See & do · Museums
Vatican Museums
Opening hours
- Monday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Tuesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Wednesday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Thursday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Friday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
Images provided by Google Places
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View on mapMultiple galleries of classical & Renaissance art masterpieces, plus the Sistine Chapel frescoes.via Google
Home to the Sistine Chapel and centuries of papal art collections.
- Good to know
- Book months in advance; requires at least 3-4 hours to navigate.
Reviews from Google
The museum was very interesting and filled with lots of history. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The painting, sculptures, and architecture were so breathtaking. I don’t have time to describe all of it. I went on a Saturday morning, which was especially busy. It is guaranteed that you will have to wait in a line. Booking tickets beforehand is an absolute must in order to save time from the line. Even then, I had to wait around 30 mins in line. I came back the next day, Sunday, I came back at around 06:30 to see St. Peter’s Basilica. Last sundays of the month are free admission to the museum. Even during the early morning, there were crowds of people already lining up. By the time I got out at 10:00, the line for the museum was a nightmare. It wrapped around the city wall around and people at the back of the line had to at least wait like 5 hours. So if you are going during free admission days, then show up as early as possible.
Third time here and still haven't seen it all but this time was the most memorable as we had time to roam. Recommend to buy your ticket with a guide so you get some history and information about the museum and artifacts. The museum spans many floors and buildings. It's an all day affair so bring your phone and take pictures, not just the statues but the walls, ceilings and everything you see. Don't miss the spiral staircase towards the exit.
Wonderful museum but very very busy. We reserved 8am tickets which was definitely a good idea as it was already packed. We walked straight to the Sistine chapel before the crowds which was a good idea. Sadly the Last Judgement is being renovated so we weren't able to see it on this visit. We then started from the beginning (it's a one way system!) and stopped off for breakfast in the courtyard cafe which was lovely. Lots of beautiful works of art, the Raphael rooms are spectacular.
A massive collection of exhibits and a huge area to explore. In peak season, the queues are very long, but everything moves efficiently and is well-organized. Make sure to set aside plenty of time to see it all. An audio guide is a must! Definitely a must-see in Rome.
As soon as I arrived, I was overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the Vatican Museums. Each room of the museum housed a stunning array of artworks. Because the museum was so large, there was a cafe in the middle. There was also a souvenir shop at the end, with many beautiful souvenirs. Speaking of the artwork, the Laocoön Group was truly stunning in person. I was struck by the incredible skill. The Sistine Chapel ceiling painting had seating, allowing me to appreciate it for a long time. The School of Athens was a truly stunning painting, with its sense of perspective. I highly recommend purchasing tickets to the Vatican Museums before visiting. Buying tickets in person can be a bit of a stretch.