2 pm.

An entrance ticket to the Vatican Museums is included.

Cost: €45 (19+ years) and €45 (6 to 18 years)

Buy This Ticket

Vatican Gardens by walk ticket

This ticket gets you a guided stroll in the Vatican Gardens.

After exploring the lush lawns, orchards, and botanical wonders, you get right to the front of the queue for the Vatican Museum entry.

The walking tour through the Gardens of the Vatican starts at 9.30 am.

Cost: €50 (18+ years) and €39 (6 to 18 years & students with ID card)

Buy This Ticket

How to get to the Vatican Museums

There are no barriers or checks when you move between the Vatican and Rome.

Rome’s public and private transport go in and out of Vatican City all day.

By Rome Metro

You must board Line A to reach the Vatican Museums by Rome Metro.

There is a train every few minutes, so you won’t have to wait long.

Line A, also known as the ‘Red Line,’ has two stops equidistant from the entrance of the Vatican Museums: Ottaviano and Cipro.

Metro Map of RomePin
Image: Hubavihoteli.com

Most tourists get off at the Ottaviano metro stop, which is the first station you reach after travelling from Rome.

We highly recommend you get down at Ottaviano to reach the Vatican Museums.

Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Square are a brisk seven-minute walk from the Metro station.

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

By Public Bus

Unlike the Termini station for the Rome Metro, there is no central bus stop through which every bus route passes.

However, Rome’s bus network is extensive, and many buses pass or stop near the Vatican.

The most commonly used bus routes to reach the Vatican are Bus Nos 40 and 64.

They start right before the Termini Train station and end at the Vatican.

These buses are also popular with tourists visiting the Colosseum because they pass through Piazza Venezia.

You can also board buses 61 and 81 to get to the Vatican.

Warning: Buses in Rome are notorious for pickpockets. So, keep your belongings safe at all times.

By Walk

If you have time and are in Central Rome, we recommend walking to the Vatican Museums.

Vatican Museums is 2.2 Km (1.4 Miles) from Piazza Navona, the center of Rome.

It is a pleasant walk beside the River Tiber, and you can see Castel Sant Angelo along the way.

By Car

If you wish to travel by car, turn on Google Maps and get started.

There are numerous parking garages around the Vatican Museums.

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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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