Q. What's the best way for me to spend my time at Vatican City?

A. We're not trying to be coy, but it depends on how much time you have. If this is your first visit or you have a full day we recommend seeing St. Peter's Basilica in the morning, along with either a visit to the inside of the cupola or to nearby Castel Sant'Angelo. Both of the last two are a nice break in the day, and not only because of their historical significance: the fact that they're so high above street level means they have the two best views in Rome! With an afternoon visit to the museums and Sistine Chapel (see next question), time out for food, buying souveneirs (and resting your feet a bit!) you can easily spend the entire day within a few blocks of the Vatican.

If you have more time you would be wise to divide the above into two separate days; if you have less time you could eliminate the visit to the dome and Castel Sant'Angelo and shorten your visit inside the museums. Whatever you decide to do, remember that the Sistine Chapel is near the end of a very long one-way itinerary inside the museums -- start to head down there at least 45 minutes before closing time in order to give yourself time to enjoy one of the greatest achievements known to man!

Q. What's the best time to visit Vatican City?

A. St. Peter's Basilica is open and can be visited every day of the year (see hours). The Vatican Museums open at 8:45 AM Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays except the last Sunday of every month, when there is no charge to enter (see hours). On average 25,000 people walk through the museums every day, which means that there is often a line of people waiting to enter in the morning. Monday tends to be the busiest morning, followed by Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon. We recommend scheduling your visit for early afternoon during weekdays (or in the morning on Wednesday, if you won't be joining the throngs for the papal audience.) Note that afternoon visits are not an option during the winter, when the last entrance to the museums is at 12:45. And on a final note, while the museums are open and free of charge on the final Sunday of every month you don't want to brave the staggering crowds unless you absolutely have no other choice.

Q. Can I pre-book tickets for the Vatican Museums?

A. No, you can't. In fact this is not a public museum but rather a private collection that opens its doors to the public. Unlike Italy's public museums there is no provision for buying tickets in advance. The line outside is mainly due to the security check that you will have to pass through as soon as you enter the museums. Many of the people you will be waiting with in line are part of large groups that will buy tickets all at once for the entire group, meaning that once you're through the entry doors everyone disperses quickly.

If you want to cut out the wait to enter you can opt to take one our tours.

Q. What are the "must-sees" inside the Vatican Museums?

A. With hundreds of rooms of priceless art it's not easy to make a short list, but there are a dozen or so things you absolutely shouldn't miss. Here's the list: the best paintings of the picture gallery (Raphael's "Transfiguration", Leonardo da Vinci's "St. Jerome" and Caravaggio's "Deposition" and "Denial of Peter"); the Raphael tapestries (also in the picture gallery); the Courtyard of the Pine (one of the best photo opportunities in Rome); the Apollo and Laocoon sculptures in the Octagonal Courtyard; the Belvedere Torso; the Gallery of the Maps; the Raphael Stanze (the private apartments the artist frescoed for Pope Julius II); and of course the magnificently restored frescoes of the Sistine Chapel.

Q. Is there a dress code?

A. Yes. You probably won't need to think about it in cold weather, but keep it in mind in warm weather because they're not kidding around -- you usually won't get in if you're not dressed respectfully. That means men wear long pants -- no shorts or half-pants. And no tank-tops -- everyone must have covered shoulders (though ladies can carry a large shawl in their bag and use it as needed).

Q. What are the costs involved in seeing the museums and the basilica?

A. St. Peter's asilica, like all the other churches of Rome, is free of charge every day of the year. The Treasury inside the basilica (an interesting collection of artifacts from the early history of the church) has an entry fee of 5 euro. A ticket for the Vatican museums, which automatically includes access to the Sistine Chapel, the Raphael Rooms, tapestries, paintings gallery and the rest of the art collection open to the public, costs 10 euro for adults and 7 euro for students under 26 (with I.D.).

Be aware that the Vatican accepts only currency, and it must be in euros. There is a currency exchange in the entry lobby to the museums and several in the immediate vicinity of Vatican City (see map) though you'll probably get a better exchange rate at your hotel.

Q. Are there any tours available?

A. Please go to section Vatican City tours information and booking

Q. Is the Vatican accessible for the disabled?

A. Yes, almost entirely. Inside the museums there are numerous elevators that will give you access to much of the galleries.

Wheelchairs are available at the entrance to the Vatican museums on a first-come, first-served basis. Their use is free, but you will need to present a passport as identification. If you are taking a tour your tour guide can reserve a wheelchair to guarantee that they'll have one available (not a bad idea, as they seem to have at most a couple dozen for the 25,000 visitors that pass through the doors every day. Be sure to ask for a color-coded itinerary from the guards at the bag-check desk ("guardaroba") once through the metal detectors.

