Allow half a day for the Museums and St Peter's Basilica. That allows 2 to 3 hours for Museums highlights and 1 to 2 hours inside the free Basilica. If you also want the paid dome climb, leave a full day.
Updated Hours Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica official sites, read ; tour lengths read
Your time inside each building leaves out the walk between them and the security queue at St Peter's.
Visit length
The Museums cost €25 online, including the Sistine Chapel. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the highlights if you want a short visit. The full route extends over 7 km, so more rooms need more time.
St Peter's Basilica is free to enter. Its own guide allows 1 to 2 hours inside, depending on your interests. Security checks come before that visit, and queues form at busy times.
The dome costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. Allow about 1 hour for the climb and the view. The lift stops at the terrace. From there, 320 steps remain.
Tour lengths cover their listed routes. Leave extra time before a separate booking. Walking and security can extend the day beyond the visit lengths above.
Visit plans
| Time you have | What to plan | What to leave for another visit |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | St Peter's on its own, or a focused Museums visit including the Sistine Chapel | The other site and the dome |
| Half a day | Museums highlights followed by St Peter's, if the security queue leaves enough time | The dome and extra galleries |
| A full day | The Museums and St Peter's, with the dome and a break | The Necropolis unless you have arranged its separate visit |
The editor's plans, based on official visit lengths and the supplied tours; walking and queues take extra time
A 2-hour visit suits one site if you keep your route short. It leaves little room for delays before entry. Trying to add St Peter's after the Museums also means a walk and another security check.
Half a day gives you room for both main sites if you keep to the highlights. A full day suits you if you want more galleries or the dome. The Necropolis needs a separate booking for its 1-hour visit.
What to do: If you want both sites, book the Museums first and keep St Peter's flexible afterwards. With only 2 hours, choose the free Basilica unless the Sistine Chapel is your priority.
Opening hours
Vatican Museums8:00 to 20:00. Monday to Saturday, last entry 18:00
St Peter's Basilica7:00 to 19:00. Every day, current season
St Peter's dome7:30 to 17:00. Every day, current season
open, you can enter open, last entry has passed
The Museums open from 8:00 to 20:00, Monday to Saturday. Last entry is 18:00. You must leave the galleries 30 minutes before closing, so a late ticket gives you less time inside.
St Peter's opens from 7:00 to 19:00 in winter. The dome opens from 7:30 to 17:00. If the climb matters most, plan around its earlier closing; a Museums visit alone gives you a later finish.
On 10 November all sectors open at 9:00. On 4 December and 18 December the Sistine Chapel closes at 18:00, with last entry at 17:30.
Yes, for a short visit to one site. That can cover St Peter's or selected Museums rooms with the Sistine Chapel. Walking and security leave too little time for both.
The editor allows 2 to 3 hours for highlights. The full route extends over 7 km, and a visit with more stops needs longer. The 2-hour tour below follows a selected route.
The Basilica suggests 1 to 2 hours inside. Security comes before that visit. The dome adds about 1 hour and costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift.
Yes, a full day can cover the Museums and St Peter's with a dome climb. Start early and leave room for walking and security. A Necropolis visit needs a separate booking.
Security queues vary with attendance. The checks come before your 1 to 2 hours inside the Basilica.
A guide can suit you if you want a selected route within a set tour length. The 2-hour option below costs from €72. Official Museums entry costs €25 if you prefer your own pace.
Tours
A 2-hour tour covers selected Museums rooms and the Sistine Chapel. Longer options add St Peter's entry or a dome climb. Your own €25 Museums ticket suits you if you want to set the pace.
What to do: Choose a guided option if its route fits the time you have. Official entry suits a visit with more galleries or fewer stops.
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
The 2-hour visit includes tickets and an English guide. From €72 against €25 for entry alone if you prefer to choose your own rooms.
from €72 per adult
See the tourMuseums and Sistine Chapel, then St Peter's
The 3-hour option starts at 9:00 and leaves you to visit St Peter's without the guide. From €49 against €25 for Museums entry; the Basilica itself is free.
from €49 per adult
See the tourDome and Basilica, then Museums and Sistine Chapel
This 4.5-hour English tour starts at 8:00 with the dome climb and includes the lift. From €159 against €25 for Museums entry plus €22 for the official dome ticket with lift.
from €159 per adult
See the tourPrices in euro per adult, read : the usual lowest price of each option, without short sales. The booking page shows the price for your date. We add no fee.
Read next
Choose your first stop and leave room for security
Museum rooms and the route to the Sistine Chapel
Compare the route and group size for each option
