The Vatican Museums are open from 8 am to 8 pm throughout the year. The last admission to the museum is at 6 pm. The halls are cleared 30 minutes before the museum’s closing time.
On 24th and 31st December, the museum is open from 8 am to 3 pm with last entry at 1 pm.
Guests get free entry to the museum on the last Sunday of the month. However, the museum has shorter opening hours from 9 am to 2 pm on this day. This does not apply if any of the following days fall on Sunday:
- Easter
- 29 June Sts. Peter and Paul
- Christmas
- 26 December Feast of St Stephen
- 31 December Feast of St. Sylvester
In addition to the Vatican Museum, there are various other attractions in the Vatican City. While the Vatican City is open throughout the day, all the attractions like the Vatican Museum, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican Necropolis, etc, within the city have different hours of opening. It is essential to note them and plan your visit accordingly for the best experience.
In this article, you can find all details of the attraction timings, closures, best time to visit and more. At the end of this article, we have also highlighted things you need to remember while planning your visit and answered all related FAQs.
Vatican Museum Closure
The Vatican Museum is closed on all Sundays except the last Sunday of every month, the Feast of 29 June, and the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul.
The museum is also closed on the following dates in 2025:
- 1 and 6 January
- 11 February
- 19 March
- 21 April
- 1 May
- 29 June
- 15 and 16 August
- 1 November
- 8, 25 and 26 December
In 2026, the Vatican Museums will be closed on the following dates:
- 1, 6 January
- 11 February
- 19 March
- 6 April
- 1 May
- 29 June
- 14, 15 August
- 8, 25, 26 December
Temporary Closures in the Vatican Museum
Some galleries of the Vatican Museum can be closed for refurbishment or other special reasons at any time of the year. Here is a list of the current temporary closures you should watch out for:
| Sector | Date | Timing |
| Gregorian Egyptian Museum | 2 October, 2025 | 2 pm to 8 pm |
| All Galleries | 5 November | 8 am to 9 pm |
We recommend you download the 2025, 2026 Vatican Museum Calendar for easy use.
Sistine Chapel Hours
The Sistine Chapel is located inside the Vatican Museum and follows the museum hours like any other gallery. Hence, the Sistine Chapel is open from 8 am to 8 pm throughout the year, with the last admission at 6 pm. Visitors will be asked to clear the chapel by 7.30 pm.
The Sistine Chapel is open from 9 am to 2 pm on the Last Sundays of the month. On 24th and 31st December, the Chapel is open from 8 am to 3 pm with last entry at 1 pm.
The chapel also follows the Vatican Museum closure schedules. Apart from the mentioned dates, the Sistine Chapel can also be closed for special reasons on short notice. For instance, the Sistine Chapel was closed for 11 days during the election of the new Pope. We will update you on this page in case of any sudden closures of the Chapel.
Sistine Chapel opening hours:
| Day | Timings | Last Entry |
| Monday | 8 am to 8 pm | 6 pm |
| Tuesday | 8 am to 8 pm | 6 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 am to 8 pm | 6 pm |
| Thursday | 8 am to 8 pm | 6 pm |
| Friday | 8 am to 8 pm | 6 pm |
| Saturday | 8 am to 8 pm | 6 pm |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
| Last Sunday | 8 am to 3 pm | 1 pm |
Vatican Garden Hours
Vatican Gardens are open from 9 am to 6 pm every day. They are closed on all Sundays and public holidays.
Special tours are required to visit them. Make sure you book the Vatican Gardens tour in advance to visit them.
Vatican Gardens opening hours:
| Day | Timings | Last Entry |
| Monday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Friday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am to 6 pm | 5 pm |
| Sunday | Closed | Closed |
St Peter’s Basilica Opening Hours
St. Peter’s Basilica opens at 7 am and closes at 7.10 pm every day. On Wednesdays, due to the Papal audience in the morning, the basilica opens at 12.30 pm. The last admission to the basilica is 30 minutes before closing time.
Guided tours for the basilica start at 9.30 am. The last tour is available at 5 pm every day. On Sundays and public holidays, tours are available only from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm.
