Now taking bookings for Papal Audience on Feb 26, 2020

We are now taking bookings for all dates in 2020 including the next audience on Feb 26, 2020

For those who plan ahead for peace of mind, please book directly from our web site at :

https://www.vaticantoursonline.com/index.php#papal-audience

We reserve some tickets for visitors, who decide to book at the last moment. For last-minute availability please go to https://www.vaticancitytoursandtickets.com/booking-step1.php?id=264

Tickets booked on Tuesday before 6 PM will be delivered the same evening to your address in Rome.

Tickets booked on Tuesday after 6 PM will be ready for pick up on Wednesday starting 0700 am from our office located by the entrance to the Vatican Museums

Pictures from the last General Audience with Pope Francis General Audience on February12

We would like to share with you some pictures from the General Audience held in Audience Hall in the Vatican on February 19

2020 Calendar of Papal General Audiences in Vatican City on Wednesdays

The General Audience is held (nearly) every Wednesday at 0930 am when Pope Francis is in Rome. Check here for the schedule, location and start time; and also to make sure Pope Francis is in the Vatican when you visit.

Wednesday General Audiences in 2020

January-December

   

Remaining audiences in 2020

February: 19, 26

March: 4, 11, 18,  25

April: 1,  8, 15, 22, 29,  

May: 6, 13, 20,  27, 

June: 3, 10, 17, 24

July: 1 ( no audiences on 8, 15, 22, 29 )

August: 19,  26

September: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

October: 7,  14,  21,  28

November:  4, 11, 18, 25

December:  6, 13, 20

You may prebook your tickets here: Book Tickets

You may prebook your tickets and transportation to the event here: Book Tickets

How to visit Vatican during Easter Week of 2020 ?

Check the scheduled Vatican Easter Week celebrations and opening times of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. Find out how to avoid the lines during a self-guided or guided visit of the Vatican City.

Palm Sunday, April 5

celebrations:  

Sunday Palm Mass with Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square at 10.00 am - tickets not needed

Pope Francis Blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at 12.00 ( noon ) - tickets not needed

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - closed all-day

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0100 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 0100 pm and 0300 pm - 

AVAILABLE > Book Here

Monday, April 6

celebrations: no scheduled celebrations

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - open,  expected waiting time over 3 hours 

group guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - sold out

a private guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel starting at 0130 pm - 

AVAILABLE > Book Here

self-guided visit of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - limited availability for entry between 

0100 pm and 0300 pm - AVAILABLE > Book Here

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0800 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 09.00 am and 0500 pm - 

AVAILABLE >  Book Here

Tuesday, April 7

celebrations: no scheduled celebrations

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - open,  expected waiting time over 3 hours 

small group guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel starting at 0830 am -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

a private guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel AM or PM  - 
AVAILABLE > Book Here

self-guided visit of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - limited availability for entry between 

0100 pm and 0300 pm -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0800 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 09.00 am and 0500 pm -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

Wednesday, April 8

celebrations: General Audience with Pope Francis at 0930 am at St. Peter's Square - tickets needed

for service of tickets booking and delivery to your Rome address with optional one-way transportation and assistance on-site
AVAILABLE > Book Here

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - open,  expected waiting time over 3 hours 

group guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - sold out

a private guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel starting at 0130 pm - 

AVAILABLE > Book Here

self-guided visit of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - limited availability for entry between 

0100 pm and 0300 pm - 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 0100 pm and 0500 pm - 

AVAILABLE > Book Here

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0800 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 01.00 pm and 0300 pm - AVAILABLE > Book Here

Thursday, April 9

-celebrations: Chrism Mass with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica - tickets not available

-visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - open,  expected waiting time over 3 hours 

small group guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - not available

a private guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel AM or PM  - 
AVAILABLE > Book Here

self-guided visit of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - limited availability for entry between 

0100 pm and 0300 pm -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

-visiting St. Peter's Basilica - open for visits from 0100pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 01.00 pm and 0500 pm -

AVAILABLE > Book Here

Good Friday, April 10

-celebrations:

Celebration of Passion of Christ with Pope Francis in St. Peter's Basilica 0515 pm  - tickets not available

Via Crucis Colosseum - tickets not requested

-visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - open,  expected waiting time over 3 hours 

small group guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel ( before the Vatican opens to the general public )   at 08.30 am
AVAILABLE > Book Here

a private guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel AM or PM  - 
AVAILABLE > Book Here

self-guided visit of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - limited availability for entry between 

1100 am and 0300 pm -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

-visiting St. Peter's Basilica - open for visits from 09.00 am to 01.00 pm, expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 09.00 pm and 05.00 pm -

AVAILABLE > Book Here

Saturday, April 11

celebrations: no scheduled celebrations

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - open,  expected waiting time over 3 hours 

small group guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel starting at 0830 am -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

a private guided tour of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel AM or PM  - 
AVAILABLE > Book Here

self-guided visit of Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - limited availability for entry between 

0100 pm and 0300 pm -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0800 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time 2-3 hours 

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 09.00 am and 0500 pm -
AVAILABLE > Book Here

Easter Sunday, April 12 

celebrations:  

Easter Sunday Mass with Pope Francis at St. Peter's Square at 10.00 am - tickets not needed

Pope Francis Blessing from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica at 12.00 ( noon ) - tickets not needed

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - closed all-day

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0100 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time over 3 hours hours

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 0100 pm and 0500 pm - 

AVAILABLE > Book Here

Easter Monday, April 13

celebrations:  

Preyer with Pope Francis and Papal Blessing from the window of Papal Palace, St. Peter's Square at 12.00 ( noon ) - tickets not needed

visiting Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel - closed all-day

visiting St. Peter's Basilica - from 0100 pm to 0600 pm expected waiting time over 3 hours hours

skip the line entry to St. Peter's Basilica: entry between 0100 pm and 0500 pm - 

AVAILABLE > Book Here

New in 2020: Visit Vatican Scavi ( Necropolis ) and the Tomb of St. Peter, the Apostle

Learn what lies beneath St. Peter's Basilica and St. Peter's Square during the exclusive visit to Vatican Scavi (excavations of Vatican ancient necropolis ) and the Tomb of St. Peter the Apostle

The Scavi visit combined with the skip line tour of St. Peters Basilica lasts 2 hours.

