Visit as early as possible
Priority Ticket Museums + Sistine Chapel
Explore the Museums and the Sistine Chapel without a guide. A formula to compare first for a last-minute visit.
How much does a ticket for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel cost?
The options presented below start at €30, depending on the date and time slot chosen. Official gate ticket prices are listed in the price table.
To visit as early as possible, book in advance or join a guided tour, compare the three main options below or access all Vatican visit options here.
Which ticket should you choose to visit the Vatican?
The Vatican Museums house the popes' collections and provide access to the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's frescoes. St. Peter's Basilica can be visited separately or as part of a guided package.
The first two tickets include the Museums and the Sistine Chapel with self-guided access: compare the first for the earliest possible visit, and the second to book later at a generally lower price. The third option adds a guide and a visit to St. Peter's Basilica. Prices vary according to dates and options.
Book in advance
Entry Ticket Museums + Sistine Chapel
The same access on a self-guided tour, on a slot reserved in advance. Compare to benefit from a lower price if your date is flexible.
Complete experience
Guided Tour Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica
Discover the Museums and the Sistine Chapel with a guide, then St. Peter's Basilica: three sites combined in one guided tour.
Next dates recorded on 4 November at 6:45 (Rome time). The final price depends on the day, time slot and number of participants: it is confirmed before payment.
Prepare your visit to the Vatican City:
Essential information to know
What documents are required to enter the Vatican?
The Vatican is a state (the smallest in the world), so any foreign visitor must present an identity document to enter.
- European and Swiss citizens: valid or expired (less than five years) ID card / passport
- Citizens of other countries: valid passport
What dress code should you follow to visit the Vatican?
A "respectful" dress code is required to visit the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, the St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens
In practice this means that shoulders and knees must be covered and the head must be uncovered ⇒ low necklines, mini-skirts, shorts above the knee and hats are not allowed.
See the full list of allowed and forbidden outfits ↓
What to see in the Vatican?
Despite its small size, the City of the Vatican is full of treasures:
- The St. Peter's Square: the arc-shaped colonnades delimiting the square are iconic
- The St. Peter's Basilica: the largest basilica in the world, housing Michelangelo's Pietà
- The Vatican Museums: do not miss the Map Gallery and the Raphael Rooms
- The Sistine Chapel: its vault and Michelangelo's frescoes (The Creation of Adam, The Last Judgment) are a must-see
- The Vatican Gardens: the "green lung" of the City
Can you visit the Vatican for free?
Vatican City is freely accessible and visiting the St. Peter's Square as well as the St. Peter's Basilica is free.
On the last Sunday of each month, entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel is free. Note however that queues are particularly long on these days.
Should you book your Vatican tickets in advance?
The prices of tickets available at the entrance are the cheapest. If you have plenty of time on the day of your visit, buying a ticket directly on-site will give you access to the best price.
However, if you want to avoid several hours of queue, it is strongly recommended to book online, a skip-the-line ticket or a guided tour.
Monday, 9 November 2026 ⤵
The Vatican Museums are OPEN
8:00 - 20:00
Temporary exhibitions:
- 4 August 2026 to 10 November 2026: Saint Paul Preaching at Athens (Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo (Rome))
- From 4 August 2026: Two Apostolic Visits to Bangladesh (Ethnological Museum Anima Mundi, Vatican Museums)
- 10 September 2026 to 15 November 2026: Le Litanie della Vergine di Mario Deluigi (Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo (Rome))
- From 29 September 2026: Heavenly Religions (Ethnological Museum Anima Mundi, Vatican Museums)
- From 30 September 2026: More than a Thousand Words (Vatican Pinacoteca, Vatican Museums)
- 29 October 2026 to 28 January 2027: A century of the Popemobile (Jardin Carré, Vatican Museums)
DRESS CODE at the Vatican: what is allowed and what to avoid
The Vatican is a place of worship: a modest and covering outfit is required to enter the Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens. In practice, the rule comes down to two words: shoulders and knees covered, head uncovered.
