St. Peter’s Square seen from the Basilica dome in Vatican City

Discover Vatican City

Best Vatican
Tours & Tickets

Discover the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the best Vatican tours, with practical guides to help you plan your visit.

Vatican Museums · Sistine Chapel · St. Peter’s BasilicaRome, Italy

Book your Vatican visit

Popular Vatican Experiences

Compare six of the most-reviewed Vatican experiences on GetYourGuide, ordered by review count. Choose independent entry or a guided visit to the Museums, Sistine Chapel and Basilica.

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GetYourGuide prices and review counts checked on 30 October 2026. Prices shown in USD, from the listed starting rate per person; dates, options and availability can change the final price. Photographs are from each activity’s official GetYourGuide gallery.

St. Peter’s dome seen through a window in RomeYour Vatican stay
Rome, ItalyA different view of the city.

Your Vatican stay · Prati, Rome

Your next Vatican visit
starts here.

Stay within walking distance of Vatican City, St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Museums. Choose a base that makes early-morning visits and sightseeing around central Rome easier.

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Find your stay near Vatican City

Choose your dates and guests to compare hotels and accommodation around Vatican City, Prati and central Rome.

Prices and availability are supplied by Stay22 and vary by dates, guests and room availability.

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Plan your Vatican visit

Start with the Vatican essentials

St. Peter’s Square seen from the Basilica dome in Vatican City

Best Things to Do in Vatican City

Explore the Vatican Museums, see Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel, visit St. Peter’s Basilica and climb the dome for views across Rome. A Vatican visit can range from a few hours to most of a day depending on the attractions you choose.

Things to do in Vatican City →
An ornate gallery inside the Vatican Museums

Explore the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums contain galleries, archaeological collections, Renaissance art and the Sistine Chapel. Because visitor numbers can be high, choosing your ticket or tour in advance can make planning much easier.

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Choose your experience

Vatican Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica?

They are Vatican City’s two major visitor experiences, but they are separate attractions with different entrances and visiting styles.

01

Vatican Museums

  • Sistine Chapel
  • Raphael Rooms
  • Extensive art collections
  • Usually requires several hours
  • Timed-entry tickets recommended
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A street in Rome

Stay within walking distance of the Vatican

Prati is one of the most convenient areas for Vatican visitors, with hotels, restaurants and Metro access close to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Square. When choosing accommodation, consider walking distance to the attraction you plan to visit first, especially if you have an early entrance time.

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The façade and dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City

The world’s smallest independent state

Vatican City is an independent city-state surrounded by Rome. Within its borders are St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Gardens, while the Vatican Museums are entered from the northern side of the city. Its compact size means many major sights are close together, but queues, museum routes and security checks can make planning important.

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Plan your visit

Make the most of the Vatican

Worth knowing

Before you visit

Book Vatican Museums tickets early

Timed-entry tickets and popular guided tours can sell out, particularly during busy travel periods.

The Basilica and Museums have separate entrances

Visiting the Museums does not normally mean you enter the Basilica through the same public entrance.

There is a dress code

Wear clothing appropriate for religious sites when entering the Sistine Chapel and Basilica.

Expect security checks

Security screening can create queues even if admission itself is free or pre-booked.

Useful answers

Vatican City FAQ