Vatican Museums: Everything You Need to Know + Admission and What to See

The Vatican Museums are one of the largest and most famous museums in the world, attracting millions of visitors annually. So, if you’re planning to visit Rome, then the Vatican and its museums are an absolute must for your itinerary. In this article, you’ll find a complete guide on how to plan your visit to the Vatican Museums, what to see, and how much admission costs.

When to Visit the Vatican Museums + Tips for Avoiding Queues

The best time to visit the Vatican Museums is first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon, when the Vatican is less crowded. If possible, avoid visiting during the peak tourist season, which lasts from June to September, when there are long queues and the museums are overcrowded in the Vatican.

If you can, try to visit the museum outside of the weekend – Wednesdays or Thursdays tend to be less busy. It’s also important to purchase tickets online in advance to avoid queues.

Also, keep in mind that these are huge complexes that take several hours to explore (at least 3 to 4 hours). Therefore, I recommend planning your museum visit for when you still have enough energy, and not after a full day of wandering around Rome.

Tip: Like us, buy your tickets online via GetYourGuide and you won’t have to queue.

You might also be interested in: Basic Information about the Vatican

Where to Stay

If you’re also heading to Rome, we recommend staying in the city center, ideally near the main train station or one of the airport bus stops. Rome is an ideal city for exploring on foot, and if you’re not limited by small children or sore knees, it’s worth using public transport here and there.

We opted for accommodation at Residenza Cavallini, which is just a few minutes from the airport bus stop. Great location – close to the Vatican and the Trevi Fountain.

The room was smaller, but clean, and the price included breakfast at a nearby cafe, where we could enjoy a fresh croissant, toast, and excellent cappuccino. What more could you wish for to start the day?

Read also: 27 places to see in Rome

How to get to the Vatican

You can get to the Vatican in several ways. If you’re in the center of Rome, the easiest way is on foot.

However, if you need to use public transport, the nearest metro station is Ottaviano-San Pietro (Line A). Another option is the bus – lines 40 and 64 go directly to the Vatican. For those who prefer a taxi, the Vatican is easily accessible from most parts of the city.

Vatican Museums: Basic Information

The Vatican Museums boast one of the richest art collections in the world. The museums were founded in 1506 by Pope Julius II. Since then, the collections have continuously expanded and today include over 70,000 works of art, with about 20,000 of them on display here.

The Vatican Museums comprise a complex of several museums and galleries, primarily founded in the 18th century. The tour route also includes several chapels, a library, and ancient papal apartments. Exploring these extensive collections can take you more than three hours.

Here you will see not only ancient Roman and Greek sculptures but also Renaissance paintings, including masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, and Caravaggio.

TIP: The Colosseum in Rome

Vatican Museums: Admission and Opening Hours

Tickets for the Vatican Museums can be purchased online on the official website or on-site (which is cheaper, but you might not get in), but I recommend purchasing them online in advance to avoid the long queues the Vatican is famous for.

If you want to skip the queue, buy a ticket on the GetYourGuide portal, where you’ll also find the option for guided entry.

Keep in mind that tickets need to be purchased well in advance, as they often sell out.

The Vatican Museums are open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with the last entry at 4:00 PM. Entry is free every last Sunday of the month, but expect huge crowds.

The admission price for the Vatican Museums, including entry to the Sistine Chapel, is 25 euros for an adult without a guide (on-site prices are without the service fee, which is 5 euros), reduced admission for children or students is then 13 euros. Children under 6 and disabled persons with over 74% disability have free entry.

Also, keep an eye on the days when the Vatican Museums are closed. These include Sundays that are not the last of the month, and Catholic holidays:

• January 1st for New Year’s Day,
• January 6th for Epiphany,
• March 31st and April 1st for Easter,
• May 1st for Labor Day,
• June 29th for the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul,
• 14. and August 15th for the Feast of the Assumption of Mary,
• November 1st for All Saints’ Day,
• 25. and December 26th for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

Vatican Museums: 37 Tips on What to See

The Vatican Museums include several galleries, chapels, and palaces. In total, this complex covers more than 7 kilometers of exhibition routes. Allocate at least 3 to 4 hours for it, but you can easily spend an entire day here.

So, let’s take a look at what you definitely shouldn’t miss in the Vatican Museums.

Egyptian Museum

If ancient civilizations fascinate you, the Egyptian Museum will thrill you. Here you’ll find collections of mummies, sarcophagi, statues of gods, and vessels from ancient Egypt. TIP: The room with mummified animals is absolutely unique.

