What to See at the Vatican

What You Need to Know About the Vatican

If you’re planning a visit to the Vatican, here are a few helpful things to know:

• The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, right in the heart of Rome. It’s also one of the most iconic landmarks on the planet.
• You can walk right in. It feels just like any other part of Rome. You might not even realize you’ve crossed into another country.
• Try to avoid visiting on Wednesdays and weekends. Wednesdays draw big crowds because of the papal audience, and weekends are usually packed.
• There are two main entrances for visitors: the east and the north. Our tip: go for the east entrance on Via della Conciliazione. It’s the most scenic way in and puts you close to many of the top places to visit in the Vatican City.
• You won’t find any restaurants inside the Vatican, just a few cafés in the Vatican Museums. If you’re planning to spend the day exploring what to see in the Vatican City, it’s a good idea to bring snacks.
• Vatican and Vatican City mean the same thing. You’ll see both terms used throughout this guide.

All Vatican Entrance Fees and Tickets

You can enter Vatican City just like any other part of Rome, and there’s no charge to walk around.

You’ll only need tickets for these popular things to do in the Vatican:

• The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica
• The Vatican Museums and Gardens
• The Papal Palace at Castel Gandolfo

A Rome City Pass might be a good deal, depending on what you want to see. Some passes include entry to several major highlights. You’ll find all the details in our Rome pass comparison. Sometimes, it might be the better choice to buy tickets for the sights in Rome individually.

Here’s a table with all the major Vatican sights and entrance fees at a glance:

What to See in the Vatican City on a Map

To help you plan your visit and figure out what to see at the Vatican, we’ve put together a detailed map showing the main highlights and where they’re located.

St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica is massive. With space for 20,000 people, it’s one of the largest churches in the world. The dome, designed by Michelangelo, spans an impressive 42 meters in diameter.

Inside, the scale is just as breathtaking, richly decorated with gold-trimmed stucco, colorful mosaics, statues, and detailed marble reliefs.

One of the main highlights inside is Michelangelo’s famous statue, the “Roman Pietà“.

Beneath the basilica lie the Vatican Grottoes, where more than 90 popes are buried. You can visit the grottoes free of charge.

Entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, but be prepared for lines, they’re almost always there.

Dome of St. Peter's Basilica

For a time, the dome of Florence Cathedral held the title of the largest in the world, until the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica was completed. It’s slightly bigger, with the main difference being the thickness of its walls.

At the top, there’s a large viewing platform where you’ll get a stunning 360-degree view over all of Rome and Vatican City from 117 meters up. Definitely one of the best things to do at the Vatican.

You can reach the top either by climbing 551 steps or by taking the elevator. The lift only saves you part of the way, though there are still more than 300 steps after that. So, unfortunately, the dome isn’t accessible for everyone.

There’s a separate entrance to the dome. If you’re standing in St. Peter’s Square facing the basilica, it’s in the portico on the right-hand side.

The line here can also get pretty long, and tickets can’t be booked in advance. The only way to skip some of the wait is by joining a guided tour.

Book the tour of St. Peter’s Basilica with dome climb

St. Peter's Square

St. Peter’s Square is impossible to miss. If you arrive through the east entrance, it’s the first thing you’ll see as you step into Vatican City.

The square is massive and can hold more than 100,000 people. St. Peter’s Basilica sits right at the edge, framed by two sweeping colonnades that also mark the border with Italy.

At the center of the square stands a 25-meter-tall obelisk, originally brought to Rome from Egypt during ancient times.

St. Peter’s Square is always buzzing with visitors, but it gets especially crowded on Wednesday mornings when the Pope holds his general audience. Four giant screens are set up so everyone in the square can follow along.

Attending the general audience is free, but you’ll need to register at least 10 days in advance.

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums rank among the world’s most significant and largest museums and a visit is one of the top things to do in the Vatican.

They showcase art from every era and continent, from ancient times through the Middle Ages and up to the 19th century, spread across more than 55,000 square meters and 1,400 rooms.

This also includes the famous Sistine Chapel, located at the far end of the museum complex.

