The Catholic Jubilee is finally over—meaning religious sites like the Vatican won’t be overrun with tourists. (At least, not any more than the usual.)
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If you’ve been holding out to visit this holy city-state in Rome, now is the perfect time to visit. The crowds are manageable in late winter, and the temperature doesn’t drop into the 40s often, letting you explore both the Vatican and Rome without so much pressure.
Still, the Vatican is pretty complicated to visit.
I was supposed to go back in 2018 during a short visit to Rome, but backed out at the last minute to go on a food tour instead. (Priorities.) The decision was partly informed by the fact that the Vatican ticket tiers were confusing, the time slots weren’t ideal, and I wasn’t sure what was included in each type of tour.
A few years later, my dad and stepmom had a similarly confusing experience. Thanks to the guidance of a ticket-hawker, they were able to get into the Vatican without waiting in the long lines. They forked over some cash, then were led into the Vatican via a side entrance.
Was it legal? I have no idea, but they had a great time.
Turns out, I’m not the only one who got confused trying to visit. The Vatican is a tough egg to crack when it comes to figuring out how you can enter, what your tickets include, and how to book a tour.
Let’s dive into the details now so you can nail your Vatican adventure the next time Rome calls.
Tips for visiting the Vatican—the basics, the tours, & insider tips
The Vatican doesn’t sell tickets on-site—only online
The first thing you need to know about visiting the Vatican is that you can’t buy tickets at the entrance. The Vatican stopped selling tickets on-site completely back in 2023. Instead, you can purchase tickets and tours from a single platform online. (More on this below.)
Tickets are sold within a 60-day window, meaning you can’t buy tickets in advance by more than two months. These tickets sell out quickly, especially during the peak tourist season of April through October. If you can’t get tickets, book a combo tour—they’re usually still available.
You can shop all tours via Headout—including tickets, combos, and guided tours
Let’s dig into your tour options, including the combo tours I just mentioned. The Vatican sells tickets and tours via the platform Headout. Just head to The Vatican Tickets and Tours page, and you’ll see everything that’s available.
You have ten options to choose from, including tickets that let you enter specific areas (like the Sistine Chapel, for example), guided tours that pair you with an expert and give you access to specific areas (like the Vatican Museum, for example), and combos that come with multiple options.
The most popular tours are:
- Skip-the-line tickets for the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum
- Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour (includes St. Peter’s Basilica)
- Combo guided tour of the Vatican Museums + Colosseum
- St. Peter’s Basilica and Papal Tombs Guided Tour
Skip-the-line tours won’t get you past security
Just a heads up: Even if you have skip-the-line tickets, you still need to pass through security. Security lines can be long, so if you bought skip-the-line tickets hoping to rush through the entry, think again. Most tour sizes through the Vatican are usually over ten people, unless you book a small group tour option.
Early morning tours are highly rated
You’ll see an option to book an early morning visit to the Vatican. Tour guides in Rome recommend booking this option if you have other plans for the day. That way, you can ensure you leave at a reasonable hour and have time to make it to your other engagements. Don’t forget that Rome is bigger than you think, and the Vatican isn’t located centrally to its other attractions.
Ticket-hawking is illegal… but the Vatican seems chill about it
Here’s the thing: While you can only buy tickets into the Vatican from Headout, the Vatican hasn’t taken a strong stance against ticket-hawkers. You run the risk of buying fake tickets from these types, which won’t get you past the door into the Vatican. On the other hand, it doesn’t look like ticket-hawkers are being prosecuted, and I know someone who had a great visit to the Vatican thanks to their offer. Do with that what you will.
Last tips for visiting the Vatican: the hidden gems
Mosaic Studio
Back in 1727, Pope Benedict XIII set up a mosaic studio in the basement of the Vatican, expanding a previous workshop that was founded in the 1500s. The goal was to formalize the preservation of the mosaics for St. Peter’s Basilica.
Artists work there in order to preserve the Vatican’s 10,000 square meters of mosaics. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a VIP tour, you can see artists working in austere silence, using the same techniques that have been used for centuries. Recently, the crew of artists completed a papal portrait of Pope Leo.
Clementine Chapel
Located in the Vatican Grottoes beneath St. Peter’s Basilica, La Clementina, as this little chapel is known, dates back to the 4th-century. Then, it was built by Emperor Constantine to honor St. Peter—and is located on the site where he was believed to be crucified. Drenched in gold elements, it’s considered the holiest location inside the entire basilica because it’s where St. Peter’s remains are located.
Pinacoteca
If you like Renaissance art, the Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms are likely to be your focus at the Vatican. But don’t forget that the Vatican Museums has its own art gallery, called the Pinacoteca. It houses famous Baroque and Renaissance works from artists like Raphael, Caravaggio, and Leonardo da Vinci. As a perk, it’s not usually overcrowded like other locations in the city-state.
Vatican Gardens
Almost half of Vatican City is covered in ornate gardens, but most of the tours focus on interiors. Religious and artistic landmarks dot the grounds, making them a perfect location to appreciate fountains, sculptures, terraces, and more. You can explore the gardens on a small group guided tour.
