St Peter's Square
Where the Sunday Angelus takes place
Is the Vatican open on Sunday?
St Peter's Basilica is free and normally opens on Sundays from 7:00 to 19:00. The Museums usually close, except for the free last Sunday of the month when no holiday exception applies. The next free date is 29 November.
Updated Hours Vatican Museums and St Peter's Basilica official sites, read
Check whether your date is the free Museums Sunday before planning a Sistine Chapel visit.
Sunday openings
What is open at the Vatican on Sunday?
| Place | Ordinary Sunday | Last Sunday of the month |
|---|---|---|
| Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel | Closed | Usually free, 9:00 to 14:00; last entry 12:30 |
| St Peter's Basilica | Free, normally 7:00 to 19:00 | Same hours; services can affect access |
| St Peter's dome | 7:30 to 17:00; €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift | Same hours and prices |
| Basilica guided tours | Afternoon visits by booking; official guided tour €18 | Afternoon visits by booking; €18 |
| St Peter's Square | Open; usual Angelus at 12:00 | Open; usual Angelus at 12:00 |
| Vatican Necropolis | Closed | Closed |
| Vatican Gardens open bus | Does not run | Does not run |
Current winter hours, read ; free Museums Sundays have holiday exceptions, and Basilica services can affect access
The free-Sunday rule applies to the Museums and Sistine Chapel. The Necropolis remains closed, and the Gardens bus runs Monday to Saturday. A dome climb still needs its own paid ticket.
Ordinary Sundays
What can you do at the Vatican on an ordinary Sunday?
St Peter's Basilica is free. Masses take place throughout the day. Some celebrations, including Papal Masses, need a free ticket requested in advance. A visit to the building takes about 1 to 2 hours.
Sunday is one of St Peter's busiest days because of the Angelus at 12:00. Security queues can add time before your visit. For the Angelus, keep 12:00 free.
The dome costs €17 by stairs or €22 with the lift. It opens from 7:30 to 17:00 in winter. Allow about 1 hour for the climb. The lift leaves 320 steps.
What to do: If Sunday is your only day, plan for the free Basilica and the square. If the Sistine Chapel matters most, choose an open Monday to Saturday or the free Sunday shown in the calendar.
Free Museums Sunday
How should you plan the free Sunday at the Vatican?
The Museums and Sistine Chapel are free on 29 November. They open from 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30. Visitors must leave the galleries 30 minutes before closing.
If you want both sites, start with the Museums because their Sunday hours are shorter. St Peter's normally stays open until 19:00 in winter. If you want the Angelus at 12:00, it takes time from that short Museums morning.
Free Sunday entry does not apply on Easter Sunday or 29 June. The same exception covers 25, 26 and 31 December. A paid visit on an open Monday to Saturday costs €25 online or €20 at the door.
Opening hours
What are the Vatican Sunday opening hours?
7:009:0011:0013:0015:0017:0019:00
Museums, free Sunday9:00 to 14:00. Last Sunday of the month, last entry 12:30
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
On a free Sunday, Museums admission stops at 12:30. St Peter's normally remains open until 19:00, while the dome closes at 17:00. Those separate closing times determine how much you can fit into the afternoon.
Museum calendar
When is the next free Sunday at the Vatican?
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
2 Novopen
3 Novopen
4 Novopen
5 Novopen
6 Novopen
7 Novopen
8 Novclosed
9 Novopen
10 Novpart closed
11 Novopen
12 Novopen
13 Novopen
14 Novopen
15 Novclosed
16 Novopen
17 Novopen
18 Novopen
19 Novopen
20 Novopen
21 Novopen
22 Novclosed
23 Novopen
24 Novopen
25 Novopen
26 Novopen
27 Novopen
28 Novopen
29 Novfree
30 Novopen
1 Decopen
2 Decopen
3 Decopen
4 Decpart closed
5 Decopen
6 Decclosed
7 Decopen
8 Decclosed
9 Decopen
10 Decopen
11 Decopen
12 Decopen
13 Decclosed
Closed and open days from the official Museums ticket shop, read . St Peter's has its own hours and does not follow this calendar.
The next free Museums Sunday is 29 November. The date gives you access to the Sistine Chapel too. The changes below affect particular dates or sectors, so check them alongside the regular Sunday hours.
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.
People also ask
Are the Vatican Museums open on Sunday?
Usually only on the last Sunday of the month, with free entry and holiday exceptions. The next free date is 29 November. Hours are 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30.
Is the Sistine Chapel open on Sunday?
It opens with the Museums on the free last Sunday, except on the listed holidays. The next date is 29 November. Last entry is 12:30, and you visit through the Museums.
Is St Peter's Basilica open on Sunday?
Yes, normally from 7:00 to 19:00 in winter, with free entry. Services can affect access. Sunday is one of its busiest days, so leave time for security.
Can you go to Mass at St Peter's on Sunday?
Yes, several Masses are celebrated during the day. Some celebrations, including Papal Masses, require free tickets requested in advance.
What time is the Angelus at the Vatican?
The usual Sunday time is 12:00 in St Peter's Square. Leave that part of your day free if you want to attend. It overlaps the short morning opening on free Museums Sundays.
What days should you avoid at the Vatican?
Avoid ordinary Sundays if the Museums or Sistine Chapel are your priority. Wednesday and Sunday are St Peter's busiest days. Sunday still suits you if you want the Angelus or Mass.
Read next
Vatican Sunday visit guides
When are the Museums free?
The next free Sunday and its shorter hours
St Peter's Basilica
Free entry and the security checks