The Sistine Chapel is one of the key sites of your visit to the Vatican City.

It is located inside the Vatican Museum’s complexes , so in order to visit it it is necessary to buy tickets and do almost the complete tour around the museums, as the Sistine Chapel stands at the  at the end of the walk.

Access is not possible from St Peter’s Basilica, and there is no way of visiting the Chapel without a tour to the Museums.

Pope Julius II was the pontiff who ordered Michelangelo to carry out the pictoric decoration of the Chapel. This Pope wanted the maximum glory for the Vatican and for himself.

What to see

The Chapel is not particularly big. In fact the ceiling is 40 meters long and 13 meters wide.

The iconography represented is very varied, showing for example images of the  Book of Genesis (with the world-famous picture of God touching Adam’s finger ).

You can also observe portraits of prophets, sibyls and scenes from the history of Israel.

In total there are more than 300 figures, many of which show two-dimension effects, taking advantage of the room’s architecture making up an artistically skilled work without precedents.

The works took 4 years to be completed.

Tips for your visit

– Some people feel disappointed due to the size of the room and its scarce illumination, which is kept as such to avoid the deterioration of the pictures.

– The enormous interest these frescos arise and the large amount of visitors they attract are a constant worry, to the point that it has been suggested that the Chapel should be closed to the public. We do not know if this is a medium-term option. Just in case, try to visit the chapel as soon as possible.

– During peak hours, many visitors are irritated when guards do not allow them to stop and they cannot enjoy the works of art as much as they would want to.
It is a real problem that occurs during very busy days, and we assume this is the best idea the organisers have come up with in order to guarantee everyone’s safety.
In any case, this does not always happen. On quieter days or hours there is no visit time limit.

– There is a direct access connecting the Sistine Chapel with St Peter’s Basilica, but this is only available if you are doing a guided tour.
If you visit the Museum on your own you cannot exit through that access, unless you want to slip through…

– If you have special interest in visiting the Sistine Chapel double check the times and dates it is open. There may be days when its doors are closed for some special reason, even when the rest of the museum is open.

Related links

Vatican museums private guided tour
Tips for visiting the Vatican Museums
Places to see in the Vatican

The Vatican Museums  are home to one of the most important collections of art and antiques and include the celebrated  Sistine Chapel, a masterpiece of humanity that you should see at least once in your life.

We talk about museums, plural, because what we visit today is the result of successive additions and extensions  encouraged by the Popes during the past five centuries, unified as a set of art collections from ancient Egypt to the twentieth century.

We can divide the collections and museums visits within 3 basic elements: museums, visit rooms and chapels. There is a bit of all of them in the visit, but it is interesting to keep in mind these three options.

MUSEUMS

We have numerous museum spaces at our disposal, each with its own theme that we will detail as follows:

Pinacoteca Vaticana

18 rooms and more than 400 works, stored in a palace dating from the twentieth century.
The first rooms are dedicated to Italian painting from the twelfth to the fifteenth centuries, with artists such as Giotto and Fra Angelico.
The most popular paintings are inrooms VIII and IX, with Rafael and Leonardo da Vinci respectively. Do not miss Rafael’s  Madonna of Foligno .
Room XII houses works by Caravaggio, including El Descendimiento.

Collection of contemporary religious art

An alternative to the dominance of classic art. 800 works in 55 rooms opened in the 70s.
This is certainly not a place to miss. You will find works by Bacon, Chagall, Dali, Paul Gauguin, Kandinsky, Matisse and Van Gogh, among others.

Museo Pio-Clementino

12 delightful rooms dedicated to Greek and Roman sculptures. Among the most well-known ones we find Apollo Belvedere,  Apoxyomenos and Afrodita Cnidia.

Gregorian Egyptian Museum

Inspired by Gregory XVI in 1839 with works which were mostly from Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli. It houses  Egyptian, Assyrian and Mesopotanian works.

Other museums

These museums are of less interest to the average tourist. We talk about the Etruscan Museum, the Ethnological Museum (gifts to the Pope), the Pious Christian Museum and the Philatelic and Numismatic Museum …

ROOMS

During our visit we can visit some of the most artistically important Vatican halls. These rooms have been given various uses throughout history and today the public is allowed to admire their decoration, including frescoes by classic artists.

There are 3 rooms we recommend not to miss:  Raphael Rooms (4 beautiful rooms decorated with frescoes by Raphael and his acolytes), the Loggia of Raphael (a 65-metre long space full of frescoes by Raphael) and the Immaculate Room ( Podesti, XIX century, dedicated to the dogma of the Immaculate).