Book the visit with instant confirmation at

https://www.vaticantoursonline.com/bookvaticanscavitour

In 1939, Pope Pius Xii ordered excavations under the lower level of St. Peter's basilica.
History records tell us that in ancient times, the area of today's Vatican State was were Emperor Nero's Circus was located. It was at the circus, where Peter the Apostle had been executed in 64, during the first wave of Christian persecutions. The circus is buried today under the cobblestone of St. Peter's Square, while the Egyptian Obelisk, which adorned its center survived 2000 years and is still the testimony to what happened to Peter and many other Christians.

On the right side of the circus, along the road leading up the hill, ancient Romans created a graveyard both with simple tombs and more sophisticated family mausolea. It was somewhere on this hill, that Peter's disciples buried the apostle, leaving a small tombstone over his simple grave.

It was over the grave, where Emperor Constantine built the first basilica in the 4 century.

The grave was left buried under the church and the tombstone encased within the first altar in the center of the church

In 16 century, the new Basilica of St. Peter's was built 12 feet over the floor of the ancient church.

The so-called church crypt, where popes are buried is open to the general public and offers the view of the original altar with St. Peter's tombstone encased in it 

For centuries, no one knew that a necropolis existed beneath St. Peter's Basilica.  

It was under the floor of the crypt where archeologist discovered in 1939 the whole street of surprisingly well preserved ancient tombs with frescoes, mosaics bas reliefs, leading to the discovery of the tombstone marking the grave area with the bones of the apostle

Join us for the unique, exclusive experience, learn the fascinating story of the excavations, walk the ancient cemetery street lined with excavated ancient mausolea and visit the area of St. Peter's Tomb

with ancient tombstones and bones of the Apostle.

The Scavi visit combined with the skip line tour of St. Peters Basilica lasts 2 hours.

Book the visit with instant confirmation at

https://www.vaticantoursonline.com/bookvaticanscavitour

Vatican Mass Schedule in 2020

Mass Schedule for St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican

WeekDays 

8:30 - Blessed Sacrament Chapel (third chapel to the right) In Italian, with a homily, followed by Eucharistic Adoration
9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00 - Altar of St. Joseph  (left transept), In Italian, with a homily
5:00pm Main Altar  (Cattedra) In Latin, with singing, reading in various languages, homily in Italian

Eucharistic Adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel is from Monday to Saturday.
Adoration follows the 8:30 mass until Benediction at 4:45pm

Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Altar of St. Joseph  (left transept)

Main Altar  (Cattedra)

Lines to enter St. Peter's - check the text below how to avoid them

Sunday and Holy Days

9:00 -  Main Altar  (Cattedra) - Mass for the Parish, in Italian, with a homily
10:30 - Main Altar  (Cattedra) - Solemn Mass in Latin, with singing, homily in Italian
11:15 -Blessed Sacrament Chapel - In Italian, with a homily
12:15 -  Main Altar  (Cattedra)- In Italian, with a homily
1:00pm - Altar of St. Joseph- (Left Transept), In Italian, with a homily
4:00pm -  Main Altar  (Cattedra) - In Italian, with a homily
4:45pm - Vespers - Altar of the Chair - sung in Latin
5:30pm -  Main Altar  (Cattedra) - Solemn Mass in Latin, with singing, homily in Italian

The notorious lines to St. Peter's Basilica or Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel waste between 2 to 3 hours of your time. 

This is how to avoid them:

1. book skip line, entry pass to St. Peter's Basilica ( starting at E 28/person )

The pass will allow you to choose your preferred entry time during the weekday and

afternoon entry on Sundays, perfect for a self-guided visit before the High Mass at 4 pm or 0530 pm.

Click here to book St. Peter's Basilica entry pass

2. book a guided visit of Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica

( starting at E 55/person )

Unfortunately, starting January 2020 the direct access from the Sistine Chapel in Vatican Museums to St. Peter's Basilica is no longer accessible to unaccompanied visitors.

You may still take advantage of this ship line, express entry to St. Peter's Basilica if you are accompanied by an authorized guide on a private or group tour.

Click here to check on semi-private and private guided tours recommended by Trip Advisor

3. book Vatican Scavi tour ( at E 85/person, no children under 15 )

The exclusive Scavi ( Vatican Necropolis) tour to the Tomb of St. Peter, the Apostle includes the guided visit to St. Petr's Basilica with a skip line pass. 

Click here to learn more about the Vatican Scavi

Visit Vatican Gardens, the Pope's Garden of Eden

Extend your Vatican experience by visiting the Vatican Gardens, an oasis of peace, a place where many of the Pontiffs including Pope John Paul II and Pope Francis would escape to for a moment of tranquility and loneliness.

Vatican Gardens are closed to general public and the limited number of visitors who receive the permits must be accompanied by the authorised Vatican guide.

The guided visits, both in small groups or with a private guide are permitted in the morning only from Monday to Saturday with exception of Wednesday.

To book your exclusive Vatican Gardens visit in a group or in private please email us at:
tours@vaticantoursinc.com