Plan Your Visit to the Vatican Museums

Everything to sort out before you go

The Vatican Museums cram the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps and Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel into a single one-way route of roughly seven kilometres. On a busy morning the entrance line can run well past two hours, so the difference between a good visit and a frustrating one usually comes down to a bit of planning: a timed ticket, the right entry time, and knowing which days the Museums are closed.

These guides handle the practical side and nothing else. Pick the question that's yours right now:

• Opening hours & closing days — when the Museums are open, and the 2026 dates they're shut.
• Tickets & prices — every ticket type, what it includes and what it costs.
• Best time to visit — the quietest months, days and hours to go.
• Skip the line — how priority entry works, and when it is worth paying for.

Everything here is kept current for 2026 and 2027. When you are ready to book, the entry tickets and guided tours are one click away.