Vatican Museums: Tickets

The available standard tickets are:

In addition to the standard tickets, there are packages that include extra services such as a guided tour or access to other archaeological sites and museums.

Some of the most popular are:

The Vatican Museums enforce a daily limit on admissions. For this reason, buying tickets at the on-site ticket office is not recommended. Booking online ensures you can visit the Vatican Museums on your preferred date and time.

Purchasing Vatican Museums tickets online via ArcheoRoma allows you to:

• avoid long lines that typically form at the entrance to the museum complex
• guarantee access and avoid the possibility that on-site tickets might sell out

P.S. Besides standard priority-access tickets, you can also purchase tours that include, along with exclusive entry, an educational and personalized route, guided by an expert.

The Vatican Museums offer reduced fares to specific visitor categories to make art and culture more accessible:

1. Students and Youth: Students up to age 25 can get reduced rates, by presenting valid ID and proof of enrollment.
2. School Groups: Special rates are available for school groups, requiring advance booking.
3. Clergy and Ecclesiastical Members: Priests, nuns, novices can access a reduced rate by showing documentation proving membership in a religious order.
4. Pilgrimages: Diocesan and parish pilgrimages may also obtain reduced rates.
5. Large Families: The Vatican Museums offer special terms for families with multiple children.

Note: These discounted tickets are available only for standard admission purchased through the Vatican Museums’ official website.

The Vatican Museums offer free admission to certain categories of visitors, promoting cultural inclusion:

• Children: Free admission for children under 6 years old.
• Cultural Professionals: Museum directors, superintendents, and heritage officials are admitted free of charge.
• Visitors with Disabilities: Individuals with certified disability over 74% receive free admission. If assistance is required, an accompanying person is also admitted free. Free tickets are obtained by presenting proof of disability at the “Permessi Speciali” and/or “Reception” desks in the entrance hall. In addition, priority entry is provided to avoid lengthy waits.
• Special Pass Holders: ICOM and ICOMOS members have free entry.
• University Faculty: Professors of Archaeology, Art History, Architecture, Ethnology, or Roman Academies may request free access for specialized academic sessions.

Entry is free on the last Sunday of every month, following the museum calendar.

The Vatican Museums provide occasional free-entry days, giving visitors the chance to explore the collections at no cost. Typically, free admission is offered on the last Sunday of the month, enabling broader access to these extraordinary artworks.

Note that:

• On such free days, opening hours are from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, with final entry at 12:30 PM.
• No online reservations are possible for these free Sundays.
• If a Sunday coincides with Easter, St. Peter and St. Paul, Christmas, or St. Stephen’s Day, the museums remain closed.

Waiting times vary widely depending on multiple factors. During peak season, queues for entry to the Vatican Museums can exceed two hours, especially on weekends and religious holidays.

The confirmation voucher you received by email is mandatory on the day of your visit. It may be presented digitally (on a smartphone or tablet) or printed, as long as it is clearly legible. Please note, only a copy of the order is not valid for entry.

Yes, the Vatican Museums are among the main attractions included in the Roma Pass package.

Due to Vatican policy, reservations are nonrefundable, and changing the number of participants in a group is not possible. You may, however, change the date or the name on the ticket.

The Vatican Museums require appropriate and modest dress. Shorts, miniskirts, and hats are not permitted.