Of special interest is the Gallery of Maps, the world’s leading cartographic collection.

CHAPELS

Chapels were spaces for religious use. The Sistine Chapel has light on its own:

The Sistine Chapel

Wonderful artistic and spiritual space, the main attraction of your visit to the Vatican Museums. The number of visitors is large and the time to see it is scarce.
The iconography, which has acquired universal value, offers works such as the  Creation of Adam and the Last Judgement, absolute peaks in the work of Michelangelo.

It is also a place that breathes history as it has been the home of the conclave that elect the Pope for centuries and from where the fumata reveals the outcome.

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

Giuseppe Momo’s Spiral Staircase

It is located at the exit of the Vatican Museums and offers a very prominent and photographed optical effect . The structure appears to be much longer than it really is, forming a trompe l’oeil. To consider: the staircase that can be visited belongs to the architect Momo. The original one was created by Bramante, which was the inspiration for Momo’s work; but it is not open to the public.

Outdoors

The Vatican Museums have pleasant outdoor areas to get some fresh air.
Our favourite one is Cortile della Pigna  for its sculpture of a giant bronze pine cone from the first century, formerly located in the Pantheon. In the centre, we find the huge metal sphere representing Earth, a work by Pomodoro, 1990.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Admission is free on the last Sunday of each month during the World Tourism Day (September 27th) for children under 6 years, disabled people with an accredited disability higher than 74% and other groups (teachers, journalists …).

See our tips for visiting the Vatican Museums and the skip the line guided tour.

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An unmissable destination in Rome is the Vatican Museums where you can see the most important works of art in history.

You can also visit the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo’s impressive work who, when he was finished, realised that it perfectly encapsulated the philosophical and religious ideals of the Italian renaissance era. This is found in the final part of the long indoor tour through the museums and has a particular system of visits.

Why buy these tickets

The queues to enter the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel can reach up to 3 hours long. By buying your tickets here, you will avoid the queues and gain priority access.
Your ticket includes fast track access to the 4 museums, in addition to priority entry to the Sistine Chapel which is accessed independently.

You will see the Egyptian Gallery, the Cabinet of the Masks, the Sala degli Animali, the Gallery of Maps to see how the world was represented with the passing of the years, and Raphael’s Rooms and the Borgia Apartments.

Then you will visit Michelangelo’s unmissable Sistine Chapel, one of the artistic treasures of the world. You will be amazed by the great work Michelangelo did and the details on the ceiling.

What´s included

• Skip-the-line entrance to the Vatican Museums
• Skip-the-line entrance to the Sistine Chapel
• Booking fees

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In this report, we offer some safety advice when visiting the Vatican, which, despite being one of the most monitored places in the world, suffers from petty thefts, like all places with large groups of people.

Take care of bags

A visit to the Vatican should be relaxed but not careless and thieves should not be given any opportunities. The basic rules of common sense should suffice.

Be especially vigilant in crowds of people and queues. Watch pockets, bags and purses, and do not leave baggage unattended. Tourists and pilgrims often have small items stolen, and they are very difficult to retrieve as the thief does not have far to go to reach another country.

Thieves do not respect any place, no matter how sacred. Robberies have even taken place in the Sistine Chapel.

Maximum respect

The Vatican authorities take the sanctity of their small State very seriously and they do not accept disrespectful behaviour.
Areas such as Saint Peter’s, the Museums and the Basilica have a very high level of security and the officers are often found in amongst the crowds with the appearance of simple tourists or pilgrims.

Our advice is to respect the places you visit; do not provoke any altercations or act obscenely, as you will be reprimanded and possibly told to leave.

Bus 64

The line 64 connects Termini with the Vatican. This bus is famous for its pickpockets, so look for alternatives or be careful with your belongings. See getting to the Vatican.

Street vendors

During your visit to the Vatican, you may find people who offer products or services directly on the street. We do not want to generalise but we believe it is a bad idea to trust these people because of course you may be deceived.

Our advice is to go to the Vatican well-informed and with your visits booked in advance. In our tickets and tours section, you can find the bookings you need at excellent prices and with the guarantees of leading operators.

If there are any problems

If you have been robbed and want to make a complaint or get advice, we suggest going directly to the Italian police. There are Vatican special corps agents in the Piazza and roundabout. Do not look to the Swiss Guard. They may give you advice but they have other duties.

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Tips for visiting the Vatican Museums

The Vatican City is accessible for those who use a wheelchair.

This article includes as many details as possible that a wheelchair user visiting the Vatican may require.

