{"id":11932,"date":"2023-08-25T09:51:48","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T08:51:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogadmin.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/?p=11932"},"modified":"2026-06-12T17:17:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T16:17:08","slug":"visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes","title":{"rendered":"What Not to Do When Visiting The Vatican &#8211; 7 Most Common Vatican City Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re planning on visiting the Vatican City, we are here to offer an answer to all of your questions, including some handy tours for those with less planning time.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>With so much to take in when visiting the Vatican, it&#8217;s essential to plan ahead to make the most out of your visit, trust us on that, or you may end up missing some of the Vatican essentials.<\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-22818 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/People-visiting-Vatican-City-e1781271127115.jpg\" alt=\"People visiting the Vatican\" width=\"1280\" height=\"1097\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/People-visiting-Vatican-City-e1781271127115.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/People-visiting-Vatican-City-e1781271127115-768x658.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/People-visiting-Vatican-City-e1781271127115-1024x878.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">This checklist will come in handy for you to make the most of your visit. Photo credit: <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 14px;\">Benjamin Fay<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>With so much to see, it can be tempting to just walk into Vatican City without a second thought. After all, every year, thousands of visitors flock to the Vatican to experience one of the most incredible religious and <a href=\"https:\/\/whc.unesco.org\/en\/list\/286\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UNESCO sites.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#What_not_to_do_when_visiting_the_Vatican\" >What not to do when visiting the Vatican<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Avoid_arriving_at_midday_to_Vatican_City\" >Avoid arriving at midday to Vatican City<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Avoid_trying_to_buy_tickets_last_minute\" >Avoid trying to buy tickets last minute<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Don%C2%B4t_dress_inappropriately\" >Don\u00b4t dress inappropriately<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Don%C2%B4t_stress_about_trying_to_see_everything\" >Don\u00b4t stress about trying to see everything<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Avoid_visiting_during_peak_season_if_possible\" >Avoid visiting during peak season if possible<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Don%C2%B4t_go_on_the_busiest_days\" >Don\u00b4t go on the busiest days\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Not_booking_a_tour\" >Not booking a tour<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#FAQs_%E2%80%93_Visiting_the_Vatican\" >FAQs &#8211; Visiting the Vatican<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#How_much_does_it_cost_to_visit_the_Vatican\" >How much does it cost to visit the Vatican?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Who_qualifies_for_reduced_or_free_Vatican_tickets\" >Who qualifies for reduced or free Vatican tickets?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/visiting-the-vatican-tips-and-mistakes\/#Whats_the_best_way_to_get_to_the_Vatican\" >What\u2019s the best way to get to the Vatican?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_not_to_do_when_visiting_the_Vatican\"><\/span>What <em>not<\/em> to do when visiting the Vatican<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Of all the trips in and near Rome, visiting the Vatican is perhaps the one that takes the most planning and consideration.\u00a0This is completely understandable, as it&#8217;s such an ancient and relevant sight for humankind. And, trust us, it&#8217;s worth the effort! You&#8217;ll understand when you&#8217;re walking through its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-vatican-museums\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vatican Museum<\/a> halls or gazing up at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/attractions\/the-sistine-chapel-in-the-vatican-museums\">the Sistine Chapel.<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In order for you to be able to enjoy what you <em>can<\/em> do when visiting the Vatican, we&#8217;ve complied a list of some of the biggest mistakes people make when visiting the Vatican, these will be extremely helpful for you to plan your visit. This will save you time, and headaches.<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_16720\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16720\" class=\"wp-image-16720\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0002.jpg\" alt=\"Crowds of people inside the Vatican Museums\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-16720\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Make sure to know how to prepare for this day, to avoid any inconveniences.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_arriving_at_midday_to_Vatican_City\"><\/span>Avoid arriving at midday to Vatican City<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Numbers visiting the Vatican can reach as high as 20,000 per day. With ticket lines often snaking around the walls.