Visiting Vatican City

Are you going to visit Vatican City soon? Then it is useful to know what the top sights are, what you have to take into account (for example, what are the dress codes?) and where you can buy reliable tickets 😊 In this article we explain everything so that you are fully prepared for your trip!

Visiting Vatican City

• Things to see in Vatican City, what to see?
• What are the dress codes when visiting Vatican City?
• Where can I buy reliable tickets?

Vatican City attractions, what to see?

There are actually 4 top sights in Vatican City: the St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Gardens.

St. Peter’s Basilica

Saint Peter is a beautiful basilica and the highlight of the Vatican City. It is an important pilgrimage site for Catholics because, according to tradition, Peter was crucified and buried here. Even if you are not Catholic, this is a must-do during your trip to Rome because it is so incredibly beautiful! In addition, you can climb the dome for spectacular views over St. Peter’s Square and Rome 😊

Why I recommend booking a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica

When I visited the St. Peter’s Basilica, I booked a guided tour. The tour made a great impression and made sure I really experienced St. Peter’s Basilica. There is so much history, traditions and stories behind the architecture, statues and decoration. You don’t really get that if you don’t do a tour.

Another big additional advantage is that with a tour you don’t have to wait in the gigantic queue outside. You can then enter through another entrance so you can walk straight through. That saves a lot of time!

–> Book a tour here.

Tip: You can also get the  Buy Vatican City Pass. This also gives you a tour of St. Pieter (and you skip the huge queue!). You also get access to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. In total, the pass gives you a 10% discount on the original price. I’ll tell you more about this later in the article.

The Vatican Museums

The Popes and the Catholic Church have built up an enormous art collection over the years. In fact, they can even be called treasures. You can admire these art and treasures in the Vatican Museums. But not just individual pieces. The museums themselves are worth a visit without content. For example, see the long corridor below in the photo 😍

The Vatican Museums is one of the largest museums in the world. Therefore you cannot see everything. I advise you to think in advance what you would like to see and make some sort of plan. That way you get the most out of your visit to the Vatican. For example, you can choose to view top pieces.

Avoid long queues at the Vatican Museums

The queue for the Vatican museums is now almost 3 hours(!!!). Really a shame to wait there when there is so much to see and do in Rome. By booking your ticket online you will be allocated a fixed time and you only have to be there fifteen minutes in advance. These online tickets are of course fully booked quickly. So make sure to arrange your tickets a few days in advance.

The Sistine Chapel

The absolute highlight of a visit to the Vatican City is the Sistine Chapel with beautiful paintings by Michelangelo 😍 A well-known part of the painting is “The Creation of Adam,” where God touches Adam’s finger. You will find the Sistine Chapel at the end of the Vatican Museums.

PS: By the way, have you noticed that you look up a lot during your visit to Vatican City? 😜 Take a look at the previous 2 photos + the photo below haha.

The Vatican Gardens

The Vatican Gardens are the gardens where the Pope and other clerics come for rest and reflection. The gardens have only been open to the public for 10 years and can only be visited with a guide. It’s definitely a must!😊 You’ll get to know the Vatican in a whole different way, the gardens are beautifully maintained and you’ll see some interesting glimpses of the St. Peter’s Basilica. The ticket price does include a tour of the gardens, the Vatican Museums with a guide and entrance to the Sistine Chapel 😊
–> Book your tickets here a tour of the Vatican Gardens

What are the dress codes if you are going to visit Vatican City?

What to wear when visiting Vatican City?

If you are going to visit the Vatican City you must be dressed according to the rules of the Vatican. You are not allowed to wear sleeveless or low-cut clothing or shorts or skirts that are above the knee. You are also not allowed to wear a hat. Slippers are also sometimes refused.

If it’s a hot summer day, you can bring an extra cardigan or sweater or a scarf that you can wrap around you.

Where can I buy reliable tickets?

We always recommend tickets via our website or via this website to order. This is a reliable website. You can easily order your tickets online and you will receive them in your mailbox. You don’t have to print them.

You can book all tickets separately. This is especially useful if you don’t plan to visit all the sights in the Vatican.

Tip: buy a discount pass for the Vatican

You can also bundle the tickets with the Vatican City Pass. This is cheaper than buying all tickets separately. This city pass includes:

• A guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica + no waiting in the queue
• Access to the Vatican Museums + no waiting in the queue
• Admission to the Sistine Chapel (entrance is through the Vatican Museums)
• A Rome audio guide. With this you actually have an audio tour throughout Rome at interesting sights.
• 10% discount than when you book the tickets loose