When I first traveled to Rome as an adult, it was because I had missed visiting the Sistine Chapel because I had no idea that the Vatican Museums closed at 2pm (long before smartphones and Google for that matter.) The museum is now opened until later.
Since I’m in this area, I frequently go for a visit to Saint Peter’s Basilica, Saint Peter’s Square as well as The Vatican Museums.
I also assisted thousands of guests plan their trip over the 17 years we operated our B&B.
Based on years of personal knowledge, I am able to advise you on the right thing to do and what you should not do.
It is possible to avoid stress during a trip to the Vatican by first reading my advice!
Visit the Vatican – When should you go
There isn’t a “best” time to visit the Vatican, i.e. when there are fewer visitors. There is less crowd. Vatican is the city’s most crowded tourist destination , and it is always crowded. It’s possible to think about Wednesday or Tuesday as the best options. The weekend days are more crowded and on Wednesday, there’s (usually) The Papal Audience, which means greater crowds.
From April to October, you are able to book visits in the Vatican Museums on Friday or Saturday nights. The crowds are usually lower than.
In the mornings, numerous tour groups are in attendance and offer early access to skip-the-line. In general, visitors are early to “beat the line” which means that you could encounter your way to the Vatican Museums much more crowded than you expected and less so later in afternoon.
St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums tend to be particularly crowded on Saturdays and Sundays, as Rome is crowded with weekend tourists.
It is a fact that the Vatican Museums are closed Sundays with the exception of the last Sunday of each month, which is when they are open for visitors. It is the busiest day that you could imagine for going to the Vatican Museums. The initiative is scheduled to resume in 2022 following its suspension in 2021.
On Wednesdays (except during July which is when the Pope takes his break) The pope is known to hold an audience in St Peter’s Basilica. In warmer seasons it will take place in Saint Peter’s Square. In the colder months the location will be an auditorium style hall in front of the Basilica to its left. It means the entire area will be crowded due to the large number of audience members who attend the papal audience, and many of them go to the Vatican Museums after the audience.
If you decide to go to the Vatican on Wednesday, remember the following: St Peter’s Basilica will be closed until the papal audience has ended (around 12-1 pm.)
In terms of the season the winter low-season months are ideal if you prefer to relax and avoid crowds. This is the case for most days in the month of December (except December 8 and Christmas until the Epiphany which falls on January 6) in between January and February. You wouldn’t believe it, but it’s as busy at the Vatican between December 8 between December 8 and the 6th of January as in summer.
Visit the Vatican – What sights to visit
The main sights to be seen while visiting in the Vatican include Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums.
To clarify to be precise, Michelangelo’s Pieta is located inside the basilica, while Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums.
It is possible to see one but you can’t see the other.
However, doing both of them in one day is quite doable.
Try to avoid planning another major trip, like another museum or the Coloseum for the day, since you’ll feel exhausted.
You may spot some of the Swiss Guards at the entrance towards Vatican City. The Swiss Guard are dressed in different uniforms according to their job However, they’re all dressed in costumes that were originally created in the 1500s.
Do not miss out on a trip to the Vatican Post Office if you would like to send postcards. It’s less hassle and more efficient than the Italian Post Office, and your mail will arrive quicker!
When you visit Vatican City Vatican on your on your own (without the aid of a tour) I’d suggest you visit the museums first because they’re the most challenging aspect of your trip.
If you’re interested in seeing the two Vatican Museums and Saint Peter’s Basilica I would strongly recommend a visit.
Aid in taking in all the information without overworking yourself. is a lot to take in and knowing a good guide will allow you to concentrate on the most important elements.
If you’re traveling or not, there’s no way to travel out of St. Peter’s Basilica into the Vatican Museums.
If you are only planning to go to Saint Peter’s Basilica, and not the museums, you will skip the line by booking a tour of the Basilica. This is actually a good idea.
This basilica is rich in culture and art that it’s as if you’re in the museum. Museums that merit the opportunity to take a guided tour!
At present (summer 2022) there is no early access to the Vatican Museums small-group tour with St Peters and Sistine Chapel in one.
St Peter’s Basilica
Saint Peter’s Basilica is a Renaissance-era church that is one of the largest in the world.
The Vatican is a basilica , but not a cathedral as it doesn’t possess its own Bishop.
The principal cathedral that is the home of The “Bishop of Rome” or “Bishop of Rome” as the pope is known the cathedral is San Giovanni in Laterano, or Saint John in Lateran.
However, the pope is the head of Vatican City, where he is a resident.
It’s a bit confusing, isn’t it? But, consider your Vatican as a large church with plenty to look at inside.
St Peter’s Dome
It’s well worth the trip to visit the dome of the basilica, but be aware that it may be a bit crowded there and there are number of steps.
The first level has 231 steps. There is an elevator available.
The second section is a further step of 320, but there is no elevator.
The dome becomes narrower as you climb and you’ll be climbing the entire file, with the roof tilting upwards over your head.
