Vatican Tickets and Tours

Vatican City, within walking distance of downtown Rome, is the residence of the popes and the center of Catholic power worldwide. Its main attractions are St. Peter’s Basilica with its dome, St. Peter’s Square, and the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel.

If you want to avoid the lines—which are, quite literally, the longest lines in Rome—be sure to secure your ticket by purchasing it in advance. Here’s a breakdown of the types of tickets and tours available for advance purchase:

The most affordable

Vatican Museums: Fast Track Ticket + Sightseeing Bus Tour

Your direct entry to the Vatican without waiting in line at the ticket office

Explore 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 offices.

From $45 at Hellotickets

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 of art in each of their galleries. Thanks to the skip-the-line tickets, you can enter the complex without having to go through the ticket office firstand explore at your own pace. Plus, you have the option to add an audio guide to your ticket that will provide details about the main paintings and sculptures you’ll encounter along the way.

For just around 30 euros, you’ll have access to one of Rome’s top tourist attractions, and booking your tickets in advance will save you a lot of hassle once you’re there.

The best option

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

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

Enjoy a more intimate experience exploring the Vatican with an expert guide in a small group.

From $78 at Hellotickets

With this option, you’ll have access to the Vatican Museums, where you can admire, among other works, the magnificent Sistine Chapel. The advantage? It includes a ticket that lets you skip the endless lines, and you’ll be accompanied by an expert guide who’ll help you understand the context of 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 background information on the main galleries, the leading artists, and the essential works—so you won’t feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sights, hallways, and art you’ll encounter inside. On this tour, you’ll explore the museums’ main halls and galleries, learning the most relevant details about the Vatican Museums’ most significant works.

If you’re not a big fan of large organized group tours, consider this option—it will allow you to hear the guide’s explanations more clearly, maintain a more relaxed pace during the visit, and have more freedom to ask questions, seek recommendations, and connect better with the guide, among other benefits.

The Premium Option

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: Early Access + Guided Tour

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

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

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

From $98 at Hellotickets

Of all the premium admission options you’ll find for the Vatican, if there’s one you should seriously consider, it’s this early-entry ticket with priority access to the Sistine Chapel. This option allows you to visit when the crowd is smaller (before it opens to the general public and other tours) and, without a doubt, enjoy it much more.

This ticket option guarantees that you’ll be able to see the Vatican Museums in general—and the Sistine Chapel in particular—as part of a small group, an hour and a half before the crowds flood the halls. If you’re looking to treat yourself on your trip, I highly recommend giving this serious consideration.

Vatican Museums: Fast Track Ticket + Sightseeing Bus Tour

Your direct entry to the Vatican without waiting in line at the ticket office

Explore 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 offices.

From $45 at Hellotickets

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

Guided Tour of the Vatican Museums in a Small Group

Perfect for exploring the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica with an expert guide in a small group to get the most out of the experience. Plus, you'll get skip-the-line access to the museums.

From $78 at Hellotickets

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: Early Access + Guided Tour

Visit the Vatican Museums first thing in the morning to avoid the crowds

The most exclusive way to visit the Vatican Museums: You'll get to enter the Sistine Chapel before it opens to the general public and enjoy the art without too many tourists around, accompanied by an expert guide.

From $98 at Hellotickets

I suggest two types of tickets with different prices:

• The most recommended option is to buy the ticket that includes a guided group tour in Spanish, which will cost you about 43 euros. But depending on the type of ticket you want to buy, the price will vary significantly.

The good news is that there are options for every budget. If you’d like more details about ticket prices for the Vatican, you can check out my article on the subject here: Vatican Tickets Price .

• For a more premium option that lets you avoid the crowds, you can enter the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums before they open to the general public. This option is a bit more expensive, but if you want to make the most of the experience, you won’t regret it. It costs around 60 euros. You’ll be accompanied by an expert guide at all times, and the silence that reigns in the galleries at that early hour is well worth the extra cost.

Finally, there are also combo packages that let you save money when visiting the Vatican and other city attractions. For example, on Hellotickets you can get the Colosseum + Vatican combo package. In a single day, you’ll visit both attractions with a specialized guide, and the cost is about $138, making it a more economical option than buying both tours separately.

Also check out the option to purchase the Omnia Card and the Roma Pass, the city’s tourist cards, which will give you access to other museums and monuments in addition to the Vatican at a reduced price.

The best option is to buy tickets in advance online to ensure that the package you purchase includes skip-the-line access to the Vatican. All the options available on Hellotickets include this feature, which will be a huge advantage when you visit the Vatican.

The long lines that form at the Vatican gates wind around the walls flanking the Museums and are, quite literally, the longest lines in Rome. Waiting several hours in the sun to enter the Museums, the Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel can turn into your worst nightmare if you arrive without tickets and have to go through the ticket office.

Rome is such a tourist-heavy city with so many wonders to see that a good option is to purchase the city’s tourist card, which will allow you to visit the Vatican Museums since admission is included in the price.

Omnia Vatican and Roma Pass

Also known as the Omnia Card Rome, this card is often bundled 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 transportation.

Rome City Pass

This is Rome’s VIP pass, granting you free entry to the Vatican Museums as well as other sites like the Colosseum. You can purchase the pass for a duration of 1 to 7 days and, for an additional fee, include public transportation or an airport transfer.

If you’re planning to visit the Colosseum (it’s really 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—so it’s definitely worth it. The price is lower than if you bought both tickets separately, and you’ll skip the lines at both attractions, making the visit much more enjoyable.

Plus, this ticket package also includes a visit to the Pantheon, another of the Eternal City’s great architectural gems.

