How To Visit The Vatican Museums & St Peter’s Basilica

The Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica are popular religious sites. But queues can be horrendous. See their treasures while saving a lot of time with our guide to visiting Vatican City.

Somewhere around 1448, almost 200 years before St Peter’s Basilica was built, Pope Nicholas V paid Fra Angelico to decorate his private chapel with frescoes depicting the lives of the earliest Christian martyrs.

So began the Vatican Museums, the 2^nd most visited art museum in the world (after the Louvre), with around 7 million visitors per year.

As an absolute monarchy, the wealth of art, sculpture, tapestries and historical Vatican artefacts are essentially the pope’s private collection.

Here, you will find some of the most important works of art by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Bernini and Raphael.

The original St Peter’s was built by Emperor Constantine in AD360 and stood for over 1,000 years until it was demolished in 1506 to make way for the new building.

Today, St Peter’s Basilica is one of the holiest churches in Christianity and the final resting place of St Peter.

Together, they are one of the unmissable things to do in Rome.

This guide covers all the important information you need to know for visiting the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica including how to avoid those queues. 

Our 3-day Rome itinerary will also help with logistics for your Rome visit.

VISITING ST PETERS AND THE VATICAN MUSEUMS TOGETHER

The queues to enter the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s can be horrendously long, regularly up to 2 hours.

Whilst you can buy skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums, you cannot purchase skip-the-line tickets for St Peters.

Even with a timed entry ticket from the official website (which is not required), you still need to queue for security at St Peter’s, which is where the longest queues occur.

There are three ways you can avoid the security queue:

• Arrive early (before 8:30 am) when the queues are shorter.
• Arrive late (around 5 pm) after the tour groups have finished.
• Pick a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, which includes St Peter’s. These tours exit the Vatican via a special tour exit, bypassing St Peter’s security.

If you want to take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, make sure you book one that includes St Peter’s Basilica, as not all of them do.

If you want to do a self-guided tour, we suggest starting at St Peter’s early, then booking Vatican Museums skip-the-line tickets for around 1.5 hours after you go to St Peter’s (2 hours if you plan to go up the Dome).

VATICAN MUSEUM TICKETS

There are a few ways to buy tickets to visit the Vatican Museums

• General Entrance tickets from the on-site ticket office
• Skip-the-line tickets online
• Guided Tour (which includes skipping the line)

We would not recommend getting your tickets from the on-site ticket office due to the length of the queues.

VATICAN MUSEUMS SKIP-THE-LINE TICKETS

On the official website, timed skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums cost €20, plus an additional €5 booking fee. The audio guide is €8.

Tickets are sent to your mobile phone, which you can present upon arrival.

If tickets are unavailable for the timeslot you are looking for, you should check other booking partners, who often have more tickets. They generally charge around the same price when you include the €5 booking fee.

VATICAN MUSEUMS TOURS

Tours of the Vatican Museums tend to spend 2.5 hours slowly walking the main halls. They are great for giving you information and an in-depth understanding of a select number of pieces.

You’ll meet at a tour office near the entrance to the Vatican Museums or some other specified location on your booking confirmation. 

The guide will then give you a ticket and take you through a fast-track entrance line. Once inside, you’ll pick up official audio guides and start the tour.

Talking is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel, so tour guides will take you to a notice board in the gardens, which has a photo of the artwork in the Sistine Chapel, and explain it there.

As a result of all this, it’s around 30 to 45 minutes before you actually get to see anything in the Vatican Museums.

We’d still recommend a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, with a couple of important caveats.

• Make sure the tour includes the Raphael Rooms.
• Make sure the tour includes St Peter’s Basilica.

The benefit of including St Peter’s Basilica is that you will be escorted out via a special tour exit, bypassing St Peter’s security queue. This will save you a lot of time.

The tour guide does not usually come into St Peter’s Basilica with you; they get you past security, and then you are free to look around at your own pace.

ST PETER’S BASILICA TICKETS

There are a few different things to see at St Peter’s; some require tickets, some are free.

• The Dome & Terraces (ticket required)
• The Grotto (free)
• The Basilica (free)
• Treasury Museum (ticket required)
• St Peter’s Square (free)

Please note // St Peter’s Basilica is free to enter, and a ticket is not required. You can book a time-entry ticket on the official website, paying upfront for the audio guide, but it is not required.

VATICAN TICKET PRICES

VATICAN OPENING HOURS

WHAT TO SEE AT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS

The Vatican Museums display an astounding art collection over more than 8 kilometres of connected galleries.

There are tapestries, artworks, sculptures and historical relics that were either commissioned by various popes or donated by world leaders.

Mark and I have been through the galleries, I think 5 times now, and there’s something new to discover each time.

Most tours roughly follow the itinerary below.

MODEL OF THE VATICAN

It’s difficult to understand the layout of the Vatican as you stroll around. So, the model of the Vatican at the beginning of the tour is a great way to get a sense of the area you’re about to explore.  

BRAMANTE STAIRCASE

Donato Bramante designed a double-helix staircase in 1505 as the entrance to the palace of Pope Innocent VIII. The interesting design allows for traffic in both directions without obstructing each other.

