Vatican City ticket

Everything You Need to Know About Vatican Tickets

Planning to visit Vatican City and Museums? 

Let us help introduce you to some of the best and finest Vatican tickets that will make your Vatican visit much more exciting and worth the money spent. 

Having the right tickets to the Vatican will help you enjoy a smooth and hassle-free visit to the city and museums.

There are a lot of Vatican tours and tickets available, and visitors usually need clarification when it comes to choosing one. 

This article will help you learn about Vatican tickets and choose the best-suited one.

vatican museum Entry Ticket

Vatican skip the line

  • Skip-the-line access to Vatican Museum
  • Skip-the-line access to Sistine Chapel
  • Priority access entry
Buy This Ticket
vatican museum Last-Minute ticket

Last-Minute Vatican Tickets

  • Last-minute access to Vatican Museum
  • Skip-the-line entry
  • Optional official audio guide
Buy This Ticket
Vatican Museum Guided Tour

Guided tour of Vatican

  • An expert Professional Tour Guide
  • Headsets for Vatican Tour
  • Free WiFi at the meeting point
Buy This Ticket

What are Vatican Tickets?

Before you set off on your exploration through the arts and architecture of the beautiful city of the Vatican and its museums, you must have Vatican tickets.

Buy the best Vatican tickets and have a memorable trip to one of the sacred lands of Christianity, the Vatican City, and The Vatican Museum.

A general Vatican Museum ticket that allows you to access the Vatican Museums is priced at US$ 28 for adults.

The Vatican Museum tickets available comes in a lot of categories, and all of them can get you admission to the Vatican Museum and other famous attractions like the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. 

You can choose your best-suited Vatican tickets depending on your budget and time availability.

No matter which ticket you choose, whether tickets to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel or tickets to the St. Peter Basilica, the tour to the Vatican will be a memorable and exciting experience you will remember for the rest of your lifetime.

Vatican tours and tickets

Vatican City, or in Italian, “Stato della Città del Vaticano,” is the smallest sovereign independent state in the world. 

Despite having a small geographical area, the city offers a lot of places to visit, including the famous Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. 

Depending on one’s priority, there are a lot of places to visit dedicated to arts and artifacts from different periods. 

There are a lot of tours and tickets to the Vatican that could be confusing for visitors. 

For instance, a guided tour would be best for visiting the Vatican Museum and St. Peter’s Basilica. 

However, if you want to visit the museum only, you should buy Vatican skip-the-line tickets.

In conclusion, the city offers much to see, but one must have the right Vatican tickets to make the most of their Vatican tour. 

Please explore the different types of tickets and choose your best Vatican tickets.

Type of Vatican tickets 

Skip the line Vatican tickets are the cheapest and the most popular to access the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.

To understand the exhibits on display inside the Vatican Museum better, we suggest you book your Vatican Museum ticket with an expert guide.

If you’d like privacy and want to see the exhibits at your own pace, opt for private Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tickets or semi-private Vatican tour tickets. 

While visiting with your partner or family, you can also go for an ultimate VIP private tour.

From April to October, the museum allows visitor entry from 7 pm to 11 pm. You can explore the artistic magnificence of Vatican Museums at night with the aura of dusk around. 

After touring around the Vatican Museum And Sistine Chapel, visit St. Peter’s Basilica.

Since there is so much to see and learn, most tourists book guided Vatican tour tickets for the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter Basilica. 

What if you visit the Vatican Museum, but at the entrance, you see long lines at the ticket counter?Don’t get disheartened. We have the perfect solution – last-minute Vatican tickets.

Many Vatican tickets are available to give you the premium experience of a Vatican visit.

Different Vatican tickets provide access to the different areas of the city and museums, including the famous St. Peter Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. 

Mentioned below is a brief description of different types of Vatican tour tickets. 

1. Vatican skip the line tickets

Vatican skip the line

The skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museum are the most popular among visitors. 

The Vatican Museums skip the line tickets ticket grants access to the museum entrance directly without standing in long queues outside the museum. 

This is one of the most popular tickets to the Vatican.

2. Last-minute Vatican tickets

Last time Vatican

Last-minute tickets to the Vatican are one of the most essential and life-saving tickets. 

Considering the possibility that you forget to book your Vatican tickets online, and now at the entrance, you see a long queue that will waste hours. 

In that case, the Vatican last-minute tickets are the best option.

3. Early Access Vatican Tickets

Early Access Vatican

As the name suggests, the Vatican early access tickets allow visitors to see the museum before it opens to the general public. 

Enjoying early access to the museums, visitors can see the exhibits in a less crowded environment.

If you want a premium experience you should go for early access tickets.

4. Guided Vatican tour

Guided Vatican tour

Guided tour of the Vatican helps visitors to get a more defined and detailed tour around the Vatican museum. 

With guided Vatican tours, a professional guide will lead your tour, explaining and giving detailed information about every artifact in the exhibition.

This is one of the most detailed way of exploring the museums.

5. Vatican Night Tour

Vatican Night

Get to see the beauty of Vatican City after the evening hours of the day, right around the time when sun sets. 

The Vatican at night is certainly a view that one would remember for a lifetime. 

Though the Vatican City Night Tour is a bit expensive compared to the standard entry tickets, the Vatican night view makes it worth .

6. Private Vatican Tour

Private Vatican Tour

Private Vatican tour tickets are the best option if you travel in a group with your family or friends. 

With a private tour, you will have a professional guide assigned to your group only.

This will give you enough time with your tour guide to ask questions. 

7. VIP Vatican Tickets

VIP Vatican Tickets

The VIP tickets to the Vatican give you a more defined and premium experience of the Vatican tour. 

With the luxury of a private art-historian guide, explore the best parts of the Vatican Museum.

This is such experience that you won’t be able to get with regular Vatican Tickets.

Why Book Vatican Tickets online?

On average, about 25,000 tourists visit the Vatican Museum daily. 

So, it’s pretty hard to get your hands on Vatican museum tickets, as they must accommodate such a huge crowd daily. 

Visitors can buy Vatican tickets both online and offline. However, Buying tickets online has several benefits that you won’t be getting at the offline ticket counter. 

  1. Vatican Tickets available online are much cheaper than the tickets at the offline ticket counter. 
  2. Buying tickets online will save you from the hassle of standing in long queues outside the ticket office at the venue. 
  3. If you buy your tickets online, you will save a lot of money and time. 
  4. For an online ticket, you won’t need to get a printout of the ticket. You can show your ticket directly from your phone and walk straight into the entrance. 
  5. Booking tickets online will save you from any last-moment disappointments. 

How to buy Vatican Tickets online?

A lot of visitors to the Vatican Museum always come across the same doubt, saying, “How to book Vatican tickets Online”?

So, if you are also looking for a reliable answer to this question, we have got you covered. 

Just follow the steps below and you will have the answer to “how to get Vatican tickets” online:

  1. To get directed to the ticket booking website, Click Here
  2. After you land on the ticket booking page, you will find a lot of tickets to the Vatican listed on that page. 
  3. Now, select the ticket that suits you the best and click on it. 
  4. On the ticket page, you will have to select the number of participants and the visit date. 

As the Vatican Tickets are timed tickets, you will also have to choose your preferred time slot.

  1. After you are done with the time and date selections, you will have to make the payment for the tickets. 
  2. Once you pay for the tickets, you will get the tickets emailed to your registered email address. 
  3. You can show these Vatican Tickets at the museum’s entrance and walk straight into the attraction. No need to take printouts. 

Popular Vatican Tickets

In order to make the ticket selection a lot simpler and better, we have shortlisted some of the most popular Vatican tickets from the vast list of options available. 

These tickets will help you have a much more peaceful and personalized experience of the Vatican visit. 

Ticket categoryTicket PricesTickets
Vatican Entrance Ticket€27Buy This Ticket
Last-minute Vatican tickets€32Buy This Ticket
Early Access Vatican Tickets€ 95Buy This Ticket
Guided Vatican tour€ 72Buy This Ticket
Vatican Night Tour€ 71Buy This Ticket
Private Vatican Tour€ 350Buy This Ticket
VIP Vatican Tickets€ 565Buy This Ticket

Tips for Vatican Museum Queues

In total, one can spot three queues outside the Vatican Museum.

Most visitors tend to get confused when finding the right queue to stand in, which leads to long waits to purchase the tickets for the Vatican.

But don’t worry, as we are here to tell you everything you need to know about the three types of lines you’ll find at the Vatican Museum entrance.

Line 1: For tourists with no tickets 

If you haven’t booked your Vatican Museum tickets before visiting the attraction, you should expect long queues at the Museum’s entrance. 

You might end up waiting an hour or two to access the ticket counter. 

How far this line goes depends on the season and time of the day you visit the museum. 

During the peak seasons, the line can go as far as 0.3 miles (500 meters) long.

But wait, we have a solution for your last-minute problem because the Vatican museum does offer last-minute Vatican museum tickets.

Line 2: For tourists with online tickets 

Line 2 For tourists with online tickets
Image: Viator.com

Line 2 is for visitors who have their Vatican Museum Tickets booked in advance to get a quick entry to the museum. 

You will find a yellow sign board (written ‘Visitors entrance with online reservations’) near the entrance where you can stand with your online tickets and immediately access the museum.

Standing in long lines with children and elders can be challenging, especially in the summer. 

This is why we always recommend booking your Vaticano tickets online in advance to avoid any inconvenience. 

It’s best to save energy and watch all exhibits at your own pace. 

Buying tickets online also lets you avail of Vatican Museum ticket discounts.

Line 3: For tourists with guided tour tickets

The third line outside the Vatican Museum is dedicated to visitors having a ticket for a guided tour of the Vatican.

This line clears very fast, you only need to meet your guide and the group at a specific meeting point. 

As soon as all the group members arrive, your guide gives you markers (similar colored pins, etc.) for identification and briefs you about the tour. 