I’m speaking from the perspective of someone who has a relative who suffers from vertigo: you might prefer not to climb the dome of the Vatican If you have vertigo or anxiety over claustrophobia.
But if none of this matters, go for it!
The views are stunning from the top as well of the church as well as of the city that surrounds it.
Michelangelo’s Pieta
My absolute favorite work of artwork inside St Peter’s Basilica is Michelangelo’s Pieta.
It’s actually my most cherished piece of art anywhere in the world.
If you’re in the Vatican Don’t forget this.
It’s right on your left after you walk into the basilica.
When I went to visit this with mommy, she was crying when I asked her to “look at that face! It’s all about the love a mother has for their child.”
Unfortunately, someone with an axe hit the structure, which is currently hidden behind glass.
However, you can be able to see it very clearly.
Take note of Mary’s facial expression. It’s truly special when you experience it in the flesh.
Michelangelo Tidbit:
It was Michelangelos’s first major pieces.
He achieved it while the age of 22 was just.
He was not certain that anyone would notice he had done it, so he sneaked in at midnight and made the name of his father (Michelangelo Buonarroti) on Mary’s sash.
Pieta Pieta is the sole sculpture Michelangelo never signed.
Vatican Grottoes They are the Tombs of Popes
If you visit the Vatican It is possible to go down a level to see the place where some of popes’ remains are buried.
Saint Peter is believed to be buried just beneath the church.
This is the reason that some popes are also interred here.
It’s fascinating to go to the pope’s tombs also known as”the Vatican Grottoes – there is plenty of history to be found there.
It’s not dark or claustrophobic.
In reality, it’s an immense open space, filled with light and plenty to look at (no photography permitted.)
To go to the Vatican Grottoes, get up near Bernini’s Baldachin and locate the entrance close by.
The entrance fee is free. Vatican Grottoes.
Not to be mistaken for St. Peter’s tomb.
When people speak of going to the Vatican Grottoes, they’re talking about a location in which you can view the tombs of a variety of popes (as I explained earlier.)
However, this isn’t like going to the Vatican Necropolis, where St. Peter is said to be burial site.
A visit to the tomb of Saint Pius often referred to as a scavi-visit is an exceptional and enjoyable experience I strongly recommend it. (“Scavi” means “excavations”.)
It’s a very delicate archeological spot, and they limit visitors to 250 each day on 12 person tours and you have to book at least a month in advance. (No photos allowed.)
The Vatican Museums
This is the aspect of going to the Vatican which will consume the majority of your energy and time.
The Vatican Museums contain the world’s largest private art collection (and think about the fact that a significant portion of what they have is not on display!)
Do you see what is the Sistine Chapel?
It is not possible to simply visit Sistine Chapel. Sistine Chapel.
To visit the Sistine Chapel, you must explore the entirety of the Vatican Museums, which can take up to two hours if you go through it and take in the highlights.
The Sistine Chapel is at the close of the Sistine Chapel.
If you’re interested in the “Express tour” in the Sistine Chapel, you can take this tour which takes you off the line, then goes towards Sistine Chapel. Sistine Chapel and finishes in Saint Peter’s Basilica.
This tour takes just one hour 45 mins long and is not a tour of the remainder of the Vatican Museums.
It is still necessary to go through them, however, the primary principal focus of the tour will be on the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter’s Basilica.
I’m not trying to sound cliché, but I do think that going to museums like the Vatican museums is definitely worthwhile in all of its aspects even if you just wanted to see Sistine Chapel. Sistine Chapel.
The other museums are absolutely wonderful and equally amazing.
There are the Raphael rooms The maps hall as well as the floor-to-ceiling tapestries papal apartment, Etruscan art and so many more.
If you visit The Vatican Museums, I highly recommend taking a tour. They will handle the tickets.
However, if you want to explore on alone without a guide then you can get an audio guide, or follow my directions here to find the best way to get to the Vatican Museums. It is also necessary to reserve your tickets by yourself.
If you’re visiting the Vatican early in the morning, it is possible to go to Saint Peter’s Basilica first, and then visit the museums later due to the fact that the lines at the Vatican museums tend to be more crowded during the morning hours.
If you visit the Vatican Museums first, just be sure to allow enough time to go to Saint Peters in the time that there is still some light, so you can take in the sun’s rays shining through of the glass.
Did you know that the Sistine Chapel is a working chapel and that special services are scheduled in the Sistine Chapel?
I was so fortunate being invited Vespers in The Sistine Chapel.
Check out my video above to find out exactly how this chapel was designed to be utilized!
Do you want exclusive VIP access to the Sistine Chapel?
By taking one of these Vatican tours you’ll have an incredible VIP, exclusive experience. You’ll also get to see The Sistine Chapel almost alone:
This exclusive tour, with Walks of Italy, you will be granted privileges to visit the Vatican museums. You will be accompanied by the guard who opens the doors to ensure that the museums set for your visit.
You will be accompanied by you along with the Vatican Museums Key Master as you wander around the museum, switching off the light, and even in the Sistine Chapel!