Unfortunately, you can only see the original staircase on this expensive private tour (currently €800).

But there is another double helix staircase, inspired by the original, which you can visit on all tours of the Vatican. It’s one of the most popular photo spots in the Vatican and just a few meters from the Vatican City model.

We were there first thing in the morning, and as you can see in the below photo, it was pretty empty.

PINACOTECA (ART GALLERY)

Close to the entrance is the Picacoteca. The Pinacoteca is an art gallery within the Vatican Museums that houses works by some of the masters of Italian painting, including Raphael, Caravaggio, and Leonardo da Vinci.

It also has seven Bernini works, which are models for St. Peter’s chair in the Basilica.

You can see the Pinacoteca on a self-guided tour, but most 2-3 hour organised tours of the Vatican Museums skip it due to lack of time. This VIP Art Tour lasts 3.5 hours and includes the Pinacoteca  

SQUARE GARDEN TERRACE

Next to the Pinacoteca gallery, there is an exit to the Square Garden. There’s an iconic view of the St Peter’s Dome, a great photo stop on your visit.

The garden also has a board with photos of the Sistine Chapel. You’ll find tour guides explaining the Sistine Chapel here as talking is not allowed inside.  

PINECONE COURTYARD

The Pinecone Courtyard is named after the huge bronzed statue shaped like a pinecone. It was originally part of a fountain dating back to the 2^nd century.

The courtyard also has the Sphere within a Sphere, a 40-foot bronze sculpture depicting two interlocked spheres.

Arnaldo Pomodoro designed the sculpture, and there are 45 of them across the world, including versions in New York City, Dublin and Tel Aviv.

CHIARMONTI MUSEUM

Most tours only briefly enter the Chiarmonti Museum. It contains over 1,000 sculptures including Roman deities and emperors.

PIO CLEMENTINO MUSEUM

The Pio Clementino Museum is the largest in the Vatican Museums. It houses important Greek and Roman masterpieces across 12 rooms. These are the highlights that you shouldn’t miss.  

• Apoxyomenos – A statue of a Greek athlete scraping sweat and dust from his body.
• Octagonal Court – Contains an incredible collection of antique sculptures including Laocoön and His Sons, the first piece ever purchased for the Vatican Museums.
• The Belvedere Torso – This contorted fragmented sculpture from the early 2^nd century was used by Michelangelo as the model for several figures in the Sistine Chapel.
• Sala Rotunda – This circular room was designed after the Pantheon, although it’s much smaller in scale. It contains Nero’s Bath, classical statues and a grand ceiling
• Red Sarcophagi – A sarcophagus believed to have held the remains of Helena, the mother of Constantine.

CANDELABRA GALLERY

Named for the enormous candelabras that hang in each section, the Candelabra Gallery contains an impressive collection of statues, relics and frescoes. 

The inlaid marble floor features a bold blue design. This was a display of the wealth of the Catholic church, as the blue minerals used were extremely expensive at the time.

GALLERY OF TAPESTRIES

The Gallery of Tapestries is 800 feet long and one of the most impressive rooms in the Vatican Museums.

Raphael was commissioned to design the 12 tapestries depicting the life of Christ which hang in the space.

There’s an interesting optical illusion whereby Christ’s eyes appear to follow you as you walk down the room.

GALLERY OF MAPS

The Gallery of Maps is a beautiful room and one of our favourite parts of the Vatican Museums.

It showcases 40 huge and beautifully decorated maps painted by several artists under the direction of Ignazio Danti, a keen astronomer and cosmographer.

The most important cities and regions of Italy are represented, many of which appear upside down because having north at the top was not customary at the time.   

RAPHAEL ROOMS

For us, the biggest highlight at the Vatican Museums is the Raphael Rooms.

Pope Julius II commissioned Raphael to paint the rooms at the beginning of the 16^th century. Works began in 1508, but his students completed the project after his death in 1520.

The rooms are:

• Room of the Segnatura – This room contains Raphael’s most famous frescoes. The vault depicts the four branches of knowledge: theology, philosophy, justice and poetry.
• Room of Heliodorus – This room depicts the battle where the papal army lost Bologna to the French.
• Room of the Fire in the Borgo – Named after the fire that broke out in front of St Peter’s Basilica in 847, Raphael’s pupils painted most of the frescoes here.
• Hall of Constantine – Representing the victory of Christianity over paganism, this room was painted by Raphael’s pupils after his death.

Many tours skip the Raphael rooms due to the long queues. However, as they are one of the most important collections in the Vatican, we strongly suggest picking a tour that includes them.

MODERN & CONTEMPORARY ART

Many people don’t realise the Vatican has an impressive modern art collection.

Pope Paul VI instigated the collection in 1964 in an attempt to bridge the gap between the church and contemporary culture.

The collection has over 8,000 items, with a select number of pieces on display in the corridors between the Borgia Apartments and the Sistine Chapel.  

You’ll find works by Van Gogh, Bacon, and Matisse, and it’s well worth spending some time having a look around.