On special days like Easter, Christmas, etc, the timings of St. Peter’s Basilica might change.
St Peter’s Basilica weekly schedule:
| Day | Timings | Last Entry |
| Monday | 7 am to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
| Tuesday | 7 am to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
| Wednesday | 12.30 pm to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
| Thursday | 7 am to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
| Friday | 7 am to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
| Saturday | 7 am to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
| Sunday | 7 am to 7.10 pm | 6.40 pm |
St Peter’s Basilica Dome Timings
The St Peter’s Basilica Dome opening hours change based on the season. During the summer, it is open from 7.30 am to 6 pm. During winter, the dome is open from 7.30 am to 5 pm. Closure and clearance of the dome begin 30 minutes before closing time.
Visitors must note that only a pre-defined number of visitors are allowed to climb the dome at a given time to regulate the crowd and protect the structure. Hence, expect wait times during peak hours of 10 am to 4 pm.
Vatican Mass timings
Masses are held every day in St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. Here are the timings of the mass:
Weekday Masses
- 7 am: Altar of St. Joseph
- 7.30 am: Altar of St. Joseph
- 8:30 am: Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (followed by Eucharistic Adoration until 6:45 pm)
- 9 am: Altar of St. Joseph
- 10 am: Altar of St. Joseph
- 11 am: Altar of the Cathedra
- 12 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
- 5 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
- 6 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
Masses on Feast Days & Holidays
- 7 am: Altar of St. Joseph
- 8 am: Altar of St. Joseph
- 9 am: Altar of the Cathedra
- 9.45 am: Chapter Lauds, Choir Chapel
- 10.30 am: Altar of the Cathedra (Chapter Mass)
- 12.30 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
- 4 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
- 5 pm: Vespers, Choir Chapel
- 5 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
- 6 pm: Altar of the Cathedra
Vatican Necropolis Timings
The St Peter’s Necropolis (also called Vatican Necropolis) is open from 9 am to 4.15 pm during weekdays and 9 am to 12.30 pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. The Vatican Grottoes, located one level above the Necropolis, are open from 9 am to 6 pm throughout the week.
Quick note: Necropolis and Grottoes are located beneath St. Peter’s Basilica. Grottoes is the first level (Ground – 1) and Necropolis is the 2nd and last level of the underground (Ground – 2).
Papal Audience Schedule
The Papal Audience is held every Wednesday at 9 am at St Peter’s Square. During colder or rainy days, the Papal Audience is held in the Paul VI Audience Hall.
Entry usually begins at 7.30 am or 8 am to allow time for security. We recommend you arrive before 7 am to secure the best seats.
Papal Palace Hours
The Palace of Castle Gandolfo, or Papal Palace, is open from 9 am to 2.30 pm during weekdays.
During the weekends, the palace is open from 9 am or 10 am to 6.30 pm. The last entry is 1.5 hours before the closing time. Guests are expected to clear the galleries 30 minutes before closing time.
In the months of January to March, on Saturdays and Sundays, the Garden of Moor and the Secret Garden will be open until 4 pm, along with the Palace.
Papal Palace Schedule:
| Day | Timings | Last Entry |
| Monday | 9 am to 2.30 pm | 1 pm |
| Tuesday | 9 am to 2.30 pm | 1 pm |
| Wednesday | 9 am to 2.30 pm | 1 pm |
| Thursday | 9 am to 2.30 pm | 1 pm |
| Friday | 9 am to 2.30 pm | 1 pm |
| Saturday | 9 am to 6.30 pm | 5 pm |
| Sunday | 10 am to 6.30 pm | 5 pm |
For accurate details on the timings and closure, refer to this calendar.
Best Time To Visit the Vatican Museum
The best time to visit the Vatican Museum is at 8 am, as soon as the museum is open for visitors. This is the golden rule for visiting any popular site that we swear by. Arriving early will let you be one of the first guests of the day. You will be able to tour most parts of the museum before the crowd flows in. However, owing to the popularity of the Vatican, you can still find queues at 8 am. These queues start building as early as 6 am or 6.30 am during the peak summer months.
