Highlights
St Peter's Basilica
One of the largest churches in the world, built over the traditional burial place of Saint Peter. Inside are Michelangelo's Pietà, Bernini's bronze baldachin over the papal altar and a vast interior of marble and mosaics. Entry is free, but queues for security can be long.
Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel
Kilometres of galleries hold classical sculpture, Egyptian artefacts, the Raphael Rooms and the Gallery of Maps, leading to the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's ceiling and his Last Judgement. Book timed tickets in advance.
St Peter's Square
Bernini's oval piazza is embraced by curved colonnades topped with statues of saints. Stand on one of the two marked stones near the fountains and the four rows of columns line up as one.
The dome
Climb, or take a lift part of the way, up Michelangelo's dome for a walk around the inside gallery and then out onto the lantern, with views over the square, the Vatican Gardens and the rooftops of Rome. The final section is narrow and steep.
Vatican Necropolis (Scavi)
Small guided groups visit the excavated Roman-era cemetery beneath the basilica, including the area identified as Saint Peter's tomb. Tours must be booked with the Excavations Office well in advance, and places are limited.
Vatican Gardens
Most of the state's territory is covered by landscaped gardens, fountains and woodland, which can be visited only on guided tours booked through the Vatican Museums.
Papal audience and Angelus
When the Pope is in Rome, he usually holds a general audience on Wednesday mornings, with free tickets, and recites the Angelus prayer from a window above the square at noon on Sundays.
Interesting facts about Vatican City
- Vatican City covers only about 44 hectares, making it the smallest independent state in the world by area and population.
- The Pontifical Swiss Guard has protected the Pope since 1506, and its members must be Catholic Swiss citizens.
- The modern Vatican City State was established by the Lateran Treaty with Italy in 1929.
- The Vatican issues its own euro coins and postage stamps, which are popular with collectors.
- Latin is used for many official documents, and a cash machine in the Vatican has offered instructions in Latin.
Best time to visit
The Vatican is open year-round, but crowds are heaviest from Easter to October and during Christian holidays, when papal ceremonies draw large numbers of pilgrims. November to February, excluding the Christmas period, is quieter. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the longest queues. The Vatican Museums are generally closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free and very busy. Summer in Rome is very hot, so carry water.
Practical information
| Capital | Vatican City |
|---|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| Languages | Italian, Latin (official language of the Holy See) |
| Plugs | Type C, F, L |
| Voltage | 230 V, 50 Hz |
| Emergency | 112 (Italy's emergency number, which also works in and around the Vatican) |
| Driving | On the right |
| Tipping | As in Rome: not obligatory, but rounding up in cafés and leaving a little for good service is appreciated. |
Getting around
Vatican City is entered on foot from Rome, with no border controls at St Peter's Square. The Rome Metro Line A stations Ottaviano and Cipro are a short walk from St Peter's and the Museums entrance, and several city buses stop nearby. It is also a pleasant walk from Castel Sant'Angelo along Via della Conciliazione. Inside, everything is walkable, and there are no visitor vehicles. Dress codes apply in St Peter's and the Museums: shoulders and knees must be covered.
Staying connected in Vatican City
Vatican City does not have a separate public mobile network for visitors; phones connect to Italy's networks, and coverage in and around St Peter's Square is the same as in central Rome, generally strong with 4G and 5G. Signal can be weaker deep inside the basilica, the Museums and the underground areas. Phones must be silenced in the Sistine Chapel, where photography is not allowed. An eSIM that covers Italy will normally connect here too. Install it before you fly and switch it on when you land in Rome.
See Vatican City eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Vatican City
- Google Maps: Walking and metro directions between Rome and the Vatican entrances.
- Google Translate: Italian translation for signs, menus and conversations in the surrounding Rome neighbourhoods.
- Moovit: Live public transport information for Rome's buses and metro.