Etruscan Museum

The Etruscan Museum will transport you to the world of the mysterious Etruscan civilization, which preceded the Roman Empire. The collection includes vessels, jewelry, and sculptures. You can notice the details on Etruscan pottery, which speak to their advanced craftsmanship.

Cortile Del Belvedere and Cortile Della Pigna

This courtyard originally connected the Vatican Palace with the Belvedere Villa, which Pope Innocent VIII had built. Although Bramante did not complete the courtyard, his original plan was later slightly modified. During the time of Pope Sixtus V, the courtyard was divided into two parts – Cortile del Belvedere and Cortile della Pigna.

The Cortile della Pigna is dominated by a huge bronze pinecone, symbolizing eternal life. Take a moment to relax here and enjoy the view of the Vatican Gardens.

Chiaramonti Museum

In this museum, you’ll find endless rows of ancient sculptures. It is literally a paradise for lovers of classical sculpture. I recommend examining the sculptures carefully, as their details are truly fascinating.

Among the most significant are, for example, the Statue of Hercules with the infant Telephus, dating from the 2nd century AD, or Gradiva, a relief of a woman from a composition of three figures called the Horae.

The last part of the museum is the Galleria Lapidaria, which houses funerary monuments and stone tablets with inscriptions, accessible only upon request.

Pio-Clementine Museum

The largest museum in the entire Vatican complex is the Pio-Clementine Museum. This museum focuses on ancient sculpture and contains famous Roman copies of Greek originals. Here you’ll find, for example, the famous Laocoön statue.

Cabinet of Apoxyomenos

In the Cabinet of Apoxyomenos, you can admire one of the most famous ancient sculptures, the Apoxyomenos, depicted cleaning himself after an athletic contest.

Cortile Ottagono

This courtyard is a central point of the Vatican Museums and is home to famous ancient sculptures, including the Apollo Belvedere. TIP: Take a break here; you can sit for a while.

Hall of Animals

Animal lovers will be thrilled by the Hall of Animals, where you’ll find collections of marble animal sculptures from the ancient period. It’s essentially a “stone zoo” that both children and adults will appreciate.

Gallery of Statues and Hall of Busts

The Gallery of Statues and the Hall of Busts contain dozens of portraits of Roman emperors and important figures. Examine the details on the busts – every fold of clothing or facial expression tells a story.

Cabinet of Masks

The Cabinet of Masks houses fascinating mosaics and ancient decorations. Among the exhibited works are several statues of women, such as the marble statue of the Cnidian Aphrodite. However, the Cabinet of Masks is not generally accessible to visitors.

Hall of the Muses

The Hall of the Muses will transport you to the world of ancient mythology. Here you’ll find statues from the Hadrianic period discovered in Cassius’s Villa in Tivoli. The most famous artwork from this hall is the Belvedere Torso, an original by the Greek sculptor Apollonius from the 1st century BC. TIP: Interestingly, the walls in this hall are painted in Pompeian red, intended to serve as a backdrop for the sculptures.

Round Hall (Rotunda)

The Round Hall is a vast space inspired by the 18th-century Pantheon, featuring magnificent floor mosaics and monumental sculptures along its perimeter. In the center of the room is a large basin, 13 meters in diameter, made of red porphyry, which comes from Nero’s Golden House.

Greek Cross Hall

This hall is home to magnificent mosaics and sarcophagi made of red porphyry. Don’t forget to examine the mosaics on the floor. The first mosaic depicts the head of Athena and dates from the 1st century AD, while the second mosaic depicts Bacchus and dates from the 3rd century AD.

Hall of the Chariot

In this hall, you can view sculptures and sarcophagi with athletic themes, such as chariot races, discus throwing, or wrestling. You’ll also find an ancient Roman chariot here, which was part of the funerary rituals of Roman emperors.

Gallery of the Candelabra

The Gallery of the Candelabra got its name from the marble candelabra from the 2nd century AD displayed here. This part of the museum is less known but definitely worth a visit.

Gallery of Tapestries

In this gallery, you can admire magnificent tapestries with biblical and mythological scenes. Tip: Stop by the tapestries depicting the life of Jesus Christ; their details are breathtaking.

Gallery of Maps

The Gallery of Maps is one of the most popular places in the Vatican. The walls are covered with maps of Italy and its regions from the 16th century. The gallery ceiling is adorned with magnificent frescoes.

Sobieski Room and Room of the Immaculate Conception

These halls are filled with monumental paintings, including the famous Battle of Vienna depicting the victory of John III Sobieski. In the Room of the Immaculate Conception, you can view gifts from kings and bishops to Pope Pius IX on the occasion of the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.