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>We recommend getting there early, when the doors open, <\/strong>if not a bit earlier to allow for delays. <strong>Alternatively, you could plan a visit later in the day<\/strong>, when the crowds have thinned out. And, if you&#8217;re visiting during the summer, when the heat has cooled down.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Vatican Museums standard opening times are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8pm during the summer months when they extend the opening hours. Every last Sunday of the month, it is also open from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m, with free entry, but be warned, this day is often extremely busy.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>It is good for you to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.museivaticani.va\/content\/museivaticani\/en.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">check in advance<\/a> instead of just showing up around noon, as it&#8217;s a place that will take you some time to visit.<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip:<\/strong> Although the Museums officially closes at 6 p.m. (or 8 p.m. during their extended hours) keep in mind that the last entrance is 2 hours before closing time. On the last Sunday of the month it closes at 2 p.m. and last entry is at 12.30 p.m.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_13093\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13093\" class=\"wp-image-13093\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/The-Vatican-Museums-on-the-Pristine-Sistine-with-Walks-1.jpg\" alt=\"Tourist visiting the Vatican Museums and admiring extraordinary frescoes\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/The-Vatican-Museums-on-the-Pristine-Sistine-with-Walks-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/The-Vatican-Museums-on-the-Pristine-Sistine-with-Walks-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/The-Vatican-Museums-on-the-Pristine-Sistine-with-Walks-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13093\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Knowing a little bit of where you&#8217;re going, or having a great Vatican Tour, will definitely enhance your visit.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_trying_to_buy_tickets_last_minute\"><\/span>Avoid trying to buy tickets last minute<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>If there&#8217;s one thing that you should do when visiting the Vatican, it is to buy tickets in advance. Do not leave it until the last minute as you may find you can\u00b4t find tickets for the day or time you need.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>How far in advance should you purchase tickets for the Vatican?<\/strong>\u00a0Ideally, aim to reserve your tickets when you book other elements of your trip, like flights and accommodation. Basically, as early as you know when you&#8217;d like to visit. This will also make planning the rest of your trip easier as you can put this visit in the diary as a priority and work other plan around it. Occasionally, you can be lucky and find last-minute availability for the next day. Other times, they tickets be sold out for the entire month.<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip:<\/strong> The best place to buy tickets is on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.museivaticani.va\/content\/museivaticani\/en.html#lnav_shop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">official website<\/a> of the Vatican Museums.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_15690\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15690\" class=\"wp-image-15690\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-High-Res-0017.jpg\" alt=\"Guided tour of the Vatican City\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15690\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you don&#8217;t manage to get a ticket from the official website, an additional option is to opt for a guided tour!<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Don%C2%B4t_dress_inappropriately\"><\/span>Don\u00b4t dress inappropriately<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>You\u2019ve waited a long time to get inside the Vatican, don\u2019t risk being turned away because you weren\u2019t dressed accordingly.<\/p>\r\n<p>The official website says that only \u201cappropriately dressed visitors\u201d will be allowed to enter the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/art-culture\/visiting-st-peters-basilica\">St. Peter\u2019s Basilica<\/a>. They explicitly state that low cut, sleeveless clothing, shorts, miniskirts, and hats are not considered appropriate.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Of course, if you&#8217;re visiting during summer, when temperatures in Rome can soar, this is easier said than done. What&#8217;s more, it can often be left to the interpretation of the guards stationed at the entrance.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Our advice? Keep shoulders and knees covered, opt for lightweight materials, and consider bringing a scarf or wrap so you can cover up inside (you can take it off if it gets too hot later in the day).<\/p>\r\n<p>Also beware of inappropriate slogans or graphics on clothing, you may not find them offensive but, if you think they may not be suitable for a religious site, leave them at home.<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip: <\/strong>Check out the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/the-vatican-dress-code\">Vatican dress code<\/a>, in advance of travelling, so you know what to pack.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_12248\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12248\" class=\"wp-image-12248\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Walks-20181108-Rome-Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0014.jpg\" alt=\"Crowds entering the Vatican City Museum\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Walks-20181108-Rome-Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0014.