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Inside the Vatican Museums | Art, architecture & the divine

The Vatican Museums is home to a collection of roughly 70,000 works, including some of the most prominent Roman sculptures and Renaissance paintings, which have been amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy over the centuries. Of these, only 20,000 are on display.

What's inside? Iconic art spanning centuries

You’re walking into centuries of art, ambition, and architectural wonder—all curated by popes and preserved for the world. Here's what you shouldn't miss:

  • Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: Stand beneath one of the most famous ceilings in the world and see The Creation of Adam up close.
  • Raphael Rooms: Explore intricate frescoes commissioned by Pope Julius II that still thrum with power and grace.
  • Gallery of Maps & Tapestries: Walk through immersive corridors that symbolize military conquests and biblical visions.
  • A glimpse into Papal history: Discover how art shaped papal power—each room reflects a different era of influence, from the Renaissance to the Baroque.

Here's your guide to navigating the interiors of this landmark and its 54 museums.

​Know more about Vatican Museums >

Page guide

How to explore the Vatican Museums

This guide will help you navigate the highlights and soak in the experience stress-free, once you're inside.

Tour guide showing a group the intricacies of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican Museums, Rome, included in the Jubilee Silver Pass

Guided tours

If there’s one place where a guided tour is worth every cent, it’s the Vatican Museums:

  • With over 50 galleries and 20,000+ artworks on display, it’s nearly impossible to grasp the highlights—or even find them—without context. A guide helps you cut through the noise and focus on the masterpieces that matter.
  • From Michelangelo’s personal struggles in the Sistine Chapel to secret messages in Raphael’s frescoes, guides bring hidden layers to life in a way no audio guide or placard can.

Skip-the-line = Skip-the-stress

  • General admission lines at the Vatican Museums often stretch 1–2 hours, especially mid-morning and during peak season. A skip-the-line ticket lets you bypass these queues and enter via a fast-track entrance, cutting your wait to just 15–20 minutes—even on the busiest days—so you can spend more time inside the galleries and less time outside in line.
  • What does this mean? You save up to 90 minutes or more, leaving you enough time to linger longer at the Raphael Rooms, grab a coffee at the courtyard café, or even make it to St. Peter’s Basilica before the crowds arrive.
Vatican Museums guided tour
  • Best time to go: Arrive before 10 AM for thinner crowds and better photo ops.
  • How long to stay: A standard visit lasts around 2.5–3 hours, but serious art lovers might need half a day or more.
  • Map matters: Grab a museum map (or use the official app) at the entrance to avoid getting lost—there are few signs inside.
Detailed guide to visiting the Vatican Museums
Vatican Museums sculptures display with visitors exploring the gallery.
  • Dress code: Shoulders and knees must be covered—no exceptions.
  • Bag check: Large backpacks, tripods, and umbrellas must be stored in the cloakroom (free of charge).
  • Photography: Allowed in most galleries (no flash), strictly prohibited in the Sistine Chapel.
  • Security check: Similar to airport-style screening—arrive early to factor this in.
More rules and regulations
wheelchair accessibility
  • Wheelchair users can access a dedicated barrier-free route, covering key highlights like the Pinacoteca, Pio-Clementino Museum, Gallery of Tapestries, Raphael Rooms, and even the Sistine Chapel.
  • Elevators, ramps, and accessible restrooms are available across floors 1 and 2 of the complex.
  • A limited number of wheelchairs can be borrowed free of charge at the cloakroom (valid ID required).
  • Caregivers accompanying visitors with disabilities are admitted for free.
  • For visitors with hearing or visual impairments, advance arrangements can be made for sign language guides or tactile tours.
washroom ear vatican museum
  • Beat the bathroom rush: Use the restrooms near the entrance—they're the cleanest and least crowded.
  • Souvenir shortcut: The museum shop near the exit is the largest. Avoid smaller ones en route unless you’re looking for something specific.
  • Exit via St. Peter’s Basilica (if allowed): This shortcut from the Sistine Chapel saves you a long walk around the Vatican walls.
Bramante Staircase
  • Ethnological Museum: Often skipped, but fascinating for its global collection of sacred art.
  • Carriage Pavilion: Don’t miss the Popemobiles and ceremonial berlins in the basement.
  • Bramante Staircase: The original is visible only on special tours, whereas the modern one is near the exit, close to the souvenir store.

Now that you know what to look out for on each floor of the Vatican Museums, choose from the below itineraries to make the most of your visit.

Inside the Vatican Museums: A navigational guide

Visitor trailDescriptionHighlightsGalleries coveredDuration

Express route

A fast-paced tour that takes you to the three biggest highlights

Bronze pinecone statue, 40 large-scale frescoed maps, Creation of Adam

Pinecone Courtyard, Gallery of Maps, Sistine Chapel

1 hour

Classic highlights tour

Covers all the must-sees in a logical, seamless route

Apollo Belvedere, The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament, Resurrection of Christ, Last Judgement

Pio-Clementino Museum, Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Tapestries, Sistine Chapel

1.5-2 hours

Masterpieces trail

Zooms in on the most famous and photographed artworks

Laocoön, Belvedere Torso, School of Athens, The Last Judgment

Pio-Clementino Museum, Raphael Rooms, Sistine Chapel

2-3 hours

Hidden gems route

Lesser-known but stunning corners off the main path

Mercedes 460 Nürburg, Fiat Campagnola, Etruscan bronze mirrors and votive offerings

Carriage Pavilion, Gregorian Etruscan Museum

1.5-2 hours

Faith & art trail

Traces the evolution of religious art, from early Christianity to contemporary times

Early Christian sarcophagi, Modern Religious Art

Pio-Christian Museum, Collection of Modern and Contemporary Religious Art

2-2.5 hours

Don’t just visit—experience the Vatican Museums with purpose

Getting lost in the Vatican Museums is easy; there’s over 7km of art-filled halls and more masterpieces than you can count. A guided tour helps you cut through the chaos. Want to make the most of your visit? Take this tour and leave with more than just photos.

Frequently asked questions about what's inside the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums house one of the greatest art collections in the world, built over centuries by popes. From ancient Roman sculptures and Renaissance masterpieces to modern religious art, it's a visual journey through 3,000 years of history, culture, and faith.

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