Vatican City is a world attraction and visiting the Vatican will take you half a day. The reasons for its importance are various but among them all the factor stands out religious (and more). Millions of people, every year, go to Rome and then to the Vatican for a visit to the Pope's residence. A city in its own right that we Italians are proud to have in Italy and in the heart of Rome.
What's the best time to visit Vatican City? April, May, June and September, preferably week days. What are the attractions to visit in Vatican City? I will list them below to guide you on this visit to the Vatican. At the end of the article I leave you all the useful links for tickets and Vatican tours. I will also tell you how to reach the Vatican by public transport.
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Best time to see the Vatican: where to start from and how to get there
The 1st piece of advice that I give you when visiting the Vatican is to reach it from Castel Sant Angelo. Castel Sant Angelo is another beautiful attraction in Rome a stone's throw from the Vatican. From here, in fact, you can reach St. Peter's Square through Via della Conciliazione.
You will fall in love with this street just from afar with its beautiful colonnade on the sides. From afar you can admire, as you get closer, the splendid dome of St. Peter. This is also a great spot to take some nice photos. The closest metro stops are:
- Lepanto (metro A)
- Ottaviano (metro A)
Best time to see the Vatican: San Pietro square and the basilica
Designed by the Italian sculptor Bernini under the direction of Pope Alexander VII. St. Peter's Square was built between 1656 and 1667 and the colonnade on the sides stands out in its beauty. 284 columns built to symbolize open arms, ready to welcome visitors.
In the center of the square is the St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest buildings in the world. Legend says that the Basilica is built on the site of the tomb of apostle Peter. Given the frequent attendance, it is advisable to book a skip-the-line ticket. The price is negligible but I'll leave you all the info at the end of the article.
Best time to see the Vatican: Vatican Museums
Certainly the most popular attraction and which will leave you speechless with the works it hosts. Founded by Pope Julius II in the 16th century, they are one of the largest art collections in the world. If you are an art lover you cannot skip the Vatican museums. Among the countless works, the very famous Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel stands out.
The Museum visits (with over 6 million of annual visitors) is recommended with guidance. If I can be honest with you I had a great time doing it with the guide. Having someone who explains history and art to you in detail is priceless. During the tour the guide will focus on the main works and believe me... there are many! I leave you the link to book the tour at the end of the article.
Sistine Chapel
The only place in your life where you will spend more than 10 minutes with your head turned upwards. I hope you will be ready for such beauty and will observe every single detail. The Sistine Chapel is the work of Michelangelo Buonarroti. What stands out among the numerous paintings is the central part.
Here Michelangelo wanted to tell 9 stories taken from the episodes of Genesis. Among all the painted stories you will find one world-famous, an iconic painting of endless beauty.
Creation of Adam painting
Icon of universal art and of which one cannot help but be amazed. This painting is simply perfect. The detail of the fingers touching is sublime with a very broad meaning.
God is there, but looking for him depends on man. If he wants, he will stretch out his finger, he will touch it, but if he doesn't want to, he can live his entire existence without looking for it. Adam's contracted finger therefore represents free will.
Momo stairs Vatican museum
Find this architectural beauty created by Giuseppe Momo before leaving the museum. Looking at it from above honestly has a certain effect, it is incredibly fascinating. The double spiral staircase was commissioned by Pope Pius XI and inspired by Bramante. A very beautiful spot where you can also take some photos.
Vatican Gardens
You can visit them better as soon as you finish the tour of the Vatican Museums. From the Vatican gardens you can admire the beautiful St. Peter's dome.
Useful links for tickets and tours
As promised at the beginning, I leave you all the useful links to purchase tickets and tours. The first in the list is the most convenient in terms of price and things to visit. It all depends on the time you have, the choice is yours.
Guided tours of Vatican
- Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica. All in one (super recommended).
- Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and Dome
- Official guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
Vatican Tours with an optional audio guide
- Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: skip the line without guide (optional audio guide)
- 1-hour self-guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica
How to get to Rome (from Italy and from abroad)
Since Rome is located in the center of Italy it is very easy to reach by train. I recommend the option of flying to Italy only if you are really far away.
- Info and booking train ticket to get to Rome. Remember that booking in advance will save you a lot.
- Info and booking flights tickets to Rome.
Tips on what to do in Rome
If you have decided to visit the Vatican, it means that you have also come to Italy to visit Rome. I can also help you with this by suggesting an article I have personally written. The article is on a Rome itinerary in 3 days among its immense beauty.
Conclusions
What can I say… if you are in Rome visiting Vatican City should be a must. I hope you enjoyed the article and that it gave you inspiration for your trip. To the next trip and remember...who travels lives twice...
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I was pleased to read some practical information on dress code and tickets. Having these pointers helps to plan everything better and to experience the visit in a relaxed and organised way.