The Vatican Museums are among the most visited museums in the world and one of the places where people most often underestimate the planning.

Dozens of magnificent halls, Raphael's famous rooms, ancient statues, monumental corridors filled with maps, and especially the legendary Sistine Chapel with its Michelangelo ceiling await you.

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But it's the sheer popularity that can make a visit without a reservation a rather unpleasant experience.

The high season is no exception:

• queues of several hours
• sold-out dates
• extreme crowds from early morning

What to see in the Vatican Museums

Many people expect one building with several paintings. In reality, it is a huge complex of museums, galleries and historical halls.

The most famous parts include:

• Sistine Chapel
• Raphael's Rooms
• The Map Gallery
• The famous spiral staircases
• Collections of ancient statues
• extensive corridors and courtyards full of frescoes and decorations

The visitor route alone is several kilometres long.

And this is what tends to surprise many people - the visit is considerably more physically demanding than they expected.

And for me personally, for example, it was a surprise that the Sistine Chapel is a regular part of the Vatican Museums tour. I had long thought it was off-limits to the public.

Do they have to book tickets?

In theory, you can come without a reservation and buy a ticket on the spot.

It's just that:

• the queues can be extreme (sometimes more than 3 hours).
• some days are completely sold out (realistically, you can stand in a 3-hour queue and find out at the box office that the next available slot is not until another day)

Honestly, this is where booking probably makes the most sense of all the sights in Rome.

• 👉 O ther places in Rome where I recommend booking in advance

When to book?

Ideally:

• A few weeks in advance
• If you are planning a visit at the weekend, Easter, Christmas, then feel free to visit even earlier

Where to book?

Book tickets for the Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel exclusively through the official website: museivaticani.va.

Ticket prices and opening hours

Vatican Museums incl. The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are open daily 8:00-20:00, but the last entry is possible at 18:00.

• 20 eur + 5 eur booking fee - individual tour of the museums + chapel
• 40 eur - guided tour (museums + chapels)
  • duration 2 hours
• 45 eur - guided tour (museums + chapels + gardens)
  • duration 3 hours

Reduced admission for seniors and students is always 10 eur cheaper.

Watch out for vendors around the Vatican

The area around the museums is full of people offering:

• "official tickets".
• "last minute entry"
• "fast access"

Most of these offers are scams and frauds that will sell you already purchased official tickets at multiple prices.

Sistine Chapel - what to expect?

For many people, the Sistine Chapel is the main reason to visit.

Why?

• The election of the Pope takes place here.
• you'll find Michelangelo's famous ceiling
• you'll see the iconic "Creation of Adam"

Just watch out:

• it gets extremely crowded.
• you're often in the crowd almost continuously.
• Photography is forbidden.

How long will the visit take?

As a guide, please allow for the following times:

Activity	Time
Quick visit	1 hour
With guide	2 hours
Guided tour including gardens	3 hours

Also count with:

• a lot of walking
• long corridors
• lots of people

Dress code - is it checked?

Yes.

Just like in the basilica:

• covered shoulders.
• No extremely short clothing.

Inspections tend to be quite rigorous.

What to see around

Discover all the places to see in Vatican.