SISTINE CHAPEL

You’ll reach the Sistine Chapel at the end of your Vatican Tour, either guided or self-guided.

Considered one of the major artistic accomplishments of human civilisation, Michelangelo’s ceiling is something to behold.

It took four years to complete, and you can witness his artistic progression in the size of the figures, which he painted much larger towards the end of the project.

Michelangelo returned at 61 years of age to complete the Last Judgement, now one of the masterpieces in the chapel.

The walls contain frescoes depicting scenes from the Old Testament on one side and the New Testament on the other. Florentine artists, including Botticelli, made significant contributions to the frescoes which you can see conveyed in the Tuscan countryside.  

I’ve seen a lot of guides explaining how to avoid the crowds in the Sistine Chapel. However, the highlight is on the roof, so no one really gets in your way, no matter how busy it is.

Photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel.

WHAT TO SEE AT ST PETER’S BASILICA

THE DOME & TERRACES

Climbing to the top of the Dome is one of the highlights of visiting the Vatican.

There are 551 steps to the top (320 if you take the lift).

Halfway up, you pause on a terrace within the dome’s base, gazing upwards into the dome and downwards into the basilica. It offers a tantalising glimpse of what lies ahead.

The stairs now climb up a narrow corridor, where you must tilt your head under the dome’s curve. The corridor ends at a viewing platform with excellent views of Rome, the Vatican, and Bernini’s collonaded piazza.

While the basilica and grotto are free, you need a ticket for the dome. We picked ours up at the ticket office on the day, but we were there in winter, and it was very quiet.

If you are going to Rome during a busier period, buy timed ticket in advance.

There are two tickets.

• Stairs – €17 with 551 steps to the top
• Lift – €22 with a lift for the first section and then 320 steps to the top

If you plan to go after a guided tour of the Vatican and St. Peter’s, then book a time slot for when your tour ends. Very few tours include the Dome entrance.

THE GROTTO

The Vatican Grotto is free to enter and contains the tombs of popes and St Peter’s relics, making the complex so significant for Catholics.

The grotto operates on a one-way system. You enter opposite the Dome lift and exit directly into the basilica. 

So, if you plan on visiting the grotto, you should do it first rather than the main basilica; otherwise, you’ll need to exit and go back to the Grotta entrance.  

ST PETER’S BASILICA

St. Peter’s Basilica was designed by Donato Bramante, Michelangelo, and Carlo Maderno, while Bernini designed the piazza. You would be hard-pressed to find an example of Renaissance architecture as celebrated as St. Peter’s.

It’s significant to Catholics because it contains the burial site of Saint Peter. However, it is neither the mother church nor the seat of the pope. That accolade belongs to the Archbasilica of St John Lateran.

So, this extraordinary place is number 2 in terms of buildings but the holiest of Catholic shrines.

Don’t miss the bronze statue of St Peter, whose right foot is worn down from pilgrims kissing and touching it. (Something you can no longer do.)

Another very important piece is The Pieta, one of the most famous Michelangelo sculptures in the world.

TREASURY MUSEUM

The Treasury Museum contains a collection of liturgical objects, once used for religious ceremonies in St Peter’s. Unless you are interested in religious artefacts, this is probably one area of the Vatican you could skip.

ST PETERS SQUARE

St Peter’s Square is the large piazza directly in front of St Peter’s Basilica. The circular formation surrounded by Tuscan colonnades, four columns deep, is said to be the embrace of the maternal arms of Mother Church.

WHEN TO GO?

The Vatican receives nearly 7 million visitors a year, so unsurprisingly, it can get very busy.

Early in the morning or later in the day are the quietest times to visit. However, first thing in the morning is now getting busier, with people reading travel guides telling them to go early!

If you are only going to the Vatican Museums, your best bet is to book skip-the-line tickets for the opening time, which is 8 a.m., or for the last two hours, which is a 6 p.m. entry.  

If you are only going to St Peters, you don’t need to book a ticket in advance. However, the queues for security can be extremely long, so it’s best to go first thing in the morning, around 7:30 a.m.

If you are going to both, the best option is to book a guided tour of the Vatican Museums, which includes St. Peter’s Basilica. This will allow you to skip the security queue at St. Peter’s.   

The Papal Audience occurs every Wednesday morning when the pope is in Rome. Typically, this event is held in St Peter’s Square, and the basilica remains closed until the event concludes around 12:30 pm.

Unless you want to see the pope, Wednesday is a good day to avoid.

WHAT TO WEAR?

The Vatican strictly enforces a dress code. Bare knees, midriffs, or shoulders are not permitted. Women should avoid knee-length skirts, as the Vatican guards decide what is acceptable and what is not.

Everything else is fine as long as the knees, midriffs, and shoulders are covered. There are no footwear restrictions, although you will be on your feet for a long time, so comfortable shoes are a good idea.

Bags bigger than 40cm x 35cm x 15cm will need to be checked in at the Vatican Museums. This is very important if you are doing a guided tour as you cannot use the special exit, bypassing St. Peters security if you need to return for your bag.

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