How many hours do you need at the Vatican?

In general, a Vatican tour can take anywhere from 2-3.5 hours, depending on how much you want to see, and how many people are in your group. For example, if you're in a small group, a guided tour of the Vatican museums (as well as the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica) takes around 3.5 hours.



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Vatican City is inside Rome and is the smallest country in the world. When you're staying in Rome, it's worth making a trip to see Vatican City. You will only need about a day to see the attractions at Vatican City. You can even see the main attractions in just half a day if you can't set aside a day!

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Due to the high number of enthusiastic tourists, the Vatican attracts queues that are often in excess of three hours. You can spend less time waiting and more time admiring your favourite artistic pieces with a skip-the-line admission ticket.

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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.

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However, Tuesdays and Thursdays usually see fewer tourists around most of the attractions in the Vatican. It is better to avoid Wednesdays and weekends if you're on a tight schedule because the city has a tendency to be a bit busier on those days.

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Yes, while you can wear jeans to the Vatican, ensure they are basic and without flashy patterns or strategic ripping.

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Most tourist groups show up in the morning in hopes to beat the crowds, but it usually works against them. In fact, you can find the Vatican Museums a bit less crowded during the afternoon hours.

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It is permitted to take photographs, for personal and domestic use only, of the works in all areas of the Vatican Museums, apart from the Sistine Chapel. Flash photography is strictly forbidden.

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But reaching what many consider the holy grail—The Sistine Chapel—often requires standing in three- to four-hour lines then working your way through the labyrinth that is the museums themselves.

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What shoes to wear at the Vatican. There are no special rules about shoes at the Vatican and you can wear closed shoes or sandals. While there is no specific rule about wearing flip flops at the Vatican, it is good practice not to. Flip flopr are impractical for the location, often noisy and considered too casual.

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Can I bring a bag with me to the Vatican Museums? Yes, you can bring a small bag with you on your tour. Bags, backpacks or luggage measuring more than 40·35·15 centimeters are, however, not allowed into the Vatican Museums and must be checked at the cloakroom.

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The Vatican decrees that “low cut or sleeveless clothing, shorts, miniskirts and hats are not allowed“, but as some of this is open to interpretation depending on your perspective, it's worth examining the rules in a little more detail!

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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.

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The best time of day to visit the Vatican is as early as possible. See Vatican opening hours in “key info” on this page. Visiting the Vatican early in the morning gives you the chance to view the marvels of ancient and Renaissance Rome – and the peerless Sistine – without being shoved and crowded.

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As with many other churches throughout Italy, there is a dress code that must be adhered to upon entry, and the Vatican is no different. The absolute minimum requirement for both males and females visiting the Vatican City is to cover both your knees and shoulders.

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You can bring water from a plastic bottle. Glass bottles will be taken off you or you may be allowed to leave them in the cloakroom if the bottle is important to you. Drinking your own alcohol is completely forbidden in the Vatican.

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So, no tank tops, short shorts, skirts above your knee, and absolutely no shoulder and chest exposing clothes. It is also forbidden to wear transparent clothes and socks, even if they technically cover your body: so, don't try to cheat the rules with some see-through t-shirt.

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