papal audience tours

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Italy Travel Experts Tours and Vacations

How to Get Tickets for the Papal Audience in Rome

Cecilia Rinaldi Last Updated: May 16, 2024

Heading to Rome and excited to see the Pope? Attending the Papal Audience or the Sunday Angelus is an unforgettable experience you won’t want to miss. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of your visit.

• Be prepared—book a tour! At the Vatican Museums, you’ll face a swarm of salespeople and endless lines. Once inside, the lack of clear explanations can leave you lost. Skip the hassle with our top-rated Vatican tours .
• To make your trip easier, here’s a fun list of our favourite places to stay in Rome.
• Discover even more attractions with our best tours in Rome !

Everything to Know About the Papal General Audience

If you find yourself in Rome on a Wednesday, you absolutely can’t miss the Papal General Audience! This extraordinary event offers a unique opportunity for pilgrims and visitors to engage with the Pope as he addresses and interacts with the public. It’s a must-see event where you get to experience the Holy Father’s presence up close. Here’s the lowdown:

Time and Place

Every Wednesday at 9:00 AM.

• Spring, Summer, and Autumn : Usually held in St. Peter’s Square to accommodate large crowds. There’s a seating area near the front for those with tickets, but it’s still first come, first served.
• Winter : Moved indoors to the Hall of Pope Paul VI, located to the left of St. Peter’s Basilica behind the Colonnade.
• Tickets are required for the General Audience
• You can request tickets for the Papal Audience, on the Vatican’s online portal . Remember, tickets to Papal events are always free.
• Tickets can be collected at the Bronze Door (located under the right-hand colonnade in St. Peter’s Square). They must be picked up the day before the event between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM.

Pro Tip: Rome can be extremely hot in the summer (June, July, August). Be sure to bring hats, sunscreen, and water!

Popular Vatican Tours

Best Selling Tour

Privileged Entrance Vatican Tour with Sistine Chapel

This our most popular and longest-running Vatican tour to date. It enters the Vatican Museums an hour before the general public and visits the Sistine Chapel before heading to St. Peter’s Basilica. Our English-speaking guides will amaze you with how they bring the museums to life!

Exclusive Value

Vatican Night Tour with Sistine Chapel

You’ve heard about the crowds at the Vatican, but did you know that the museums are almost empty in the evening? This night tour of the Vatican is perfect for those who prefer to explore Rome later at night. You’ll have 2 hours of a guided tour to key areas in the Vatican, plus the Sistine Chapel. And you’re welcome to stay on your own until the museums close at 10 pm!

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our  best Vatican tours to take and why.

How to Plan Your Sunday Angelus Blessing Visit

The Sunday Angelus is a special blessing given by the Holy Father. During the Angelus, the Pope will emerge from the Papal Palace window, offering blessings to visitors and pilgrims below.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Every Sunday at 12:00 PM (noon) in St. Peter’s Square.
• The gathering typically lasts about 15 minutes.

No tickets are required for the Angelus. Simply arrive early to secure a good spot.

Pro Tip: Seating is first come, first served, so plan to get there early.

Attending these events offers a one-of-a-kind spiritual adventure, bringing you closer to the heart of the Vatican and its amazing traditions. Enjoy your visit and the special blessing of being in the presence of the Pope! Just remember, events can sometimes be canceled at the last minute due to the Pope’s health and busy schedule. But hey, that’s all part of the excitement!

Where To Stay in Rome

Rome has a rich cultural history and many iconic landmarks to explore. Plan where to stay in the magnificent Eternal City in the best neighborhoods.

Reader Interactions

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• In The Press

POLICY & TERMS

• Cancellation Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy

Papal Audience Private Tour

Papal Audience

Attending a papal audience in Vatican City is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every Catholic and visitor should have on their bucket list. The papal audience is a chance to see the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, and receive his blessings. In this guide, we'll give you all the information you need to know to make the most of your papal audience experience.

Book Your Tour

What is a Papal Audience?

A papal audience is a gathering of pilgrims and tourists who come from all over the world to hear the Pope's message and receive his blessings. Except for August, during which the Pope is on vacation, a weekly audience is held by the Pope in St. Peter's Square. Although the event is open to the public, tickets must be obtained in advance to attend.

How to Get Tickets for a Papal Audience

To attend a papal audience , visitors need to obtain tickets in advance. One can obtain free tickets for the event through the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Visitors can apply for access through the Vatican's official website, or they can contact their local diocese or embassy. The tickets are usually released around two weeks before the event, and visitors should apply as early as possible as they are in high demand.

What to Expect at a Papal Audience

Visitors should arrive early in the morning to secure a good spot in St. Peter's Square. The square can accommodate up to 80,000 people, and it fills up quickly, so it's best to arrive early. Typically commencing at 10:30 am, the papal audience usually spans for around 90 minutes. The Pope will deliver a message in Italian, which is then translated into various languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese.

Dress Code and Etiquette

Visitors should dress appropriately for the papal audience, which means covering their shoulders and knees. Shorts and sleeveless tops are not allowed, and visitors should avoid wearing anything that has offensive language or graphics. Visitors should also be respectful of Catholic traditions and should not eat, drink, or smoke during the audience.

