Vatican City Itinerary: History, Highlights & Must-See Landmarks

The Vatican City is the smallest country and sovereign state in the world. That said, there is an abundance of things and spaces to explore in this tiny nation. This insight into the history, highlights and must-see landmarks for a Vatican City itinerary will help you get the most out of your visit.

St. Peter´s Basilica is the most important church in Catholicism, located in Vatican City

Vatican City – Fun Facts!

Firstly, to whet you appetite for this amazing place, here are some fun facts about this diminutive nation…

• Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world, with an area of approximately 0.44 square kilometers (0.17 square miles). It is about 0.6 miles (1.05 kilometers) long and 0.5 miles (0.85 kilometers) wide.
• It is the only UNESCO World Heritage site that makes up an entire country.
• Vatican City has its own unique postal service, autonomous (and some say much more efficient) from that of Italy
• You can even conduct an ATM transaction in Latin while in the Vatican City
• It has the highest per capita wine consumption in the world
• In Roman times, Pliny the Elder, the first-century philosopher, remarked that Vatican Hill (as it was known at the time) was only known for snakes and bad wine.

Insider Tip: for more details on the above and other fun facts, read Facts about Vatican City

Send a letter from the smallest postal service in the world – ‘Poste Vaticane’

A Brief History

Before diving into your visit, it helps to understand how Vatican City came to be.

The area dates back to ancient Rome, when Vatican Hill lay outside the city walls. Its importance grew in the 4th century, when Emperor Constantine ordered the construction of the original St. Peter’s Basilica, over the site of the tomb of Saint Peter, one of Christianity’s most important figures.

Over the centuries, the site evolved as the heart of the Catholic Church, governed by the Pope as part of the Papal States. However, the modern Vatican City as we know it today, was only officially established in 1929, upon the signing of the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy. This agreement recognised it as an independent sovereign state, separate from Rome. Today it stands as the world´s smallest country , and as a global centre of religion, art and history!

The School of Athens, by Raphael, in the Raphael Rooms in the Vatican.

What should your Vatican City Itinerary contain?

St. Peter’s Square

Piazza San Pietro, or the Square of St. Peter, is one of the most iconic public spaces on the planet. Nearly everyone in the world with a TV has seen images of the pope standing on the balcony of the Basilica of St. Peter overlooking a massive flock of the faithful in the square. 

The square was designed by the great artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the second half of the 17th century. The reason why the space is so wide open, embraced by two huge colonnaded “arms” on each side, is that the pope at the time, Pope Alexander VII, requested a wide-open space so that it could accommodate as many people as possible. 

At the center of the square is an 85-foot-tall Egyptian obelisk, originally taken from Heliopolis in ancient Egypt. During medieval times, there was an unfounded belief that the gilt ball atop the obelisk contained the ashes of Julius Caesar. 

• Location: In front of the basilica
• Time to spend: 20–40 minutes
• Tips:
  • Best enjoyed early morning or evening
  • Great photo spot, especially from the centre near the obelisk
  • Check if a Papal event is scheduled

Enjoy the view more than 425 feet high from the Basilica’s massive dome.

St. Peter’s Basilica 

This grand basilica is the most famous Christian place of worship in the world. The gargantuan structure was completed in the early 17th century, almost exactly 1,300 years after the first St. Peter’s was completed on this site.

An all-star team of legendary Renaissance and Baroque architects and artists gave a hand in building the “new” St. Peters, including Bramante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini. Interior highlights that can’t be missed are Michelangelo’s “Pieta” and Bernini’s monumental brass “Baldacchino,” a 100-foot tall “canopy” that serves as the focal point of the church.

It is traditionally believed that the bronze used to make the “Baldacchino” was stripped from the roof of the Pantheon nearby. Likewise, legend has it that much of the marble used to build St. Peter’s was filched from the Colosseum and that Pope Nicholas II had wagonloads of marble brought over from the ancient stadium.

• Location: Adjacent to St. Peter’s Square
• Time to spend: 1–2 hours
• Tips:
  • Entry is free, but security lines can be long
  • Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered)
  • Try to enter directly from the Sistine Chapel via a guided tour to skip queues

The interior of St. Pater´s Basilica is a sight to behold!

St. Peter´s Dome / Cupula Climb

• Location: Inside St. Peter’s Basilica
• Time to spend: 45–90 minutes
• Tips:
  • Choose between stairs or elevator + stairs
  • Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds
  • Not ideal for those with claustrophobia

Insider Tip: Read on to find out more about visiting St. Peter´s Basilica

Michelangelo’s works of architecture and painting in the cupula/dome of St. Peter´s Basilica

The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are one of the most important museum complexes in the world.

The collection, founded 400 years ago, boasts some of the world’s most iconic art, including frescoes by Raphael, and, of course, Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel.