Accepted outfits
- Shirt, t-shirt or blouse covering the shoulders (short-sleeved t-shirts are tolerated)
- Trousers, long skirt or skirt reaching the knee
- Dress covering knees and shoulders
- Closed-toe shoes or comfortable shoes
Outfits refused at the entrance
- Bare shoulders: tank tops, dresses and sleeveless tops
- Exposed knees: mini-skirts and shorts
- Open sandals and socks alone
- Hats and caps (bare head)
- Deep necklines
Forgot your appropriate outfit? A belt to cover your shoulders and knees can be rented or purchased near the Vatican entrances (expect 1 to €5), as well as a borrowed scarf. This is the simplest solution if you arrive in summer with an outfit that is too light.
St Peter's Basilica is stricter than the Museums: checks are systematic there and outfits that are too short are refused at the entrance. The Vatican Gardens apply the same rule.
St Peter's Basilica is stricter than the Museums: checks are systematic there and outfits that are too short are refused at the entrance. The Vatican Gardens apply the same rule.
TICKETS Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Good to know for visiting the Sistine Chapel:
Note that there is no ticket to visit only the Sistine Chapel.
You will therefore need to buy an entry ticket for the Vatican Museums and walk approximately 1 km inside the museums (approximately 30 min) to then access the Sistine Chapel.
Note that there is no ticket to visit only the Sistine Chapel.
You will therefore need to buy an entry ticket for the Vatican Museums and walk approximately 1 km inside the museums (approximately 30 min) to then access the Sistine Chapel.
Ticket prices at the entrance
The price of an entry ticket to the Vatican Museums, which also allows you to visit the Sistine Chapel, is €20/adult and €10/child in 2026.
This rate is valid for buying a ticket on site, at the ticket counters. Same-day entry is therefore not guaranteed in the likely case that all tickets have already been booked for the day.
For information, entry to St Peter's Basilica is free, but access to the Basilica Dome costs €8 by elevator and €6 by stairs.
| Ticket Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel |
Price on-site* |
|---|---|
| ADULT (18 years and +) |
€20 |
| CHILD (- of 18 years) |
€10 |
| TODDLER (- of 6 years) |
Free |
* The price of on-site tickets, at the counters, is undoubtedly the most advantageous.
However, to avoid hours of waiting or running out of available tickets, it is strongly recommended to book a visit time in advance to benefit from a skip-the-line ticket ⤵
Promotions: Combined Tickets and City Cards
If you are visiting Rome for several days, there is a high chance that you will not visit only the Vatican.
In this case, take advantage of City Cards and combined tickets to save 10% or more on your entry tickets!
Guided Tours of the Vatican
For the most complete experience possible and to give you the opportunity to learn as much as possible about the City of Vatican, take advantage of one of the many guided tours with the various options available.
STAYS & HOTELS Prices • Vatican/Rome 2026
Accommodations near the Vatican
Many accommodation options (hotels and apartments) are available a short distance from the Vatican and its monuments, you can view them here:
- In the form of lists via these links:
- In the form of an interactive map below:
Other visits in Rome
If you are going to the Vatican, it would be a shame not to take the opportunity to visit Rome, which surrounds the City of Vatican.
There is so much to see: the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, the Capitoline, the gardens of the Borghese villa... discover below the many visits and activities possible in the incredible city of Rome!
MAP of the City of Vatican
The map of the Vatican Museum can be viewed here
Opening Hours and Days • Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
Usual hours for the next 4 weeks:
- Every day except Sunday: 8:00 - 20:00
- Sunday: Closed
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Today, Monday, 9 November | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| Tuesday, 10 November | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| Wednesday, 11 November | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| Thursday, 12 November | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| Friday, 13 November | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| Saturday, 14 November | 8:00 - 20:00 |
| Sunday, 15 November | Closed |
* Unless the last Sunday of the month falls on Easter, the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June), Christmas Day (25 December) or St Stephen's Day (26 December).
Opening / closing days in 2026
The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are generally open from Monday to Saturday as well as on the last Sunday of each month (entry is free on these Sundays).