Plan to spend at least three hours exploring to fully appreciate what to see in the Vatican City.

We recommend buying tickets for the Vatican Museums directly from the official website. They’re usually cheaper than third-party sellers like Get Your Guide.

Our insider tip: You can combine your visit to the Vatican Museums with a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica through direct access from the Sistine Chapel. This option is only available for guided groups, but joining a tour lets you slip straight into the basilica. Instead of turning left after the Sistine Chapel exit, head right, but keep in mind you’ll miss the stunning spiral staircase this way.

Note: The entrance to the Vatican Museums is on Piazza del Risorgimento, outside the Vatican walls. You cannot enter the museums from St. Peter’s Square.

Vatican Gardens

The Vatican Gardens lie just behind the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, covering a vast 23 hectares, making up a large part of Vatican City.

These gardens blend Italian, English, and French styles, featuring flowerbeds, orchards, meadows, and a wooded area. You’ll also find a labyrinth, fountains, sculptures, and grottos, along with impressive Renaissance and Baroque monuments.

In short, it’s a peaceful oasis perfect for a break from sightseeing. However, you can only explore the gardens as part of a guided tour, usually combined with a visit to the museums.

Book a bus tour through the Vatican Gardens & museum visit
Book a tour of the Vatican Gardens & museum visit

German Cemetery

Actually, the Vatican’s only cemetery serves people from Dutch and German-speaking countries.

The Campo Santo Teutonico has existed since the Middle Ages and was originally a burial place for pilgrims and clergy from the Holy Roman Empire. Today, it’s also the resting place for notable figures like German-speaking artists, writers, and aristocrats.

Access to the cemetery is reserved for German-speaking visitors only, and admission is free.

To enter, you need to check in with the Swiss Guard at the gate south of St. Peter’s Basilica, located between the colonnades and the Palazzo del Sant’Ufficio, and request access in German.

Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo

The papal palace is located about 40 kilometers outside Rome, in the charming mountain village of Castel Gandolfo.

From here, you’ll enjoy stunning views over the surrounding countryside and Lake Albano.

The Apostolic Palace served as the traditional summer residence of the popes until 2016, when Pope Francis opened it up for visitors.

Inside, you can explore the popes’ personal belongings, their bedrooms, a portrait gallery, and religious artifacts. The tour also includes the beautiful Barberini Gardens, overlooking Lake Albano.

Get tickets for the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo

Tips For Your Visit to The Vatican

To help you make the most of your trip, here are some essential tips for visiting the Vatican.

Dress code in the Vatican

There’s a strict dress code inside the Vatican. While you can dress casually walking around the streets or St. Peter’s Square, your shoulders and knees must be covered inside St. Peter’s Basilica and up to the dome.

In summer, a lightweight scarf is a simple way to cover your shoulders when entering religious sites.

There are no dress restrictions in the Vatican Museums, but the Sistine Chapel which is located within the museums does have rules.

So, it’s best to avoid shorts or skirts here, as you might be denied entry to the chapel otherwise.

Best days to visit the Vatican

If your schedule is flexible, try to avoid Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Weekends tend to be the busiest, as many Italians visit Vatican City as a day trip alongside the usual crowds of tourists. Plus, the Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays.

The General Audience takes place on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. and regularly draws tens of thousands of pilgrims. St. Peter’s Square fills with thousands of seats, and St. Peter’s Basilica remains closed until 12:30.

A great day to visit is Monday, when many tourists have already left.

The best time to visit Vatican City

Vatican City is never truly empty, no matter the time. It tends to get busy early in the morning as many tours start around 8:00 or 9:00 a.m.

The best time to explore is in the late afternoon, when most visitors begin to head back to their hotels.

This applies especially to St. Peter’s Basilica, which is much quieter late in the day after the tour groups have finished. The same goes for climbing the dome.

The Vatican Museums are also busiest in the morning, with many visitors leaving by lunchtime.

Between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on weekdays is a good window to enjoy the museums with fewer crowds.

Visit Vatican City on a guided tour

With a guided tour, you can skip the lines and get faster access to all the top sights in the Vatican.