The best way to beat the crowd is to buy your skip-the-line admission tickets online and get priority entry. Another secret tip is to book an early access tour, which lets you enter the museum before the opening hours.
Why do we recommend visiting at 8 am? Does waking up early and getting an online ticket really make a difference?
We are sharing insights from our recent visit to the Vatican Museum in June 2025. We booked our skip-the-line tickets for the 8 am entry and arrived at the Vatican Museum entrance at 7.40 am. We got into the queues for the security check. After a quick check, we were inside the museum at 8.05 am. We toured in peace with no crowd and photo bombing. We reached the Sistine Chapel by 8.35 am by following our secret itinerary to enjoy the Chapel privately. We enjoy most of the galleries without any other group in them. By 11 am, we wrapped up our tour, had breakfast at the Vatican, and shopped in the museum and found our way to the exit without getting squeezed between the summer tour groups.
However, around 10 am, all popular galleries like Raphael Rooms, Gallery of Maps, and Sistine Chapel were filled to the brim without any space to enjoy a private moment. Here is the image of the gallery we toured at 8.10 am and at 10.30 am while we were leaving:
Hence, 8 am is the best time to visit the Vatican Museum and no other time slot offers the same experience.
Picking the best day to visit the Vatican Museum is not very complicated. For a crowd-free visit, avoid Mondays, Saturdays, Wednesdays (due to papal audience crowds) and public holidays. We avoid visiting the Vatican Museum on Monday since most Roman attractions tend to be closed on Monday. Hence, the crowds are diverted to the Vatican Museum. Avoid visiting the museum on the last Sunday during free entry hours, as they are the most crowded times.
You can visit the Vatican Museum on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays for the least crowd. Avoid planning your visit from April 25 to May 1 week and the Christmas week as they are long weekends in Italy.
Summers are the most popular time to visit Italy. Due to sunny weather, school holidays and extended hours of attraction, this is the most crowded time of the year in the museum. Plan your visit during the winter or early spring for a crowd-free visit to the Vatican. The months of October, November, January, February, March and April offer the best experience. You can also get cheaper tickets during this time.
If you wish to experience festivities in the Vatican and do not mind the crowd, then plan your visit during Christmas or Easter week. This applies to both the Vatican Museum and St Peter’s Basilica.
Best Time to Visit St Peter’s Basilica
As per the golden rule we discussed above, 7 am is the best time to visit St Peter’s Basilica. To enter at 7 am, the queues start from 5.30 am to 6 am during the peak summer months. If you can wake up early and get into the queues, you will be the first one to enter and can enjoy the basilica without any crowd.
Other suitable timings are 1 pm, when most visitors take a lunch break and 6.30 pm, before the Basilica closes for a quick visit. To visit the basilica dome, we recommend you book the dome climb ticket for 9 am. Choose the elevator access to be the first one to climb the dome and enjoy views before it gets crowded and very sunny.
How Long Does the Vatican Museum Tour Take?
Generally, guests spend 3 to 4 hours in the Vatican Museum. Visitors who love art and wish to learn about every piece they see can spend around 5 hours as well. While you are welcome to spend the entire day, the tour length depends on your interest level and your group. Children and aged visitors often tour slowly, while youngsters can finish it in 2.5 to 3 hours.
If you are part of the Vatican Museum guided tour, then you will need 2 to 3 hours, as your guide will know how to navigate the museum without losing your way.
Guests who plan to enjoy breakfast at the Vatican, visit the Gardens or shop in the museum should plan for a longer stay. You can expect slower tours during crowded days and busy Summer months.
How long does it take to visit St Peter’s Basilica?
The St Peter’s Basilica takes 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to tour. If you wish to attend a mass, then allot more time for your visit. The Dome climb takes 1 to 2 hours, depending on your pace and crowd level. You can take the elevator for part of the climb to reduce the climbing time. The Necropolis and Grottoes take 45 minutes each.
