The Vatican: The World's Smallest State, Packed with Treasures

Every visit to Rome should include a trip to the Vatican — the smallest independent state in the world, yet home to some of the most valuable artistic and spiritual treasures on the planet. Plan on at least four hours, ideally half a day, to see all the main attractions properly.

St. Peter's Square and Basilica

The best place to start is St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro), encircled by Bernini's majestic colonnade. From there it's just a few steps to St. Peter's Basilica, one of the largest Christian churches in the world. Entry to the basilica is free, but the queues tend to be long — it's worth arriving as early as possible, since the basilica opens at 7 a.m. The more adventurous can take an elevator followed by a narrow spiral staircase up to the top of the dome, which offers a unique view over the Vatican Gardens, the square, and all of Rome.

The Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel

The Vatican Museums are among the largest and most valuable museum complexes in the world — the popes built up their collections over the centuries, and today they include ancient sculptures, Renaissance paintings, and an Egyptian collection. The highlight of any visit is the Sistine Chapel, with its Michelangelo frescoes, including the famous Last Judgment. The chapel is part of the museums and cannot be visited separately.

It's worth buying tickets online well in advance — they can sell out weeks ahead, and queues without a reservation can eat up several hours. The quietest times tend to be right after opening, between 8 and 9 a.m., or in the early evening after 5 p.m.

Practical Advice

Conservative clothing is required inside the basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the museums — shorts, skirts above the knee, or tank tops can be a problem. If you're planning to see all the main attractions (the square, the basilica, the museums, and the Sistine Chapel) in a single day, keep in mind that touring the museums alone means walking several kilometers of corridors.

One Last Tip

If you happen to be at the Vatican on a Sunday at exactly noon, you might catch a glimpse of the Pope blessing the crowd from the window above the basilica's main entrance — the traditional blessing lasts around 15 to 20 minutes and is one of the moments that make the Vatican such a unique place to visit.