Exceptional closure days for the year 2026:
- 1st January
- 11 February
- 19 March
- 18 April
- 1st May
- 29 June
- 15 August
- 1st November
- 8 and 26 December
ACCESS to the City of Vatican State
The City of Vatican State is an enclave within the city of Rome, in the west of Italy's capital.
Administrative formalities at the Vatican border
Note: As a city-state, the Vatican requires any foreign visitor to present an identity document when entering its territory.
Residents of the European Union and Swiss nationals can use either a valid identity card or a passport that has been expired for less than five years to enter the Vatican. People of other nationalities will need a valid passport.
Vatican address
00120 City of Vatican State
Map / Directions:
GPS coordinates of the City of Vatican State
N. 41.902916
E. 12.453389
Getting to the Vatican by Plane
Take a flight to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome Fiumicino.
Then take a bus to transfer to Rome or directly to the Vatican:
- Ticket for bus transfer between Fiumicino Airport and Rome
- Ticket for bus transfer between Fiumicino Airport and the Vatican
Getting to the Vatican on Foot
Take the majestic Via della Conciliazione, which leads directly to St Peter's Square.
Getting to the Vatican by Bus
- Lines 32, 81, 982 - Stop: Piazza del Risorgimento
- Line 49 - Stop: Esplanade (in front of the Vatican Museums)
- Lines 492, 990 - Stop: Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni
Getting to the Vatican by Tram
- Line 19 - Stop: Piazza del Risorgimento
Getting to the Vatican by Metro
- Line A - Direction: Battistini - Stop: Ottaviano or Cipro
Getting to the Vatican by Taxi
A taxi stand is located on the esplanade, in front of the Vatican Museums.
Getting to the Vatican by Car
It is possible to park in Rome, very close to the City of Vatican State. Here are the nearest parking lots:
- Parking San Pietro - Via di Santa Maria alle Fornaci, No. 26 (near Piazza di S. Maria Alle Fornaci): the closest, 5 minutes' walk away.
- Parking Dacar - Via Buccari, No. 5: located 10 minutes from the City of Vatican State.
- Parking Prati - Piazza Unità, No. 62
Key places not to miss in the Vatican
Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
The Vatican Museums are vast and house some of the world's most famous works of art, among more than 20,000 exhibited pieces. The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo, is probably the best known.
The chapel is actually located inside the 24 museums and its visit is included in the ticket price, it cannot be visited separately.
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica, located on the square of the same name, is in the heart of Vatican City. Built between 1506 and 1626, it is the largest church in the world and one of the major monuments of Renaissance architecture. Entry is free (opens at 7:00, shifted to 13:00 on Wednesday for the papal audience), but a guided tour is recommended to understand its history.
Its dome, completed in 1590, rises to 136 metres: the summit offers one of the most beautiful panoramas at 360° over Rome, the square, the Tiber and the hills. The climb is made for €6 via the 551 steps or €8 with the lift (320 steps remain) - book online to avoid the queue, which exceeds an hour in high season. In the underground area of the basilica, it is sometimes possible to visit the Necropolis and the tomb of Saint Peter.
Vatican Gardens
The "green lung" of this micro-state covers 23 hectares, more than half of the territory of Vatican City, yet the smallest country in the world. Open to the public since 2014, they can only be visited on a guided tour: the number of visitors at any given time is deliberately low, for a peaceful walk among French, Italian and English gardens, fountains and sculptures, with a unique view of the basilica.
Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the popes
25 km south-east of Rome, the small town of Castel Gandolfo, perched on the heights of the Alban Hills above Lake Albano, has been the summer residence of the popes since the 17th century. Nicknamed "Vatican II", it was opened to the public in 2014 by Pope Francis. You can visit the Apostolic Palace and the sumptuous Barberini Gardens of 30 hectares, as well as the collection of papamobiles. Like the Vatican Gardens, Castel Gandolfo is visited on a guided excursion from Rome a nice outing for a half-day.
Photos of the Vatican
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