When visiting Rome, it’s almost impossible to miss Vatican City. As the smallest country in the world, it is still worth a visit. In Vatican City, you’ll find the world-famous St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square, the only free-access area. The Vatican also houses the Vatican Gardens and the Vatican Museums. The length of your visit depends on what you plan to see. A quick visit can be done in an afternoon, but a more thorough exploration of all the sites can take up to two days.
Transportation
The Vatican is so small (0.44 km²) that public transportation is neither necessary nor available within its territory. You can easily walk to the Vatican from the center of Rome (it’s close to Castel Sant’Angelo), or take public transport. The nearest metro station is Ottaviano, and tram and bus stops include Risorgimento.
What to See
St. Peter’s Basilica
This is the largest basilica in the world and the main tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the globe. Admission is free, but expect to wait in line for several hours. There is one long queue for security checks (similar to airport metal detectors), followed by another line for a dress code check (skirts/shorts must be below the knee, and shoulders and cleavage must be covered).
Opening hours are a bit uncertain. The basilica usually opens at 7 a.m., and if you arrive early, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding long lines. However, opening times can change due to papal audiences or other religious events.
During such events, both the basilica and the square may be completely closed, so it’s important to check the schedule ahead of time. These occasions often make the Vatican seem chaotic and disorganized, with the Swiss Guard on hand to maintain order and assist with organizing religious events. However, it’s not always clear what is going on, and people often share conflicting information. For this reason, don’t leave your visit to the Vatican until the last day of your trip – it could prevent you from seeing it at all.
Apart from the basilica itself, visiting its 136-meter-high dome is also a unique experience.
St. Peter’s Dome
Tickets can be purchased right at the basilica (after you’ve gone through security). Expect to wait in line again. You have two options: walk up (over 500 steps) for €8, or take the elevator for €10 (it will only take you halfway, and you’ll still need to climb stairs). There are signs indicating that only those without respiratory or heart conditions should attempt the climb. Tickets are cash only and no student, senior, or other discounts apply.
The climb itself is not too difficult, and at a certain point, you’ll reach the basilica’s roof, where you can rest before continuing up the dome. You’ll walk along the inside perimeter of the dome, which leads to the top, where you can step outside for a panoramic view of St. Peter’s Square, the Vatican Gardens, the Vatican Museums, and nearly all of Rome.
On the way down, you’ll return to the roof, where there are free toilets, a water fountain, and a small snack bar. It’s no problem to sit down and relax after all the waiting in lines. Afterward, you’ll continue down the stairs back into the basilica.
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica
At the entrance, you’ll notice the large bronze Gate of Death (Porta della Morte), used for bringing the coffins of deceased popes into the basilica. To the right, in the first chapel, is Michelangelo’s famous Pietà. Due to security reasons, this statue is protected by glass. In the center of the basilica stands the enormous papal altar, located above the tomb of St. Peter. The canopy above the altar is made of bronze, which was taken from the Pantheon’s dome – a common practice in Rome for acquiring building materials. There are numerous statues, paintings, images, and altars to see throughout the basilica.
A notable feature is a large marble plaque at the entrance to the sacristy, which lists the names of all popes since the beginning, along with the dates of their deaths. The square itself is also worth a visit. There, you’ll find two fountains and an Egyptian obelisk in the center, often used as a resting point for tourists. The square is surrounded by a colonnade with massive columns, adorned with 140 statues. There are also free toilets, though usually with a line, and a water fountain available for drinking.
The Sistine Chapel is also part of Vatican Museums, though it is a separate visit. Make sure you also explore it!
Vatican Museums
The Vatican is home to an extensive museum complex, where popes have collected valuable works of art for centuries. Today, it houses one of the largest art collections in the world. It’s said that there are so many exhibits that if you spent one minute viewing each of them, the entire tour would last 12 years. The Vatican Palace contains 8 museums, 5 galleries, the Apostolic Library, the Borgia Apartments, the Raphael Rooms, and the famous Sistine Chapel. This private papal chapel is also where the papal conclaves take place when a new pope is elected.
The Sistine Chapel is renowned for its stunning frescoes by Michelangelo. The Vatican Museums also house a vast collection of sculptures, an Etruscan exhibit, an Egyptian exhibit, and more. There is a single entrance fee for both the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Note that the complex is closed every Sunday, except for the last Sunday of the month, when it is open with free entry. However, on this day, the opening hours are shortened.
