Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) – Tickets and Guide
Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) – Tickets and Guide
Tourist Information for the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) in Rome
The Vatican Museums are a group of 26 museums that house an impressive collection of art, sculptures and artefacts, spanning from the ancient Egypt to the Renaissance period.
Undoubtedly they are most famous for housing the work of great artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci.
The Vatican Museums, particularly the Sistine Chapel and the Raphael Rooms, are considered among the top attractions in Rome, attracting millions of visitors every year.
In this article you will find everything you need to know to plan your visit.
The Vatican Museums in Rome – General Information |
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Location |
00120 Vatican City |
Opening Times |
Monday to Saturday: 8:00AM – 7:00PM (last entry 5:00PM). From 1st March – Friday and Saturday: 08:00AM – 8:00PM (last entry 6:00PM). Last Sunday of the month: 09:00AM – 2:00PM (last entry 12:30PM). Closed on Sundays (except last Sunday of the month) and 1st and 6th January, 19th March, 1st April, 1st May, 29th June, 14th and 15th August, 1st November, 25th and 26th December. |
Entry and Tickets |
Entry tickets without an audio guide can be purchased at the entrance or on museivaticani.va. There is usually a lot more availability on any of the official partners » book a Skip-the-Line Entry Ticket or a Guided Tour. |
Table of Contents
Visiting the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) Rome
There is only one entrance to the Vatican Museums, but there are two separate waiting areas: one in front of the main door, reserved for visitors with pre-booked tickets, and another that extends around the museum building for visitors purchasing tickets on the spot. Please note that the latter can take several hours.
It is currently estimated that 25000 people visit the Vatican Museums every day so it is highly advisable to make online reservations in advance and bypass the extremely lengthy queues.
Once inside, visitors go through a security check with a metal detector, so I would recommend visiting the Vatican Museums as light as possible.
I would say you need at least 3 hours to explore the Vatican Museums. If I visited again, I would definitely do it with a guided tour – the amount of rooms and pieces of art to look at can be a bit overwhelming if you don’t have the insights from a knowledgeable expert.
Don’t worry if you are planning to stay longer as the Vatican Museums have toilet and café facilities.
Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) Tickets and Tours |
Please note that the best way to skip the long queues is booking a fast track access ticket online or to book a guided tour. Here are some of my top recommendations:
Fast-Track Entry TicketsPro Tip » If you are also planning to visit other landmarks, such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon or the Borghese Gallery, you may want to consider booking the Rome Tourist Card which includes the Vatican Museums and St.Peter’s Basilica, to save some time and money. BUY ROME TOURIST CARDIf you are planning your trip around the Vatican City only, I recommend you booking The Vatican City Pass as it includes all of its famous landmarks. BUY THE VATICAN CITY PASSFor more information, check my Rome City Passes page. |
What to see at the Vatican Museum Rome
Here is a list of what you can’t miss during your visit to Vatican Museums:
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel, or Capella Sistina in Italian, is one of the most important attractions in the Vatican Museums and in Rome in general.
These impressive frescoes painted by Michelangelo showcase moments from the Book of Genesis, including the ‘Creation of Adam‘, where God’s and Adam’s hands are nearly touching each other. Behind the altar wall, you can find the fresco ‘The Last Judgement‘, showcasing the final judgment of souls by God.
It is still today a place of worship and celebration of important religious events such as the conclaves (papal elections).
Gallery of Maps
Personally, one of my favourite rooms in the Museums is the Gallery of Maps, also known as Galleria delle Carte Geografiche in Italian. This impressive 120-metre corridor contains a series of Italian topographical maps.
Designed by Ignazio Danti in the 16th century and executed by his team, its purpose was to decorate the corridor leading from Raphael Rooms to the Sistine Chapel.
Raphael Rooms
Also known as the Stanze di Raffaello in Italian, the Raphael Rooms are a suite of four rooms commissioned by Pope Julius II to serve as the papal apartments.
Painted by the great artist Raphael and his workshop, they are now a significant attraction in the Vatican Museums.
Pio-Clementine Museum
It is one of the most important and extensive collections within the Vatican Museums. The collection was initially created to house and display ancient Greek and Roman sculptures.
You will find the famous Laocoön and Apollo Belvedere, as well as many other classical sculptures.
Gregorian Egyptian and Gregorian Etruscan Museums
These museums were established to house and display extensive collections of artefacts from ancient Egyptian and Etruscan civilizations. Highlights include sarcophagi, mummies, and papyri from the Egyptian collection, as well as vases, pottery, and jewelry from the Etruscan collection.
Vatican Art Gallery
The Vatican Art Gallery, or Pinacoteca Vaticana in Italian, was designed to preserve and showcase the vast collection of paintings owned by the popes over the centuries.
It comprises 18 rooms and includes works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Leonardo da Vinci, among others, arranged chronologically.
The Spiral Staircase
Designed by Giuseppe Momo, the Scala della Biblioteca is renowned for its aesthetic beauty. It provides an elegant and functional way to connect different floors and is undoubtedly a highlight of the Vatican Museums.
Location of the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and How to Get There
The Vatican Museums are easily accessible by public transport. You can use any of the options below:
- Metro: Line A (stop Ottaviano-San Pietro). It’s about 10 mins walk from there.
- Bus: Lines 40, 64, 62, or 81.
For detailed information about public transport prices and travel passes check out my Rome transport page.
You will also be able to visit the Vatican Museums if you have decided to book a Hop-on Hop-off bus in Rome as there is a stop nearby.
FAQs
Is there a dress-code to visit the Vatican Museums?
Yes, shoulders and knees should be covered to be granted entrance. Flip-flops aren’t allowed.
Can you take photos in the Vatican Museums?
You can take photos without a flash in the Vatican Museums, except in the Sistine Chapel, where photography is completely prohibited.
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