Vatican City 1-Day Itinerary: Covering all Attractions!

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on exploring Vatican City in a single day. 

This itinerary is carefully crafted to ensure visitors experience the most renowned attractions, from the spiritual grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica to the artistic masterpiece of the Sistine Chapel. 

Ideal for first-time visitors, this guide aims to provide a streamlined and enriching one-day itinerary of this iconic city-state, blending art, history, and spirituality into an unforgettable day-long adventure.

Planning your Vatican City One Day Itinerary

The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world,  spanning over a land area of 42 hectares (100 acres; 0.16 square miles) and a border with Italy of 3.2 km.

This small independent city-state is home to famous attractions like Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica, making it possible for visitors to explore the whole of Vatican City in just one day. 

Here is a detailed Vatican City 1-day itinerary with all the places to visit, the timings for the attractions, and every other information you will need on this one-day tour.

Breakfast in Rome

Before you begin exploring the Vatican City, we recommend having a hearty breakfast in Rome. 

The Vatican City has no food outlets besides the Vatican Museum cafeterias and restaurants. 

You can have a delicious meal from one of the best restaurants in Rome, so you have enough energy to explore the Vatican in a day!

Some of the best restaurants for breakfast in Rome are:

• Sciascia Caffè 1919, for the best eggs benedict, fresh fruit juices, and homemade potato chips! Open from 7 am to 9 pm. Get Directions.
• Homebaked, serving American-style French toast, pancakes, muffins, and more. Open from 8 am to 4 pm. Get Directions.
• Gran Caffè Borgo, for a delicious cup of coffee and some pastries to begin your day! Open from 6.30 am to 6 pm. Get Directions.
• Bar Latteria Giuliani serves delicious pizzas, sandwiches, doughnuts, and other breakfast goodies! Open from 7 am to 3 pm and 5.30 to 9 pm. Get Directions.

Most of these restaurants in Rome are closed on Sundays; hence, check their official websites before planning a breakfast visit.

Getting to Vatican City From Rome

Now that you have had breakfast in Rome, it’s time to head for the Vatican City to explore all its masterpieces in one day. 

The journey from Rome to Vatican City is quite straightforward, with several options available to suit your preferences. 

Whether you choose to take the metro, bus, or even walk, each mode of transport will offer a unique perspective of Rome as you make your way to the Vatican. 

Remember, Vatican City is a sovereign state within the city of Rome and requires no passport to enter. 

• By Bus:
  • Direct bus lines such as 40 and 64 from Termini Station will take you close to Vatican City. Get off at the “Piazza Pia” stop for the shortest walk to St. Peter’s Square.
  • Buses operate from early morning until midnight, offering frequent services.
• By Subway/Train:
  • Take the Metro Line A and alight at “Ottaviano – San Pietro – Musei Vaticani” station. It’s about a 10-minute walk from here to the Vatican Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica.
  • The Metro runs from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM on weekdays and until 1:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
• By Car:
  • Driving directly to Vatican City is not advisable due to limited parking and traffic restrictions. However, you can park in nearby areas in Rome and walk or take public transport to Vatican City.
  • Consider parking at Villa Borghese or along the Lungotevere, then use public transport or walk to reach your destination.

Upon reaching Vatican City, the majestic St. Peter’s Square will likely be your first sight, serving as the perfect starting point for your exploration. 

The impressive square, with its large obelisk and surrounding colonnades, prepares you for an amazing experience inside the sacred and historic walls of Vatican City.

Read How to Get to the Vatican for more detailed information.

Begin Your Day with the Pope at St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter’s Square stands at the Via Della Conciliazione entrance of the Vatican in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. 

The square can accommodate up to 300,000 people and is a famous spot to see the Pope every Wednesday at the Papal Audiences! 

Check out our article on the Vatican Papal Audience to know more about the events held on Wednesday and ways to book tickets if you plan to attend. 

You can also see the Pope at the Square on Sunday when he says the Angelus and gives a small sermon on the Gospel of the day. 

The piazza is decorated with an Egyptian obelisk at the center, which is 25 meters (83 feet) tall, with two beautiful Baroque-style fountains on either side. 

The square is shaped like an ellipse; you can see a clear view of the Basilica from here. 

The Square and Basilica are completely free to visit! We recommend arriving before 9 am, especially on Wednesdays, to enjoy a quiet experience of both attractions.

Visit St. Peter’s Basilica & the Papal Tombs first before entering the Vatican Museums 

Most visitors begin exploring the Vatican with the Museum, but we recommend you begin exploring from St. Peter’s Basilica instead.

This is because the Basilica opens early at 7 am and closes at 7 pm on all days of the week, while the Vatican Museum opens at 8 am Monday to Saturday. 

If you plan to explore Vatican City in one day, we suggest you arrive early at the Vatican City before 7 am and make your way into the Basilica right after it opens.

You can conclude your St. Peter’s Basilica tour in an hour and make it to the Vatican Museum at 8 am when it is least crowded. 

The Basilica is known worldwide for its captivating facade and dome, designed by Michelangelo and Carlo Maderno! 

It also has a beautiful nave, from where you can see the artistic ceiling frescos and marble columns holding the dome up. 

We recommend climbing the dome and seeing the beautiful early morning scenery of the quiet gardens and surrounding attractions. 

The Basilica is also known to be the resting place for St. Peter and many other Popes. 

