- Local time
- 10:56
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Capital
- Vatican City
- Calling code
- +379
- Drive on the
- right
Overview
The smallest country in the world, entirely inside Rome: St Peter's Basilica and Square, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, the Swiss Guard and the Pope's Sunday blessing.
Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, by area and by population, and the centre of the Catholic Church: the seat of the Pope. It lies entirely within Rome, covers 49 hectares with a perimeter of 3.2 km, and holds more history and art than most cities. St Peter's Basilica, St Peter's Square, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are all here.
It has open borders with Italy and no hotels inside; the nearby Roman districts of Borgo and Prati have plenty of places to stay and eat. The Swiss Guard, in Renaissance-style uniforms, watches the entrances. Italian and Latin are the official languages, and the currency is the euro.
- St Peter's Basilica: Michelangelo's dome, Bernini's bronze canopy and Michelangelo's Pietà.
- Sistine Chapel: Frescoes by Michelangelo, Botticelli, Perugino and others; no photos allowed.
- Vatican Museums: Raphael's rooms, the Pinacoteca with Leonardo and Caravaggio, and modern art.
- St Peter's Square: Bernini's oval piazza with 284 columns and an Egyptian obelisk.
- The Pope: The Sunday noon blessing and the Wednesday general audience.
- Vatican Gardens: Quiet gardens, seen only on a guided tour.
Places to visit
- City
- Park
- Historic site
Cities
- Vatican City: The whole country: 49 hectares inside Rome, small enough to explore on foot.
Beyond the cities
- St. Peter's Basilica (site): The centre of the Catholic world, with a dome designed mostly by Michelangelo.
- St. Peter's Square (site): Bernini's colonnaded piazza, open 24 hours and free.
- Vatican Museums (site): Huge papal collections, with Raphael's rooms and the Pinacoteca.
- Sistine Chapel (site): The frescoed chapel where popes are elected, reached through the museums.
- Vatican Gardens (park): Quiet gardens open only to guided tours.
Things to do
See
- St Peter's Basilica St. Peter's Basilica: Built 1506–1626, with Michelangelo's Pietà and Bernini's baldachin; free tours leave from the information centre.
- Sistine Chapel and Raphael Rooms Sistine Chapel: At the end of the one-way museum route; allow at least an hour.
- Pinacoteca Vatican Museums: Leonardo's unfinished St Jerome, Raphael, Giotto and Caravaggio's Entombment.
Do
- Papal blessing St. Peter's Square: Sunday at noon from the Apostolic Palace, and the Wednesday general audience (tickets free).
- Vatican Gardens tour Vatican Gardens: On foot or by open bus, with entry to the museums included; book at least a day ahead.
- Necropolis and Saint Peter's tomb: A two-hour tour of the excavations, booked at least a week ahead.
- Mass in St Peter's St. Peter's Basilica: Several Masses daily, in Latin on weekdays and Italian at weekends.
Shop
- Vatican stamps: Send a postcard from the Vatican post office, with Vatican stamps.
Holidays and events
- 1 January 2026 · Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
- 6 January 2026 · Epiphany
- 11 February 2026 · Anniversary of the foundation of Vatican City
- 13 March 2026 · Anniversary of the election of Pope Francis
- 19 March 2026 · Saint Joseph's Day
- 6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
- 23 April 2026 · Saint George
- 1 May 2026 · Saint Joseph the Worker
- 29 June 2026 · Saint Peter and Saint Paul
- 15 August 2026 · Assumption Day
- 8 September 2026 · Nativity of Mary
- 1 November 2026 · All Saints Day
- 8 December 2026 · Immaculate Conception
- 25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
- 26 December 2026 · St. Stephen's Day
Getting around
| Main airports | FCO |
|---|
The Vatican is small enough to see on foot. Visitors may not drive inside without permission, and parking in nearby Borgo and Prati is hard to find. Tour touts near Ottaviano station sometimes falsely claim that St Peter's is closed.
Flying to Vatican City? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flightsWhere to stay
- B&Bs in Borgo and Prati: Many small bed and breakfasts a short walk from the walls.
- Hotels: From two-star to four-star hotels in the Vatican area of Rome.
There is nowhere to stay inside Vatican City: book in the surrounding Roman neighbourhoods.