The marble-floored hallways are hard on any traveller, regardless of age or fitness. A few nice SPOTS TO REST are inside the paintings gallery ("Pinacoteca"), in the Courtyard of the Pine, in the lower-level cafe (entrance just outside Pinacoteca) and, in warm weather, the cafe just outside the entrance to the Sistine Chapel.

Q. Can I take photographs at Vatican City?

A. Yes and No. Flash photography and filming IS allowed inside the basilica, but NOT inside the Vatican museums. Non-flash photography is OK inside the museums, though due to low light levels you'll probably want to use fast film or a digital camera. You can BUY FILM at the entrance to the museums (just after you go through the metal detectors), and at several of the gift shops inside. In our experience the metal detectors aren't harmful to film.

Q. Can I check my coat/backpack/purse/umbrella at the entrance to the museums?

A. Again. Yes and No. The Vatican museums see too many visitors every day to have a coatroom or small-object storage. On the other hand they often require you to consign several types of items, and those include large packpacks, large (non-folding) umbrellas, and knives, tools and weapons of any sort. Be aware that to avoid a cumbersome retrieval of the items you checked you need to claim them before the closing of the museums the SAME DAY (at the bottom of the spiral ramp -- see map).

Q. I want to buy a rosary/crucifix/stamp/coin/book for my someone back home. Where can I find them?

A. The Vatican has several gift shops inside the Vatican museums where you can find a range of religious jewelry, film slides, art books, posters, books and statuary. The Carmelite sisters run a small souveneir shop to the right of the basilicas Holy Doors (see map).

Vatican stamps and coins are popular gifts that can be purchased at the Vatican post offices (one inside the museums, several just outside the basilica -- see map). Due to their popularity the Vatican euro coins sell out quickly and are often not available.

The bookstores on Via della Conciliazione (the wide street that runs from St. Peter's Square toward Castel Sant'Angelo (see map) has a number of stores that sell beautiful coffee-table books, mosaics and religious artifacts in every price range.

Q. I'm spending the whole day at the Vatican - what do you recommend we do for lunch?

A. If you're spending more than a couple hours inside the museums you'll probably want to eat in the "papal pizzeria" below the Pinacoteca -- though food is pretty good, and you won't need to buy another entry ticket when you come back from lunch.

In the neighborhood that borders Vatican City on the northeast side there are many well-priced options for good food. Remember that in Italy appearances can be deceiving -- you'll probably eat better at that humble-looking cafe where the priests and the police are eating than at the nice-looking place with the smiling waiters and strolling musicians. Via Borgo Pio, a beautiful street two blocks from the Vatican, has more restaurants, bars and pizzerias than any other street in the neighborhood.

Q. I've heard that there are small residences on the Vatican grounds where I can stay. Is this true?

A. No. Only the 400 or so residents of Vatican City sleep there at night. There are however a number of monasteries and convents that take paid lodgers. It can be a unique and special experience to stay within the old walls of working convent. For information and how to book these types of accomodations follow this link.

Q. I've seen the Basilica and museums - is there anything else to do at Vatican city?

A. The Basilica and museums are the obvious choices for your first visit, but there are several wonderful things that rarely get attention in the guidebooks. Things that many people say are some of the most memorable things they've done in Rome. They include a tour of the necropolis underneath the basilica; a private tour of the 60-acre Vatican gardens; a visit to the Vatican mosaic studio, the finest of its kind in the world. Many people say that these things are some of the most memorable things they've done in Rome. For more information and reservations follow this link.

None of these sites is open to the general public -- they all require reservations in advance through the special offices in Rome (see links page) Some tour companies that speicalize in the Vatican can reserve and pick up tickets for you free of charge, so be sure to ask for that service if you're taking private tours with them (see "guided tours" page for companies).

Q. Can I see the pope when I visit the Vatican? Is it possible to get tickets for one of the holiday masses?

A. Yes to the first (provided he's in Rome and in good health) and Yes to the second (with a bit of luck).

Every Wednesday the pope holds a general audience at the Vatican. In warm weather the audiences are held in St. Peter's Square. In the winter the audiences are held in a modern auditorium accessed through the Arch of the Bells to the south of the basilica (see map). The audience normally begins around 10 AM and lasts about 90 minutes. Many people bring objects to be blessed. Note: in the summer the audiences may be held at Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills just outside of Rome -- check the "What's New" section for the latest information.

You may be surprised to learn that the pope serves High Mass fewer than 10 times each year inside St. Peter's basilica. Apart from the important holiday and feast days he also serves mass during canonization and Jubilee festivites.

Tickets for the audiences and the masses are free of charge, but you do need a ticket in order to attend. See the links section for more information on booking them on your own; see the guided tours section for booking through companies specialized in the Vatican; see the links section for a list of days the pope will be serving mass.