Section 5: Tips for Attending a Papal Audience

Arrive early to secure a good spot in St. Peter's Square

Bring water and sunscreen, as it can get hot in the square

Be respectful of Catholic traditions and etiquette

Stay for the entire audience, as the Pope often gives his blessings at the end

Take pictures and videos, but remember to turn off your flash and be respectful of those around you

Conclusion:

Attending a papal audience in Vatican City is a unique and unforgettable experience that every Catholic and visitor should have on their bucket list. By following the tips and guidelines in this guide, you'll be able to make the most of your papal audience experience and receive the blessings of Pope Francis. Take advantage of this unique and rare opportunity to witness the leader of the Catholic Church in the flesh and not let it slip away. Apply for your tickets today and prepare for an unforgettable experience with the papal audience.

Papal Audience Tickets

Rome is a favoured destination for religious travellers worldwide as it is home to the centre of the Catholic Church. For many of these pilgrims, attending the weekly papal audience is a significant event, as it provides a chance to receive the Pope's blessings and see him in person. However, securing the necessary tickets is crucial for attending a papal audience, which requires careful planning. This article presents a comprehensive guide to obtaining papal audience tickets in Rome.

Getting Started:

It's important to note that the papal audience is held every Wednesday, either in St. Peter's Square or the Paul VI Audience Hall, depending on the time of year. The event usually starts at 10:30 AM and lasts for about two hours. To attend the papal audience, you will need to obtain a ticket in advance.

How to Get Papal Audience Tickets:

There are several ways to obtain papal audience tickets, including:

Through your home diocese: If you are a member of a Catholic church, you can contact your home diocese to see if they have tickets available. Many dioceses organize group tours to Rome that include attendance at the papal audience.

To obtain tickets for the weekly papal audience in Rome, you can book them online through the official website of the Prefecture of the Papal Household. Although the tickets are free of charge, you will be required to pay a handling fee of approximately 2 euros per ticket. The booking for the tickets opens two weeks before the event, and you will have to furnish your details, such as your passport number, during the booking process.

Tour operators: Many tour operators in Rome offer papal audience tickets as part of their packages. However, be aware that these tickets often come at a premium price, and you may not have the same level of access as those who obtain tickets through the official channels.

Tips for Attending the Papal Audience:

If you are lucky enough to secure a ticket to the papal audience, here are some tips to help you make the most of your experience:

Arrive early: The security checks can be long, so make sure to arrive at least an hour before the start time.

Dress appropriately: Keep in mind that this is a sacred occasion, hence it is essential to dress modestly and respectfully. Clothing such as shorts, sleeveless tops, and mini-skirts are considered inappropriate and should be avoided.

Bring snacks and water: Considering the length of the event, it is recommended to bring along some refreshments such as water and snacks.

Be respectful: Remember that a papal audience is a religious event, so be respectful of the traditions and practices of the Catholic Church.

Final Thoughts:

Attending the papal audience can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many travellers, but it requires careful planning and preparation. This article provides valuable advice for securing papal audience tickets and maximizing your experience at this important event. Whether you are a religious pilgrim or a curious traveller, attending the papal audience in Rome is an unforgettable experience that should not be overlooked. Follow these tips to increase your chances of obtaining tickets and make the most of your time with the Pope.

• Rome Attractions
• Vatican Museums
• Vatican Grottoes
• Vatican Gardens
• Apostolic Palace
• Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace
• Sistine Chapel
• Villa Barberini

Vatican Library

• Castle Gondolfo
• Vatican Archives
• St. Peter's Basilica
• Vatican Necropolis
• Christmas Tree
• Vatican City
• Nativity Scene
• Secrets of Vatican
• Vatican Easter Mass
• Plan Your Visit
• Skip the Line Tours
• Guided Tours
• Night Tours
• Papal Audience
• Vatican Mass
• Things to do in Vatican
• Castel Sant Angelo
• Rome Pantheon
• Roman Catacombs Tour
• Borghese Gallery
• Bioparco Rome
• Big Bus Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Tickets
• Palazzo Barberini
• Musei Capitolini
• Leonardo da Vinci Museum
• Trevi Fountain Tours
• Roman Baths of Caracalla
• Palazzo Merulana
• Altare della Patria
• Rome Underground Tours
• Walking Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Bikes & Segway
• Sightseeing Cruises
• Travel Guide
• Things to do
• Trip Planner
• Travel Tips

How to attend the Papal audience?

Papal Audience Viewing Experience

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Be a part of the Wednesday Papal audience with guaranteed seats, as you witness the Pope lead serene hymnal prayers at St. Peter's Square.
• Immerse in a beautiful gathering surrounded by magnificent architecture. If you choose, an expert guide will let you in on everything taking place.
• Make the most of your visit to St. Peter's Square with a guided tour of the basilica, its chapels, and papal tombs.
• Invitation to the Vatican Papal Audience & guaranteed seating
• Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica or the Papal Audience (as per option selected)
• Expert English or Spanish-speaking guide (as per option selected)
• Tip: Try to grab an aisle seat. The Pope will come through the crowd, so you have a better chance of getting a closer look.
• Strict dress code: knees and shoulders must be covered for all guests.
• Mobile phones must remain on silent mode inside the Basilica.
• This experience is wheelchair and pram/stroller accessible.

Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour

Unlock skip-the-line access to St. Peter’s Basilica with this 3-in-1 tour!

• Get the complete Vatican City experience coupled with expert insights about the smallest country in the world with this guided tour.
• This is the only experience that grants you fast-track access to all 3 sites – Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter's Basilica.
• An engaging storytelling experience awaits. Watch art and history come to life as you walk through the Gallery of Maps with your guide.
• Get the flexibility to choose skip-the-line entry or a guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and curate a Vatican City experience that suits you best.
• The cherry on top? With this tour, you'll head to St. Peter's Basilica via a back door from Sistine Chapel saving you 20 mins of walking time and a 2-hour queue.
• Guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with skip-the-line entry
• Skip-the-line entry or guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica (as per option selected)
• Expert English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide
• Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and the Dome
• Tip: Planning your Rome itinerary? Be sure to set aside one entire day to fully explore the Vatican City. Comfy shoes are a must as you traverse all the nooks of this tiny nation!
• Strict dress code: Knees, shoulders, and back must be covered for all guests.
• Accessibility: While the tour is not accessible to wheelchair users, the Vatican Museums offer free wheelchair hire and free entry for visitors with mobility impairments (certified invalidity exceeding 74%) and a companion if required.
• Inside the Sistine Chapel, it's all about the quiet vibes. No chatter, no phones, and no photos, just pure awe. But don't worry, an expert guide will fill you in on all the details before you step inside.
• Expect a considerable wait at the security line, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to an hour!
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

Early Morning Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour

Get ahead of the crowds by entering the venue before it opens to the general public.

• Early birds, this tour is your best bet to explore the Vatican with fewer people around! Fast-track entry is a bonus.
• Start your experience at the Vatican Museums and explore the famous Torso Belvedere and Lacoon and Sons with an expert guide.
• Don't miss the creative genius of The Last Supper at the Sistine Chapel. Your guide will tell you all about the masterpiece before you enter.
• Extend your tour to St Peter's Basilica, or go all out with a visit to St. Peter's Dome. Choose the best option for you at the checkout!
• Guided tour of St Peter's Basilica (as per option selected)
• Entry to St Peter's Dome (as per option selected)
• Expert English-speaking guide
• Tip: On Wednesday mornings, St Peter’s Basilica is usually closed due to the weekly Papal audience. Keep this in mind when booking your ticket.
• Inside the Sistine Chapel, it's all about the quiet vibes. No chatting, no phones, and no photos, just pure admiration. But don't worry, an expert guide will fill you in on all the cool details before you step inside.

St. Peter’s Basilica Dome Guided Tour

Get full access to the Dome on a guided tour of the Basilica.

• Admire Michelangelo's genius up close while climbing the Dome and learn all about its legends from an expert, local guide.
• This is one photo op you won't want to miss! Enjoy unparalleled views of the Eternal City, from the top of the Dome.
• Explore the intricate art-filled interiors of St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Papal Crypts in the Vatican Grottoes.
• Choose from 5 language options. On a French or English tour, you can opt to relish a sumptuous breakfast before you begin.
• Guided tour of St. Peter's Basilica and Dome with entry
• Expert English, Spanish, French, German or Italian-speaking guide
• Access by elevator to the base and stairs to the top
• Breakfast (for French and English options, if selected)
• Entry to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• Entry to the Necropolis / St. Peter’s Tomb / Scavi
• Tips: Don't forget to look down as you climb the dome. Through special windows, you can catch glimpses of the basilica's interior below, offering a unique perspective.
• Accessibility: St. Peter's Dome is not suitable for wheelchair users or those who suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia. Even with elevator access, guests are still required to climb 320 steps to reach the top of the cupola.
• Expect a considerable wait at security, especially during peak times. Patience is key, it could take up to an hour!

Top things to do in Rome

What is the Papal Audience?

Have you ever wanted to see the Pope in real life? The Papal Audience is a great opportunity to do so. Every Wednesday at St. Peter's Square , the Pope greets and addresses pilgrims from all over the world. The Pope greets and addresses a gathering of Christian pilgrims, devotees, and inspired visitors around St. Peter’s Square. The Papal Audience is seen as a way for the Pope to keep in personal touch with his followers and strengthen their faith through his messages. 

The Pope makes a reading and delivers a short sermon followed by the final prayer and a bestowal of Papal blessings. These are delivered in Italian, though, short summaries are provided in English and other languages. The General Audience was started as early as 1939 by Pope Pius XII with the intention of praying for newly married couples. It ceased temporarily during World War II and resumed again in 1963 under Pope Paul VI to include all the faithful while speaking on themes each week such as hope, faith, and charity.

Learn all there is to know about the Papal Audience, its significance, and how you can be a part of it.