Eat and drink
The Vatican Museums have a cafeteria, a bar and a pizzeria, open during museum hours: a little overpriced, but handy halfway round. For more choice, eat in the neighbouring Roman districts of Borgo and Prati.
Entry requirements and visas
| Passport validity | Italy's Schengen rules apply: issued less than 10 years before you arrive and valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area |
|---|
| Passport | Entry | Max stay | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Visa free | 90 days | Through Italy: 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. |
| Canada | Visa free | 90 days | Through Italy: up to 90 days in any 180-day period. |
Other nationalities: check the official source below.
Vatican City issues no visas and has open borders with Italy, so you enter through Italy and Italy's Schengen rules apply. For Italy, UK and Canadian visitors need no visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counting time in other Schengen countries; overstaying can bring a ban of up to 3 years. At the Italian border you may be asked for proof of accommodation, insurance, a return ticket and enough money, and you may have to register fingerprints and a photo in the EES. Rules depend on your passport: check the official link before you book.
Money and payments
| Currency | Euro (EUR) |
|---|
The Vatican uses the euro. Its own euro coins are the rarest in circulation and worth more than their face value, so collectors keep them rather than spend them.
Health
| Recommended vaccines | Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A: consider it, Hepatitis B, Tick-borne encephalitis, for extensive outdoor exposure to ticks |
|---|---|
| Malaria | None |
The vaccine advice is the CDC's for Italy, which surrounds the Vatican. There are no hospitals or clinics in Vatican City: for medical help go to a hospital or clinic in Rome. The Vatican Pharmacy requires a prescription, identification and a permit. Call 112 in an emergency.
This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.
Safety
Pickpockets work the crowds, so watch your belongings, and keep children close in busy areas. The emergency number is 112. Vatican law applies inside the walls, but the Vatican works with the Italian authorities and you can also be prosecuted under Italian law. The Gendarmerie are helpful if you need assistance. All visitors to St Peter's pass through metal detectors.
Customs and etiquette
Dress modestly: no sleeveless tops, shorts, flip-flops or skirts above the knee, or you may be refused entry to the basilica and the museums. Photography is allowed except in the Sistine Chapel, but not with flash, selfie sticks or tripods; keep quiet in the chapel. Anyone may attend Mass, but only Catholics should receive Communion. Ask before photographing the Swiss Guards. Smoking is banned.
Language
| Official languages | Italian, Latin |
|---|---|
| English | Common |
Quick reference
Country facts
| Capital | Vatican City |
|---|---|
| Population | 882 (2024) |
| Area | 1 km² |
| Time zone | Europe/Vatican (UTC+1) |
| Calling code | +379 |
| Driving side | right |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a passport or visa to visit the Vatican?
You enter through Italy, so you need what Italy asks for: UK and Canadian visitors need no visa for up to 90 days in 180. Check the official link before you book.
Can I stay overnight in Vatican City?
No, there is no accommodation inside; stay in nearby Borgo or Prati in Rome.
What should I wear?
Cover shoulders and knees: no sleeveless tops, shorts or flip-flops.
How can I see the Pope?
At the Sunday noon blessing in St Peter's Square, or at the Wednesday general audience, with free tickets.
Can I take photos in the Sistine Chapel?
No. Photos are allowed elsewhere, but not with flash.
Is there a queue for St Peter's?
Often a long one, but it moves quickly; all visitors pass through metal detectors.
More Travel Stories from Europe
PortugalSources This guide was last checked on · 8 sources
- Wikivoyage: Rome/Vatican · Overview, Places to visit, Things to do, Getting around, Where to stay, Eat and drink, Entry requirements and visas, Money and payments, Health, Safety, Customs and etiquette, Language, Frequently asked questions
- Wikidata: Vatican City · Overview, Places to visit, Money and payments, Country facts
- Nager.Date: public holidays in Vatican City, 2026 · Holidays and events
- UK FCDO: Italy entry requirements (updated 2 October 2026) · Entry requirements and visas
- Government of Canada: Italy travel advice (updated 29 September 2026) · Entry requirements and visas
- ISO 4217 (SIX), published 2026-09-17 · Money and payments
- CDC Travelers' Health: Italy · Health
- IANA Time Zone Database, zone.tab · Country facts
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