Raphael Rooms

The Raphael Rooms are four rooms that are one of the highlights of the Vatican Museums. These rooms were part of Pope Julius II’s apartment. You’ll find beautiful frescoes, such as The School of Athens, which are among the most famous works of Western art. Tip: Arrive early to avoid the crowds and enjoy the frescoes in peace.

The School of Athens

Hall of Chiaroscuri

The Hall of Chiaroscuri (Sala Dei Chiaroscuri) is Located near the Raphael Rooms Complex. This Room Was Originally Inhabited by the So-Called Cubicularii, who Were Guardians of the Bedroom. The Hall also Served as a Space for Consistory Meetings. It is Sometimes Called the Sala Del Pappagallo Due to a Parrot once Kept Here. This Fact is Commemorated by a Painting of Two Parrots, Attributed to Giovanni Da Udine.

Niccoline Chapel

In the Oldest Part of the Vatican Palace, You’ll Find the Niccoline Chapel. In this Chapel, You’ll Discover Beautiful Frescoes by Fra Angelico. However, the Niccoline Chapel is not Included in the Vatican Museums’ Visitor Route and Can Only be Visited with a Guide.

Raphael’s Loggia

Raphael’s Loggia

Chapel of Urban VIII

The Chapel of Urban VIII is Located in the Southwest Corner of the Borgo Tower. Although Smaller, it Contains Magnificent Baroque Decorations and Frescoes.

Borgia Apartment

This Apartment is Full of Frescoes Depicting both Religious and Secular Motifs. It Was Built for Pope Alexander VI, one of the most Controversial Popes. The Apartment Has Six Rooms that Were Decorated and Renovated for the Pope’s Needs.

Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art

The Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art is Housed in 36 Halls, Currently Comprising 8,000 Works (from the Late 19th Century to the 21st Century) and Distributed throughout Various Parts of the Vatican Museums.

Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Chapel of Saint Peter Martyr The Chapel of Saint Peter Martyr is a lesser-known but more intimate part of the Vatican Museums. This chapel is dedicated to Saint Peter of Verona, who was a Dominican martyr in the 13th

Statue of St. Peter Martyr

Aldobrandini Wedding Hall

The Aldobrandini Wedding Hall is a Room with Frescoes Depicting an Ancient Wedding Ceremony. The Frescoes are Incredibly Detailed and Speak to Roman Customs and Traditions.

Christian Museum

The Christian Museum Focuses on Early Christian Art and Includes Collections from the 3rd Century AD. Here You’ll Find Magnificent Mosaics, Sarcophagi, and Liturgical Objects that Illustrate the Rise of Christianity in the Roman Empire.

Museums of the Vatican Library

The Vatican Library Museums are Home to some of the World’s most Valuable Manuscripts and Books. They Include Medieval Manuscripts, Maps, and other Literary Treasures. The Vatican Library is one of the Oldest and Largest in the World.

Secular Museum

The Secular Museum Offers a Glimpse into Art from the pre-Christian Era, Including Greek, Roman, and Etruscan Artifacts. Here You’ll Find Sculptures, Pottery, and Mosaics that Illustrate the Pagan World of Ancient Europe.

Gregorian Profane Museum

The Gregorian Profane Museum Focuses on Ancient Roman and Greek Sculptures and Artifacts. It Was Founded by Pope Gregory XVI and Represents one of the most Significant Collections of Ancient Artworks.

Vatican Pinacoteca

Vatican Pinacoteca

Philatelic and Numismatic Museum

This Museum is a Paradise for Stamp and Coin Lovers. Here You’ll Find Unique Collections of Vatican Coins, Medals, and Postage Stamps. TIP: Don’t Forget to Check out some of the First Postage Stamps Issued by the Vatican, which are Rare and Highly Valued.

Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum

The Anima Mundi Ethnological Museum is a Fascinating Collection of Art and Artifacts from Various Cultures around the World. Here You’ll Find Objects from Africa, Asia, America, and Oceania.

The Carriage Pavilion showcases vehicles used by popes throughout various historical periods. Here you will find magnificent carriages, coaches, and modern popemobiles.

Bramante Staircase

The Bramante Staircase is one of the architectural gems of the Vatican Museums. This spiral staircase, designed by Donato Bramante in the 16th century, is truly magnificent. TIP: Take a nice photo here at the end of your visit.

What to Wear for your Vatican Visit

When planning your visit to the Vatican, keep in mind that it is a religious site with a strict dress code. The main rule is that shoulders and knees must be covered, meaning short skirts, shorts, or tank tops are not allowed.

Do not wear see-through clothing, deep necklines, or exposed backs. Hats and caps must also be removed.

If you are unsure what to wear, bring a light scarf or cardigan so you can easily cover yourself.

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