Should I buy tickets to the Vatican in advance?

If you're traveling to Rome, the Vatican Museums should be high up on your list of must-see attractions. And ensuring you have your Vatican tickets booked before you get there only makes the experience more enjoyable. It's a good idea to book well in advance.



People Also Ask

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.

MORE DETAILS

So in order to visit it you need to buy a ticket to the Vatican Museums. As we said, given the large turnout that the museum has, it is recommended to book a skip-the-line ticket for the entrance. In order to avoid the lines there are many solutions.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

The Vatican Museums close at 6 pm. All visitors must be out by 5:30 pm. In high season, they sell out quickly and you often will not find all time slots available. Sometimes it is possible to get tickets even on the same day but in high season, you should try to plan for this at least 1-2 days in advance.

MORE DETAILS

Tickets can be bought directly on the Vatican Museum's official website. Sometimes the official Vatican Museum website will sell out of tickets. If this occurs, tickets can be purchased on other websites: www.getyourguide.com, www.tiqets.com, and www.viator.com – to name a few.

MORE DETAILS

Buy Tickets on the Official Vatican Museums Site You can buy tickets directly from the official site, Musei Vaticani. But, navigating this site and booking tickets can be frustrating. Pros of booking on Musei Vaticani site – lower prices and various ticket options available.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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

MORE DETAILS

The VIP Vatican Key Master's Tour is, at time of writing, the most exclusive tour of the Vatican that you can take. The tour, which lasts for two hours, has you accompanying the official Vatican Museum's Key Master as they walk through the Vatican.

MORE DETAILS

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are visited on one ticket. You will enter the Sistine Chapel through the Vatican Museums, so if you only want to see the Sistine Chapel, you will have to walk through the Vatican Museums first.

MORE DETAILS

The use of mobile phones is forbidden in the Sistine Chapel.

MORE DETAILS