Visitors can see the preserved bodies of Popes and learn more about the religion in the Papal Tombs under St. Peter’s Basilica. 

Here is a St. Peter’s Basilica combo ticket with a visit to the Papal Tombs and the Dome to save more money! 

Remember, if you choose to visit the dome and papal tombs at St. peter’s Basilica, it will take you almost 2 hours to complete your tour, and you will most likely enter the Vatican museums at 9 am, which is also the least crowded time. 

The Pope also says masses at the Basilica on Sundays, for which you will need tickets. Scroll to the next section ahead to find out how!

Explore History & Art at the Most Important Attraction in the Vatican: Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museum is the most famous attraction in the Vatican City, attracting over 5 million visitors every year. 

You can visit this Museum from 8 am to 7 pm, from Monday to Saturday, with the final entry being at 5 pm. 

The Museum has over 70,000 artworks on display, and you can see a variety of religious artwork, Greek and Roman artwork, maps, and more! 

There are around 26 museums in total, and if you plan to explore the city in a day, we recommend visiting the most important rooms. 

Visitors who want to save time and discover the best artworks when exploring the Vatican Museum should check out our “How to see the Vatican Museum in 2 hours” article! 

It is closed on Sundays, but if you are in the City on the last Sunday of the Month, you can explore the museum for free!

The Masterpieces by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is the crown jewel of the Vatican Museums and is an important site for holding the papal conclave, a ceremony to select the pope.

The main reason the Sistine Chapel is the most attractive room in the Vatican Museum is because of Michelangelo’s marvelous frescos on the ceiling. 

The ceiling has depictions of famous biblical figures, the most popular fresco being Creation of Adam. 

Don’t forget to look at the Last Judgment fresco on the Altar wall for a perfect depiction of the Second Coming by Michelangelo. 

Visitors who want to know about the famous works in the Sistine Chapel for a great visit should check out our “What to See in the Sistine Chapel” article! 

Sadly, photography is prohibited in the Sistine Chapel, but it gives you more time to observe tiny details. 

You can purchase your Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tickets from the entrance, but you might miss out because of the crowd. 

We recommend buying the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and Basilica combo tickets online to save money and avoid long queues!

A Quick Lunch in the Vatican

Now that you have finished exploring most Vatican attractions, why not sit down and have a lunch break? 

Don’t worry! You do not have to walk back outside the city for a delicious lunch.

Enjoy a meal from a variety of food options, including pizzas, sandwiches, and salads, and end with tasty desserts. 

The Vatican Museum’s Caffetteria Centrale, Pizzeria, and other Museum dining options are the only dining spots in the Vatican City. 

Remember not to exit the Vatican Museum after visiting the Sistine Chapel if you want to dine here, as you cannot enter the Cafeteria without a Vatican Museum ticket.

Most of these food outlets in the Vatican Museum are great relaxing spots and offer the best views of the Museum’s courtyards.

End your trip by Strolling in the Vatican City Gardens

Which could be a better place in the Vatican to walk off your meal than a fun exploration of the Vatican Gardens? 

The Vatican City Gardens occupy almost half the area of the Vatican City and offer the most beautiful views. 

You can enjoy exploring different prayer spots, discovering new plants, and watching other monuments hidden in the garden. 

The Vatican City Garden bus tour tickets allow you a comfortable experience, with an in-depth historical exploration of the garden by a professional tour guide! 

History buffs and nature lovers will love discovering hidden spots and looking for medicinal plants in the Vatican Gardens. 

If you have some time left over, we recommend walking along the streets of the Vatican and enjoying the sunset view behind St. Peter’s Basilica Dome.

How to Book St. Peter’s Basilica Mass Tickets?

As mentioned in the St. Peter’s Basilica section above, the Pope conducts mass on special feast Sundays at the Basilica.

To attend the St. Peter’s Basilica mass, you must send a letter to the Papal House Prefecture located at 00120 Vatican City State or a fax at +39 06 6988 5863. 

You must send this request six months in advance, as the Pope only says a few masses in the Basilica every year.

If you are lucky, you might find leftover tickets being given out at the Bronze door in front of the Basilica from 9 am to 7 pm some days before the mass. 

You must check the official website, as the timings and dates for distribution at the door change regularly.

Essentials for One Day Itinerary of Vatican City- Understanding the Dress Code & Insider Tips. 

Visitors are not allowed inside the Vatican City if they do not follow the strict dress code guidelines. 

If you plan to visit the city, do not wear clothes that expose your knees, stomach,  and shoulders. 

Visitors wearing sleeveless or off-the-shoulder clothing need to carry a shawl to cover themselves in the city. 

Women and men are not allowed to wear hats or caps when entering the Basilica and Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. 

Read Vatican Dress Code for detailed information on dressing guidelines.

Here are some helpful tips to ensure you have the best one-day experience at the Vatican:

• Book your Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica tickets in advance. You can avoid all crowds and explore for longer.
• Visit early in the morning to complete the itinerary in a day.
• Wear comfortable shoes, so you do not have to take too many breaks.
• Carry along a water bottle and a few snacks.
• Visit only the must-see areas in the Vatican Museum to save time.
• Photography is not allowed in the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Garden. You can click photographs in the Vatican Museum without using the flash.
• You can buy gifts and souvenirs from the Vatican Museum gift shop.
• Men and women should carry sunglasses and sunscreen for protection from the sun.

FAQs for Vatican City 1-Day Itinerary

Featured Image: Ágatha Depiné on Unsplash