Unfortunately, the queues in the Vatican can sometimes get a little out of hand, so many visitors are required to queue for between one and three hours to get into St.
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Vatican City is one of Italy's most popular tourist sites; home to Catholicism, the Pope, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica, the historic site attracts millions of visitors each year. Unfortunately, with this popularity comes long queues and potential overcrowding.
Arriving at mid-dayWith ticket lines often snaking around the walls, it's best to get there early. The Vatican Museums opening times are 9am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and we recommend getting there when the doors open – if not a bit earlier to allow for delays.
Remember the best time to avoid the crowd in Vatican City is around midday and over the weekend and Mondays. It's recommended to also book any tickets for Vatican Museums in advance. There are skip-the-line tickets, or you can book a tour of the Vatican and Sistine Chapel.
In general, the security check at the Vatican can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 20 minutes, depending on the size of your group, and whether or not the security guards find an issue with any of your belongings, attire, or bags.
Skip the line Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets are highly recommended and in my opinion absolutely worth the few extra euros, especially if you are visiting during high season. How long does it take to see the Vatican and Sistine Chapel? 2 to 4 hours is the average visit to the Museums and St. Peter's.
I personally recommend planning a full day for a Vatican visit if you are interested in seeing the museums and a half day (a full morning or full afternoon) if you are planning on seeing the square and basilica only.
The dress code for the Vatican Museums is strict but easy to respect. Low-cut or sleeveless dresses, miniskirts, shorts and hats are not allowed. To cover knees and shoulders you can buy plastic cloaks to wrap around. Inside it is preferable to wear long-sleeved shirts and long trousers.
FAQs: Skipping The Lines In RomeThe easiest way to skip the lines at Rome's famous attractions is to buy skip the line tickets to the attractions. This applies to all of Rome's most popular attractions, like the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, Colosseum, and the Borghese Gallery.
9) Do you need a passport to go to the Vatican? No, you do not need to bring your passport with you. Even if you are entering another state and Vatican City has its own passports, postal service and stamps, bank and euro, telephone system, radio station, pharmacy and national football team too!
The Vatican Museum is closed Sundays, except for the last Sunday of every month, when they are free. This is the most crowded day you can imagine for visiting the Vatican Museums. On Wednesdays (except for July, when the pope takes a break), the pope holds an audience at St Peter's Basilica.
There is a security check as you enter into the Vatican museums so it is important that you only bring a plastic bottle. Glass bottles will be taken from you or you will be forced to leave them in the locker room.
The Vatican has a dress code that some travellers might not be aware of when visiting. Luckily if you're planning on wearing jeans to the Vatican, you definitely can! When you plan to visit, it's best to keep your knees and shoulders covered. And for footwear, you will need flat shoes, not flip-flops or casual sandals.