Even though the Vatican is inside Italian territory, it’s actually another country with its own laws and borders. However, you don’t need a separate passport to visit the Vatican. If you’re visiting Rome, you’ll be able to visit Vatican City as well.
Inside the Vatican City, you’ll find St. Peter Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Vatican gardens as well as a pharmacy, library, and another smaller church. The central courtyard is called St. Peter’s Square.
Everyone can enter Vatican City and take a look around in the square. If you want to go inside St. Peter’s Basilica, be sure to wear appropriate clothes. You also aren’t allowed to bring dangerous objects or weapons into the museums or churches.
There are plenty of tours available to enhance your visit to the Vatican. We offer one of the best guided tours for travelers on a budget. It includes your ticket to the Vatican Museums plus a tour inside led by a local expert for much less than you’ll pay for other guided tours.
Visiting with a guide makes sure you see the best parts — from the Sistine Chapel to the famous Raphael Rooms — and helps you understand what you’re seeing. Your guide will share about St. Peter’s Basilica with tips for visiting on another day if you wish. (The basilica is free to visit.)
Even though there is only one entrance to the Vatican Museums, we call them with a plural because they include several art collections that have been put together by the popes over the centuries.
No, if you want to visit the Vatican Museums, you need to purchase an entry ticket or book a tour with us, which includes your admission.
If you visit the Vatican on some special occasions, such as Easter and Chiristmas, you might see him holding mass from the balcony of St. Peter Square. However, most likely, you won’t see the pope when you visit the Vatican.
No, Sant’Angelo Castle isn’t actually inside Vatican City, though it’s very close. The castle, originally built as a mausoleum for Emperor Hadrian, is just outside the Vatican by the river.
