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The Vatican - A Logistical Guide
Practical Information For The Visitor To Rome
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Vatican Official Web Site

For any first time visitor to Rome, a visit to the Vatican is a probably a prerequisite.

Vatican City is just to the north of the city centre of Rome and is easily reached independently by public transport.

The must see's of a visit to the Vatican for most people are the Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica.
 St Peter's Basilica Vatican City
St Peter's Basilica
As most visitors are going to make the same trip as you, be ready for crowds and queues. For example at peak times, the queues to the Vatican Museums can mean a wait of two hours.
Vatican Museum
The Vatican Museum is one of the greatest museums in the world, since they display works from the immense collection built up by Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries.The Museums celebrated their 500th anniversary in October 2006.
Highlights of the museums are Michelangelo's famous Creation of Adam fresco in the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms.
Vatican Official Virtual Tour of Vatican Museums
The admission ticket to the Vatican Museums is valid for visiting the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel only on the date of purchase.

The museums are closed on a Sunday (though open on the last Sunday of each month when there is free entrance in the mornings). The museums may also be closed on special occasions like Easter.

The museum is open for admission between 08:30 to 16:00.
Vatican Museum Queue
Turn up at a comfortable time of say 09:30 and the queues will snake down the street as far as the eye can see. At peak times the queues can take two hours.
Monday queues can be longest due to the museum being closed the day before. Queues start to diminish relatively around lunch time.
You can purchase fast track/skip the line Vatican Museum tickets for a surcharge.

Please note, entrance to the Vatican requires appropriate attire. No shorts, miniskirts or uncovered shoulders. It is also advisable to wear comfortable shoes.
Vatican Museum Ticket Prices

There are also many Vatican Museum Guided Tours both private and in a group. These have the additional advantage of fast track/skip the line admission.
St Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's was until recently the largest church ever built and remains one of the holiest sites in Christendom. St. Peter's Basilica was built at the place where Peter, the apostle who is considered the first pope, was crucified and buried; his tomb is under the main altar. Other popes are also buried in and below the basilica.
The focal point for visitors where you are funnelled on arriving is St Peter's Square. A huge circular square designed by Bernini and built between 1656 and 1667.
The square is outlined by a monumental colonnade by Bernini, its open arms symbolically welcoming the world into the Catholic Church. On top of the colonnade are 140 statues of saints.

It is here you start queueing to enter St Peter's itself.
St. Peter's Basilica is open daily from 07:00 until very early evening.

On Wednesdays there is a Papal audience. The easiest way to get tickets days before is to go to St. Peter's Square, find the Bronze Doors to the Apostolic Palace, and request them from the Swiss Guards. Click here for advance tickets for a Papal Audience.
 Audience With Pope
Papal Blessing At St Peter's
Please note, entrance to the Vatican requires appropriate attire. No shorts, miniskirts or uncovered shoulders. This is strictly enforced, even on the hottest summer day.
It is also advisable to wear comfortable shoes.

The Vatican Grottoes is the level below the floor of St. Peter's where many popes and a few royals are buried.

Recommended is to climb the Cuppola to roof level with views over St Peter's Square and beyond. Many of the commercial photographs that have tempted you here were shot from here.
At the entrance to the basilica, there is a sign that directs you to the kiosk for the elevator. There is an admission charge to climb the 320 steps and a small supplement if you prefer to take a lift.

The grottoes and the basilica itself are free to enter.
There are also St Peter's Basilica Guided Tours
Getting to the Vatican
By Metro take Linea A (red line) and exit at Ottaviano-S. Pietro. Walk south on Via Ottaviano toward St. Peter's Square. If you are heading for the Vatican Museum turn right when you come to the Vatican Walls and follow the road.

There are many Rome city buses that pass the Vatican. The number 40 and 64 bus shuttle very frequently between Termini and the Vatican via the City Centre including the Piazza Venezia for the Roman Forum/Colosseum.
There are a myriad of Rome hop on, hop off bus operators, all of which stop in front of St Peter's Square and visit all of the major sights in Rome.

All the operators use very similar double deck open top buses.
Each passenger will get a disposable audio device for commentary along the way with a choice of at minimum 8 languages. Most buses have their first bus departing Termini at 08:30 or 09:00 with the last bus leaving at 18:00, finishing around 20:00.

Typical Rome Hop On, Hop Off Tour Bus
Vatican Hotel Accommodation
The Vatican district is quite a good choice for accommodation, you can walk across the river and soon be visiting the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps in the old town part of Rome.
There is quite a good selection of cheap Bed & Breakfast near St Peter's Square readily available at very affordable prices. There are well over 50 Bed and Breakfasts, commonly of only a few rooms within 15 minutes walk of St Peter's Square and the Vatican Museums.
Hotels around Vatican City
Rome Guided Sightseeing Tours
Title Main Places Visited Adult Comments
Vatican Museums & St Peter's Vatican Museums
St Peter's Basilica		 €52 Walking tour, no transfers
Not Wednesdays & Sundays
Vatican Museums Vatican Museums €58 Walking tour, transfers inc
Not Sundays
Vatican Museums (Private) Vatican Museums
St Peter's Basilica		 var Personal guide for your group. Not Sundays
St Peter's Basilica St Peter's Basilica €52 Walking tour, no transfers
Mon, Thur Fri
Audience with Pope St Peter's €36 Wednesday only
Classical Rome Morning Tour Trevi Fountain,
Pantheon, St Peter's		 €36 Walking coach/tour
transfers inc, Daily.
Ancient Rome Trevi, Pantheon, Colosseum, Forum €27 Walking tour, no transfers
Daily. Admissions not inc.
Colosseum & Roman Forum Colosseum, Forum
Palatine Hill		 €49 Walking tour.
Nno transfers inc. Daily
Colosseum/Rom Forum- Private Colosseum, Forum
Palatine Hill		 var Personal guide for your group. Daily
Become a Gladiator n/a var 2 hour lesson at gladiator school - Daily
Rome Segway Tour Colosseum, Forum
Circus Maximus + others		 €75 Segway personal transpor.
Daily - No children
Rome Catacombs Capuchin Crypt
Domitilla Catacombs		 €54 Walking tour, no transfers
Mon, Wed, Sat, Sun p.m.
Appian Way & Catacombs Santa Maria Maggiore
Appian Way, Catacombs 		€45 Daily tour by coach
Rome by Night (Coach) All main sights and more €41 Daily tour by coach
Rome by Night (Walking) Capitoline Hill, Trevi, Pantheon, Colosseum €27 Runs April to October
Daily @ 18:30, not Sundays