Note: While attending the Papal Audience is free, tickets are required for both individual seats and standing areas. This helps manage crowd control and ensure safety. Tickets specify a designated zone or section, not individual seats. For guaranteed seating, arrive early, especially during peak season.

How do I get Papal audience tickets?

1. Third-party vendors

With third party tickets, you can purchase Papal Audience slots. It is perhaps the most convenient way to gain entry to the Papal Audience and get add-ons such as guided tours, and a viewing of the Vatican Gardens.

In order to get tickets you will need to download and fill out a form from the Prefecture of the Papal Household and have it faxed to the Vatican. Once tickets are confirmed, you may collect them at the Bronze Door a day prior to the audience between 3 PM and 7 PM or between 7 AM and 10 AM on the morning of the audience.

3. By e-mail

You may also choose to email [email protected] with your request for tickets to the Pontifical North American College . Upon confirmation, you will be able to pick them up at the Trevi Fountain between 3 AM and 7 AM. 

4. Through the Swiss Guards

Three days prior to the audience, you have the option of picking up tickets directly from the Swiss Guards at the Bronze Door. However, the Swiss Guards have only a limited number of tickets on hand, therefore it is advisable to book tickets in advance.

Plan your visit to Papal audience

The General Audience with the Pope happens every Wednesday and usually begins at 9 AM. Security usually allows visitors in by 7:30 AM. The Pope’s official schedule is made known days ahead of the event. You can also refer to the Papal Audience calendar for dates when the event is held. 

There are times when the Pope is overseas or is engaged in some work in which case the Papal Audience will not be held for that week.

The Papal audience is held in the spacious St. Peter’s Square close to St. Peter’s Basilica . During the Winter and the rainy season, if weather conditions are unfavorable, the Papal audience is held at the Hall of The Pontifical Audiences, also called the Papal Hall, which can accommodate over 6000 visitors. 

During the Italian holiday period in August, the Pope may reside in his summer residence - Castel Gandolfo , in which case the gathering will be held there.

A casual dress code is followed during a Papal Audience since it happens outdoors. Being modestly dressed is still strongly advised. Shorts or dresses exposing the knees, tank tops, sleeveless shirts, and baseball caps inside the churches are not allowed. Ladies are required to cover up their shoulders if the meetings are held indoors.

Due to the heat, you may also want to bring sun hats, sunscreen, and water to keep yourself cool and protected. Men are permitted to wear hats throughout the Audience.

Staff at the Papal Audience prioritize seating for wheelchair users. Wheelchair users are invited to sit in a premium seating location to the right of the Pope’s speaking platform and may even get a chance to interact with the Pope after the event has concluded.

Photography is allowed at the Papal Audience. Upon his arrival, as the Pope ascends the speaking platform, you are allowed to greet the Pope at the discretion of security.

What to expect during a Papal audience?

People from all over the world visit the Vatican with the hope of seeing the Pope and listening to his words of wisdom. Experience the following while you’re there:

The Pope, also known as the Bishop of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff, is the leader of the Catholic Church. Deemed the spiritual successor of Saint Peter, the Pope is considered among Catholics to be the epitome of holiness, and seek his spiritual guidance in all matters. During the Papal Audience, the Pope is known to personally interact with the crowds, shaking hands with them and even signing autographs.

St. Peter’s Square

St. Peter's Square, also known as Piazza San Pietro in Italian, is a massive open space located in Vatican City where the Papal audience is usually held. The square was built in the mid-17th century and is known for its grandeur, symmetry, and stunning Baroque architecture. It is oval in shape and measures approximately 240 meters in length and 180 meters in width, surrounded by colonnades of 284 Doric pillars symbolizing the arms of the Church.

Sermon, prayers, and blessings

In his address to the faithful, the Pope will make a reading from the Gospels and disseminate small teachings in the form of a sermon based on the readings. The readings and the sermon will be summarized in various languages depending on the gathering. He will also say the Our Father in Latin. This is followed by the apostolic blessing which is given to the congregation, the sick, and loved ones.

Frequently asked questions about the Papal audience in Vatican City

Yes, tickets are mandatory to attend the Papal Audience.

Tickets for the Papal audience can be bought online or from third party vendors. Alternatively, you can secure the tickets by faxing the Vatican or by emailing the Pontifical North American College. You may also purchase them directly from the Swiss guards by the Bronze door three days prior to the event.

Although tickets are required for the Papal Audience, these tickets are absolutely free.

Tickets to attend the Papal Audience are always free. However, inclusions such as guided tours and access to other places of interest are chargeable.

Yes, you can cancel Papal audience tickets up to 48 hours before the it begins and get a full refund.

The Papal Audience is a weekly event where the Pope greets and addresses the gathering of the faithful in St. Peter’s Square.

The address by the Pope in a Papal Audience consists of a reading, a short sermon, the final prayers, and the papal blessing. It is attended by thousands.

The Papal Audience is usually held in St. Peter’s square of the Vatican. When the weather becomes cold or rainy, the Papal Audience is held indoors within the Papal Hall.