From experience, I can assure you that the nearly two hours you might spend waiting in line outside (with long stretches in the sun) will drain a lot of your energy before you even get to see the Vatican Museums. Keep in mind that, depending on what time you go, you 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 people talk about a general skip-the-line ticket to the Vatican, they’re referring to admission to the Vatican Museums. You can move freely throughout Vatican City (you don’t need a ticket; it’s like visiting another part of Rome), and access to St. Peter’s Basilica is free.

However, the Sistine Chapel and all the artworks and galleries in the Vatican Museums—which house some of the world’s most famous works— require an admission fee and, very importantly, tickets sell out quickly since capacity is limited and thousands of people want to visit every day.

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

To enjoy it at a more leisurely pace, you can always purchase a ticket with early-morning access to avoid the crowds.

Not always, but entry to St. Peter’s Basilica is free, so you won’t have to pay if you don’t want to. That said, the lines are extremely long, so you have the option to pay to see it (with or without a guided tour) and skip the lines. Once inside, you’ll be amazed by its size and the quality of some of its works of art.

If you want to climb St. Peter’s Dome, you’ll need to pay for a separate ticket, but you can buy it right there without a reservation, and there aren’t usually long waits to get in. If you’re on the fence about whether to pay to climb the dome, my advice is to take a deep breath and go for it.

Halfway up, you’ll probably have second thoughts (the narrow spiral staircase is quite a challenge), but once you reach the top, the views will be worth it, and you’ll be able to count the experience as one of the highlights of your trip.

No. The Vatican Necropolis, located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, requires a separate ticket. It’s a fascinating visit that lets you see the crypts and tombs of several historic popes and the Apostle St. Peter. If you’d like to plan this visit, I recommend doing so well in advance, as capacity is quite limited and demand is very high.

Admission to the Vatican is free or available at a special rate for students under 25 and college students, members of religious orders or accredited pilgrims, people with disabilities, journalists, and children under six. Find out how to visit the Vatican at the best price or get discounts in this guide.

The Vatican Museums are open, with some exceptions, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Note that on Sundays, the museum is closed all day due to the Papal Mass celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, and it is also closed on some holidays. The best time to visit, as is common with all tourist attractions, is first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. Just keep in mind that tours that include a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica after 2:00 p.m. 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.).

Depending on what you want to see at the Vatican, you’ll need at least three hours (two, if you rush through it, but it’s not worth it). Personally, I’d rather spend three hours on a leisurely tour of the Museums—even if that means leaving a few pieces of the collection unseen—than rush through the entire complex in two hours just to be able to say I’ve “seen” it all.

If you also want to stop at St. Peter’s Basilica, climb to the top of its dome, or enjoy strolling through St. Peter’s Square with its colonnade, the visit will inevitably take longer, and you might end up needing a whole day. It’s important to plan what you want to see at the Vatican so you can estimate how much time you’ll need and enjoy your visit.

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

For example, the most comprehensive tour—and the best value for your money—costs 38 euros and will let you see the highlights of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. If you want to avoid 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, so you can enjoy it at your own pace in a very small, exclusive group.

Vatican City is located some distance from the center of Rome, but that doesn’t mean it’s hard to reach. There are several ways to get there—choose the one that best fits your itinerary:

If you’re buying tickets on the Vatican’s official website, keep in mind that they’re non-refundable and valid only for the day you select. If you don’t like to wing it while traveling, I recommend booking these skip-the-line Vatican tickets through Hellotickets, as they allow for free cancellation; this way, you won’t lose your money if any unexpected issues come up during your trip.

Ana’s Traveler Tip

If you book your ticket in advance, you’ll avoid lines that last more than two hours.

Visiting the Vatican is a must-see on your trip to Rome, but to make the most of your day, it’s a good idea to plan your visit a little. Here’s what you should keep in mind when visiting the Vatican:

Dress modestly when visiting the Vatican

We learn from our mistakes, and you’ve probably met someone who, after planning their visit, had to turn back without seeing the museums or the basilica. At these two sites, you must keep your legs and shoulders covered. Sleeveless tops, low-cut tops, shorts, miniskirts, and caps are not allowed.

Do you have to cover up in the middle of summer? Well, use common sense: pack a long scarf or shawl in your backpack that you can put on to enter these places without having to wear it all day. I assure you, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

How to Avoid Crowds When Visiting the Vatican

To avoid lines, you know you should buy your Vatican Museums ticket in advance, but avoiding crowds won’t be quite so easy… The only way to minimize them is to choose the first or last time slot, avoid visiting right before or after a holiday, and, if possible, avoid peak season.

What to Do with Backpacks and Luggage When Visiting the Vatican

They aren’t allowed, and lines can form again at the ticket counters. I recommend that you visit with only the bare essentials because after so many hours on your feet, even a pack of tissues starts to feel heavy.

Is it worth paying for the audio guide for kids?

If you’re visiting the Vatican Museums with children, I recommend getting the audio guide designed specifically for them (recommended for ages 6 to 12). This will make the visit less tedious for them, and they’ll enjoy the artwork more.

Where to Eat Near the Vatican

Since this area is quite touristy, it might not seem at first glance like the best part of Rome to stop for lunch or dinner. But that doesn’t change the fact that the Italian capital remains a culinary hotspot, so even in the area around the Vatican, you’ll find exquisite places to eat.

Get your taste buds ready and enjoy the best Roman-style dishes!

Ana’s Traveler Tip

Keep a scarf in your backpack so you can cover your shoulders when entering the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica.