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.
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 a Vatican ticket.
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 Museum is priced at US$ 28 for adults.
There are a lot of Vatican Museum tickets available that 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.
Type of Vatican Tickets
Skip the line Vatican tickets are the cheapest and the most popular Vatican ticket to get access to 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 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.
To enjoy a seamless city exploration, one must know the essential details and inclusions of these tickets.
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.
Vatican skip the line tickets
The skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican museum are the most popular tickets among tourist.
This ticket allows visitors to access the museum entrance directly without standing in long queues outside the museum.
Last-minute Vatican tickets
Last-minute tickets to the Vatican are one of the most essential and life-saving tickets.
Consider the possibility that you are at the Vatican without any tickets. At the entrance, you see a long queue that will waste hours of your precious time.
In that case, the last minute Vatican Museum tickets are the best option.
Early Access Vatican Tickets
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.
Guided Vatican tour
A Guided tour of the Vatican helps visitors get a more defined and detailed tour of the museum.
With guided Vatican tours, a professional guide will lead your tour, explaining and giving detailed information about every artifact in the exhibition.
Vatican Night Tour
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 every penny.
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, giving you enough time with your tour guide to ask questions.
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 that you won’t be able to visit with a regular Vatican Ticket.
Why are online tickets better?
On average, about 25,000 tourists visit this attraction daily.
When you buy online tickets, you won’t have to wait in a long queue under the scorching sun outside the Vatican Museum ticket counter.
Booking the Vatican museum tickets online is generally cheaper than buying tickets from offline counters.
Also, Vatican museums skip the line tickets get sold out fast offline on a first-come, first-get basis.
Therefore, we recommend that visitors buy tickets for Vatican in advance to avoid any last-minute disappointments.
Purchasing an online ticket helps you save both time and money.
How to buy tickets to the Vatican and how do they work?
There are many visitors, who struggle with questions like, ‘where to buy tickets for Vatican” or “how to buy tickets for the Vatican”?
So if you also have any questions related to “how to get Vatican tickets”, we are here to help you find the answer.
It is very easy and convenient to book Vatican tickets in advance.
Just follow the steps mentioned below, and make your way into the Vatican Museum.
- Click here, and you will get directed to a page that lists the different types of Vatican Museum tickets.
- Choose the ticket that suits you best from a wide list of Vatican Tour Tickets.
- Now, you need to select your preferred day and time of visit while buying tickets to the Vatican.
- Once you are done with deciding the day and time, move to the payment gateway.
- After you are done with the payment process, you will instantly get the Vatican Museum ticket confirmation at your email address.
- No need to take printouts.
- Just show the ticket on your mobile, at the entrance, and enter.
These tickets help you escape the hassle of long lines outside the museum entrance which is why they are also known as skip the line Vatican tickets.
Make sure to arrive 15 minutes earlier than your allotted time for entry.
Popular Vatican Tickets
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 Category | Ticket Prices | Tickets |
|---|---|---|
| Vatican Entrance Ticket | € 27 | Buy This Ticket |
| Last-minute Vatican ticket | € 33 | Buy This Ticket |
| Early Access Vatican Tickets | € 95 | Buy This Ticket |
| Guided Vatican tour | € 65 | Buy This Ticket |
| Private Vatican Tour | € 270 | Buy This Ticket |
| VIP Vatican Tickets | € 565 | Buy This Ticket |
How to avoid the Vatican Museum’s long queue?
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 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 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 of your visit.
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 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.
That’s 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 with 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.
Best time to visit Vatican
The historical and architectural beauty of the Vatican City and the Vatican Museums remain preserved and unmatched throughout the year.
No matter the time of visit, this sacred ground’s precious heritage is genuinely remarkable and worth a visit.
So, the best time to visit the Vatican Museum can be categorized based on different factors.
Best month to visit the Vatican museum
The best time to visit the Vatican is during the low season, starting from November to the end of February, followed by the shoulder month of March.
During the low season, the place tends to receive less crowd.
Planning a visit between November and March will help you have a more refined experience of the Vatican tour.
You will be able to appreciate the beauty of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica at your own good pace and in a less crowded environment.
From April, the peak season begins. The city tends to get crowded. So if you want to avoid crowds, skip the peak season.
Though the months between November to March are the low tourist season for the Vatican, Christmas and New Year week are exceptions.
The Vatican welcomes a lot of visitors during Christmas and New Year.
Best day to visit Vatican Museum
The best day to visit the Vatican depends on the priorities of a particular visitor.
If you wish to visit the Vatican for the Pope’s audience, plan your trip on Wednesday.
Papal Audiences are held every Wednesday, with the presence of the holy Pope at St. Peter Square, which can fit around 10,000 pilgrims.
If you plan to be a part of the papal audience and have the holy chance of praying with the pope, then Wednesday is the best day to visit the Vatican.
However, Wednesdays are pretty crowded as most of the visitors wish to attend the audience with the pope.
Conclusion
The Vatican attracts a lot of crowds during its peak season, between April to October.
While the period between November to February is the low visiting season for the Vatican museum.
However, Days like Christmas eve, Christmas day, and New year’s are exceptions during the high season and receive a huge crowd.
So if you wish to enjoy your tour around the Vatican Museum in a less crowded environment, plan your trip between November to February.
It is best to avoid Mondays, Saturdays, and public holidays as these are the most crowded days at the Vatican Museum.
Morning hours are usually crowded at the Vatican Museum as most visitors come in early to beat the crowds, but that eventually works against them.
So, the best time to visit the Vatican museum is in the afternoon, when most of the crowd leaves.
If you haven’t booked your Vatican Museum Tickets online, you might spend more than 45 minutes standing in long queues at the ticket counter.
This waiting can extend to 60 or 90 minutes during peak season. We recommend you plan your tour in advance and book the Vatican museum tickets online.
Filled with some of the widest collections of art and artifacts throughout Italian and Catholic Church history. Could spend days walking around Vatican Museum.
Jonathancchan, TripAdvisor
How long does the Vatican take?
The Vatican has two major factors which decide the time it takes to tour the museum.
Where do you buy your Vatican tickets from?
If you have already purchased the Vatican tickets in advance, you won’t have to wait in long lines at the ticket counter and enjoy direct entry to the museum.
However, If you haven’t booked your Vatican Museum Tickets online, you might end up wasting more than 45 minutes standing in long queues outside the ticket counter.
This waiting period can also get extended to 60 to 90 minutes during peak season.
So we recommend you plan your tour in advance and book the Vatican museum tickets online.
It will save you around two hours of waiting time outside of the museum
What do you want to see inside the Vatican Museum?
Vatican City is a city of art, culture, and great historical and religious significance.
Vatican City has four major attractions: the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s square.
Here’s a rough breakdown of how long the Vatican museum takes to explore the places-
| Attraction | Time it takes |
|---|---|
| Vatican Museums | 2 hours |
| Sistine Chapel | 30 minutes |
| St. Peter’s Square | 30 minutes |
| St. Peter Basilica | 1 hour |
How much time you will need to admire the beauty of these four attractions depends on the ticket you have chosen to start your tour.
Like, if you select a Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel ticket, you will have skip-the-line access to the mentioned attraction.
However, you can also save time with a guided tour of the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
These guided Vatican tour tickets allow you to have a thorough tour of the Vatican led by an expert guide.
FAQs
Q1. Is the Vatican Museum free to enter?
No, Admission to the Vatican Museum 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).
Q2. 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 and with a valid student ID get a discount of 8 euros on their skip the line Vatican tickets.
Q3. 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.
Q4. 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.
Q5. 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.
Q6. 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.
Q7. 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.
Q8. 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.
Q9. Do visitors have to buy separate tickets to visit the Vatican Gardens?
By buying tickets to the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel, you get indirect access to the gardens between them.
There are no separate tickets for it, but if you wish to start your tour journey by walking in the gardens, then you should start the tour with the gardens.
Q10. Is a printout of tickets to the Vatican Museum required?
No, a printout of the tickets is not required. You can present the email voucher and pass it through security at the Vatican Museum entry.
After clearing security, you must present your voucher once more to receive a physical ticket at a desk.
11. How much does it cost to enter the Vatican?
There are a lot of Vatican tickets available, with different prices, providing different experiences.
However, the standard Vatican entry ticket is priced at €27 for visitors between 19 to 99 years of age.
For visitors between 6 to 18 years of age, the entry ticket is available for €17, while infants aged 5 and younger do not require any ticket to visit Vatican.
12. What days is the Vatican free?
Vatican Entry is free every last Sunday of the month between 9 am to 2 pm. Except on Easter Sunday, the 29th of June (St. Peter and Paul day), the 25th of December (Christmas), and the 26th of December (St. Stephen Day).
13. Can you buy tickets to the Vatican on the day?
Yes, you can Buy Vatican Tickets on the same day you visit.
The Last Minute Vatican Tickets are the saver ones.
14. Do I need tickets to visit the Vatican?
To explore the art and history of the Vatican, one must have Vatican tickets.
There are a lot of Vatican Tickets available, providing access to the different attractions of the city.
For instance, with a standard Vatican ticket, you will be able to access the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. While the guided tour of Vatican will also get you entry into the st. Peter’s Basilica.
Featured Image: Fokke Baarssen