Hours change at Vatican museums, open longer

Starting in 2024, entrance hours will be extended to accommodate visitors who are eager to explore this iconic attraction. Ticket purchasing will also undergo changes to streamline the process and enhance the overall experience.

The exhibition halls received a progressive air conditioning upgrade, providing one more improvement for visitors to enjoy.

The Directorate of Museums and Cultural Heritage of the Oltretevere is gearing up for the grand Jubilee affair in 2025. To uphold inclusivity and an immersive experience, they plan on tweaking the present reception practices in their effort to ensure the optimal usages of the papal archives.
On the first day of 2024, the revised schedule will be implemented. Visitors can start their explorations from 8 a.m. and extend it until 7 p.m., with their last entry allowed at 5 p.m. This will enable everyone to appreciate museums at their leisure.

On specific days, including Fridays and Saturdays, the entrance hours will extend until 8 p.m. during peak tourism season. Last entry will be permitted at 6 p.m. In addition, there will be a maximum of 20 people allowed in each guided tour, this system has been put in place to prevent large gatherings.

"Great attention will be paid to combating the phenomena of so-called secondary ticketing,"

stated the team behind the new ticketing system. Drawing inspiration "from the principles of transparency and effectiveness," this system utilizes automated processes, aided by the introduction of a named ticket and computer-level checks on the identity of the holder.

Launching soon is a project aimed at providing visitors with comfortable air conditioning in exhibition halls in order to prioritize their health and wellness. This is just one of the updates made as part of a larger overhaul of the Vatican museums' management and reception policies that aim to balance the preservation of artworks with making them more accessible to the public. The goal is to harmoniously intersect the need for conservation with the convenience of the general public.