Visiting the Museums in a wheelchair

A tour of the Vatican Museums can be done in a wheelchair. In fact, one can be requested at the entrance.
We recommend booking the chair at least a day in advance since there are a limited number and it is possible that one is not available when we need it.
It can be booked through:  accoglienza.musei@scv.va
There is no charge and they only require valid identification to be shown.

Throughout the Museums, there are bathrooms adapted for wheelchair users.

Free access

People with a disability of over 74% and a companion do not need to queue and can enter for free. This can be obtained directly from the “special permission” counter. They may occasionally request proof of the disability although the mere presence of a wheelchair is often sufficient.

Recommended route

The Organisation has created a recommended route for disabled people.

Our experience could not be more positive. The personnel there are extremely sensitive to people’s needs and offer any help they can to make visits as comfortable as possible. Mobility problems are no reason not to visit the Museums.
Staff are available to help with lifts and around the tour. Make sure to ask for any help: it is their job!

Wheelchair users will see views that are prohibited to others. For example, access to the Sistine Chapel is done through a door which offers a magnificent view.

St Peter’s Square and Basilica

The great St Peter’s Square is open to all and is comfortable for wheelchair users.
Access to the Basilica is to the right of the colonnade when looking from the front. Here is a ramp and accessible services.

Once inside, the entire visit can be done without any problems, even to the grottoes. Where wheelchair users cannot access is the Necropolis and the upper part of the dome (the base can be accessed).

Papal Audiences

In the crowded audiences on Wednesdays in St Peter’s, there is a special space for wheelchair users and companions. You can get a ticket from your parish or through our online booking service.

They can also be obtained in person from the Office found in the west wing of the Vatican. The access area is watched by the Swiss Guard and you should indicate to them that you want “biglietti per il Papa”. The office is easily accessible.

Vatican Gardens

Unfortunately, the Vatican Gardens are not accessible to people in wheelchairs. Constant slopes and difficult terrain make a visit incredibly complicated.

Final recommendations

– Take your time. In our opinion, the best idea is not to try to see the entire Vatican in one day if you are using a wheelchair. The distances are long and there is a lot to see. We recommend visiting St Peter’s and Castel Sant’Angelo in one day, and leaving the Museums and the Sistine Chapel for another.

Related links

Safety tips in the Vatican
Vatican museums tips for visitors

St Peter’s Basilica is the centre of the Christian World, the world’s largest church and an architectural work designed by top Italian artists of an era. It was built on the Vatican Hill, across the River Tiber in a symbolic location: it was the place where the apostle St. Peter, considered the first head of the Church, died as a martyr and was buried.

HISTORY

The first construction held on site was the initiative of Emperor Constantine  in the fourth century. That first basilica was a smaller version of the current one, which over the centuries suffered vicissitudes almost to end up in ruins and abandoned.

It was Pope Nicholas V,  in the middle of the fifteenth century, who ordered the restoration and expansion of the Basilica to the architect Bernardo Rossellino. But his death caused the works to stop.

The revolution came half a century later with Julius II  who asked Bramante to create a new conception of the Basilica. Finally, a structure with Greek floor and a huge dome was made.

Later architects left their mark, highlighting the dome designed by Michelangelo and completed by Giacomo della Porta. Carlo Maderno extended the building with a Latin cross design and completed the façade we see today. The church was consecrated again in 1626 by Pope Urban VIII, just 1300 years after the consecration of the primitive temple.

View from St Peter’s Square

You will be enchanted one you arrive to the square and are able to see the magnificent Basilica, although many think it is not perfect. Expanding Maderno partly hid the dome of St. Peter.

The façade, 45 meters high and designed by Maderno, altered the conception of Michaelangelo and involved the expansion of the structure and the inclusion of embedded columns.  It is crowned by huge statues of Christ, John the Baptist and the Apostles. The clock and bells are outstanding elements of the façade.

INDOORS

Once you walk in there is a lot to see. The first thing you notice is the grandeur of the space, of more than 15,000 m2 and able to hold 60,000 people.

The interior space is divided into three naves  separated by large pillars (the central nave, the nave of the Epistle and the Gospel nave) and four major elements: Ambulatory, Dome, Presbytery and the Papal Altar.

You can choose to climb the dome or walk inside and visit some of the most interesting points:

Central Nave

The Central Nave is very wide with a surface of 10.000 m2 with very interesting mosaics and marble from the former basilica.

In the arches of the nave there are sculptures that represent the virtues: In the pillars on the left, starting with the door, ecclesiastical authority, divine justice, virginity, obedience, humility, patience, justice and fortitude. On the right, starting from the altar, charity, faith, innocence, peace, forgiveness, perseverance, mercy and strength.

In the pillars we see the sculptures of the 39 founding saints.

Nave of the Epistle

It is the nave located on the right.

It is fundamental to visit the first chapel that houses the impressive Pieta by Michelangelo, a masterpiece of his youth. It is protected by a transparent box because of damage sustained in attacks in the past.

As we go forward through the nave we find a chapel with burial monuments, including the tomb of John Paul II   after a marble slab with the inscription “BEATVS IOANNES Pavlvs PP. II

You should also look for the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament and its door, designed by Francesco Borromini. In this chapel we find the Blessed Sacrament.

The Gospel Nave

It is the nave to the left. It has numerous chapels, rich in artistic elements and tombs of Popes and other prominent figures of the Church.

We especially recommend stopping in the Choir Chapel, led by the Altar of the Immaculate Conception.

Ambulatory

The Ambulatory is the Circular space around the four pillars supporting the dome

In the pillar that corresponds to the ship of the epistle we find the tomb of John XXIII.

Dome

The basilica dome rises to a total height of 136,57 m from the ground to the top of the outer cross. It is the highest dome in the world. Its internal diameter is 41,47 m, slightly less than two of the three huge domes that preceded it: the Pantheon, 43.3 m; and the Cathedral of Florence, 44 m.

It is very interesting to see the dome from above: we have a section on going up to the dome of St. Peter.

Presbytery

In this area admiring the Chair of St. Peter, an impressive Bernini reliquary containing an early Christian chair resting on sculptures of the four Fathers of the Church. Governing all a window with a dove  symbolizing the Holy Spirit.

Papal Altar

It is on the transept, under the dome and highlights the monumental canopy of San Pedro de Bernini, an impressive Baroque work.

It is made of bronze from the Roman Pantheon and has a height of 30 m, raised by four twisted columns.

In the centre, by the shade of the canopy, surrounded by the huge space under the dome is the papal altar, a cuboid block of white marble, and over it a bronze crucifix and a set of seven candlesticks in which only the pope can celebrate the Eucharist on solemn occasions.

It was placed vertically over the tomb of St. Peter.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE

– Admission is free. Inside, there are optional paid tours such as the dome or the treasure.

– The Basilica opens daily from 7-19 hours (April to September) and from 7-18 (October to March).

– There is usually a line of people to get in but it runs faster than in the Vatican Museums. If you hire a guided tour to the Vatican Museums you can access the Basilica by a special entry without queueing. So if you hire a tour of this type go first to the Museums and leave the Basilica for later.

Go early to avoid queueing. Queues start at about 10.

– The dress code is very strict: no bare shoulders, shorts or short skirts. There are sellers around offering economical clothes in case of emergency.

–  Security is high. There are internal control accesses and surveillance. Any disrespectful behaviour causes reprimands.

– Once you pass the security check before going up the steps that allow access to the Basilica there is a visitor centre with cloakroom  for suitcases,  public toilets  and rental of audio guides.

Related links

Visits to the dome of St. Peter’s
Gardens of Vatican City
Vatican necropolis

Not all tours in the Vatican can take by buying the ticket there and then. In some cases, it is necessary or advisable to book the ticket before travelling.

Vatican Necropolis

Previous booking is mandatory and should be done early.

The Necropolis under the Basilica is very intriguing, but requires a very special booking process. It is possible that you obtain the pass two or three weeks before your visit, but we recommend that you book your tour well in advance so that you are guaranteed to enter on the day you choose.

Papal Audiences

Papal Audiences on Wednesdays is free for the public although  registration in advance in required. It is recommended not to wait until you arrive in Rome to register for it.
There are companies whose job is to manage and organize the transport to the Vatican. Request Papal Audience Tickets.

Vatican Gardens

To visit the beautiful Vatican Gardens you need to  book an official guided tour in advance. We advise the booking of this visit to be done in advance.

The Vatican Museums

In the Museum, you will find a ticket office where you will be able to purchase the tickets.
Unfortunately, people have to queue most days, sometimes for over an hour and under unsuitable weather conditions.
If you don’t mind waiting, this is of course the most economical option. However, if you do not wish to waste time and have some euros to spare, we recommend booking the tickets online or get a guided tour which will also give you the chance of visiting the Museums in depth.

Entrance-free landmarks

You don’t have to book tickets to enter St Peter’s Square or the Basilica. They are both free access and free of charge.
You may have to queue to enter St Peter’s Basilica because of security control, which rarely takes more than half an hour.

When you visit the Vatican you will be able to buy religious souvenirs or gifts for you. The offer of religious theme gifts is huge, so we can provide you with some advice about it.

During the typical itinerary of a tourist or pilgrim, the offer of religious souvenirs will be at every corner.
You will see many street stalls, little souvenir shops, large stores with religious merchandising and stands inside the Museum and the Basilica.

Inside the Vatican Museums we will find several sale points with traditional religious souvenirs, as well as an interesting range of books. Inside the Basilica itself we see little shops managed by nuns. One of them is on the way up to the dome.

In St Peter’s Square, at the  Philatelic and Numismatic Office, you can acquire very interesting products related to the world of coins and stamps. The special series are very successful. Recently, the days of Sede Vacante or the election of Pope Francis generated a great demand for products.
Here you can also buy euros which have been emitted by the Vatican, a scarce and valuable product for collectors.

Popular souvenirs

The variety is huge and the prices are varied.
Most tourists buy rosaries, stamps, medals, calendars, t-shirts, posters, crosses… The most popular religious figures are John Paul II, Pope Francis, Pio de Pietrelcina or Mother Teresa.

The variety of jewellery is extensive, and prices can range from a few euros to large sums, depending on the quality of the product. There is always a souvenir for each visitor.

Tips

Comparing prices

– As with every place, we recommend comparing prices. This is not essential for affordable products, unless you plan to buy large amounts of them. However, for more expensive items, it is important to compare, as the differences in prices can be noticeable.

Bargain

– Don’t feel intimidated and negotiate prices. There are shops where prices are tagged and negotiation is less likely to take place. This is the case of the stores located inside the Vatican or the big stores next to the Square. However, bargaining is possible in small shops or street stalls (and you are somehow expected to).

Being successful at negotiating may depend on whether you are planning to acquire many products. If the seller does not wish to reduce prices, you can ask for a small gift.

Blessed gifts

Blessed souvenirs (rosaries, stamps…) tend to be more expensive and it is always doubtful whether they are authentic or not. We recommend buying these kind of gifts in official shops.

Recommended stores

– As part of the offer of religious themed gifts we find prestigious shops such as Savelli, with stores in the Ssquare itself and Vía della Conciliazione 

See more of our Vatican travel tips.

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Montemario is a religious accommodation in Rome in the Monte Mario area, a residential area with green zones and good communications, near to the Vatican, by the main hospitals of Rome. The best way to get there from Termini is to take line A stopping at Lepanto and then catch bus number 913 stopping at Camilluccia Trionfale.

It’s managed by the Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus and has 44 rooms of various sizes with private bathrooms. The style of the rooms is simple but they have all the essentials and there is a private garden, WiFi and a lift.

The hotel restaurant offers breakfast and also lunches or dinners to order. It’s reserved for clients. The menu is traditional with products of the land and seasonal selections as well as the possibility of a menu of the day.

Masses are held at its chapel every day. On Fridays as of 4pm there is a Eucharistic Adoration. There is a spiritual apostolate for people in need of religious colloquium.

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Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s with an official guide.

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One of the most sacred places in Catholicism is the Vatican and whether you are Catholic or not, you will enjoy the richness of its architecture, its exhibitions and the magical corners throughout. Discover the spectacular Vatican Museum where you will finish the tour in the world-famous and lauded Sistine Chapel and take a walk through St Peter’s Basilica.

This interesting tour combines both visits and has a very important feature: no queues (they can sometimes reach 2 hours long).

Why do this tour

This tour will show you the sights of the Vatican with no queues and lasts 3 hours accompanied by a guide who will make sure you do not miss a thing. They will give you information about the history, architecture and the politics of the Vatican and tell you unusual anecdotes which are often unknown to tourists.

You will have plenty of time to enjoy Michelangelo’s art in the Sistine Chapel and you will see the most impressive parts of the Vatican Museum, including the Gallery of Maps, Gallery of the Candelabra, the Pio-Clementino room, the Gallery of Tapestries, the Belvedere Courtyard or the Pine Cone Courtyard.

You will enjoy this tour as it usually includes small groups with a maximum of 20 people and because you will not miss anything important.

What´s included

• Guided tour
• Entrance tickets
• Professional tour guide
• Skip-the-line entrance

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Skip the line for fast entry to the Vatican’s most famous sights. Marvel at the Sistine Chapel.

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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More tours & tickets – Skip the line Vatican Museums

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Related links

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Vatican City attractions
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