We recommend that you also account for more time for security checks and queues during peak hours.
How to Visit Vatican City in One Day
Most tourists plan to visit Vatican City in a single day. While we have told you that the early morning hours are the best time to visit each attraction, it is not possible to visit them all at the same time.
The best option is to take a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and St Peter’s Basilica. This will help you tour major portions of the city with a guide and also in 3 to 4 hours.
However, if you wish to tour by yourself and spend more time in the city, here is our itinerary for a crowd-free and easy day at Vatican City:
- Start your day at the Vatican Museum at 7.30 am.
- With the skip-the-line ticket, you will enter by 8 am and can complete your tour by 11 am.
- Grab a snack and relax
- Head to St Peter’s Basilica at 12 pm.
- Tour the square, grottoes, and necropolis.
- The exit of the Grottoes opens into the basilica. So you can skip the line and tour the basilica.
- Climb the dome by 1.30 pm. It will be sunny when you head up so be prepared.
- Wrap up your St Peter’s Basilica tour by 3 pm.
- Visit the Vatican post office on your way out.
- You can also visit the Papal Palace if you have the energy.
Most visitors also plan to visit the Castle St.Angelo opposite to Vatican City. However, most tourists will be tired by 3 pm. If you have energy, you can continue to Castle St. Angelo, take a walk near the Tiber River during the evening and call it a day.
Alternatively, you can also visit the basilica at 7 am and rush to the museum by 7.45 am, and come back to the grottoes at 12 pm. This way, you can visit both the basilica and the museum early in the morning. However, this will involve a lot of back and forth and rushing, which will bring down your energy levels.
VISITORS’ GUIDE
Tips for a Crowd-Free Visit to the Vatican Museum
Make your museum experience seamless with our expert recommendations
1. Book Your Tickets Online In Advance
Always book your Vatican tickets online. There are two reasons why – one, you get priority entry and another, you get guaranteed entrance. Visitors without a ticket have one queue, on the left of the entrance, while ticket holders have 3 passageways. They can join one based on their ticket.
For a given timeslot, visitors who have already booked their tickets get priority access. Among them, the order of admission is passage 2, 3 and 1. Guided tours and skip-the-line tickets get you into passages 2 and 3. After they pass security checks, the counters open with a limited number of tickets based on the crowd inside the museum. At times, the counters might not open for a given timeslot if the museum is full.
2. Enter the Museum Before it Opens
Yes, you read it right. Book an early access tour to enter the museum before it opens for the day. This gives you a heads up against the big crowds that will enter after 8 am.
3. Get Priority Access
Get priority access with the Vatican skip-the-line online tickets. Be the first one to enter the museum for your time slot. Read more about the skip-the-line tickets to know how they work.
3. Arrive at the right time
Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your pre-booked time slot for security checks. Arriving exactly at the booked time is not suggested.
5. Plan your museum and basilica visit right
If you wish to visit the museum and the basilica, then tour the museum first. The Basilica has a few other time slots that offer a crowd-free visit, unlike the museum. Since the museum will take 3 hours, you also cannot arrive right before the last entry.
Arrive early at 6 am for a calm tour of St. Peter’s Square. It gets crowded later during the day. You can also stay after 6 pm for a unique evening experience.
Ready to Experience the Vatican Museum?
Book your tickets now and explore one of the world’s greatest museums
Vatican Museum Opening Hours FAQs
1. Is the Vatican open all day?
Yes, Vatican City itself is always open. However, the Vatican Museum is open from 8 am to 8 pm. Other attractions follow their own schedule too.
2. Is Vatican City open on Sundays?
Yes. Vatican City itself is always open, but most attractions, including the Vatican Museums and Gardens, are closed on Sundays (except the last Sunday of the month, when museums open 9 am to 2 pm with free entry). St. Peter’s Basilica remains open daily.
3. When is the Vatican closed?
The Vatican Museums are closed on all Sundays (except the last Sunday of the month) and on specific public holidays. St. Peter’s Basilica remains open daily, though hours may vary on religious festivals.
