Your trip to Rome is sure to include at least one day in Vatican City, the city-state located within and surrounded by Rome. Vatican City, or simply The Vatican, is the smallest country in the world and is the home of the Pope. Here you will find the most important church in Christendom, St. Peter’s Basilica , as well as some of the greatest artistic treasures in the world, including the Sistine Chapel . Click on the links to learn more about each attraction.
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Basilica of Saint Peter
Direction
St. Peter’s Square, 00120 Vatican City, Vatican CityGet directions
Telephone
+39 06 6982
Web
Visit the website
Built on what is considered the site of the martyrdom of St. Peter, St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest church in the world, a treasure of art, and the resting place of many ancient popes. Visitors flock to St. Peter’s Basilica during religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, when the Pope performs special Masses in the Basilica.
The Basilica is free to visit, but is generally very crowded, and there can be long lines to enter. The best time to go is early in the morning. Please note that visitors who are not dressed in proper clothing will not be allowed into the basilica (no shorts, miniskirts, or sleeveless shirts). The dome, which is accessed by stairs or an elevator, can be visited for a fee. Also worth seeing is the crypt below Saint Peter, which contains the tombs of dozens of popes, including John Paul II and Saint Peter himself.
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St. Peter’s Square
Direction
St. Peter’s Square, 00120 Vatican City, Vatican CityGet directions
Telephone
+39 06 6988 2350
Web
Visit the website
Piazza San Pietro, or St. Peter’s Square, is one of the best-known squares in Italy. This large square takes place at the end of Via della Conciliazione in Rome in front of St. Peter’s Basilica. It was designed by the Roman artist Gianlorenzo Bernini in 1656 and has an elliptical shape. There are 140 statues above the colonnades and 2 large fountains in the square.
The great square is where the lines to enter San Pedro are formed. It also offers some unforgettable photographs. The Pope holds regular papal general audiences on Wednesday mornings in St. Peter’s Square. While there is no cost to attend, tickets to the papal audience are required.
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The Vatican museums
Direction
Viale Vaticano, 00165 Rome RMGet directions
Telephone
+39 06 6988 4676
Web
Visit the website
The massive complex that is the Vatican Museums houses some of the world’s most famous works of art, including works by Raphael and Michelangelo, as well as works of art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire. These works of art were collected by popes throughout the centuries. Must-see highlights include the Raphael Rooms ( Stanze di Raffaello ), which were once the private apartments of Pope Julius II and include the monumental fresco of the School of Athens.
You can avoid the (very) long entry line by purchasing your ticket in advance or booking a tour. Buy tickets for the Vatican Museum with payment in US dollars on the Vatican Museums website. As with the Basilica, you will not be allowed to enter unless you are properly dressed.
For other galleries within museums, it’s best to study ahead and decide what you want to see the most (Roman coins, Etruscan sculptures, old maps, etc.). Then head over to these collections and resist the urge to try to see it all – it’s too much for one or even a dozen visits.
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The Sistine Chapel
Direction
00120, Vatican CityGet directions
Web
Visit the website
With the ceiling and altar painted by Michelangelo and the frescoes on the walls painted by other greats of the Renaissance, the Sistine Chapel is the highlight of a visit to the Vatican Museums and one of the most important artistic treasures in the world. The chapel is usually very crowded. You can avoid some of the crowd by going as soon as it opens or even better by booking a tour before or after Sistine Chapel hours.
Hint: When visiting the Sistine Chapel, head to the perimeter and hover near the benches that line the wall. When someone gets up, take your seat. It’s a much more comfortable way to view ceiling and wall murals, and you can sit for as long as you want, within reason!
Continue to 5 of 5 below.
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Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel Guided Tours
Direction
Via Paolo VI, 29, 00120 Vatican City, Vatican CityGet directions
Telephone
+39 06 6988 4676
Web
Visit the website
There are a number of interesting tours that can be booked through the Vatican or through private companies. Because the complex is so large and often crowded, having a guide makes navigating the vast collections more manageable and interesting. Some museum tours have special themes that allow you to choose what interests you, or if you have a private guide, you can focus on what you want to see the most.
Other special tours are offered, including visiting the Vatican Museums gardens or scavi (archaeological ruins), a behind-the-scenes tour of the Vatican, and tours of other areas of Vatican City. Or book a pre-opening or after-hours tour with The Roman Guy tour company.
This article has been edited and updated by Elizabeth Heath