Plus, a knowledgeable guide will point out hidden gems you might otherwise miss.

Here are some tours we recommend:

Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica & Dome 
Tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica, without dome 
Tour of St. Peter’s Square and St. Peter’s Basilica 

Eating and drinking in the Vatican

There are no full-service restaurants inside Vatican City, except for some cafés and snack machines within the museums and near the dome.

There’s a supermarket, but it’s reserved for Vatican employees only. If you want a proper meal, head outside the Vatican walls to a Roman trattoria.

Our tip: Bring a water bottle, especially in summer. The queues can get long, and there are no food trucks inside the Vatican.

Beware of pickpockets

Vatican City has one of the highest rates of pickpocketing in the world, so keep an eye on your belongings.

That might sound surprising, but it’s simply because crime rates are measured based on the number of residents.

And Vatican City only has about 850 inhabitants.

Most incidents involve pickpocketing, which is unfortunately quite common.

The busiest spots for pickpockets are where crowds gather, mainly St. Peter’s Square and right in front of Michelangelo’s “Pietà” statue inside St. Peter’s Basilica.

How to Get to Vatican City

The Vatican has several entrances, but only two are open to tourists: the north entrance and the east entrance.

Vatican East Entrance

The east entrance is the more impressive one, leading via the grand Via della Conciliazione straight to St. Peter’s Square and Basilica.

It’s easily walkable from central Rome.

Getting there by public transport:

The closest metro station is Ottaviano on line A, about a 15-minute walk from the east entrance.

You can also take several city buses that stop nearby.

Bus lines 64 and 40 run directly from Termini Station to the Vatican area. Line 64 stops at Ospedale Generale Santo Spirito, and line 40 stops at Piazza Pia. Both are roughly 10 minutes from the east entrance.

Vatican North Entrance

The north entrance is your best bet if you plan to visit the Vatican Museums first before exploring the rest of Vatican City.

Getting there by bus & train:

The nearest metro station is Cipro on line A, about a 10-minute walk to the north entrance and museum entrance.

Bus line 81 runs directly from the Colosseum or Piazza Venezia to the north entrance, with the stop in Piazza Risorgimento.

Arrival by shuttle bus from Fiumicino Airport

If your hotel in Rome is near the Vatican and you land at Fiumicino Airport, taking a shuttle bus from the airport is a good option. It stops on Via Crescenzio, about a 10-minute walk from St. Peter’s Square.

The bus leaves Terminal 3 every 30 to 40 minutes. Tickets cost 6 euros per person.

Book shuttle bus from Fiumicino Airport to the Vatican

Unfortunately, there’s no direct connection from Ciampino Airport to the Vatican. You’d first need to take a shuttle to Termini Station, then continue by metro or bus.

10 Interesting Facts About The Vatican

The Vatican stands out not just for its cultural treasures but also its unique history and political status.

Here are 10 fascinating facts about what to see in the Vatican City and beyond that many don’t know:

1. With about 850 residents and less than half a square kilometer in size, the Vatican is the world’s smallest state.
2. The Vatican isn’t part of the EU, but it uses the euro and even mints its own coins.
3. Besides languages like English and German, you can even set ATMs to Latin in the Vatican.
4. Residents pay no income or sales tax, making food about 22% cheaper than in Italy. Electricity and phone services are free, and rent is just 4% of income. But only Vatican employees can live or shop here.
5. The Vatican has its own postal service and prints unique stamps. The Vatican post office is said to work better than Italy’s.
6. It’s the only country whose entire territory is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7. Legend says the ashes of Julius Caesar rest in the bronze urn on the obelisk in St. Peter’s Square.
8. The Vatican boasts a grand but rarely used train station. A weekly train departs from here to the papal palace in Castel Gandolfo.
9. The Swiss Guard has 135 members. To serve, you must be a Catholic Swiss man, single, between 19 and 30 years old, with military training and a high school diploma.
10. The Vatican leads the world in wine consumption, averaging an incredible 54 liters per person each year.

Those were our top tips on what to see in the Vatican

Do you have more tips for cool things to do at the Vatican or a question about tickets or what to see? Feel free to leave a comment below.