Vatican Museums Opening Hours

Opening Days
Closure Days
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica
St. Peter's Basilica Dome
Vatican Gardens
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.
  • Visitors are required to leave the hall at least 30 minute prior to the closing time.


Suggested Read: Best Time to Visit Vatican Museums


Vatican Mass Timings

Vatican Mass Timings
  • Papal Basilica of Saint Peter: Weekdays Mass Schedule: 9.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 11.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 5.00 PM Sundays and Holiday Mass Schedule: 9.00 AM 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:15 PM, 1.00 PM, 14.00 PM, 5:30 PM
  • Basilica of Saint John Lateran
  • Winter Schedule: Weekdays: 7.00 AM, 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 11.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 5.00 PM Sunday: 5 PM, 6 PM
  • Summer Schedule: All opening days: 7.00 AM, 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 11.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 6.00 PM
  • Basilica of Saint Mary Major: Sunday: 7.00 AM, 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 11.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 6.00 PM Monday-Saturday: 7.00 AM, 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 12.00 PM, 6.00 PM
  • Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls Weekday Winter Schedule: 6:45 AM, 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10:30 AM, 5.00 PM
  • Summer Schedule: Public holidays: 7.00 AM, 8.00 AM, 9.00 AM, 10:30 AM, 12.00 PM, 6.00 PM Saturday and eve of public holidays: 6.00 PM
  • Benedictine Abbey of Saint Paul Outside the Walls: Monday -Saturday: 8:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 4.00 PM, 7.00 PM

Best Time to Visit the Vatican

Best Time to Visit the Vatican
  • Winter months at the Vatican are extremely harsh, drawing the least amount of tourist crowd throughout the year. Thus, if you’re looking to avoid the tourist rush, the months between November to February would be the best time to visit the Vatican Museum.
  • If you’re planning to visit during the warmer months between April and October, it is best to plan one’s visit in the afternoon hours, when the crowds are comparatively lesser; weekdays are also less crowded than Sundays.
  • If you’re visiting on a Wednesday, make sure you put St. Peter’s Basilica as the last item on your itinerary, for it remains closed on Wednesday morning when the Papal audience is held.
  • If you’re planning to witness a Mass at the Basilica, it would also be wise to plan your visit to the Museums in consideration to the Vatican Mass timings


Suggested Read: Best Time to Visit Vatican Museums

FAQ's For Vatican Museum

What are Vatican Museum hours?

    The Vatican Museum timings are between Monday to Saturday, 09.00 AM- 06.00 PM. It also remains open on the last Sundays of each month between 09.00 AM- 02.00 PM, unless the Sunday coincides with a scheduled holiday.

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