“Visiting The Vatican” will take you to priceless works of art, and the largest church on Earth. It will explain everything you need to know about visiting Vatican City — what to see, what to eat, and more.
What are the Things to Do in Vatican City?
Walk around St Peters Square – free.
Enter St Peter’s Basilica – the largest church on Earth. Open 7am to 6pm – free.
Gaze upon priceless masterpieces of art in the Vatican Museums. Open 9am to 6pm except Sunday – 16 Euro
Take in Michelangelo’s ceiling inside The Sistine Chapel (Included in Vatican Museums entry)
Maybe even get lucky enough to Meet the Pope
The Catholic Church has amassed an incredible amount of priceless works of art, likely the most valuable art collection on Earth. For a fee they’ll let you look at it.
We spent a couple hours touring the Vatican Museums, which include the Sistine Chapel. There are entirely too many people in all the tourist spots of Italy, and the Sistine Chapel is no exception. As we stood on the edge of the chapel, uniformed guards continually shouted at people to be quiet. The din of conversation echoed off the five hundred year old frescoes. Every inch of floor space was occupied by chattering tourists. We didn’t stay long.
Onward we walked through the endless galleries with our audio guides pressed to our ears. I gained an appreciation for Raphael and Botticelli, and liked Caravaggio best of all. I hope when I’m old, I gain an appreciation for the great works of art, but for now as I trudge through art museums I feel like I’m on a mandatory class trip with a quiz at the end.
Thing You Need to Know about Visiting The Vatican:
Backpacker Daily Budget:
$80. Essentially the same as the budget for Rome, as you cannot spend the night in The Vatican, or hire public transport.
Cheap Beer index:
$5 for a bottle of Peroni in the cafeteria.
When to visit, and weather:
May-June and September-October are ideal times to visit. Highs are in the 70’s and crowds should be manageable. July and August are hot, averaging 86, and have heavy tourist traffic. Winter can be chilly, with lows in the 30’s and 40’s.
What languages are spoken?
Most residents speak Italian. Swiss German is used by the Swiss Guards. Latin is used for government papers. English is a common second language.
Do you need a visa?
Visas are not required for nationals of USA, UK, AUS, and CAN. No border controls. If you made it into Italy, you are all set for the Vatican.
Getting in, getting out, getting around:
There is no airport. You cannot drive in. You must walk in from Italy, and can arrive via taxi, bus or metro. Once inside, walking is the only way around (unless you hot-wire the Popemobile). Learn how to get to Rome for free on my page: Nine Steps to Free Flights Worldwide.
Local Currency and how to get it:
Euro (0.86=$1 as of 2018) and there IS an ATM. For more info on your cash-versus-credit card options when travelling, check out my post on How to Access your Money in Foreign Countries.
Stay Connected:
Any Italian or EU SIM card will work normally without roaming in tiny Vatican City. For more info on your telecom options, check out my post on How to Get Cheap Mobile Phone Service Worldwide.Where to stay:
There is no lodging of any kind in Vatican City. You must stay in Rome.
Where to eat:
Only one option; the Vatican Museums have a cafeteria-style restaurant, with a bar and a pizzeria.
Nightlife:
The clergy throw down gallons of wine every day, the largest wine consumption per capita on Earth, a massive 74 liters! However, it will be tough to get an invite. No public bars or restaurants are open in the evening.
Get a guidebook:
101 Surprising Facts About St. Peter’s and the Vatican
What to Pack:
Entry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Gardens is permitted only to appropriately dressed visitors. Low cut or sleeveless clothing, shorts, miniskirts and hats are not allowed. To learn how to pack light and be prepared for anything, check out my post The Worldwide Travel Packing List.
Is it safe?
Very safe. The Vatican has extremely serious security. Pick-pocketing is the only danger.
Final thoughts:
Vatican City is the richest nation per capita, but the Vatican does not release it financial information, so no one knows for sure. Estimated Gross Annual National Income per capita is an astounding $8,000,000. Vatican City has the lowest percentage of women of any country, at only 3%. It also has the lowest birthrate of any country at ZERO since any births would be in an Italian hospital. Its the smallest country in the world by both population (1,000) and area at 0.17 square mile.
When you are ready to book your trip, be sure to use the best booking sites:
Book Your Flight:
Find your flight using Momondo.com. It is the best airfare search engine, as it finds the cheapest flights, and will find ALL the flights. (Here’s the proof.)
Book Your Accommodation:
Choose your lodging using Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates. (Here’s the proof.)
Get Travel Insurance:
You can’t afford to travel without travel insurance. Car accidents, illnesses, and theft do happen. It could save your life. I never travel without it. I use World Nomads.
Need Some Gear?
Check out my Worldwide Travel Packing List for the best travel gear for your adventures. I’ve already read all the online reviews, and tested it all out, so you can just click and buy the best stuff.
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