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Walks-20181108-Rome-Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0014-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Walks-20181108-Rome-Pristine-Sistine-16x9-0014-1536x864.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-12248\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Make sure to keep in mind the dress code to avoid inconveniences.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Don%C2%B4t_stress_about_trying_to_see_everything\"><\/span>Don\u00b4t stress about trying to see everything<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>This one goes hand-in-hand with not booking a tour. Sometimes, people who are <a href=\"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/solo-travel-rome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">visiting solo<\/a> rush through the Vatican museums, trying to fit everything in at once. Remember, this isn\u2019t a test, so don\u2019t try to cram!<\/p>\r\n<p>No matter how much you try, it&#8217;s quite a hard thing to try and fit everything in by yourself on your first visit. And you&#8217;ll find it difficult to appreciate the real beauty that lies within the Vatican. It&#8217;s sure to result in a stressful visit.<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_8808\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8808\" class=\"wp-image-8808 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Pieta-copy.jpg\" alt=\"Michelangelo's Piet\u00e0 statue in St Peter\u00b4s Basilica\" width=\"1000\" height=\"672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Pieta-copy.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/04\/Pieta-copy-768x516.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-8808\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">There are iconic parts of the Vatican that you should take your time with, such as Michelangelo&#8217;s Piet\u00e0 and, of course, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>That said, there are also hidden gems within the Vatican that are worth taking the time to absorb. Find out what you&#8217;re most interested in seeing and divide your time up accordingly. For example, most people tend to bypass the Borgia Apartments, but this is one you won&#8217;t want to miss if you&#8217;re an avid history buff (or just a fan of the Showtime series!).<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip<\/strong>: Explore at your pace on a Private tour. We offer multiple <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/attraction\/private-tours-in-rome\/\">private tours in Rome and Vatican City<\/a> that give you the freedom to slow down in moments that matter to you.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"attachment_15067\" style=\"width: 1450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-15067\" class=\"wp-image-15067 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/Sistine-01.jpg\" alt=\"Sistine Chapel Ceiling\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-15067\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Sistine Chapel Ceiling is even more amazing in real life!<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Avoid_visiting_during_peak_season_if_possible\"><\/span>Avoid visiting during peak season if possible<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>We acknowledge that this one may be unavoidable. But, if at all possible, try to schedule your visit in the off season. Not only will you find the Vatican more manageable without the crowds, it will also be easier to follow the dress code when the temperatures cool down.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>If you&#8217;re thinking about when to go to the Vatican City, plan a winter visit to the Eternal city between October and Mid December for a calmer atmosphere, or February to March before the summer kicks off.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"attachment_19019\" style=\"width: 1290px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19019\" class=\"wp-image-19019 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/pexels-kai-pilger-1243538.jpg\" alt=\"Square with crowds for Easter Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican City\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/pexels-kai-pilger-1243538.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/pexels-kai-pilger-1243538-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19019\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Events such as mass draw large crowds to the Vatican. Photo credit: Kai Pilger<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Don%C2%B4t_go_on_the_busiest_days\"><\/span>Don\u00b4t go on the busiest days\u00a0<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>On the other hand, most museums in Rome tend to close on Monday, which makes museums that remain open (like the Vatican) particularly popular.<\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip:<\/strong> Use Monday to see an <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/blog\/rome\/alternative-things-to-do-rome\/\">off-the-beaten-path attraction in Rome<\/a>, and save visiting the Vatican for Tuesday or Friday.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<p>In a similar vein, it&#8217;s worth noting that a Papal audience is held every Wednesday. This is a ticketed event where the Pope addresses the crowd in St. Peter&#8217;s Square with a speech, blessings, and homilies, and can attract thousands of attendees.