English
English
- Vatican Museums
- Vatican Gardens
- Sistine Chapel
- Vatican Grottoes
- Apostolic Palace
- Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace
- Raphael Rooms
- Villa Barberini
- Basilica of St. Mary Major
- Vatican Library
- Castle Gondolfo
- Vatican Archives
- History
- Inside
- Paintings
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Vatican Easter Mass
- Tours in Italian
- Vatican Necropolis
- Christmas Tree
- Vatican City
- Nativity Scene
- Secrets of Vatican
- Plan Your Visit
- Skip the Line Tours
- Guided Tours
- Night Tours
- Timings
- Directions
- Rules
- Entrances
- Facts
- Map
- Papal Audience
- Private Tours
- Omnia Card
- Information at a glance
- Vatican Mass
- Dress Code
- Colosseum
- St. Peter's Basilica
- Rome Pantheon
- Castel Sant Angelo
- Musei Capitolini
- Roman Catacombs Tour
- Borghese Gallery
- Altare della Patria
- Doria Pamphilj Gallery
- Rome To Amalfi Coast Tours
- Rome To Tuscany Tours
- Bioparco Rome
- Big Bus Rome Hop-on Hop-off Tours
- Palazzo Barberini
- Leonardo da Vinci Museum
- Trevi Fountain Tours
Contents
What are Vatican Museums opening hours?
Today
Closed
Vatican TicketsTimings
Vatican Museums
Jan - Mar
Apr - Jun
Jul - Sep
Oct - Dec
Mar 1 TO Dec 20 Timings Days (Mar 1 TO Dec 20) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Sunday (Today) | Closed |
Jan 1 TO Feb 28 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Feb 28) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
- Visitors are required to leave the halls 30 minutes before closing.
- The Museums offer free entry on the last Sunday of each month, from 9am to 2pm (final entry at 12:30pm), provided this does not coincide with holidays like Easter Sunday, June 29 (Sts. Peter and Paul), and Christmas Day.
- In December, the Sunday opening with free admission will be exceptionally brought forward to the 24th to allow visitors to enjoy the Museums during the festive season.
St Peter's Basilica
7am - 7:10pm
Jan - Mar
Apr - Jun
Jul - Sep
Oct - Dec
Jan 1 TO Mar 31 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Mar 31) | TIMINGS |
|---|---|
| Monday | 07:00–19:10 |
| Tuesday | 07:00–19:10 |
| Wednesday | 07:00–19:10 |
| Thursday | 07:00–19:10 |
| Friday | 07:00–19:10 |
| Saturday | 07:00–19:10 |
| Sunday | 07:00–19:10 |
- Closed on Wednesdays for the Papal audience held in the Square, but it reopens at around 12:30 pm.
Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo
Jan - Mar
Apr - Jun
Jul - Sep
Oct - Dec
Mar 26 TO Mar 31 Timings Days (Mar 26 TO Mar 31) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Closed | |
| Tuesday | 09:00–14:30 | 13:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00–14:30 | 13:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00–14:30 | 13:00 |
| Friday | 09:00–14:30 | 13:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00–17:30 | 16:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Gardens of Vatican City
Jan 1 TO Dec 31 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Dec 31) | TIMINGS |
|---|---|
| Monday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Tuesday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Wednesday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Friday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00–18:00 |
| Sunday (Today) | Closed |
- The gardens remain closed on Sundays and on January 1 and 6, Easter Sunday and December 8, 25 and 26.
Sistine Chapel
Jan - Mar
Apr - Jun
Jul - Sep
Oct - Dec
Jan 1 TO Feb 13 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Feb 13) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Feb 14 TO Feb 14 Timings Days (Feb 14 TO Feb 14) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–17:30 | 11:30 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–17:30 | 11:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–17:30 | 11:30 |
| Thursday | 08:00–17:30 | 11:30 |
| Friday | 08:00–17:30 | 11:30 |
| Saturday | 08:00–17:30 | 11:30 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Feb 15 TO Mar 20 Timings Days (Feb 15 TO Mar 20) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Mar 21 TO Mar 21 Timings Days (Mar 21 TO Mar 21) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Thursday | 08:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Friday | 08:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Saturday | 08:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Mar 22 TO Mar 27 Timings Days (Mar 22 TO Mar 27) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Mar 28 TO Mar 28 Timings Days (Mar 28 TO Mar 28) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–17:30 | 17:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
Mar 29 TO Apr 3 Timings Days (Mar 29 TO Apr 3) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Sunday | Closed |
The Sistine Chapel is closed on Sundays (except the last Sunday of each month), as well as on January 1 and 6, March 19, April 1, May 1, June 29, August 15, November 1, and December 25 and 26.
