7 Tips for Visiting the Vatican for the First Time
With centuries of layered history and art packed into the smallest country on Earth, the Vatican is one of the most fascinating places to visit in Rome.
Even though I’ve lived in Italy and visited the Vatican several times, I’ll admit that planning a day at the Vatican can be a little tricky and confusing—even for me!
So after my most recent trip to Rome and the Vatican City, I’ve compiled all my essential Vatican tips in this article to make your first visit easy!
1. Understand the difference between the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica
These three sites are all inside the Vatican—which is both a country and a city within Rome! These three sites are the main places to see in the Vatican, but they’re all separate.
- 🖼️ The Vatican Museums: A 4+ mile maze of Roman sculptures, Renaissance frescoes, ancient maps, vibrant tapestries, and gilded papal apartments. This is where you’ll spend most of your time and a tour guide is highly recommended so you can make sense of the 70,000+ pieces of art that adorn the museum.
- 🎨 The Sistine Chapel: This breathtaking chapel is home to Michelangelo’s most famous artwork—500-square meters of intricate frescoes depicting the story of Genesis. To visit the Sistine Chapel, you have to walk all the way through the Vatican Museum, and your ticket includes both attractions.
- ⛪️ St. Peter’s Basilica: This incredibly intricate and enormous 4th century basilica is where popes are crowned and buried. It’s built on top of the tomb St Peter, Jesus’s disciple and the first pope. The church is free to enter, but the line to get in can be quite long. It’s completely separate from the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.
2. Make reservations 60 days in advance
If you plan to visit the Vatican without a guide, you’ll need to book your tickets in advance because they sell out—especially in the spring, summer, and around the holidays.
Tickets are released 60 days in advance, so I recommend setting a calendar reminder about 60 days before your trip. If you’re not doing a tour, book directly on museivaticani.va and expect to pay €20.00 per person, plus €5.00 for skip-the-line access (worth it). This ticket includes both the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
🎟️ Vatican tip: If tickets are sold out, you can usually still snag a spot on a guided tour, which includes entry and lets you skip the general line. This is the tour I recommend, which also includes a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica.
What I wore to the Vatican in August (on my third visit!)
3. Dress appropriately
The Vatican is a sacred place, and it’s important to respect the dress code. In general, avoid shorts and low cut tops or crop tops, and have something to cover your shoulders.
In my experience, the dress code is more lax in the Vatican Museums, but I’ve seen several tourists being asked to cover up when trying to enter the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
On my most recent visit, I wore loose fitting pants and a tank top, covered by a long button-down shirt. It was comfortable and appropriate even in the August heat!
4. Consider visiting during a papal audience
Most Wednesdays the Vatican holds a Papal Audience in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope greets visitors and pilgrims and often shares a short scripture reading and prayer.
On my last visit to Rome, we just happened to show up on a Wednesday (we didn’t plan it) and saw Pope Francis blessing newly married couples from around the world! We even got to see him drive by in the iconic popemobile. Even if you’re not Catholic, it’s worth timing your visit on a Wednesday to cast your eyes on one of the most influential religious leaders in the world!
You don’t usually need a reservation to observe a Papal Audience from the square, but if you want to get a seat up front, make a reservation with the Prefecture of the Papal Household.
5. Time your visit strategically
Whether or not you’re visiting during a Papal Audience, be thoughtful with how you time your visit.
- St. Peter’s Basilica is typically open 7am–7pm. If you want to avoid long waits in the line, head here first and arrive right at opening, or consider visiting later in the evening.
- The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are typically open 8am–8pm. You can select any (available) entry time for your reservation, but know that the museum will still get massively crowded in the late morning and mid-day.
You could also consider a late afternoon or evening visit, as most crowds arrive earlier in the day.
The stunning Sistine Chapel ceiling – this is a stock photo because you’re not allowed to take photos regularly!
6. Know that you won’t be able to take photos in the Sistine Chapel
Photography of any kind is strictly prohibited in the Sistine Chapel. This is supposedly to protect the frescoes from camera flashes, and maintain the reverent atmosphere.
That said, you can take photos in the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica!
7. Book a guided tour or use an audio tour
Experiencing the Vatican with a tour guide is genuinely the best way to do it. With its 70,000+ pieces of artwork and complex history, it can be quite overwhelming to figure out what to do on your own. Exploring with a guide is 100% worth the extra money (and a great way to support local).
If you can’t afford a live guide, you can also listen to an audio tour—but after doing both on separate Vatican trips, having a guide is far superior! This is the tour I recommend, which includes skip-the-line tickets and an exceptional guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica. This is a great affordable option.
More Italy Travel Guides
- The PERFECT 3 Day Rome Itinerary (With Hidden Gems)
- What You NEED to Book in Advance for Rome (And How to Book!)
- Where to Stay in Trastevere, Rome: Boutique Hotels + Bed & Breakfasts
- How to Plan Your First Trip to Italy
- 10 Day Southern Italy Itinerary: Beaches, Mountains & More
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