The long fresco-bedecked halls, crammed with ancient statuary and centuries-old maps of the then known world, make for a fascinating few hours of gawking at art. For our Vatican City itinerary, if you want to ensure you appreciate what you’re looking at, consider taking a guided walking tour. 

• Location: Northern part of Vatican City (separate entrance from St. Peter’s Basilica)
• Time to spend: 2–4 hours
• Tips:
  • Book tickets in advance to avoid long queues
  • Consider early-entry or guided tours for a quieter experience
  • Wear comfortable shoes—there’s a lot of walking

The Vatican Museums house an extensive collection of art and artifacts amassed by the Catholic Church over centuries.

The Sistine Chapel

In the early 16th century, Michelangelo was asked to paint something simple on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. But the famed artist, who at this time was more well known as an architect, decided to challenge himself. The result is possibly the most famous fresco in the world. It took the great artist four and a half years standing on a 60-foot-high scaffolding. 

• Location: At the end of the Vatican Museums route
• Time to spend: 20–30 minutes (longer if less crowded)
• Tips:
  • Silence is required inside
  • No photos allowed
  • Visit earlier in the day for fewer crowds

Insider Tip: Discover more with our best tips for visiting the Vatican Museums

See the Sistine Chapel without the crowds on an early-entry visit to the Vatican

Castel Sant’Angelo

Just a short walk from Vatican City, Castel Sant’Angelo is one of the most fascinating landmarks in Rome. Originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century, it has since served as a fortress, papal residence, and even a prison. Today, visitors can explore its layered history through a series of rooms, corridors, and terraces, culminating in a panoramic rooftop with stunning views over the Tiber River and the Vatican.

Connected to the Vatican by the Passetto di Borgo, a secret elevated passage used by popes in times of danger, it’s a perfect addition to any Vatican itinerary, offering both history and some of the best views in the city.

• Location: Just outside Vatican City, across the river
• Time to spend: 1–2 hours
• Tips:
  • Offers fantastic views back toward the Vatican
  • Great add-on if you have extra time
  • Book tickets ahead during peak season

The River Tiber, with the St. Peter´s dome/cupula in the distance

Suggested 1–2 Day Vatican City Itinerary

To make the most of your visit to Vatican City, it’s worth planning your time carefully, even in such a small country, there’s a lot to see.

One Day Itinerary

If you only have one day, start early with the Vatican Museums to beat the crowds, making your way through the galleries before reaching the Sistine Chapel. From there, continue into St. Peter’s Basilica to admire masterpieces like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldacchino, before climbing the dome for panoramic views over Rome. Finish your visit in St. Peter’s Square, taking time to appreciate Bernini’s grand colonnade.

Two Day Itinerary

If you have two days, you can enjoy a more relaxed experience. Dedicate your first day to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, allowing time to explore at a slower pace or join a guided tour for deeper insight. On day two, focus on St. Peter’s Basilica, arrive early to attend Mass if you wish, explore the interior in detail, visit the papal crypts, and climb the dome without rushing. You can then spend time soaking up the atmosphere in St. Peter’s Square or exploring nearby areas like Castel Sant’Angelo just outside Vatican walls.

By spreading your visit across one or two days, you’ll ensure you experience the highlights without feeling overwhelmed—and truly appreciate everything this remarkable destination has to offer.

A guided tour makes all the difference, as there is so much history in the walls, ceilings and artwork all around you!

FAQs – Vatican City Itinerary

Why should you take a guided tour? 

Vatican City can really pack a big punch for such a diminutive place. You can try to do it on your own—and people have—but with a tour guide to lead you around you’ll get speedy, skip-the-line access and shepherded right to the most iconic structures and pieces of art you came there to see. No planning at all for your Vatican City itinerary; just leave it all up to the guide. Plus, you’ll then be debriefed on exactly what makes the objects in the Vatican are so invaluable and important to humanity. It’s a win-win. 

What time does the tour start and how long does it last? 

Put yourself in the hands of our experienced local guides to walk you through the very best of Vatican City on an action-packed 3.5-hour Complete Vatican Tour. The starting time depends on what day you would like to take a tour. The tours, which are offered once or twice per day, are offered in the morning and sometimes in the morning and just after lunch. 

When is the best time to visit Rome and Vatican City?

In terms of weather, Rome can swelter in the summer months and drop down to heavy jacket weather in the winter. For optimum temperatures, the shoulder season—March to May and September-October—are perfect. Also, there are fewer crowds during shoulder season. 

A tour guide will bring the monuments to life with stories of past, present and future!

One Last Word …

If you’re looking for a deeper dive into Vatican City, one where you can let the guide to all the planning for you, make sure to sign up for one of our small group Vatican City tours. Led by local guides, you’ll not only be able to skip the lines, but will have privileged access to this Sistine Chapel at night or early in the morning, enjoying your time in this beautiful site without the massive crowds that build up throughout the day.