Villa Barberini
Jan 1 TO Dec 31 Timings Days (Jan 1 TO Dec 31) | TIMINGS | Last Admission |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Friday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
| Sunday (Today) | 08:00–19:00 | 17:00 |
Visiting Vatican Museums
Best time to visit the Vatican Museums
Weekday vs Weekend
- Monday, Tuesday & Thursday are optimal for visiting the Vatican, with fewer tourists. Mornings are generally quieter and recommended during the high season. Friday evenings can be busier due to the extended hours at the museum.
- Visit the museums first if you are visiting Vatican on a Wednesday, as mornings might be busier, particularly because of the Papal audience, which draws larger crowds to St. Peter’s Basilica.
- Weekends are the busiest, with Saturday facing extreme crowds. Arriving around 8am-9am is best on these days. Sundays are generally quieter, except for the last Sunday of the month when free entry to the Museums attracts large crowds.
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Pleasant
Crowded
Very Crowded
Peak season vs low season
- Peak Season (April to October) aligns with the European summer holidays. The weather is warm, making it ideal for exploring, but this is when the Vatican sees the highest influx of tourists, leading to longer waits. Afternoons are better for visits during this period, as the crowds tend to diminish.
- Low Season (November to March) experiences fewer visitors, except for the Christmas and Easter periods. The weather is cooler and more comfortable for visiting, and the crowds are significantly less dense, making it a good time to enjoy the Vatican at a more leisurely pace.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Off Season
Moderate Season
Peak Season
Is the Vatican still open after the Pope’s death?
Yes, the Vatican remains open to visitors; however, certain sites have adjusted schedules due to the recent passing of Pope Francis.
Current status of major sites
Alternative experiences
Planning your visit
- St. Peter’s Basilica: Open for public viewing of the Pope's body lying in state from Wednesday to Friday. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday at 10am local time. Post-funeral access may be restricted; updates will follow.
- Vatican Museums: Operating on regular schedules for now. They will be closed on Saturday, the day of the funeral. Further closures are possible; please check for updates.
- Sistine Chapel: Expected to close during the conclave period, which begins between May 5 and 11.
- Castel Gandolfo: Will be closed on Saturday, the day of the funeral.
If certain Vatican sites are closed or crowded, consider these alternatives:
- Borghese Gallery: Home to a renowned collection of art, including works by Bernini and Caravaggio.
- Roman Catacombs and Crypts: Explore the ancient underground burial sites and early Christian history.
- Trastevere Neighborhood: Experience the charm of cobblestone streets, local eateries, and historic churches.
- Santa Maria Maggiore: Visit the basilica where Pope Francis will be buried, offering a place for reflection.
- Stay informed about any changes in schedules or closures by visiting official Vatican websites and local news outlets.
- Arrive early as morning entry slots typically provide a calmer and less crowded experience.
- Be flexible, as during major Vatican events, schedules can change with little notice.
- Use alternative routes or entrances, such as the Viale Vaticano gate, to avoid congestion.
- Ensure respectful attire when visiting religious sites—covering shoulders and knees is recommended.
- Security measures may lead to longer entry times; plan accordingly.
Frequently asked questions about Vatican Museums timings
Is the Vatican City open on Sundays?
Vatican City is open on Sundays, but the Vatican Museums are closed except the last Sunday of each month when entry is free from 9 am to 2 pm. St. Peter's Basilica is open for mass.
Are there any specific days when the Vatican is closed?
The Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays (except the last Sunday of the month), January 1, December 25, and other specific Holy Days.
Do I need to make reservations for specific entry times?
Yes, it's highly recommended to make reservations for specific entry times to the Vatican Museums to ensure entry and reduce waiting time, especially during peak season.
Are there any discounts for visiting during specific times?
Discounts are typically not offered based on visitation times, but students and elderly visitors may receive discounted entry.
Can I visit the Vatican Museum at night?
Yes, the Vatican Museums offer night openings on select Fridays from April to October, requiring advance booking.
Are the St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums on the same schedule?
No, St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums have different operating hours; the Basilica usually opens earlier and closes later than the Museums.
What are St. Peter’s Basilica Dome hours?
The St. Peter’s Basilica Dome is open from 8am - 5pm from October to March and 8am - 6pm between April to September. It is closed on Wednesdays.
Is the Vatican open all day?
St. Peter's Basilica is open all day, but the Vatican Museums have specific opening and closing times.
How early should I arrive before my ticket time?
Arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled ticket time to allow enough time for security checks.
Is there a time limit for my visit to the Vatican Museums?
There's no strict time limit, but the visit is typically bound by the closing hours of the Museums. Vistors are expected to exit the museums 30 minutes before closing time.