How To Get To The Vatican Museums & St. Peter's Basilica
Situated just about 5 km from the heart of Rome, visitors can easily reach Vatican City using a variety of transport options. The twin cities have an extensive, well-connected public transport system that can be used to visit the Vatican.
Since prominent attractions like the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica are inter-connected, your commute will be easier.
Getting to the Vatican
Board a metro on Line A of Rome’s metro system and get off at the Ottaviano-S. Pietro station, which is located right outside Vatican City. From here, it’s just a 5-minute walk to St. Peter’s Square from where you can enter the Vatican Museums.
Board a metro on Line A of Rome’s metro system and get off at Lepanto station. While Ottaviano station is closer to Vatican City, if you get off at Lepanto, you can stroll through and shop at the Cola di Rienzo street.
On Rome Metro’s Line A, board a metro to the Cipro station. It is located in close proximity to the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Buses 40, 62, 64 and 81 are your best options to reach Vatican City from Rome.
The fastest way to reach would be on buses 40 and 64; both have frequent services with stops located close to St. Peter’s Square. Both depart from Roma Termini; bus 40 stops at Piazza Pia -- right next to the Vatican, while bus 64 stops at Terminal Gianicolo, just a few-minute walk to the Piazza.
Vatican City has its own train station: St. Pietro. You can board a train from Roma Termini and get off at St. Pietro, which is located about 10 minutes walking distance from St. Peter’s Square.
Choosing the Best Transport Option to Vatican City
Metro
The Ottaviano-S. Pietro station on Line A of the Rome metro system stops right outside the Vatican; just a 5-minute walk to St. Peter’s Square from where you can access the main attractions: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica.
You can board the metro from popular spots like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and Roma Termini.
Timings: the metro runs from 05:30 AM to 11:30 PM between Sunday to Thursday; on Friday and Saturday the metro runs from 05:30 AM to 01:30 AM.
Duration: 11-15 minutes
Route: Roma Termini - Repubblica - Barberini - Spagna - Flaminio - Lepanto - Ottaviano
Bus
Buses 40 and 64 are the best options to reach Vatican City.
Keeping Roma Termini in mind as the starting point:
Bus 40 will drop you at Piazza Pia, about 10 minutes walking distance from St. Peter’s Square.
Duration: An average journey should take between 29-35 minutes
Bus 64 will drop you at Terminal Gianicolo or Holy Spirit Hospital, each about 10-12 minutes walking distance from St. Peter’s Square.
Duration: An average journey should take between 26-31 minutes.
Timings: Regular buses run from 05:30 AM to 12:00 AM; night buses run between 12:00 AM to 05:30 AM.
You can purchase your metro and/or bus tickets at their respective stations itself, or at any convenience store.