Vatican Tickets and Tours

Discover the secrets of the Vatican with exclusive tickets - skip the lines at the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica!

Vatican Tickets and Tours

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More about: Vatican Tickets and Tours

The Vatican City, accessible on foot from the centre of Rome, is the residence of the popes and the centre of Catholic power in the world. Its main attractions are St. Peter's Basilica with its dome, St. Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel.

If you want to avoid the queues, which are literally the longest in Rome, make sure you buy your tickets in advance. Here are the types of tickets and tours available for advance purchase:

The most economical

Rome Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tickets + Sightseeing Bus Tour

Your direct entrance to the Vatican without waiting at the ticket office

Discover everything the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel have to offer at your own pace by purchasing these tickets in advance and skipping the long lines at the ticket office.

Gain direct access to the impressive Vatican Museums, the St. Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel and spend as much time as you like admiring the works in each of the rooms. Thanks to skip-the-line tickets **,**you can enter the complex without having to go to the ticket office andtake the tour at your own pace. You also have the option of choosing an audio guide with your ticket, which will tell you all about the main paintings and sculptures you will see along the way.

For just around £25, you will have access to one of Rome's main tourist attractions, and booking your tickets in advance will save you headaches once you are there.


The best option

Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica

Your ticket to the Vatican with a guided tour in a small group

Enjoy a more intimate experience visiting the Vatican with an expert guide and a small group.

Duration: 3 hours

With this option, you will have access to the Vatican Museums, where you can admire, among other works, the wonderful Sistine Chapel. The advantage? It includes a ticket that saves you from endless queues and you will be accompanied by an expert guide who will help you contextualise everything you see.

Trust me: in a place with so many works of art, so much history and so much symbolism, you'll be grateful to have some information about the main galleries, the main artists and the essential works so you don't get overwhelmed by the sheer number of stimuli, corridors and art you'll find inside. With this tour, you'll visit the main rooms and galleries of the Museums, learning the most relevant details about the most significant works in the Vatican Museums.

If you're not a fan of large organised tours, consider this option as it will allow you to get closer to the guide's explanations, set a more relaxed pace during the visit and have more freedom to ask questions, request recommendations, connect better with the guide, etc.


The Premium option

Early Entry Vatican and Sistine Chapel Tour

Your ticket to visit the Vatican first thing in the morning to avoid crowds

This is undoubtedly the most exclusive way to visit the Vatican Museums: you will be able to access the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the general public and enjoy the art without too many tourists around, with an expert guide in a small group.

Duration: from 3 to 4 hours

Of all the premium access options available for the Vatican, if you have to seriously consider one, it is this early entry with preferential access to the Sistine Chapel. This option allows you to visit with fewer people (before it opens to the general public and other tours) and, without a doubt, enjoy it much more.

This type of ticket guarantees that you will be able to see the Vatican Museums in general and the Sistine Chapel in particular with a small group and an hour and a half before the crowds flood the corridors. If you want to treat yourself on your trip, I recommend considering this option very seriously.


In summary, let's compare the options:


Vatican ticket prices

St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican| ©CALIN STAN
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican| ©CALIN STAN

I suggest two types of tickets with different prices:

  • The most recommended option is to buy the ticket that includes a guided tour in Spanish in a group, which will cost around £43. However, depending on the type of ticket you wish to purchase, the price will vary considerably.

The good thing is that there are options for all budgets. If you would like more details about ticket prices for the Vatican, you can check out my article on the subject here: Vatican Tickets Price .

  • A more premium option, which will allow you to avoid the crowds, is the possibility of entering the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public. This option is a little more expensive, but if you want to get the most out of the experience, you won't regret it. It costs around £50. You will be accompanied by an expert guide at all times, and the silence that reigns in the galleries at that time of the morning is well worth the extra cost.

Book a guided tour of the Vatican first thing in the morning

Get discounts on your Vatican tickets

Bramante Staircase| ©Bibi Pace
Bramante Staircase| ©Bibi Pace

Finally, there are also packages that will allow you to save money when visiting the Vatican and other attractions in the city. For example, at Hellotickets you can get the Colosseum + Vatican combo package. In a single day, you can visit both attractions with a specialised guide for around £91, which is a more economical option than purchasing both visits separately.

Also check out the Omnia Card and Roma Pass, tourist cards for the city that allow you to access other museums and monuments in addition to the Vatican at a reduced price.

Book combined tickets for the Vatican and the Colosseum

Where to buy skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican

St. Peter's Square seen from the dome of the basilica| ©Alan Liu
St. Peter's Square seen from the dome of the basilica| ©Alan Liu

The best option is to buy your tickets in advance online to ensure that your ticket includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican. All the options available on Hellotickets include this and will be a great advantage when you visit the Vatican.

The long queues that form at the gates of the Vatican wrap around the walls flanking the Museums and are literally the longest queues in Rome. Waiting several hours in the sun to access the Museums, the Basilica and the Sistine Chapel can become your worst nightmare if you arrive there without tickets and have to go through the ticket office.

