Short answer. To visit the Vatican Museums you need a ticket for the day you go, and the Sistine Chapel is included. If you only want to see the galleries and the chapel, the entry ticket is the simplest choice. If you want someone to explain the rooms, pick a guided tour. The only free day is the last Sunday of the month.
Tickets, guided tours and combined visits
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: Entry Ticket
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from €38
Book tickets and tours →How does a Vatican Museums ticket work?
You choose the day when you book, and the ticket is valid only on that day. It is not refundable, so check the date twice. The ticket arrives right after you book, and with it you walk straight to the entrance with a reserved place instead of stopping at a ticket desk.
The Sistine Chapel is part of the same visit. You reach it from inside the museums, so you do not need a second ticket.
Is the last Sunday of the month really free?
Yes. On the last Sunday of the month the museums open free from 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30. It does not apply when that Sunday falls on Easter, 29 June, 25 December, 26 December or 31 December.
The free day is short: the museums close at 14:00 and last entry is at 12:30, so arrive early.
Children under 7 also enter free, as do visitors with a certified disability of 67% or more, with one companion if the person is not independent. These free tickets are not booked online: you collect them at the museum’s desks.
Which ticket should I choose?
A simple way to decide:
- Going on your own? Choose the entry ticket. You walk the galleries and the Sistine Chapel at your own pace.
- Want the story behind the rooms? Choose the guided tour of about 3 hours. You get a headset to hear the guide.
- Want the museums and the Basilica on the same day? One guided tour goes through the museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, with entry to all three.
- Staying a few days in Rome? The combo pass adds one more attraction of your choice: the Pantheon, the Colosseum, the Mamertine Prison or a hop-on hop-off bus tour.
- Want the Pantheon too? One ticket covers the museums, the Sistine Chapel and reserved entry to the Pantheon.
Cancellation rules differ from ticket to ticket and some tickets cannot be refunded, so check the conditions and choose your day with care.
What are the rules at the door?
The Vatican Museums are part of a religious site, and the rules reflect that:
- Dress: cover your shoulders and knees. Sleeveless tops, low necklines, shorts above the knee, short skirts and hats are not allowed.
- Bags: suitcases, backpacks and bulky bags go to the cloakroom, which is free. The same goes for big umbrellas, tripods and video cameras.
- Security: everyone passes a metal detector. Weapons and dangerous objects are not allowed and cannot be left at the cloakroom.
- Animals: only guide dogs and certified pet-therapy animals can come in.
- Photos: allowed for personal use, but not with flash, and not with telescopic selfie sticks. Tripods, drones and professional equipment need permission.
Can you take photos in the Sistine Chapel?
No. Photos and video are not allowed in the Sistine Chapel, with any device. Phones are not allowed in the chapel, and visitors are asked for complete silence. It is easier to enjoy the ceiling when your phone is in your pocket.
Is St. Peter’s Basilica free?
Yes, walking into the Basilica is free, but the dome, the Treasury Museum, the necropolis and guided visits are paid. You can read the options on the St. Peter’s Basilica tickets page. The opening hours are on the Vatican Museums opening hours page, and the getting there page explains how to reach the entrance.
