Visiting Vatican Museum

The Vatican Museums are a group of Christian and cultural museums located within Vatican City. These 54 museums, which were created in the early 16th century, exhibit masterpieces that the Catholic church has amassed over the centuries.

Visiting the Vatican Museum will let you go through over 70,000 artworks and sculptures, which are proudly featured in its 54 galleries. You can witness the Classic monuments, tapestries, and paintings depicting Renaissance masters such as Raphael, Caravaggio, Michelangelo, Bernini, and da Vinci. They also feature a Modern Religious Collection of art, which includes works by painters such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Carlo Carrà.


Suggested Read: Famous Paintings in Vatican Museums

Vatican Museum Opening Hours

Vatican Museum Opening Hours

Opening Days:

  • From Monday to Saturday: 09.00 AM- 06.00 PM. Last entry at 04.00 PM.
  • From 22nd April to 29th October 2022: On Fridays and Saturdays, extended opening hours till 10.30 PM, with last entry at 08.30 PM.
  • On every last Saturday of the month (provided it does not coincide with any of the designated closure days or Easter Sunday): 09.00 AM- 02.00 PM, with the last entry at 12.30 PM.

Closure Days: All Sundays except the last Sundays of each month1st and 6th January 11th February19th March18th April29th June15th August1st November 8th and 26th December.


Suggested Read: Vatican Museum Timings

What's the Best Time to Visit the Vatican Museums?

What's the Best Time to Visit the Vatican Museums?

Best Season to visit the Vatican: Within Italy, there are three seasons: high, low, and shoulder. The prime season is from June through August, when vacationers arrive for their holidays. This is the summer season for much of Europe, so consider school vacations and summer vacations. Winter is the low season and the most peaceful time to visit Vatican City. Because most people choose to avoid the winter months and the Christmas season, you will be able to travel a lot more territory in a shorter length of time. If you don't like the cold, the shoulder seasons of September to November and March to April would be the best time to visit the Vatican Museums. The weather then remains milder than in winters, and the crowds lesser than in summers.


Best time of the day to visit the Vatican Museum: The best time to visit Vatican Museums would be early in the morning, right after the opening hours. It may be better to visit the Vatican early in the week, on a Monday or Tuesday, to avoid weekend traffic and the pilgrims or travellers that arrive in the area for the papal audience on Wednesdays. Always check online advance to ensure your visit does not conflict with a public event or holiday.


Suggested Read: Vatican Museums Collections

Know Before You Visit Vatican Museums

Facilities
Accessibility
Visiting with Family
Rules & Regulations
How to Reach The Vatican?
Facilities
  • Cloakroom: Visitors are free to use the cloakrooms.
  • Audio Guides: Use an MP3 reader to accompany and guide you.
  • Lost and Found: Things that have not been recovered will be kept at the Vatican Gendarmerie.
  • Post Office: Located next to the Cuirasses Courtyard.
  • Bookshops: There are several major and little bookshops throughout the Museum.
  • First Aid:Staff are skilled in urgent cardio-protective care.
  • Bathrooms: To find the restrooms, look for the signposts.


Suggested Read: Inside Vatican Museums

FAQ's for Vatican

What are the Vatican opening hours?

    The Vatican Museum opening hours are between 09.00 AM and 06.00 PM, with last entries at 04.00 PM. From April to October, the Vatican Museum opening hours on Friday and Saturday extend till 10.30 PM at night, with the last entry at 08.30 PM.

When is the Vatican closed?

When is the best time to visit the Vatican?

Where are Vatican Museums located?

How do I get to the Vatican Museums?

Can I take photographs inside the Vatican Museums?

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