The construction of the Papal Hall was started in 1963 and inaugurated in 1971. It was designed by Italian engineer and architect Pier Luigi Nervi.

The Papal Audience starts every Wednesday morning between 9 AM and 10:30 AM. You may refer to the Pope’s official schedule for any changes in timings.

The Papal Audience takes about an hour and a half to complete but may extend to two hours.

At the Papal Audience, you will get a chance to see the Pope live. You can listen to his teaching and receive his blessings. You will also get a chance to see St. Peter’s square, a magnificent oval pavilion.

Casual dressing is recommended since the Papal audience is usually held outdoors. But be sure to dress modestly, covering knees and shoulders within the premises of the Vatican.

Yes, taking photos and selfies is permitted at a Papal Audience.

During his arrival and exit, the Pope meets and greets the public under strict security measures. Unless you are part of the special groups seated near the speaking platform like disabled visitors and newlyweds, you will not get a chance to meet the Pope personally.

Of course not! The pope invites visitors from all faiths to attend Papal Audiences.

You can reach Vatican city using the metro, train, or bus system in Rome. However, there is no public transport inside Vatican city. The best way to reach the Papal Audience is by walking.

Vatican Archive

Vatican timings

Papal Audience Experience with Pope Francis

• Our expert guide will provide insight into the history and traditions of the Papacy before the Papal Audience begins.
• Although Papal Audience tickets are free, we take care of reserving and picking up the tickets for you, making the whole process stress free .
• We arrive early to ensure you get a good spot to see the Pope as he circulates to greet the crowd. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Pope himself!

Your Papal Audience Experience Tour

What's included.

• English-speaking guide
• Escorted visit and presentation
• Audio headsets so you can always hear your guide
• Small groups of 20 people or less
• Ticket reservation service and ticket pick-up (Tickets are free of charge)
• Confirmed invitation and attendance to Papal Audience with Pope Francis

Sites Visited

• St. Peter's Square for the Papal Audience

On this tour, you'll hear the fascinating history of the Papacy and get to see the Pope himself! This is an especially busy and popular event, but City Wonders will ensure that your experience runs smoothly, allowing you to see the Pope with ease and without stress from the best possible location. 

You'll have an expert, English-speaking guide on hand to lead you through the huge crowds, directly to St. Peter's Square, with individual headsets so you can hear your guide over the roar of the crowd. Once settled, your guide will provide an in-depth insight into the history and traditions of the Papacy and Papal Audience ceremony so you're fully prepared for the moment when Pope Francis takes the stage alongside the Cardinals. Understanding the rich traditions of the Papacy and background on the event itself will make for a memorable experience.

Pope Francis near you

We know exactly where to sit so that the Pope passes you when entering! Pope Francis will give a special greeting. Then with the help of his Cardinals, he will perform blessings in many languages, sing hymns and give homilies.

Find yourself only feet away from Pope Francis on our guided Papal Audience Service, where we secure your pre-booked tickets and ensure that you arrive in time to find a good spot to see the Pope, as he passes you greeting followers and priests from around the world. This Papal Audience experience is a perfect complement to our Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museums, and St. Peter's Basilica Tour, which we offer 6 days per week, multiple times per day.

Since the election of Pope Francis, the number of people traveling from around the world to attend the Papal Audience has been rising significantly, sometimes with crowds of up to 100,000 people. Pope Francis has already earned a reputation for interacting with his audience more than any pope before him. Papal Audiences have become a spirited event – with the crowds encouraged to pray and sing along. Attending this energetic display of faith is a once-in-a-lifetime event not to be missed by any visitor to Rome.

Although Papal Audience tickets are free, organizing your own can be a difficult process. We cut out the hassle by reserving your invitation for you, picking it up and bringing it to the meeting point. Then we lead you inside with plenty of time to secure a good place to see the Pope as he makes his way to the stage.

Due to the tremendous popularity of Pope Francis, record numbers of people attend the weekly Papal Audience. Book early to make sure you do not miss this incredible event.

Thousands of 5-Star Reviews

Tripadvisor, know before you go, meeting point.

Via della Conciliazione - Open in Google Maps

Important Notes

• Tickets are free and spots are available, but they are extremely hard to come by, so booking in advance is essential because not everyone can participate.
• Unfortunately we are no longer able to accommodate wheelchairs on this service and will be unable to wait for guests arriving late to the meeting point. Guests should arrive 15 minutes ahead of their scheduled departure time.

Cancelation Policy

This tour is subject to a 24-hour cancelation policy. If you wish to cancel or amend your booking, you can do so without charge by contacting us up to 24 hours in advance of your expected departure time.

Our guides are all trained to find the best spots. However, due to the nature of the event, this is not always possible.

Our guide will try his best to provide you with the best possible spots however, any personal interaction with the Pope is restricted.

Yes, there are restrooms available which are closed just prior to the Pope’s arrival.

• Book with Confidence: Free cancellations up to 24 hours before the experience begins (local time).
• Multilingual Customer Service: Talk to us, we are here to help.
• No Hidden Costs: All taxes and fees included.

You Might Also Like...

