Back to museums

Vatican Museums

ArchitectureArtHistoryArchaeologyClosed todayFrom €20Ottaviano (Line A)

The Vatican Museums are less a single museum and more a sprawling constellation of galleries, chapels, and collections accumulated by the papacy over five centuries. The numbers are staggering — roughly 70,000 works, 20,000 on display, spread across 54 galleries covering 7 kilometres of exhibition space. You'll find everything from ancient Egyptian mummies to Raphael's Stanze to contemporary art, but the gravitational centre is obviously the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's ceiling (1508-1512) and Last Judgment (1536-1541). Beyond the Sistine Chapel, highlights include the Raphael Rooms (the School of Athens alone is worth the visit), the Gallery of Maps (a 120-metre corridor of 16th-century topographical frescoes that doubles as one of the most beautiful hallways on earth), the Laocoön and Belvedere Apollo in the Pio-Clementino Museum, and the Bramante Staircase. The collection of classical sculpture rivals any museum in the world, and the Pinacoteca holds major works by Giotto, Caravaggio, and Leonardo. Practical reality: it is very crowded, especially in the corridors leading to the Sistine Chapel. The extended hours (now open until 20:00) help spread visitors out. Book online well in advance. If you can, go on a weekday afternoon or during the last hour for a marginally less compressed experience.

What's On

Now
May

Plan Your Visit

Hours

MonClosed
TueClosed
WedClosed
ThuClosed
FriClosed
SatClosed
SunTodayClosed

Address

Viale Vaticano 6, 00165 Roma RM, Italy

Nearest station: Ottaviano (Line A)

Admission

€20

€20 in person, €25 online. Reduced €10 (€15 online). Under 7 free. Free last Sunday of month. Includes Sistine Chapel.

Visitor Information

How much does Vatican Museums cost?
Standard adult admission to Vatican Museums is €20. €20 in person, €25 online. Reduced €10 (€15 online). Under 7 free. Free last Sunday of month. Includes Sistine Chapel.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
What are the opening hours of Vatican Museums?
Vatican Museums is open Mon-Sat 08:00-20:00 (last entry 18:00). Closed Sundays except last Sunday of month (09:00-14:00, free). Closed: Jan 1, 6, Feb 11, Mar 19, Apr 6, May 1, June 29, Aug 14-15, Nov 1, Dec 8, 25-26. Temporary: sector closures May 12-14; Castel Gandolfo closed July 1-31. Check website for details.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
Where is Vatican Museums?
Vatican Museums is located at Viale Vaticano 6, 00165 Roma RM, Italy, in the Vatican City area of Rome. The nearest station is Ottaviano (Line A).
What can I see at Vatican Museums?
One of the world's greatest art collections, spanning 5,000 years from ancient Egypt to modern art, culminating in Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.
Do I need to book Vatican Museums in advance?
Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
When is the best time to visit Vatican Museums?
Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.

NormanB (CC BY-SA 3.0)

DirectionsVisit Website