Is Sunday a good day to visit the Vatican?

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.



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Attending the Papal Mass on Sundays can be a unique and memorable experience for visitors to Rome. However, it's important to plan ahead and follow the dress code guidelines of the Vatican. In addition to St. Peter's Basilica, visitors can also explore the stunning Vatican Gardens on Sundays.

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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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Especially on Monday it can be very busy because it is the resting day for many museums in Rome. Wednesday is also very crowded because of the Pope's audience. Saturday is another busy day. The best days to visit the Vatican and the Vatican Museums are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

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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.

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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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Arriving at mid-day With 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.

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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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Pope Francis does address the crowd in Saint Peter's Square, with the Angelus, every Sunday at noon (when he is in Rome.)

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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. On that note, April to October can be one of the best times to visit the Vatican Museums, especially on Friday nights, when it is much less crowded.

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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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Although entry to the Vatican Museums is usually ticketed, there is one day every month when they offer free admission to all visitors. On the last Sunday of each month, the museums are free to visit from 9 am to 2 pm, including entry to the Sistine Chapel.

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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.

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However, if you do have a choice, and considering what I pointed out above, the best time to visit Rome would be mid-week: a tad less crowded (depending on the season), and shops, restaurants and museums tend to be open during mid-week.

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However you are not allowed to drink anything among the galleries, there are courtyards where you can fill up your water bottles at the fountains where the water is fresh and where you can quench your thirst. You can bring water from a plastic bottle.

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How to Enter the Vatican in Rome? To enter Vatican City, you don't need a passport or Visa or even tickets for the attractions inside. You can simply walk inside. However, if you wish to enter the attractions inside, such as the Vatican Museums, you would need to buy tickets.

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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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