Where is the Vatican Museums? | Location & Best Travel Options

Getting to the Vatican by public transportation

Travel time: 11 -15 mins
Closest station: Ottaviano-S. Pietro Station
Timings: The metro runs from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM between Sunday to Thursday; on Friday and Saturday the metro runs from 5:30 AM to 1:30 AM.

Board a metro on Line A of Rome’s metro system and get off at the Ottaviano-S. Pietro station.. From here, it’s just a 5-minute walk to St. Peter’s Square.

Alternatively, you can get off at Lepanto station. You can stroll through and shop at Cola di Rienzo street, before heading to the Vatican Museums. The Cipro Station, also on Line A, is located in close proximity to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.

Travel time: 29 mins
Closest stop: V.Le Vaticano/Musei Vaticani
Timings: Regular buses run from 5:30 AM to 12 AM; night buses run between 12 AM to 5:30 AM.

Bus 49 stops in the square in front of the Vatican Museums. You can also take buses 40 and 64; both depart from Roma Termini. Bus 40 stops at Piazza Pia, right next to the Vatican, about 10 minutes walking distance from St. Peter’s Square. Bus 64 stops at Terminal Gianicolo or Holy Spirit Hospital, each about 10-12 minutes walking distance from St. Peter’s Square.

Buses 32, 81, and 982, stop at Piazza del Risorgimento. You can also board buses 492 or 990, which stop at Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni.

Travel time: 36 mins
Closest station: St. Pietro
Timings: The first train departs Roma Termini at 5:35 AM, after which a train departs every 30 minutes. The last train leaves Rome Termini at 10:35 PM.

Vatican City has its own train station: St. Pietro. You can board the RE 12524 towards Civitavecchia or RE 4134 towards Pisa Centrale from Roma Termini and get off at St. Pietro, located about 10 minutes from St. Peter’s Square.

Travel time: 53 minutes
Closest stop: Piazza del Risorgimento
Timings: Trams run from 5:30 AM to 12 AM every day,

Take line number 19 which starts from Gerani. Alight at Piazza del Risorgimento, just outside the Vatican City walls. A quick 7-minute walk from here will take you to the Vatican Museum.

SIT Bus at Ciampino Airport ready for transfer to Roma Termini station.

The Rome airports - Fiumicino Airport and Ciampino Airport are the closest to the city of Vatican. Fiumicino Airport is likely to be your touchpoint if you are an international passenger. Ciampino Airport primarily caters to domestic flights. For swift and hassle-free transfers from the airport to the city or back, you can book Rome Airport Transfer services online.

Some brands like SIT Shuttle Bus stop near the Vatican on its way to and from the Rome airports. Check out Rome Fiumicino Airport to Vatican transfer services.

Rome Airport Transfers

Getting to the Vatican by car

Travel time: 19 mins

To drive down from Rome, the fastest route would be to drive via Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. You can also head to the Vatican via Viale del Muro Torto to avoid tolls; however, this route will take longer. However, you will not be able to enter the Vatican City in a car unless you’re there on official business.

Parking facilities near Vatican

Parking Prati, on Piazza Unità, 62 – 193 is located close to the Vatican City. You will need to leave your keys at the Prati Car Park.
Garage San Pietro, on Via di Santa Maria alle Fornaci, 26 – 165. The car park is a 5-minute walk away from Vatican City.
Vespasian Garage: Located at a walking distance from the Vatican, the Vespasian Garage hourly, daily, nightly, and monthly parking fares.

Walk to Vatican

Travel time: 28 mins
If you are not in a hurry, walking is a great way to reach Vatican City from Rome. This is not only budget-friendly, it is also a great way to sightsee.

If your starting point is the Piazza Navona, you should take the Via de Coronari road that is lined with shops and cafes and turn right onto Via di Panico.

At the end of the Via di Panico, you will find a public crossing that will lead you to Ponte Sant'Angelo. Cross the bridge and turn left in front of the Castel Sant'Angelo. A straight road, Via della Conciliazione, connects Sant Angelo with St Peter's Square.

Vatican Museums' entrances

You can enter the Vatican City via the Viale Vaticano or the Via della Conciliazione entrances.

The Vatican Museums are accessible from Viale Vaticano on the north side of the city-state.

St. Peter's Basilica, located on the southeast side, is accessible from Via della Conciliazione.

If you enter from St. Peter’s Square, it will take about 15-20 minutes to walk to the Vatican Museums' entrance.

Vatican Museums entrances explained

Vatican ticket options

Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Tickets

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Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica

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Mobile ticket

2 hr. - 3 hr.

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Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour

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2 hr. - 3 hr.

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Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Premium Small Group Tour

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Mobile ticket

2 hr. - 3 hr.

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Frequently asked questions about Vatican Museums' location

Where is the Vatican Museums located?

The Vatican Museums is located in Vatican City, an independent city-state enclave surrounded by Rome, at 00120 Vatican City.

Where exactly is Vatican within Rome?

Vatican City is situated to the northwest of central Rome. It is easily accessible and well-connected to the rest of the city.

How do I travel from Rome to Vatican City?

To travel from Rome to Vatican City, you can use public transportation options, such as the metro, train, tram, or bus. You can also drive or walk from Rome to the Vatican.

What is the easiest way to reach Vatican Museums?

The easiest and quickest way to reach the Vatican Museums is by taking the Metro. Line A of the Metro will take you to the Ottaviano-S. Pietro station, which is located right outside Vatican City.

Which is the closest bus stop to Vatican Museums?

V.Le Vaticano/Musei Vaticani is the closest bus stop to the Vatican Museums.

Which is the closest train station to Vatican Museums?

San Pietro station, located a 10-minute walk from St. Peter's Square, is the closest train station to the Vatican Museums.

Is parking available near the Vatican Museums?

Yes, there are many paid parking facilities near the Vatican Museums, such as the Prati Car Park, the Vespasian Garage, etc.

What is the closest tram station to Vatican Museums?

Piazza del Risorgimento, located a 7-minute walk away from the Vatican, is the closest tram station.

What is the distance between Vatican City and Rome?

The distance between Vatican City and central Rome is relatively short, usually just a few kilometers. The exact distance depends on your starting point in Rome. If we consider Rome Termini as the starting point, the approximate distance from Rome Termini to Vatican City is around 4 kilometers, and the journey can be easily covered by various means of transportation, such as buses, taxis, the Rome Metro, or even on foot.

How can I get from Vatican to Rome?

You can easily travel from Vatican City to Rome by various means of transportation, including buses, taxis, and the Rome Metro. The most common route is to take public transportation or a taxi.