Ok humans, it’s time to talk about the Vatican.
The Vatican museums are always at the top of anyone’s must-see list when visiting Rome. Whether you’re a catholic on a pilgrimage, or an art lover seeking Michelangelo masterpieces and Raphael frescoes, the siren song of the Vatican is real.
It’s also one of the most popular tourist sites in the world. Estimates say that almost 20,000 people visit the Vatican every single day.
Every. Single. Day.
There’s no way to visit the Vatican without feeling like you’re in a caravan of tourists. Trust me, I tried all the secrets and very few of them worked. But all that being said, here are the things I learned that I want to pass on to you. Hopefully they’ll help you survive your visit with your sanity intact!
Preparing for the Vatican
Tickets
If you want to visit any of the Vatican sites, you absolutely need to have a pre-purchased ticket. The line to get tickets at the door is properly obscene. Unless you want to spend half your day waiting in line in the hot sun on an exposed sidewalk next to a huge boring wall, buy your tickets ahead of time.
I got a skip-the-line ticket from Headout, and it worked perfectly for my needs. I stopped in at the tour office right across the street from the museum entrance, got my timed-entry ticket from them, and quickly joined a (much shorter) line with my QR code in hand. I was inside the museums in under ten minutes.
Dress code
The dress code at the Vatican, including the museums, is very strict! You’ll want a shirt that covers your shoulders, and to have your legs covered at least to your knees. Hats aren’t allowed, so leave that cute sunhat at your hotel. These rules are out of respect for the religious traditions that call the Vatican home, and they will be enforced, so be prepared. I wore a pair of long linen pants and a short sleeve blouse on my trip to the Vatican, and it worked perfectly.
And while we’re here, wear your best shoes. You’ll be on your feet all day at the Vatican, and there won’t be a ton of places where you’ll be able to sit down. Dress for comfort when it comes to your footwear.
Do I need My Passport?
No. The Vatican is technically a separate country from Italy, but you don’t need your passport to get inside. There’s no border control or passport check, but there will be x-ray machines for your bags and metal detectors for your pockets.
Planning Your Route
There’s far more to the Vatican Museums than can be seen in a single visit. You could probably spend a year in these galleries and not see everything there is to see. Each gallery is a work of architectural wonder itself, and each one is PACKED with art, and every one of them is a masterpiece. It’s, frankly, overwhelming. I found myself overstimulated very quickly, so set priorities and pace yourself.
My recommendation: make sure you see anything you want to see on the first floor and lower levels FIRST, because once you climb the stairs to the second floor, you’ll be on the one-way path that ends in the Sistine Chapel.
And yes you’ll absolutely join that caravan in time. Many of the most iconic masterpieces at the Vatican are on this route, and the Sistine Chapel is, like, the whole reason you visit the Vatican. But once you get in that line, there’s no going back, so make sure you don’t join it until you’re ready.
And if I may draw your attention to one particular wing of the museum, you absolutely must visit the Pinacoateca before you join the Sistine Chapel Caravan. You’ll find it off to your left when you enter through the museum’s main entrance. This area of the museum houses some of the most beautiful paintings in the Vatican. The works in here are stunning. No areas of the Vatican are ever going to be crowd-free, but compared to most other galleries, you’ll feel like you have this one to yourself.
And after you’re done there, hit the restroom. You may not get the chance again until after the Sistine Chapel, and depending on when you’re visiting, that might be several hours later!
The Sistine Chapel Trail
When you’re ready, start following the signage for the Sistine Chapel. It’ll be almost impossible to miss. Not only will the signs be literally everywhere, but you can also just look for the huge crowd of people and join in the caravan.
There is never not a caravan of people making their way toward the Sistine Chapel. How fast the caravan moves will depend on the season you visit in. Expect to feel like you’re waiting in line at Disneyland. There is no rushing (or stopping) the line. Just shuffle along with it at whatever pace it sets. But at least while you wait, you can admire the world class art all around you.
You’ll pass through a series of galleries dedicated to Egyptian art. You’ll wander down halls of marble statues and gilded ceilings. (My personal favorite was this painted ceiling that looks carved, but nope! It’s a painted illusion!) You’ll trek your way down the famous Hall of Maps, decorated with beautiful painted (and occasionally hilariously incorrect) maps.
When you reach the end of that hallway, things will get narrow and twisty and you weave your way through a series of small salons with amazing frescoes on the walls. This is where you’ll find Raphael’s School of Athens, among others.
When you finally do reach the Sistine Chapel, it’s worth it. Yes, it’s full of people. No, you’re not allowed to take photos inside. But it’s the kind of once-in-a-lifetime artistic marvel that you have to see to believe. Spend as long in there as you want, and soak it in.
If you’re on a guided tour, you’ll likely take a side exit from the Sistine Chapel directly into St. Peter’s Basilica. If you’re on a self-guided journey, you’ll exit the other way back through the museums.
There will be many more masterpieces and museum halls on your way out, as the post-chapel route directs you back to the front of the museums. Admire as many as you still have the stamina for. By this point, I was exhausted and overstimulated and mostly just beelined for the exit, but you do you!
And yes, the iconic spiraling staircase you’ve seen in Vatican travel photography is part of this route out of the buildings. You can’t miss it!
Enjoy your Visit to the Vatican Museums!
I hope this guide helps you set your expectations for the Vatican. Choose your route well, budget your energy and your focus, and there’s no reason not to have an amazing time. Good luck and godspeed!
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Love and Shenanigans,
Andi
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