4. Do the Vatican’s opening hours change in winter and summer?
The Museums and Basilica hours remain the same year-round.
5. Can I visit the Vatican Museum at night?
Generally, no. Standard hours are 8 am to 8 pm. Occasionally, the Vatican Museums host special night openings or exhibitions, but these are announced in advance.
6. What time should I go to the Vatican Museum?
The best time to visit the Vatican Museums is right when they open at 8 am. Arriving early helps you enjoy the galleries and the Sistine Chapel before they get overcrowded. By 10 am, most areas are packed.
7. What days to avoid in the Vatican?
Avoid Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and public holidays:
- Mondays → Many Roman attractions are closed, so crowds shift to the Vatican
- Wednesdays → Papal Audience brings extra visitors.
- Saturdays & holidays → Heavy tourist rush.
- Also avoid the last Sunday of the month (free entry, extremely crowded)
8. How long does it take to visit the Vatican Museum?
On average, it takes 3 to 4 hours to visit Vatican Museum. Art lovers may spend up to 5 hours, while guided tours usually last 2 to 3 hours. Add more time if you plan to visit the Gardens, shop, or dine inside.
9. What time is the last entry to the Sistine Chapel?
The Sistine Chapel follows museum timings. The last entry is at 6 pm, and visitors must leave by 7:30 pm. On the last Sunday of the month, the last entry is at 1 pm, with the chapel closing at 2 pm.
10. Is 2 hours enough for the Vatican?
Two hours may be enough for a quick tour of the highlights, but most visitors spend 3 to 4 hours in the Vatican Museums alone. If you also plan to see St. Peter’s Basilica, the Dome, Grottoes, or Necropolis, allow at least half a day.
11. What is the 4-hour tour of the Vatican?
It’s a guided visit that typically covers the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica in around 4 hours. Guides follow optimized routes so you see the highlights without getting lost or overwhelmed.
12. What is the quietest day at the Vatican?
Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays are generally the least crowded. Visiting during winter or early spring (Jan to Apr, Oct to Nov) also ensures a calmer experience.
13. What happens on Wednesdays in the Vatican?
The Papal Audience takes place at 9 am in St. Peter’s Square (or indoors in Paul VI Audience Hall during bad weather). This event draws large crowds, and St. Peter’s Basilica usually opens later at 12:30 pm.
14. Is it better to visit the Vatican in the morning or the afternoon?
Morning is the best time. Arrive by 8 am for a crowd-free experience in the museums. For St. Peter’s Basilica, the best times are 7 am, 1 pm (during lunch), or 6:30 pm before closing.
15. What time is St Peter’s Basilica open?
St. Peter’s Basilica is open daily from 7 am to 7.10 pm (last entry 6.40 pm). On Wednesdays, it opens later at 12.30 pm due to the Papal Audience.
16. How early should I arrive before my ticket time?
Arrive 15 to 20 minutes before your booked time slot. This allows time for security checks without risking entry delays.
17. Is there a time limit for my visit to the Vatican Museums?
No, once inside, you can stay until closing. However, most visitors spend 3 to 4 hours exploring.
18. What time do Vatican Museum tickets go on sale online?
Tickets usually open 3 months in advance. It’s best to book early, especially during peak months.
19. Are there extended hours during special exhibitions?
Yes, the Vatican sometimes extends museum hours for special exhibitions or events. These are announced on the Vatican’s official calendar.
20. Are guided tours available outside regular hours?
Yes. Special early access tours let visitors enter before the Museums open at 8 am. This is the best way to explore without crowds.
21. Are the Vatican Gardens open every day?
No. The Gardens are open Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 6 pm (last entry 5 pm). They are closed on Sundays and public holidays, and entry is only via special guided tours.
22. What are the best times to attend Papal Mass without clashing with museum visits?
Masses are held throughout the day in St. Peter’s Basilica. If you also plan to see the museums, consider attending an early morning Mass at 7 or 7.30 am or an evening Mass at 5 or 6 pm, so your museum visit (8 am to 2 pm) is uninterrupted.