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Buy only from the museums' own online portal, which the museums' tickets page links to. The museums warn about websites with similar domains that may charge significantly higher prices. The ticket covers the Museums and the Sistine Chapel solely on the day it is issued, and tickets cannot be refunded.
From Monday to Saturday the museums are open from 8:00 am (08:00) to 8:00 pm (20:00), with final entry at 6:00 pm (18:00), and visitors must leave the halls 30 minutes before closing. On the last Sunday of each month they open from 9:00 am (09:00) to 2:00 pm (14:00), with final entry at 12:30 pm (12:30), and entry is free. Children below the age of 7 also go in free.
On other Sundays the doors stay shut, and they also close on 8, 25 and 26 December, 1 November, 14 and 15 August, 29 June, 1 May, 6 April, 19 March, 11 February and 1 and 6 January. Check the museums' opening hours page before you fix a date.
Only appropriately dressed visitors are admitted. That rules out sleeveless or low-cut garments, hats, miniskirts and shorts above the knee, so pack a light cover-up in summer.
Luggage, suitcases and rucksacks that staff consider unsuitable because of their size or nature must go in the cloakroom, which is free of charge. the museums' useful information page has the full list of items that cannot go in.
Photographs for personal use are permitted in all areas except the Sistine Chapel. Flash photography is strictly forbidden, and so are selfie sticks.
Eating and drinking in the exhibition halls is not allowed, but you can leave food in the cloakroom, and cafeteria, self service and pizzeria areas sit along the itinerary. There is no Wi-Fi anywhere on the route, so download your map before you arrive.
Families with children and strollers are welcome, with dedicated lifts, baby changing facilities and a nursing room on the route. Guided groups of 11 or more people must hire the museums' radio headsets.
To see more of Rome around your visit, the Rome Walking Tour & Vatican Museums Guided Entry passes the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, and its operator says you explore the Vatican Museums independently at your own pace.
St Peter's Basilica is a separate visit. The St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour Rome & Dome Climb Tickets goes inside the basilica and down to the Vatican Grottoes and up the dome, according to its operator. The St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour with Vatican Underground Rome covers the basilica and the Papal Grottoes, and its operator states that the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel need separate tickets. Book your own museums ticket first.
Use the museums' own portal, because lookalike domains may charge much more.
Only on one Sunday a month, the final one, in the morning and early afternoon, and entry is free then.
No. Personal photography is allowed elsewhere in the museums, but not there.
No, so save what you need before you go in.