\u00a0As a result, St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica is closed every Wednesday morning while the general Papal audience is in the Square (it re-opens at approximately 12:30 p.m.).<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_19017\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19017\" class=\"wp-image-19017\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Walks_Rome_Roman-Icons_Temp_0014.jpg\" alt=\"Castel Sant'Angelo overlooking the Tiber River in Rome.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19017\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A visit to Castel Sant&#8217;Angelo makes a great addition to the Vatican.<\/p><\/div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip: <\/strong>One of the attractions closed on Monday is the often-overlooked <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/rome-tours\/pantheon-to-castel-sant-angelo-tour\/\">Castel Sant&#8217;Angelo<\/a>, which sits above the Tiber River. The striking fortress is nearby and easily manageable within an afternoon, which makes a great pairing with a visit to the Vatican.<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Not_booking_a_tour\"><\/span>Not booking a tour<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p>Okay, we might be a little biased on this one, but hear us out. It may be the smallest country in the world but, at 110 acres, the Vatican still has a lot of ground to cover, especially in one visit. The palace has an estimated 1,400 rooms, chapels, and galleries, all filled with beautiful paintings, impressive sculptures, and stunning architecture. This can make it difficult to know what to prioritize.<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>Unless you&#8217;re planning to do some <em>serious<\/em> research ahead of time, visiting the Vatican to see all of these magnificent pieces without any real context can be a little like trying to read a map without a legend. So, it&#8217;s worth taking the time to research what tours are on offer, for adults <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/travel-tips\/vatican-for-kids\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">and for kids<\/a>!\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Check out what our <strong>customers are saying:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<div class=\"tour-box-reviews tour-box-reviews-detail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" 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src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"review-box review-box-detail\">\r\n<p class=\"descr\">The tour guide was awesome!!! Cannot say enough that she brought to life the main artists and made it fun for everyone!!! Awesome time and my wife held the rest of the trip to the same standard. Highly recommend!!! &#8211; <em>Steven, April 2025<\/em><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"tour-box-reviews tour-box-reviews-detail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" 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src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iaXNvLTg4NTktMSI\/Pg0KPCEtLSBHZW5lcmF0b3I6IEFkb2JlIElsbHVzdHJhdG9yIDE2LjAuMCwgU1ZHIEV4cG9ydCBQbHVnLUluIC4gU1ZHIFZlcnNpb246IDYuMDAgQnVpbGQgMCkgIC0tPg0KPCFET0NUWVBFIHN2ZyBQVUJMSUMgIi0vL1czQy8vRFREIFNWRyAxLjEgVGlueS8vRU4iICJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy9HcmFwaGljcy9TVkcvMS4xL0RURC9zdmcxMS10aW55LmR0ZCI+DQo8c3ZnIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgYmFzZVByb2ZpbGU9InRpbnkiIGlkPSJMYXllcl8xIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHhtbG5zOnhsaW5rPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8xOTk5L3hsaW5rIg0KCSB4PSIwcHgiIHk9IjBweCIgd2lkdGg9IjM2LjE5cHgiIGhlaWdodD0iMzNweCIgdmlld0JveD0iMCAwIDM2LjE5IDMzIiB4bWw6c3BhY2U9InByZXNlcnZlIj4NCjxwb2x5Z29uIGZpbGw9IiNBRDlDNjMiIHBvaW50cz0iMTguMSwwIDIyLjk4LDExLjc5IDM2LjE5LDEyLjYgMjYuMDEsMjAuNyAyOS4yNywzMyAxOC4xLDI2LjIzIDYuOTIsMzMgMTAuMTgsMjAuNyAwLDEyLjYgDQoJMTMuMjEsMTEuNzkgIi8+DQo8L3N2Zz4NCg==\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"review-box review-box-detail\">\r\n<p class=\"descr\">Tour was a dream come true. Guide was excellent, engaging, and informative- <em>Sarah, April 2025<\/em><\/p>\r\n<div class=\"tour-box-reviews tour-box-reviews-detail\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"icon icon-star_active\" 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src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" width=\"17px\" height=\"17px\" name=\"star_active\" \/><\/div>\r\n<div class=\"review-box review-box-detail\">\r\n<p class=\"descr\">Our Tour guide Sara was fabulous, her knowledge made the Tour so informative &amp; interesting!! So glad we booked with you! &#8211; <em>Terry, December 2024<\/em><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_16784\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16784\" class=\"wp-image-16784\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/7-Rome_Pristine-Sistine-2x3-0006.jpg\" alt=\"Visiting the Vatican Museums with kids\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-16784\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Opting for a guided tour provides more context. And it brings the place alive, for children and adults alike!<\/p><\/div>\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p><strong>Insider tip<\/strong>: Learn more before you go and discover some interesting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/things-to-do\/facts-about-vatican-city\">facts about Vatican city!<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n<h2 data-section-id=\"1hnoubo\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"47\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_%E2%80%93_Visiting_the_Vatican\"><\/span>FAQs &#8211; Visiting the Vatican<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<h3 data-section-id=\"1hnoubo\" data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"47\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_much_does_it_cost_to_visit_the_Vatican\"><\/span>How much does it cost to visit the Vatican?