Book skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican

How to get tickets for the Vatican with the Roma Pass and Omnia Card

Vatican Museums| ©Unsplash
Vatican Museums| ©Unsplash

Rome is such a touristy city with so many wonders to see that a good option is to buy the city's tourist card, which will allow you to visit the Vatican Museums as the tickets are included in the price.

Omnia Vatican and Roma Pass

Also known as the Omnia card Roma, this card is often combined with the Roma Pass tourist card and is the best option for visiting the Vatican as it includes admission to the museums and other attractions, as well as free public transport.

Rome City Pass

This is Rome's VIP pass, which gives you free entry to the Vatican Museums and other places such as the Colosseum. You can purchase the card for 1 to 7 days and include transport or airport transfers for an additional fee.

Book your Roma Pass and Omnia Card tourist pass

Buy cheap combined tickets for the Vatican and the Colosseum

Details of one of the corridors of the Vatican Museums| ©Berto Macario
Details of one of the corridors of the Vatican Museums| ©Berto Macario

If you are thinking of visiting the Colosseum (which is actually a must-see), you should know that you can buy a combined ticket for the Vatican and the Colosseum, which will save you time and money, making it a really convenient option. The price is lower than if you buy both tickets separately and you'll skip the queues at both attractions, making your visit much more enjoyable.

In addition, this ticket pack also includes a visit to the Pantheon, another of the Eternal City's great architectural gems.

Book combined tickets for the Vatican and the Colosseum

How to buy tickets for the Vatican at the ticket office

Entrance to the Vatican
Entrance to the Vatican

From experience, I can assure you that the nearly two hours you may have to wait outside (with long stretches in the sun) will sap your energy for seeing the Vatican Museums. Keep in mind that, depending on what time you go, you may run the risk of tickets selling out, so I recommend going first thing in the morning.

The first thing you need to know is that when we talk about general admission without queues to the Vatican, we are referring to admission to the Vatican Museums. Vatican City is free to enter (you don't need a ticket; it's like visiting another area of Rome) and access to St. Peter's Basilica is free.

However, the Sistine Chapel and all the works and galleries of the Vatican Museums, which contain some of the most famous works in the world, are subject to an admission fee and require a ticket. It is very important to note that tickets sell out quickly as capacity is limited and thousands of people want to visit every day.

Book your guided tour of the Vatican

Is the Sistine Chapel included in the Vatican tickets?

The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel

Yes, all tickets to the Vatican include a visit to the world-famous Sistine Chapel. In fact, despite the sheer size of the Vatican Museums, you will quickly realise that the Sistine Chapel attracts the largest number of visitors, as practically everyone stops there to admire it.

To enjoy it in peace, you can always buy a ticket with early morning access and avoid the crowds.

Book skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

Is St. Peter's Basilica included in the Vatican tickets?

St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica

Not always, but entry to St. Peter's Basilica is free, so you don't have to pay if you don't want to. However, the queues are very long, so you have the option of paying to enter (with or without a guided tour) and skip the queues. Once inside, you will be amazed by its size and the quality of some of its works.

Book tickets to the Vatican without queuing

Book tickets to the Vatican without queuing

Is the climb to the dome included in the Vatican tickets?

St. Peter's Dome
St. Peter's Dome

If you want to go up to St. Peter's Dome, you will have to pay for a separate ticket, but you can buy it there without having to book in advance and there are usually no long waits to get in. If you're unsure whether to pay to go up to the dome, my advice is to take a deep breath and go for it.

Halfway up, you'll probably regret it (the narrow spiral staircase is quite a challenge), but when you reach the top, the views will be worth it and you'll be able to file the experience away as one of the highlights of your trip.

Book skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican

Are the Necropolis and Catacombs included in the Vatican entrance ticket?

Tomb of Pope Pius XI| ©Northfielder
Tomb of Pope Pius XI| ©Northfielder

No. The Vatican Necropolis, located underground in St. Peter's Basilica, requires a separate ticket. It is a very interesting visit and allows you to see the crypts and tombs of some historical popes and St. Peter the Apostle. If you would like to organise a visit, I recommend doing so in advance, as capacity is quite limited and demand is very high.

Are there any discounts on Vatican tickets?

Aerial view of the Vatican Gardens
Aerial view of the Vatican Gardens

Entrance to the Vatican is free or has a special rate for students under 25 and university students, members of religious colleges or accredited pilgrims, disabled people, journalists and children under six. Find out how to visit the Vatican at the best price or get discounts in this guide.

Vatican opening hours

Michelangelo's Pietà| ©Sonse
Michelangelo's Pietà| ©Sonse

The Vatican Museums are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with some exceptions. Please note that the museum is closed all day on Sundays due to the Papal Mass held in St. Peter's Square, as well as on some public holidays. As is common with all tourist attractions, the best time to visit is usually first thing in the morning or last thing in the afternoon. Just bear in mind that tours that include a visit to St. Peter's Basilica after 2 pm do not guarantee access to the basilica.

I'll tell you everything in this detailed guide with all the Vatican opening hours (the Museums, the Basilica, the climb to the Dome, etc.).

