Every day, thousands of people tell a taxi driver “Vatican, please”, and end up at the wrong gate. Then have to push their way through a kilometer of sweaty humans to reach the correct gate. All while hoping they didn’t miss their time slot to the Vatican Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica. There’s a way to avoid this mess and actually have an enjoyable, crowd-free visit. Want in? Here’s how to visit the Vatican City the right way.
Pro Tip: Ready to lock in your visit? Grab your Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with skip‑the‑line access to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Skip to What You Came Here For:
- Vatican Museums vs. St. Peter’s Basilica
- Tickets & Hours
- What to Skip
- What’s Worth It
- Secret Tip
- Mistake to Avoid
- The Right Tour
- Getting to the Vatican
- Where to Eat Inside & Nearby
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Vatican Museums vs. St. Peter’s Basilica

The Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica are not the same thing, and you don’t enter them from the same place. The Museums (home to the Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, and more) have their own separate entrance about 15 minutes’ walk from the Basilica. That’s where most Vatican tours begin.
St. Peter’s Basilica, on the other hand, is a church—and it’s free to enter. But during the 2025 Jubilee, expect long lines unless you’ve got a reserved access tour that starts outside the square.
Tickets & Hours
If you’re not going guided, this is your road map—all laid out nicely so you can budget and schedule accordingly.

Vatican Museums Ticket Prices:
- Adult (18+): €20
- Children (ages 7 – 18): €8
- Students (ages 18 – 25): €8
- Members of the clergy: €8
- There is a €5 reservation fee if you pre-book tickets on the Vatican website.
👉 Check out our Vatican Tours
The Vatican Museums Hours:
- Monday to Saturday: 8 am to 8 pm (last entry at 6 pm).
- Dec 24th and 31st: 8 am to 3 pm (Last entry at 1 pm).
- Closed: Sundays except for the last Sunday of every month, Jan 1st and 6th, Feb 11th, Mar 19th, Apr 21st, May 1st, June 29th, Aug 15th and 16th, Nov 1st, Dec 8th, 25th and 26th.
- Free the last Sunday of every month: 9 am – 2 pm (last entry 12:30 pm). Not recommended if you don’t like crowds.
St. Peter’s Basilica Ticket Prices:
Remember, entry to the Basilica of St. Peter does not include tickets for the Sistine Chapel.

- Basilica (without reservation): Free—just brace yourself for long lines.
- Basilica (with reservation + audio guide):
- Adults: €7
- Kids (7–18): €4
👉 Skip the line with a Basilica Express tour
Want to climb the dome? Here are your options:

If you go with a reservation:
- Elevator:
- Adults: €22
- Kids: €14
- Stairs:
- Adults: €17
- Kids: €10
If you go without a reservation:
- Elevator:
- Adults: €15
- Kids: €10
- Stairs:
- Adults: €10
- Kids: Check back soon for price.
👉 Skip the line and get the facts with a Dome Climb Tour
St. Peter’s Basilica Hours:
- From 7 am – 7:10 pm all year
- Closed Wednesday mornings for the papal audience
St. Peter’s Dome Climb Hours:
- From April to September: 7:30 am – 6 pm
- From October to March: 7:30 am – 5 pm
- Closed Wednesday mornings for the papal audience
How To Get To Vatican City
Without looking like a lost duckling in a sea of tourists.

- Metro (Line A): Ride toward Battistini and hop off at Ottaviano or Cipro—both a 5‑minute walk to the Museums gate.
- Bus: From Termini, buses 70 / 590 to Largo Trionfale; from the Colosseum, bus 81 to Piazza Risorgimento.
- Taxi: Max €20 from the historic center—tell the driver “Ingresso Musei Vaticani.”
- Walking: Easy from Piazza Navona or Campo de’ Fiori, but remember you’ll still be on your feet for three more hours inside.
Interessante Fact: Vatican City only became an independent state in 1929 with the Lateran Treaty, negotiated between Pope Pius XI and Mussolini’s government.

Vatican Museums Guided Tours
For your schedule, interests, and budget.
Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel | 3 hrs | €€
Skip both lines, small group, Raphael Rooms & Sistine Chapel finish inside Basilica.
Exclusive Sistine Chapel After Hours | 2 hrs | €€€€
Michelangelo’s masterpiece without crowds—life‑changing.
Rome in a Day (Colosseum + Vatican) | 7 hrs | €€€
Colosseum, Trevi, Pantheon and Vatican museums in one shot.
Semi-Private Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel | 3 hrs | €€
A nearly private tour with skip-the-line tickets and a closer look at artwork.
👉Not ready to book a tour? Check out article on the Best Vatican Tours to Take and Why.
What to Skip
Read and save yourself the headache, please.
- “Free Sunday” if you hate crowds. Entry is free but wall‑to‑wall.
- Telling a cabbie just “Vatican, please.” They’ll drop you at St. Peter’s—1.3 km from the Museums gate.
- Winging it without tickets. Same‑day walk‑ups can stand two hours under Rome’s sun.
- The cafeteria coffee—unless you’re desperate. It “gets the job done,” but Rome’s better coffee is five minutes outside the walls.
Interessante Fact: The word “Vatican” likely comes from the Etruscan term Vatica for the marshy Ager Vaticanus long before the Romans arrived.
What’s Worth It
Follow the signs to the Sistine Chapel, but don’t miss these stops on the way:

👉 Click on the name of the stop for a detailed explanation!
- Pinecone Courtyard
- Pio Clementino Gallery — Laocoön Group & Apollo Belvedere
- Gallery of Candelabra, Tapestries, & Maps
- Raphael Rooms — The School of Athens
- St. Peter’s Basilica — La Pietà & Il Baldacchino
- Spiral Staircase exit by Giuseppe Momo (1932)
Tip: Budget 3 – 5 hours total. Art lovers should add the Pinacoteca for Raphael, Da Vinci’s St. Jerome, and Caravaggio’s Deposition.
Secret Tip

Want to see the Sistine Chapel alone, in silence, after closing? Limited Exclusive Sistine Chapel After‑Hours Small‑Group Tours run on select 2025 Jubilee dates:
Tue 22 Apr • Fri 16 May • Mon 23 Jun • Tue 1 Jul • Tue 8 Jul • Fri 26 Sep • Mon 29 Sep • Fri 3 Oct • Fri 10 Oct
Only a handful of people ever stand beneath Michelangelo’s ceiling without the crush of tourists—be one of them.
Interessante Fact: A hidden half‑mile tunnel—the Sottopassaggio—has linked the papal apartments to Castel Sant’Angelo since 1277 for emergency escapes.
Mistakes to Avoid
So you don’t waste a minute of your time.
- Ignoring the dress code. Shoulders covered; no short shorts or mini‑skirts. Bring a light scarf in summer.
- Planning for a Wednesday morning. Basilica closed for papal audience.
- Not budgeting travel time. Metro + walk needs 20 min; taxi can run €20 and take 30 min in traffic.
- Skipping timed tickets for the Museums. Even in low season, queues take two hours.
Where to Eat Inside & Nearby
Hunger and bad coffee kill art appreciation—here’s where to refuel:

Inside the Walls
- Caffetteria Centrale — convenient, cafeteria‑style.
- Bar near the Sistine Chapel — quick espresso & pastry.
- St. Peter’s Dome Bar — yes, you can sip a coffee on top of the dome when it’s open.
Steps Away
- Hostaria Dino e Toni — authentic Roman pizza & pasta, still local‑run.
- 200 Gradi — legendary sandwiches, perfect grab‑and‑go.
- La Zanzara — trendy bistro for cocktails and a sit‑down lunch.
Interessante Fact: The Vatican Museums aren’t just galleries—priests, scholars, and even a few nuns actually live inside the palace complex.
Keep the Momentum
Your Vatican visit is sorted; don’t let the rest of Rome catch you off guard. Use these hand-picked resources to lock in food, sights, and flawless logistics.
- Best Vatican Tours to Take & Why – compare every tour we run, side-by-side.
- Where to Eat Near the Vatican – vetted by our Rome-based team after hundreds of lunches.
- Best Rome Food Tours To Take and Why – isn’t food half the reason you came to Italy?

Where To Stay in Rome
Rome has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the magnificent Eternal City in the best neighborhoods.
It’s best to visit this enthralling withing the country charm
Hey Eric! Thanks for reading our blog. We’re so glad you enjoyed reading!
It was great reading your blog, very nicely executed. You obviously put a lot of effort into it. Keep it up!
Grazie! We’re so glad to hear that you enjoy the blog. Come to Rome soon and join us on tour!
I, being a native of Italy, wasn’t aware of these facts and the way it has been stated is interesting as well as hugely informative. Thanks for the post man… Would be waiting in for more.
Ciao Daniel! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed reading this post. We offer tons of useful content on travel in Italy! Check out another one of our useful Vatican blogs here, about our best Vatican tours.
Thank you for this informative post! With regards to your Vatican tours, which tour will be the one to get the most out of Vatican City?
Solo traveler by the way. Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Ciao Darryl! Thanks for checking out our blog. For the most in-depth Vatican City experience, I recommend our Complete Vatican Combo Tour with Sistine Chapel & Dome Climb. This climbs St. Peter’s Dome and provides an excellent skip the line Vatican tour. Hope this helps!
Thank your these tips Tawny. Very helpful and detailed. I will definitely look up in your travel guide and tours next time I come in Rome.
Ciao Sophia! Thanks for reading our blog! Happy to supply helpful information to you. We’d love to welcome you on tour when you come to Rome!
Hello, We have planned a day visit to Rome on 25th Dec. Please suggest if all attractions will be open that day especially the St. Peter’s basilica and the Vatican museum.
Ciao Anu! The Vatican Museums are closed on Christmas. We recommend visiting the Vatican a different day during your stay.
Hello!
It was great reading your blog, very nicely executed. You obviously put a lot of effort into it. Keep it up!
Thanks
My daughter and I are going to our first trip to the Vatican this summer. I wanted to find out if there is a mandatory dress code when visiting. In our country, for example, women in trousers and bare-headed cannot go to Orthodox churches. Thanks for such detailed details.
Hi Tori! Thanks for reading. Yes, there is a dress code – knees and shoulders must be covered.
The Tour Guy always does a great job. Had a trip planned for the Vatican this week but of course it was cancelled due to COVID-19. Anyways, this made it feel like I still went.