What are the best hours to go to the Vatican?

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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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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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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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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After lunch, visit Vatican Museums around 2pm — by the time you reach the iconic Sistine Chapel, close to the 6pm closing time, it'll be relatively empty.

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The best time to visit the Vatican would be during the low season; you can expect lesser crowds, cold winter, and easier access to prime attractions. The best days to visit would be Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Avoid visiting on Saturday as you would see the maximum crowd then.

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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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The best ways to skip the lines at the Vatican
  1. Buy a skip-the-lines ticket with audio guide. ...
  2. Book a group guided tour. ...
  3. Use a Discount Card / Tourist Pass. ...
  4. Get a VIP early entrance and breakfast ticket. ...
  5. Buy a basic ticket online ahead of time.


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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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On weekdays, mass is held at 8:30 AM, 9 AM, 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM and 5 PM. On Sunday and Holy Days, mass is held at 9 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 12:15 AM, 1 PM, 4 PM, 4:45 PM and 5:30 PM.

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Tuesday through Friday from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.—when tour groups are lunching and cruise ship crowds are fewer (Mondays and Saturdays tend to be packed)—are good time slots. “I have been to the Sistine Chapel at 2 p.m. in September and been with only a few other people,” says Zac Cady, of Context Travel.

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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.

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To access the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel it is mandatory to book a ticket online.

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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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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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