Book your guided tour of the Vatican

Duration of the visit to the Vatican

Vatican Museums| ©iam_os
Vatican Museums| ©iam_os

Depending on what you want to see in the Vatican, you will need at least three hours (two if you rush, but it's not worth it). Personally, I prefer to spend three hours on a leisurely tour of the museums, leaving some things to see in the collection rather than rushing through the entire museums in two hours just to tick everything off my list.

If you also want to stop at St. Peter's Basilica, climb to the top of the dome or enjoy walking around St. Peter's Square with its colonnade, the visit will inevitably take longer and you may need up to a whole day. It is important to plan what you want to see in the Vatican so that you can calculate how much time you need and enjoy your visit.

Book your guided tour of the Vatican

Is it worth buying tickets to the Vatican with a guided tour?

Detail of the Sistine Chapel| ©Unsplash
Detail of the Sistine Chapel| ©Unsplash

Yes. A guided tour is 100% recommended: a collection with so much symbolism and historical context is much more enjoyable with an expert who can tell you anecdotes about its creator, its style or its historical significance. There are different options for guided tours of the Vatican, depending on the time and budget you have available.

For example, the most comprehensive and best value for money option costs £38 and allows you to see the best of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. If you want to avoid the crowds, you can always choose the premium option to enter the Sistine Chapel first thing in the morning, before it opens to the general public, and enjoy it in peace and quiet in a very small, privileged group.

Book your guided tour of the Vatican

How to get to the Vatican

Details of the Sistine Chapel| ©Unsplash
Details of the Sistine Chapel| ©Unsplash

Vatican City is located away from the centre of Rome, but that doesn't mean it's difficult to get to. There are several ways to get there, choose the one that best suits your itinerary:

  • On foot: depending on where you are staying, it is very likely that you can get there on foot. If, for example, your accommodation is near Piazza Navona and you feel like taking a walk, you can cross the Tiber and in half an hour you will reach St. Peter's Square; if you take a detour, you can even pass by Castel Sant'Angelo first. No walk in Rome is a waste of time, but if you choose this option, remember to leave early to get there at a reasonable hour.
  • By public transport: the quickest way to get to the Vatican by public transport is to take the metro line A to Ottaviano S Pietro. If the metro is not convenient, there are also buses that go there from Piazza dei Cinquecento or Termini station.

How to buy tickets on the Vatican's official website

Colonnade of St. Peter's Square
Colonnade of St. Peter's Square

If you are going to buy tickets on the Vatican's official website, please note that they are non-refundable and valid only for the day you choose. If you don't like improvising during your travels, I recommend booking this option for skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican on Hellotickets, as it allows free cancellation; this way, you won't lose your money if any unforeseen circumstances arise during your trip.

Ana's Traveller Tip

If you book your ticket in advance, you'll avoid queues of over two hours.

Practical tips for visiting the Vatican

Inside St. Peter's
Inside St. Peter's

Visiting the Vatican is a must on your trip to Rome, but to get the most out of your day, it's a good idea to plan your visit a little. Here's what you need to bear in mind when visiting the Vatican:

Cover up when visiting the Vatican

We all learn from our mistakes, and you probably know someone who had to turn back without visiting the museums or basilica after planning their visit. In these two places, your legs and shoulders must be covered. Sleeveless garments, low-cut tops, shorts, miniskirts and caps are not allowed.

Do you have to cover up in the middle of summer? Well, use your common sense: carry a scarf or long shawl in your backpack that you can put on to enter these places and that you don't have to wear all day. I assure you that it's better to be safe than sorry.

How to avoid crowds when visiting the Vatican

To avoid queues, you already know that you have to buy your tickets to the Vatican Museums in advance, but crowds are not so easy to avoid... The only way to reduce them is to choose the first or last time slot and not go before or after a public holiday and, if possible, avoid the high season.

What to do with backpacks and luggage when visiting the Vatican

They are not allowed and queues can form again at the ticket offices. I recommend that you visit with only the bare essentials because after so many hours on your feet, even a packet of tissues can weigh a ton.

Is it worth paying for the audio guide for children?

If you are visiting the Vatican Museums with children, I recommend that you ask for the special audio guide for them (recommended for ages 6 to 12). This will make the visit less tedious and they will enjoy the works of art more.

Where to eat near the Vatican

As this area is quite touristy, it may not seem like the best place in Rome to stop for lunch or dinner. However, that doesn't mean that the Italian capital isn't a gastronomic reference point, so even in the vicinity of the Vatican you'll find exquisite places to eat.

Prepare your palate and enjoy the best Roman dishes!

Ana's Traveller Tip

Carry a scarf in your backpack to cover your shoulders when entering the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica.

Reviews from other travellers

4.6
· 38567 Reviews
  • T
    T. A.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The help desk in Hellotickets office #97 was very helpful. They took several extra miles to explain the full process, gave us a map and showed us where to go and what to do. She even stepped outside and gave full directions to the place. The process with Hellotickets was seamless and swift.
  • S
    S.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    A must-see for any art and history lover!
  • A
    A.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I was surprised at how well preserved the whole complex is.
  • J
    J.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The experience was educational and entertaining; I learned a lot about art and history.
  • F
    F.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The night view of St. Peter's Basilica from the gardens is magical.