And that’s all! You are good to go inside the museum through the fastest-moving third line. 

FAQs

1. Is the Vatican Museum free to enter?

No, Admission to the Vatican Museums requires Vatican Museum Tickets. 

However, one can enjoy a free entry every last Sunday of the month between 9 am to 2 pm, except on Easter Sunday, the 29 June (St. Peter and Paul Day), 25 December (Christmas), and 26 December (St. Stephen Day).

2. Is there any discount available on Vatican museum tickets

Tickets are free for infants up to 5 years old. Students aged 19 to 25 years with valid IDs get a discount of 8 euros on their skip-the-line Vatican tickets.

3. What is the difference between a private and a small group tour?

Depending on the ticket type, the total number of visitors in a group is decided. 

For example, if you’re entering with VIP Vatican tour tickets, only two individuals would get access to the museum.

However, If you’re joining with a guided skip-the-line tour ticket, the group size is about 30 people. 

The guided Vatican tour tickets also involve 30 members in a group.

4. Can you buy Vatican museum tickets at the venue?

Yes, you can buy Vatican museum tickets from the offline Vatican ticket counter. 

However, you’ll have to bear at least one to two hours of waiting time to get your tickets. 

Outside the entrance, you will find three queues; deciding which one to stand in might confuse you.

Therefore we always recommend that visitors get their Skip-the-Line Vatican tickets and enjoy direct access to the museum.

Or you can always go for the last-minute Vatican tickets online. 

5. Does the Vatican Museum come with a combined virtual tour ticket?

No, virtual Vatican tours are not added to the tickets you buy online or from the offline ticket counters. 

But you can always visit it online and enjoy the scenarios inside the museum.

6. How long does it take to tour St. Peter Basilica, and what are its dome hours?

Exploring St. Peter Basilica takes around two hours. 

If you plan to watch the magnificence of its dome, set aside one more hour.

St. Peter’s Basilica’s Dome is open from 7.30 am to 5 pm.

7. Are tickets to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel combined?

Yes, the Sistine Chapel is included in the Vatican Museums tickets.
 
The visitors can buy Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets and get access to the Vatican Museum as well as Sistine Chapel.

8. Is access to St. Peter Basilica included in the Vatican Museums’ ticket?

No, access to the St. Peter Basilica is not included in the general admission tickets for Vatican Museums.

However, You can book a guided tour of the Vatican, allowing access to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel as well as St. Peter’s Basilica. 

9. How much does it cost to go Vatican?

The Tickets to the Vatican start at €29 ($32). The general admission ticket is the basic ticket that allows you to enter the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel.

10. Do you have to buy tickets to the Vatican ahead of time?

It’s not mandatory to buy a ticket in advance for the Vatican. However, as Vatican tickets sell quickly, we suggest you buy your tickets to the Vatican ahead of time.

11. Do I need to buy tickets to the Vatican Museum?

Yes, If you wish to enter the Vatican Museum and explore the exhibitions, You must have an entry ticket to the Vatican Museum.

12. Can you buy Vatican Museum tickets at the door?

Yes, ticket counters are available outside the Vatican Museum, where you can buy tickets.
However, the tickets available at the venue sell quickly, so if you want to avoid any last-moment disappointments, we suggest you buy your tickets online in advance.

13. What is the best way to buy tickets to the Vatican?

The best way to buy tickets for Vatican is to buy them online. Click here to Buy Your Vatican Tickets.

14. Where should you buy Vatican tickets?

You should buy Vatican tickets online. It comes with different discount offers and is much cheaper than the tickets available at the venue.

15. Is St Peter’s Basilica free?

Yes, one can visit St. Peter’s Basilica for free. However, for a free entrance, brace yourself to face a huge crowd and a long waiting queue that can take up to 2 hours.
The best way to explore St. Peter’s Basilica is to buy a Guided tour ticket. With this ticket, you can even visit different parts of Basilica that are not accessible with free entry.

16. Does a Vatican Museum ticket include the Sistine Chapel?

Yes, the Vatican Museum standard entry ticket includes access to Sistine Chapel as well.

17. Do you have to pay to see the Sistine Chapel?

Yes, you need to pay for a Vatican entrance ticket to see the Sistine Chapel.

18. What can you do at the Vatican without a ticket?

Even without a ticket, you can visit some of the major landmarks of the Vatican, such as St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square.

19. How far in advance can you buy tickets to the Vatican?

Vatican tickets are available for purchase until the end of the year.

For instance, for Visitors planning to visit the Vatican in 2023, the tickets are available until December 31, 2023.

If you plan to visit the Vatican in 2024, the tickets will be available from January 2024.

20. What can you see for free in Vatican?

You can see St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square for free in Vatican City.
However, if you wish to explore Vatican Museum or Sistine Chapel, you must buy a Vatican Museum entry ticket.

21. How can I visit the Vatican Museum for free?

One can visit the Vatican Museum for free every last Sunday of the month from 9 am to 2 pm.

Featured Image: Fokke Baarssen