Colosseum & Ancient Rome Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill

Sistine Chapel First Entry Experience with Vatican Museums

The Original Crypts, Catacombs & Roman Undergrounds Tour with Transfers

Vatican tours, st. peter's basilica tours, get to know city wonders.

A City Wonders tour is the product of meticulous research, detailed planning, and a passion for providing customers with travel experiences they will cherish forever.

With City Wonders it's not just facts, our passionate guides tell you the stories that bring the sights to life.

• All of our guides are experts in their field
• We only hire fluent English-speakers so nothing is ever lost in translation
• We focus on the little details and anecdotes that make City Wonders so special

Recommended Vatican Posts

Florence & Tuscany

Day trips from rome.

• Customized Tours

VIP Papal Audience and Private Tour of the Best of the Vatican

Description.

When in Rome what better experience to have then a once in a lifetime audience with Pope Francis himself? Since his election, Pope Francis has earned a reputation for interacting more with the crowds who come to see him than any pope before him. As a result, the popularity of his Papal Audiences has risen dramatically. People from all over the world, travel to Rome to visit the Vatican City and the pope, and crowds can get as large as 100,000 people. Papal Audiences have become spirited events with gathered crowds encouraged to pray and sing along. Attending this energetic display of faith is a moving event not to be missed by any visitor to Rome.

After being picked up and taken to meet the tour operator assistant in St. Peter’s square the assistant will bring you to the official Vatican Gift store where you can purchase religious items to be blessed by the Holy Father during the ceremony so that you can get back home a piece of the experience with you.

Clients presenting the voucher for this tour at checkout will receive a 10% discount on all Vatican gift shop purchases (except stamps, coins, postcards, and books).

You will be accompanied inside St. Peter’s square, which is where the audience takes place, hand over your audience tickets to the Vatican guards, and secure seats in one of the seating areas which follow a first come first serve basis. Before the ceremony begins, you will receive an introduction to the history and traditions of the Papacy.

After the ceremony you will get to enjoy an infinite number of masterpieces like Michelangelo’s “Pietà” and “Last Judgment”, gorgeous works by Bernini, Raphael, Botticelli, Perugino, and other treasures all incredibly united under the roof of the world-renowned Vatican museums. The numerous popes that have lived in the Vatican continuously enriched it with different artworks but the unmissable ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and its sublime ‘Last Judgment” by Michelangelo are surely the real attraction. Your guide will then take you to the usually packed museum entrance skipping the check-in line, and access directly the metal detector control.

In the museums, you will admire the most beautiful ancient Roman statues, you will gasp at the length of the enormous Tapestry Hall, then through the Hall of the Painted Maps, you will enter the Sistine Chapel whose impact on history, religion, and visual arts has no equal in the world. At last, through an exclusive gallery directly linked to the Sistine Chapel, you will reach the largest Catholic church in the world: St. Peter’s Basilica. The greatness and care of details will overwhelm you. Highlights of the Basilica include Michelangelo’s Pieta’, the imposing 29-meter-tall Baldacchin by Bernini, and the mosaics that decorate the whole ceiling. After the tour ends, your tour guide will help you to arrange transportation back.

Meeting Point

At check-out, before your purchase is confirmed, you will be kindly asked to leave the written address of your accommodation or potential meeting point. This implies the name of the hotel, bed & breakfast or residence in which you will be staying as long as it is situated within the city centre. Such requirements are necessary for pick-up and private services only.

What's Included

• Private tour with your own professional English-speaking guide
• Free Papal audience tickets
• VIP pick-up in a luxury vehicle with an English-speaking driver
• Skip the line admission tickets to the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica
• Transportation back to accommodation
• Optional gratuities

Languages Available

What you'll do.

• Meet and greet with professional driver at your accommodation
• Drive in a comfortable air conditioned vehicle to St. Peter's square
• Walk inside the official Vatican gift store
• The tour assistant will walk you inside St. Peter's square and accommodate you in the best available seats
• Receive a short introduction on the importance of Papal audiences and ceremonies
• Enjoy the Papal audience experience with Pope Francis!
• Visit the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel
• See St. Peter's Basilica with skip-the-line tickets

What To Remember

• The tour guide will meet you at the start time and location you have indicated and will wait for a maximum of 30 minutes. Missed tours cannot be refunded.
• The tour operator is not responsible for last minute, unpredictable closures, strikes or union meetings. Nevertheless, the tour operator will be happy to offer customers an extended tour for the remaining time.
• Please remember to inform us if a member of your party needs wheelchair access.
• The tour is free of charge for children under the age of 6.
• A dress code is required to enter places of worship and selected museums. No shorts or sleeveless tops are allowed. Knees and shoulders MUST be covered for both men and women.
• Please note: Tours of the Basilica are not permitted on Wednesday mornings or when special papal ceremonies are taking place. In these cases, your guide will take you to St. Peter's Square and explain it from the outside. Security check is mandatory for everyone entering Vatican City. is mandatory for everyone entering Vatican City.

Tour Destinations

Contact us on WhatsApp!

