Is the Vatican open for visitors?

The Vatican City is the centre of the Catholic world: a glorious testament to piety lined with ornate cathedrals, lush gardens and just a handful of history’s most famous masterpieces.

Whether you’re marvelling at the Sistine Chapel’s Michelangelo-painted ceiling, getting down below to St. Peter’s Basilica’s necropolis or taking a breather in the beautiful Vatican Gardens, you can easily spend a restful afternoon here away from Rome’s fast-paced hustle.

And yes: the Vatican is certainly open for visitors. The Vatican is open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday, with the last admission being at 4pm.

This allows you ample time to get in there and experience these most delightfully devout attractions:

The Sistine Chapel

The Sistine Chapel is – without a doubt – the world’s most beautifully-painted religious centre. I’m sorry, but it’s true. After all, the ceiling is adorned with Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam and The Last Judgement, two of the most painstakingly intricate works you’re likely to see in the Vatican or in the whole world for that matter!

There is truly nowhere else like the Sistine Chapel – all you have to do is take your time and crane your neck a little to pick out the beautiful little wonders that line its walls and you will see it for yourself…

St. Peter’s Basilica

The grand centre of all Catholic cathedrals is that of the St. Peter’s Basilica – the Catholic world’s home stadium, if you will… This stunningly ornate cathedral is famed not only for its fine design and incredible baldachin, but also for the tombs found below the cathedral floor.

A cheeky tour of the Vatican Necropolis will reveal the tomb of none other than St. Peter himself, as well as some other big names in the Catholic world – it’s a slightly eerie yet incredible sight to see…

Vatican Museums

The Catholic Church is super rich – we all know this. And what do super rich people and/or entities like to do with their riches? Acquire history’s great masterpieces, of course!

Well, that’s not entirely fair, as the Vatican has no doubt been collecting pieces from their 70,000-odd collection for centuries, many of which were sure to have been donated by the artist themself, but there is no denying the fact that there is some serious grandeur associated with the collection.

And, of course, this is great for us, as the Vatican Museums are lined with masterpieces from the likes of Michelangelo, da Vinci, Caravaggio and more…