Vatican Opening Hours & Best Time To Visit
The Vatican Museum is open through the year from Monday to Saturday; it is closed on Sundays (except for the last Sunday of each month).
High Season: April to September
Low Season: October to March
Vatican Museums Hours
The Vatican Museums are open Monday to Saturday between 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM (last admission at 04:00 PM); last Sunday of each month: 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM (last admission at 12:30 PM).
The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays (except the last Sunday of each month), along with 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 13 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 August, 8, 25 and 26 December.
The Sistine Chapel is open Monday to Saturday between 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM (last admission at 04:00 PM); last Sunday of each month: 09:00 AM - 02:00 PM (last admission at 12:30 PM).
The Sistine Chapel is closed on Sundays (except the last Sunday of each month), along with 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 13 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 August, 8, 25 and 26 December.
St. Peter's Basilica is open from October to March between 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM; April to September between 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM.
St. Peter's Basilica is closed on Wednesdays: if there’s a service, the basilica opens at 12:00 PM; otherwise, it remains closed.
Opening Hours
October to March: 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
April to September: 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Days Closed
On Wednesdays: if there’s a service, the basilica opens at 12:00 PM; otherwise, it remains closed.
Best Time to Visit the Vatican
Low visiting season in Vatican City and Rome is between November to February (excluding Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s), while high season is from April to October. The best time to visit the Vatican would be during the low season; you can expect lesser crowds, cold winter and easier access to prime attractions.
The best days to visit would be Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; maximum crowds pour in on Saturdays.
Vatican Museum Hours FAQ
Q. What are Vatican Museum hours?
The Vatican Museums are open from 09:00 AM to 06:00 PM from Monday to Saturday.
Q. When are Vatican Museums closed?
Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of each month. Additionally, they are also closed on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 13 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 August, 8, 25 and 26 December.
Q. What is the best time to visit the Vatican?
The best time to visit the Vatican is between November to February.
Q. What are St. Peter’s Basilica hours?
St. Peter’s Basilica is open every day except for Wednesday from 07:00 AM to 06:00 PM between October to March and 07:00 AM to 07:00 PM between April to September. If there’s a mass on a Wednesday, St. Peter’s Basilica is open from 12:00 PM onwards.
Q. What are St. Peter’s Basilica Dome hours?
The St. Peter’s Basilica Dome is open from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM from October to March and 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM between April to September. It is closed on Wednesdays.