🌟 Vatican City Exploration: Papal Audience & Delightful Lunch 🍴

Home > Italy Tours > 🌟 Vatican City Exploration: Papal Audience & Delightful Lunch 🍴

• Full Availability
• What’s Included

🕍 The Vatican Experience: A Day to Remember

Embark on an unforgettable journey through Vatican City, the heart of Roman Catholicism. This unique experience includes a rare opportunity to see the Pope up close during the weekly Papal Audience. Immerse yourself in the grandeur and spiritual ambiance of this sacred site.

📜 Your Gateway to History and Faith

Your adventure in Rome isn’t complete without a visit to the Vatican. As the epicenter of the Roman Catholic Church, it offers a deep dive into centuries of history, art, and magnificent architecture.

🙏 Papal Audience: A Spiritual Highlight

Witness the time-honored tradition of the Papal Audience. Each Wednesday morning, join pilgrims and visitors from around the globe as the Pope greets the crowd, offers prayers, and imparts his blessings. A moving experience that remains a cherished memory for all who attend.

👨‍🏫 Guided Insight and Access

Our expert guide will take care of all the details, from securing tickets to navigating through the crowd. Enjoy fascinating insights about the ceremony and prepare for the awe-inspiring moment of the Pope’s entrance.

🎨 Vatican Museums: A Treasury of Art

Post-lunch, delve into the Vatican Museums’ vast art collections, amassed by Popes over centuries. Marvel at the Gallery of Maps, the Gallery of Tapestries, and Michelangelo’s iconic Sistine Chapel ceiling. Each artwork tells a story of faith, history, and artistic genius.

🏛️ St. Peter's Basilica: An Architectural Masterpiece

Continue to St. Peter’s Basilica, an architectural wonder housing world-renowned art. Stand in awe of Bernini’s towering baldachin and Michelangelo’s poignant Pietà, each a testament to the Basilica’s significance in art and religion.

🌐 St. Peter's Square: A Perfect Culmination

Conclude your tour at St. Peter’s Square, encircled by Bernini’s majestic colonnade. This stunning space offers a panoramic view of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican’s splendid architecture, leaving you with a sense of wonder and inspiration.

Departure Information

Departure days:.

• Every Wednesday 
• Tour Operates Only When The Pope is in Rome

Blackout Dates:

• There are blackout dates for this tour, please check with your travel expert when adding this to a complete package. 

Tour Details

• Tour Code : BRRO001
• Duration : 9.5 Hours
• City : Rome, Italy
• Type : Small Group Tour
• Departure : Guaranteed Departure
• Grade/Difficulity : Moderate
• Transport Mode : Walking + Car/Minivan
• Children Allowed : Yes
• Max Group Size : 15
• Arrangement : Guide
• Entrance Fee : Included
• Hotel Pickup : Yes
• Hotel Dropoff : No
• Language Offered : English, Italian, Spanish
• Starting/Meeting Point : Your hotel

Ready for an unforgettable day at the Vatican? Our “A Day at the Vatican with Papal Audience & Lunch” tour is your ticket to a mix of cool art and a unique chance to see the Pope!

You’ll get to be part of the Papal Audience, a special event where the Pope says hello and gives blessings. It’s a weekly thing and a pretty big deal for anyone visiting Rome.

Next up, we’ll cruise through the Vatican Museums. Think amazing ceilings in the Sistine Chapel and loads of other epic art pieces you’ve probably seen in books or movies.

Don’t forget about St. Peter’s Basilica – it’s massive and full of jaw-dropping art like Michelangelo’s Pietà and Bernini’s Baldachin.

We wrap up at St. Peter’s Square, a great spot for some final photos and to just take it all in.

So, if you’re up for a day of awesome sights and some Pope-spotting, this tour’s for you. Let’s make some memories at the Vatican!

What's Included

What’s included .

Tour Includes

•  English-speaking guide
•  Admission tickets to the Papal Audience
•  Skip-the-line tickets
•  Lunch (drinks not included)
•   Pick-up service from centrally located hotels available

Not Included

What’s not included: for your information.

• Airfare to and from Italy. However, we offer free research and pricing services for finding the best airfare—an exclusive service only for Italy4Real customers.
• Travel insurance, which we strongly recommend for your peace of mind.
• Hotel Drop Off – This tour ends at the Vatican and you must make your own way back to your hotel.

Pricing Transparency: Our Euro-Centric Approach

We place a premium on offering extraordinary value in concert with exceptional services, hence all our package prices are stated in Euros. Here’s why this matters:

Clarity in Financial Dealings

By presenting prices in Euros, we ensure you receive the most straightforward and competitive rates, devoid of hidden costs that often lurk in U.S. Dollar quotations due to ever-changing exchange rates.

Staying Ahead of Currency Trends

Our team of Travel Specialists is perpetually monitoring the value of the Euro against other principal currencies. This proactive approach enables us to guide you on the ideal moment to lock in your payment, thereby maximizing your financial well-being.

Billing Made Clear

Each invoice you receive is meticulously crafted to display the current exchange rate, ensuring absolute clarity in your financial transactions. With Italy4Real, what you see is what you get—no hidden fees or unanticipated charges.