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p data-start=\"49\" data-end=\"475\">Standard admission to the Vatican Museums costs around <strong data-start=\"104\" data-end=\"122\">\u20ac20 for adults<\/strong>, with reduced-price tickets available for eligible visitors. If you want to avoid long queues and gain expert insight into the collections, a guided tour is often the best value, especially during peak travel seasons.<\/p>\r\n<h3 data-start=\"49\" data-end=\"475\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Who_qualifies_for_reduced_or_free_Vatican_tickets\"><\/span>Who qualifies for reduced or free Vatican tickets?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p data-start=\"49\" data-end=\"475\">Children under 7 enter free, while visitors aged 7\u201318, students up to 25 with valid ID, and eligible visitors with disabilities can benefit from reduced or free admission. There is currently <strong data-start=\"1365\" data-end=\"1395\">no general senior discount<\/strong> for the Vatican Museums.<\/p>\r\n<h3 data-section-id=\"gb0h0m\" data-start=\"868\" data-end=\"914\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_best_way_to_get_to_the_Vatican\"><\/span>What\u2019s the best way to get to the Vatican?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p data-start=\"916\" data-end=\"1363\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The easiest way to reach Vatican City is by <strong data-start=\"960\" data-end=\"983\">Rome\u2019s Metro Line A<\/strong>, getting off at <strong data-start=\"1000\" data-end=\"1024\">Ottaviano\u2013San Pietro<\/strong> or <strong data-start=\"1028\" data-end=\"1037\">Cipro<\/strong> station, both around a 10-minute walk from the Vatican Museums entrance. Taxis and ride-sharing services are convenient alternatives, particularly for families with young children or strollers. If you&#8217;re joining a guided tour, arrive at the designated meeting point 10\u201315 minutes early to ensure a smooth start to your visit.<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"attachment_19073\" style=\"width: 1210px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-19073\" class=\"wp-image-19073 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Walks_Vatican-After-Hours-WEB-0001resize.jpg\" alt=\"Inside the Vatican\" width=\"1200\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Walks_Vatican-After-Hours-WEB-0001resize.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Walks_Vatican-After-Hours-WEB-0001resize-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-19073\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Seeing inside the Vatican is a truly memorable experience, so, don not forget to add it to your bucket list!<\/p><\/div>\r\n<p><strong>Are you ready to see it for yourself?<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Visiting the Vatican is a must-do experience, but there is also a lot to learn, see, and understand, and an expert tour guide can help you turn that into a reality where every sight is full of life and history.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>Walks of Italy has a number of <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/\">Vatican tours<\/a> to choose from, from our early-access <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/pristine-sistine-chapel-tour\/\">Pristine Sistine Tour<\/a> to a comprehensive <a href=\"https:\/\/walksofitaly.com\/vatican-tours\/complete-vatican-tour\/\">Complete Vatican Tour<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\n\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re planning on visiting the Vatican City, we are here to offer an answer to all of your questions, including some handy tours for those with less planning time.\u00a0 With so much to take in when visiting the Vatican, it&#8217;s essential to plan ahead to make the most out of your visit, trust us [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":61,"featured_media":20654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[19,211],"ppma_author":[166],"class_list":["post-11932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel-tips","tag-vatican","tag-vatican-city"],"authors":[{"term_id":166,"user_id":61,"is_guest":0,"slug":"aoifewalks","display_name":"Aoife Bradshaw","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/53df06eda4a4ad27ba2bcdeb3ba2913c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Bradshaw","first_name":"Aoife","job_title":"","description":"Aoife Bradshaw is a writer from Ireland with a serious case of wanderlust. Passionate about travel, food, and film, she writes about any and everything cultural. She's happiest when she\u2019s exploring new ideas in different cities, or delving into their history. When she\u2019s not writing she can usually be found on rambling walks, engrossed in a good book or trying her hand at a new recipe. Aoife also contributes to CultureTrip and Hotpress Magazine."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11932"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/61"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11932"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11932\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25654,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11932\/revisions\/25654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11932"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.walksofitaly.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=11932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}