Experience the best of Vatican City
Vatican City is a tiny independent state inside Rome, home of St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.
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Vatican City is an independent state of less than half a square kilometre, enclosed by walls inside Rome on the west bank of the Tiber, and the smallest country in the world. It is the seat of the Catholic Church and the home of the pope. St Peter's Square, framed by Bernini's curving colonnades, leads to St Peter's Basilica, built over the traditional tomb of the apostle Peter, with Michelangelo's dome rising above and his Pietà inside.
The Vatican Museums stretch through a series of palaces and galleries holding classical sculpture, Egyptian antiquities and Renaissance art, including the Raphael Rooms. The route ends in the Sistine Chapel, where Michelangelo painted the ceiling between 1508 and 1512 and the Last Judgement on the end wall some years later. The Swiss Guard, in its striped uniforms, has protected the pope since 1506, and the Vatican Gardens cover a large part of the territory.
Just beyond the walls, the Prati and Borgo districts have Roman trattorias serving cacio e pepe, carbonara and supplì, fried rice croquettes, as well as pizza by the slice and gelato. Castel Sant'Angelo and the Tiber embankment are a short walk away. Easter and Christmas draw pilgrims in great numbers.
- 1 hop-on hop-off route
- Free cancellation on 53% of experiences
- 4.5 across the top 16
Top 9 attractions in Vatican City
Special offers in Vatican City
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
Hop-on hop-off in Vatican City
Landmarks and attractions in Vatican City
124
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Museums and galleries in Vatican City
65
Likely to sell outFree cancellation- Likely to sell outFree cancellation
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Likely to sell outSkip the line
Signature experiences in Vatican City
![Skip-The-Line Vatican Museums,Sistine Chapel & Optional Basilica]()
Likely to sell outFree cancellation![Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peters Basilica Guided Tour]()
Likely to sell outFree cancellation![Private Vatican Experience with Sistine Chapel & Raphael's Rooms]()
Likely to sell outFree cancellation![Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel Tour with St Peter Basilica Access]()
Likely to sell outSkip the line
Go beyond Vatican City
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Lake Bracciano · 30 kmOdescalchi Castle (Castello Odescalchi)
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Orvieto · 95 kmOrvieto Cathedral (Duomo di Orvieto)
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Orvieto · 95 kmSt. Patrick’s Well (Pozzo di San Patrizio)
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Gaeta · 121 kmSerapo Beach (Spiaggia di Serapo)
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Assisi · 131 kmBasilica of St. Francis (Basilica di San Francesco)
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Assisi · 131 kmBasilica of St. Francis of Assisi (Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi)
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Perugia · 134 kmLake Trasimeno (Lago Trasimeno)
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Perugia · 134 kmRocca Paolina
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Ascoli Piceno · 140 kmCattedrale di Sant’Emidio
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Ascoli Piceno · 140 kmChiesa di San Francesco
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Montepulciano · 144 kmTemple of San Biagio (Tempio di San Biagio)
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Pescara · 158 kmPonte del Mare
Questions about Vatican City
- What is there to do in Vatican City?
- We list 244 experiences in Vatican City. The largest groups are attraction tickets (86), skip-the-line tours (68), museum tickets & passes (56), city tours (13).
- What are the top attractions in Vatican City?
- Ranked by the experiences that visit them, the top attractions in Vatican City are Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Dome (Cupola di San Pietro).
- What is the most popular experience in Vatican City?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Skip the Line Vatican and Sistine Chapel Ticket with Audio Guide", rated 4.1 out of 5 from 3,384 reviews.
- Is there a hop-on hop-off bus in Vatican City?
- Yes. We list 1 hop-on hop-off bus tour in Vatican City; the most reviewed is "I Love Rome : Hop on Hop off Open Bus Tour" with 1,056 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Vatican City take?
- The typical experience in Vatican City lasts about 2.5 hours; the middle half run between 2 hours and 3 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Vatican City?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 53% of the 244 experiences we hold for Vatican City. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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