DO's and DONT's : How to Avoid Lines and Crowds in Vatican Museums

Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel were visited by over 6 million guests in 2018, making it the 4th most frequently visited museum in the world. In consequence, the Vatican Museums have been massively overcrowded with very long lines at its gates.

If you are participating in the Wednesday Audience with Pope Francis DO NOT plan to visit the Vatican Museums after the Audience as there are as a rule extremely overcrowded.

Typical crowd inside Vatican Museums on Wednesday afternoon

DO visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel on Tuesday morning or Thursday morning, possibly before the Vatican Museums open to general public.

Fewer people when you visit before 0900 am

DO consider very early start at 0800 am and be first to visit .

The best time to visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

BOOK YOUR SKIP LINE TICKETS FOR SELF GUIDED VISITS BEFORE VATICAN MUSEUMS OPEN TO GENERAL PUBLIC:

book 0830 am to 0900 am entry

book 0815 am to 0830 am entry

BOOK YOUR SEMI PRIVATE or PRIVATE TOUR of Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peters Basilica:

book 0815 am tour

Newlyweds get VIP treatment during Papal Audience

Catholic couples who have celebrated their marriage vows recently can request special tickets to a VIP section at the Wednesday general audience and get the chance to greet the Pope and receive his blessing.

Please email us at tours@vaticantoursinc.com for more information should you be planning to participate in the event.

The Paul VI Audience Hall used for General Audiences in Wineter Time

The Paul VI Audience Hall (Italian: Aula Paolo VI) also known as the Hall of the Pontifical Audiences is a building in Rome named for Pope Paul VI with a seating capacity of 6,300, designed by the Italian architect Pier Luigi Nervi and completed in 1971.It was constructed on land donated by the Knights of Columbus.

It lies partially in the Vatican City but mostly in Italy: the Italian part of the building is treated as an extraterritorial area of the Holy See and is used by the Pope as an alternative to Saint Peter's Square when conducting his Wednesday morning General Audience.