Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tickets
The Vatican Museums hold the popes’ art collections and end in the Sistine Chapel. Here are the ways to visit, what each includes and what to know first.
Photo: Wilfredor, CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Ticket options compared
What each kind of ticket lets you see, and how the options differ in price and cancellation terms.
| Option | What’s included | Good for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard timed entry | Entry to the museums at a set time, following the route through the galleries to the Sistine Chapel. | A first visit at your own pace | Book now |
| Entry with audio guide | Standard entry plus an audio guide that explains the main rooms along the route. | Context without joining a group | Book now |
| Guided tour | Entry with a guide through the highlights: the Gallery of Maps, the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel. | Understanding what you are looking at | Book now |
| Early entry tour | A guided visit that enters before the general opening, when the galleries are at their quietest. | Seeing the Sistine Chapel with fewer people | Book now |
Check live prices
Open each option to see the price and the cancellation terms for your date.
About the Vatican Museums
The museums grew out of the sculpture collection that Pope Julius II began in the early 1500s. Today a single route leads through dozens of galleries, from Egyptian and Roman antiquities to Renaissance painting.
The route ends in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo painted the ceiling and, later, the Last Judgement on the altar wall. Photography is not allowed inside the chapel and visitors are asked to keep silent.
The entrance is on Viale Vaticano, on the north side of the Vatican walls. It is a walk of about fifteen minutes from St. Peter’s Square, which catches out many visitors.
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Good to know
Opening hoursOpen Monday to Saturday. Closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free and hours are shorter. Check the date you plan to visit.
How long to allowAbout three hours for the main route to the Sistine Chapel. Art lovers can easily spend a full day.
Dress codeShoulders and knees must be covered, for men and women. Visitors who are not dressed this way can be refused entry.
Security and bagsEveryone passes airport-style security. Large bags and umbrellas go in the free cloakroom at the entrance.
Nearby
St. Peter’s Basilica
The great church of Vatican City, with a dome you can climb. Dress code applies.
St. Peter’s Square
Bernini’s vast colonnaded square in front of the basilica. Free to enter.
Castel Sant’Angelo
The round fortress on the Tiber that began as the tomb of Emperor Hadrian.
Prati
Quieter, residential and close to the Vatican, with good metro access.
Also in Rome
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Sistine Chapel included in the ticket?
Yes. Every Vatican Museums ticket includes the Sistine Chapel, which is the last stop on the route.
Are the Vatican Museums open on Sundays?
Only on the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free and the hours are shorter. On other Sundays they are closed.
Can I take photos?
Yes in the galleries, without flash. No photography or filming is allowed in the Sistine Chapel.
Does the ticket include St. Peter’s Basilica?
No. The basilica is free to enter and has its own entrance on St. Peter’s Square, with a separate security line.