One of the most popular attractions in Rome is the Vatican Museum. It allows for tourists to see some of the greatest artwork in all of Italy. Here are our top tips for visiting the Vatican Museum and making the most out of your trip.
Tickets
If you want to visit the Vatican Museum you will most likely need a ticket. Tickets cost $17.72 for the full rate. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On the last Sunday of the month, the museum is open from 9 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and visitors who get there by 12:30 p.m. can get into the museum for free. Unfortunately this day is when the museum is the most crowded and visitors have to wait in long lines, sometimes for an hour or more at a time. Throughout the week the morning is the best time to go as there tends to be less crowds when the museum first opens.
Preparing For Your Visit
Before going to the museum, eat a good breakfast. It takes a lot of time to visit the museum and the food choices around the Vatican don’t offer a lot of options. Also, make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Chances are you will be at the museum anywhere from 2-3 hours. There aren’t many places to sit down if your feet start to hurt so you need to make sure you have the proper footwear on. When you get to the museum make sure you purchase the museum guidebook as it will be very helpful on your visit.
What To See And When To See It
Many visitors head right towards the Sistine Chapel and completely bypass some of the other areas of the museum. There are so many remarkable rooms, like Stanze di Raffeaello, and it’s a shame that so many people miss out on them. Some other extraordinary attractions include the Gallery of Maps, Borgia Apartments and the Niccoline Chapel. When you are done you can walk over to St. Peter’s Basilica as well as it’s only about a 20 minute walk.
The Vatican Museum is more than 9 mile long. It’s estimated that if you spend 60 seconds admiring every single painting that it would take you more than 4 years to see everything! That should give you an idea on how much there is to truly see. If you plan to visit the Vatican Museum make sure you go early and are prepared to be there for at least a couple of hours so you can take in as much as possible.
