Free visits to the Vatican Museums: when to go & what to see

FREE VISITS TO THE VATICAN MUSEUMS: WHEN TO GO

Every last Sunday of the month, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the entrance to the Vatican Museums is free. The ticket entitles you to the same access as a normal ticket. The rest of the month the cost is 16€ (plus € 4 if you book online).

The following are the free Sundays for visiting the Vatican Museums in 2016:

A FEW SUGGESTIONS IF YOU WANT TO ORGANIZE YOUR FREE VISIT TO THE VATICAN MUSEUMS:

• Access is only permitted till 12:30 p.m., so keep an eye out on the time!
• The free ticket cannot be booked in advance, so get yourself ready for some long lineups.
• The admission ticket does not include an audio guide, which we recommend.
• Inside the museum’s rooms it is forbidden to use cellphones, take pictures and shoot videos… and note the security guards are always present.
• Keep an eye on the date! The Vatican Museums are not free if the last Sunday of the month coincides with these dates: January 1, February 6, March 11, April 19, May 5 and 6, June 1 and 29, August 15, December 8, 25 and 26.

Why not visit, free of charge, one of the largest art collections in the world… it’s priceless!

SUNDAY AT THE VATICAN MUSEUMS: HOW TO GET THERE

The Vatican Museums are located in the heart of the Prati district, just a few minutes walk from piazza Risorgimento.

You can easily get to the museums in just ten minutes from the Ottaviano-Musei Vaticani stop or Cipro stop by taking Metro A.

Alternatively you can take Bus line 49, which drops you off right at the entrance of the Museums; lines 32, 81 and 982 will drop you off at Piazza del Risorgimento. Tram 19 too stops at Piazza del Risorgimento.

If you wish to get there by car, there are plenty paid parking spots in the area. Alternatively you can take a taxi which will drop you off right in front of the Vatican Museums’ entrance.

FREE VISIT TO THE VATICAN MUSEUMS: WHAT TO SEE

Let’s start by saying that the Vatican Museums have one of the largest collections of art in the world. It is not by chance they’re called the “Vatican museums” and not the Vatican museum. There are numerous museums and collections on exhibition in over 7 km of rooms; it’s impossible to visit them all in a single day.

Here’s a list of suggestions of must sees on your first visit to the museums:

• the Vatican Pinacoteca (Picture-Gallery): here you’ll find works of art by famous artists such as Giotto, Leonardo, Raffaello and Caravaggio;
• the Gregorian Egyptian Museum, where you can admire the mystery of Egyptian art including its papyri, mummies and many other artifacts;
• the collection of Modern and Religious Art: where you can admire the works of de Chirico, Salvador Dali and Van Gogh;
• and of course the Sistine Chapel and the Leonardesque – Last Judgment.

 AND FINALLY… WHERE TO EAT?

Visiting the Vatican Museums is a marvelous experience… but also quite tiring. If you want to get to the museum full of energy or if your stomach is grumbling after a day spent visiting it, we’ll be waiting for you at the RAF restaurant with a varied and tasty menu… check it out now!