Vatican City Travel Guide: 10 Must-See Attractions and Ticket Purchases

– You can buy a 2-in-1 pass, the Omnia Card and the Roma Pass . As mentioned above, this card also includes a guided tour of the Vatican Museums. It also gives you access to all the famous sites in the Vatican and Rome, and free sightseeing bus rides. This pass is ideal if you are visiting the Vatican and Rome for 3 days or more.

– You can also book a guided tour of the Vatican Museums . There are several options. The guide buys your ticket in advance and you enter the Vatican Museums without having to wait in line.

The main attractions that most tourists want to see when visiting the Vatican are St. Peter ‘s Basilica, which houses Michelangelo’s “Icon”, and the Vatican Museums, which houses the Sistine Chapel (the ceiling was painted by Michelangelo).

You can choose to visit either one or the other. However, it’s easy to visit both buildings in one day. Just try not to schedule another big visit (like another museum or the Colosseum) on the same day, as you’ll be very tired afterward.

2. Sistine Chapel

After visiting the Vatican Museums, you can visit the Sistine Chapel (Italian: Cappella Sistina). This small chapel is very famous and is often crowded inside, because the chapel is not big, and once people enter, they often don’t want to leave.

The Sistine Chapel is an absolute must-see in the Vatican. The famous Genesis-themed scenes by Michelangelo on the ceiling, such as The Creation of Adam, and The Last Judgment on the back wall are first-rate. The side walls are decorated with breathtaking frescoes by Botticelli, Perugino, Rosselli and Raphael. Please note that photography is not allowed inside the chapel.

It is not possible to visit only the Sistine Chapel. To visit the Sistine Chapel you need to visit all the Vatican Museums, which will take at least 2 hours. The Sistine Chapel is located at the end. However, if you are interested in a “fast visit” to the Sistine Chapel, you can book an exclusive tour , which will allow you to avoid the queues in the Sistine Chapel and visit St. Peter’s Basilica at the end.

3. St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Peter’s Basilica (Italian: Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano) is open to the public free of charge. Before entering, you must pass through a security check. Please dress appropriately. The first thing you’ll notice before entering the Basilica is how huge it is! Take your time to appreciate everything here: Above the main altar is the magnificent bronze bald statue of Bernini, where only the Pope says mass, which dominates the Basilica. This altar is located just below the dome and was built over the old tomb of St. Peter. Before leaving the Basilica, don’t forget to stop and see Michelangelo’s “Statue of the Sacrament”, which is Michelangelo’s only sculpture and is considered one of his greatest masterpieces.