Things to do in Vatican City

Study the delicate marble folds and serene expression of this Renaissance masterpiece, shielded by bulletproof glass since a 1972 attack.

Crane your neck to take in the iconic Creation of Adam and Last Judgement frescoes in the papal conclave hall.

Wind up 551 steps to the lantern, passing inside the double shell for a jaw‑dropping 360° view over Rome and the Vatican Gardens.

Walk through a 120‑metre loggia lined with 40 giant, brilliantly colored topographical frescoes of Italy painted in the 16th century.

Stand in the papal apartments where Raphael’s ‘School of Athens’ and other High Renaissance frescoes adorn the walls of four interconnected chambers.

Enter the sweeping ellipse framed by four rows of massive Doric columns, designed to embrace visiting pilgrims like ‘two arms’ of the Church.

Photograph the world’s smallest army in their colorful Renaissance uniforms at the main entrance to Vatican City, a tradition dating to 1506.

Join thousands in the Paul VI Hall or St. Peter’s Square for a mid‑week blessing, catechesis, and the rare chance to see the pontiff up close.

Book a special underground tour to walk the ancient Roman street and view the simple tomb believed to hold the bones of the first pope.

Stroll among fountains, manicured hedges, and medieval fortifications in this private 57‑acre park that rarely opens to casual visitors.

Face the snarling, twisting marble sculpture of the Trojan priest and his sons battling sea serpents—a Hellenistic masterpiece from 40 BC.

Request special access to glimpse illuminated manuscripts, the Codex Vaticanus, and priceless Renaissance holdings in a hall of frescoed splendor.

Stand beneath the towering 29‑metre bronze canopy that marks the high altar, its twisted columns cast from the Pantheon’s ancient bronze.

Enter the hallowed chapel at dawn via a ‘before opening’ ticket, allowing silent contemplation of Michelangelo’s ceiling without the usual bustle.

Gain rare entry to the intimate private chapel of Pope Nicholas V, covered in exquisite Fra Angelico scenes of saints and popes.

Trace the evolution of Western painting through 460 works, including Leonardo’s unfinished ‘St. Jerome’ and Caravaggio’s dramatic ‘Entombment’.

Ascend the spiraling, twin‑pillared ramp that winds upward without overlapping, a feat of Renaissance architecture that inspired similar designs worldwide.

Buy a stamp from the world’s smallest postal service and mail a card home bearing the coveted ‘Città del Vaticano’ postmark from the square kiosk.

Look directly above the tomb of the apostle to the altar used only by the pope—flanked by Bernini’s colossal bronze baldachin and the dove window.

Gather with the faithful at noon as the pope appears at the window of the Apostolic Palace to deliver a short reflection and the Angelus prayer.

Discover over 100,000 ceremonial objects, masks, and costumes from indigenous cultures across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, housed in a quiet wing.

In a Jubilee year, the massive bronze door on the basilica’s right flank is opened and pilgrims pass through it for remission of sins.

Walk among mummies, papyrus scrolls, and statues of pharaohs in a museum founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839, long before the Cairo collections.

Book a seat for sacred music or classical performances in the sleek modern auditorium, whose twisting stage canopy resembles a papal crown.

Take a break on the terrace of the Vatican Museums’ cafeteria, where the majestic dome fills the backdrop behind your coffee cup.