Vatican Museums: a practical visitor guide

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Why the Vatican Museums are a must

They gather centuries of papal collections in a vast complex of palaces and galleries: classical sculpture such as the Laocoön, the Raphael Rooms with The School of Athens, the Gallery of Maps and, at the end of the route, Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel. It is one of the most visited museums in the world and it is easy to get lost among miles of galleries: pick a route and keep the final destination in mind.

How to plan your visit

• Buy tickets only on the official website (tickets.museivaticani.va): many resale sites use similar names and charge more.
• Pick a timed slot: the first morning slots are the quietest.
• Cover your shoulders and knees; you may be refused entry to the Sistine Chapel and St Peter's otherwise.
• The route mostly runs one way and ends at the Sistine Chapel: see what interests you most and don't stop at everything.
• The shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica is often reserved for guided groups; don't count on it and plan to walk back outside.
• No photos in the Sistine Chapel, and silence is requested. Before and after, the AnyArt app lets you point at a sculpture or painting and hear its story.

Combine it with the rest of Rome

The museums sit right next to St Peter's Basilica, about a 15-minute walk around the outside of the walls. With only one day, do the museums first thing and spend the afternoon at St Peter's and Castel Sant'Angelo. For the rest of the city, see our Rome guide.