Vatican Rules & Regulations | Know What You Can & Cannot Do

Personal Belongings

• Visitors will have to leave luggage, suitcases, bags, packages, and containers bigger than 40 x 35 x 15 cm in the cloakroom.
• Rucksacks that can be carried on the shoulders and don't exceed the widest part of the body by more than 15 cm can be carried inside.
• Jewelry, valuable objects, wallets, phones, video cameras, etc cannot be stowed in the cloakroom.
• However, visitors should not leave their baggage in the Vatican Museums if they are headed to St Peter's Basilica.

Forbidden Items

• Medium and large umbrellas, as well as full-length non-folding umbrellas, sticks (walking sticks not included), video cameras, banners, and signs of any type must be left in the cloakroom. You can avail yourself of cloakroom services for free.
• Knives, scissors, and/or metal tools of various types to be stored in the cloakroom.
• Firearms or other dangerous materials cannot be brought into the Museums.
• The use of any type of laser pointer and amplified microphones are not permitted in the Vatican Museums.

Food & Drink

• Alcoholic beverages will not be allowed inside the Vatican Museums and must be left in the cloakroom.
• You cannot eat or drink when inside the exhibition halls.
  

Phones

• The use of mobile phones is strongly discouraged inside the exhibition spaces.
• Phones must be kept on silent mode.

Smoking

• The Vatican Museums are a "no smoking area".
• Electronic cigarettes and similar instruments are also not allowed inside.

Pets and Guide Dogs

• Animals are not allowed access to the Vatican Museums, as well as to the museum of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo.
• Guide dogs for the blind or partially-sighted are allowed. However, they must be equipped with a muzzle and lead. Inform the concerned persons by sending an email to accoglienza.musei@scv.va at least one day in advance.

Photography

• Visitors are allowed to take photographs for personal and domestic use only.
• Flash photography is forbidden.
• The use of tripods, stands, drones, selfie sticks, and/or professional equipment is not allowed.
• Flash photography is strictly forbidden.

Refuse

• Paper, tins, bottles, and other refuse must not be discarded in the Vatican Museums.
• They must be placed in the appropriate containers placed outside the itinerary.

Lost & Found

• If you have lost a personal belonging, report at the nearest security point.
• If you have already left the Museums, email accoglienza.musei@scv.va.
• All items stored in the cloakroom should be collected on the same day, before the closing of the Museums. If not, the item will be considered a lost property and destroyed within 48 hours.

Safeguarding Works of Art

• Visitors, apart from blind and partially sighted visitors participating in tactile and multisensory visits, are prohibited from touching the works of art throughout the museums.
• Remember that all the works conserved within the Museums are equipped with an advanced alarm and video surveillance system.

Vatican Museums

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