Although the Vatican is an independent state, for the average visitor it functions as part of Rome.

It does not have its own airport or public transport and virtually everyone arrives here from the city centre.

💬 By the way, do you know which other countries in the world don't have any airports with scheduled air service for passengers? Let us know your picks in the comments below the article.

On foot from the historic centre

If you live in the centre of Rome, it's often worth not dealing with transport at all.

I, for example, used public transport a total of 3 times in 3 days in Rome.

Approximate distances:

Location	Walking time
Castel Sant'Angelo	10 min
Piazza Navona	25 min
Pantheon	30 min
Trevi Fountain	40 min
Colosseum	60 min

The path from Castel Sant'Angelo over the Ponte Sant'Angelo Bridge is one of the most beautiful walking routes in the whole city.

The best hotels near the Vatican

By Metro

Vatican City is served by the Orange Line A of the Rome Metro, which connects the north of the historic centre and Termini railway station.

The nearest stations are:

• Ottaviano - best for visiting St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums (about 15 minutes on foot)
• Cipro - especially good for the Vatican Museums (about 10 minutes on foot)

💡 For detailed information on fares and traffic, see the Rome Metro Guide.

Use the Metro A for a quick trip to these places:

• Termini railway station
• Piazza del Popolo
• Villa Borgese
• Spanish Steps

Buses

There are several bus stops near the Vatican.

The most useful for tourists are the following lines:

• Cavalleggeri/S. Pietro (south of St. Peter's Square - map)
  • 46: historic centre, Piazza Venezia
  • 62: historic centre, Piazza Venezia, Trevi Fountain
  • 64: historic centre, Piazza Venezia, Termini
• Stop Risorgimento/Porta Angelica (near the Vatican Museums - map)
  • 23: Trastevere, Ostiense/Porta S. Paolo, St. Paul's Basilica outside the walls
  • 280: Trastevere, Ostiense/Porta S. Paolo

How do the buses work in Rome and how much do tickets cost? Find out in the article Public transport in Rome.

By train

The Vatican has its own railway and its own train station.

In fact, it is the shortest national rail network in the world - there are only about 300 metres of track and one station in Vatican City. The railway was created after the Lateran Treaties and was completed in the 1930s.

Is it possible to ride the train?

Not as a regular passenger.

There's no regular "Rome to Vatican" line.

Vatican Station is not part of the regular public transport system and is inaccessible to visitors most of the time.

The only tourist option is a special program organized by the Vatican Museums.

How do the border crossings between Italy and the Vatican work?

You can hardly tell that you are crossing the border between two separate countries.

There are no boundary stones, no signs or anything to highlight that the Vatican is a separate state.

You can enter the Vatican from Rome without any restrictions at all.

Best hotels near Vatican City