Payment Flexibility Tailored For You

We solidify the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the Euro solely at the time of your concluding payment, allowing you the leeway to capitalize on favorable exchange rates as they arise.

Your choice of Italy4Real as your European tour partner is deeply valued. We consider your satisfaction and the value we provide to be the cornerstone of our service.

Other Tours You Might Like

12-Day Sicily and Malta: A Best of Sicily and Malta Tour

9-Day Rome, Florence, Venice: The Big 3 Small Group Tour

8-Day Small Group Sicily Food Tour

8-Day Small Group Highlights of Sicily

Private Jet Service to Rome

Private Jet Service to Milan

Private Jet Service to Florence

Helicopter Wine Adventure from Rome: Truffle Hunting and Gourmet Lunch Experience

Step 1 of 4

Vatican Guided Tour, Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Vatican Museum Customized Private Tours, Official Travel Agency

• Vatican Guided Tour
• Rome by Night and Private tour of the Vatican Museum
• Private Vatican Museums Tour + Colosseum at Night – Vatican Guided Tours
• Sistine Chapel Private Tour – Official Vatican Museum Guided Tours and Tickets
• Vatican Private Tour Guide | Official Vatican Private Tours and Tickets
• Vatican Tours For Kids And Families Skip The Line Entry | Vatican Private Tours
• Private Vatican City Tour For Kids and Treasure Hunt Experience
• Vatican Early Entrance Tickets And Private Vatican Museum Guided Tour For Kids
• Vatican tour with kids | Guided Tour of the Vatican by Night Tour for Families
• Vatican Private Tour Pope’s Summer Residence From Rome
• Private Sistine Chapel Tours And The Colosseum Arena Floor Vip Experience
• Vatican Museum After Hours Private Tour With Aperitif – Vip Experience
• Vatican Museum breakfast and tour | Early Private Tour Of The Vatican with Breakfast
• Vatican Private Tours | Tour Of The Vatican City
• Exclusive Tour of the Vatican-pope’s Summer Residence Gardens
• Vatican Gardens private tour including Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
• Exclusive Vatican City Private Tour And The Best Of Rome In One Day
• Vatican Museum By Night Private Guided Tour and Tickets
• Private Vatican Museum Tours Exclusive Early Entrance
• Vatican Private Guided Tours | Exclusive Guided Tour | Best Of The Vatican Museum
• Express Private Sistine Chapel Tour and Vatican Highlights
• Special Vatican Museum Guided Tour Cabinet Of The Masks
• Vatican Tour – Small Group Tours
• Vatican Gardens
• Papal Audience and Vatican Group Tour
• Catacombs Group Tour
• Vatican and Colosseum Tours Semi-Private or Private guided Tours
• Vatican City Early Access and Sistine Chapel Tour – Small Group or private tours
• Early Vatican tours – Sistine Chapel early morning entrance and tour for Kids Small Group
• Afternoon Vatican Museum Tour, Sistine Chapel Tours Small Group
• Vatican Night Tour – Small Group Special VIP Entrance
• Vatican Tour and Tickets – Best of the Vatican City Small Group Tour
• Sistine Chapel Ceiling – Vatican Museums Immersive Tour – Michelangelo’s frescos
• Semi-Private Sistine Chapel Early Entrance Vatican Tour
• Sistine Chapel official Tour with Early Access and Private Express Tour of St Peter’s Basilica
• Special Small Group Colosseum and Vatican Tour
• Tour of the Arena Floor Colosseum Sistine Chapel Tour- VIP Entry
• Special Semi-Private Vatican City Tour Up To 10 People
• Vatican City Early Morning Tour Super Fast Track Colosseum’s Arena Tour
• Semi-Private Tours – The Vatican City and Colosseum Tour Special Access to Arena

Papal Audience and Vatican Museums Tour

• Rome Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing Tour with Skip-the-line Colosseum

Papal Audience + Exclusive Visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel

• Vatican Museum Disabled Access Skip-The-Line Guided Tour
• Ancient Ostia Tour
• Angels and demons
• Borghese Gallery
• Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace and Villas
• Rome Catacombs Tour and Ancient Appian Way Private Tours
• Colosseum Private Tours | Ancient Rome Guided Tours and Tickets of the Colosseum and Roman Forum
• Ponza Island Tours | Day Trip From Rome To Ponza Island
• Rome by Night escorted Tour | Private Tours Of Rome At Night VIP Chauffeured Service
• Rome Shore Excursions | Rome Highlights Private Cruise Ship Excursion From Civitavecchia
• Rome in one day Tour- Vatican Museum and Rome Private Tours in a day
• Rome In 2 Days | Rome And Vatican City Private Tours In Two Days
• Rome Walking Tour | Evening private walking guided Tours | A Stroll To Discover The Highlights Of The Eternal City
• Tours of Tivoli Day Trip From Rome | Tivoli, Villa D’Este and Villa Adriana guided Tours And Tickets
• Rome Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour and Vatican Museum tour
• Skip-the-line Colosseum & Vatican Museum Tour
• VIP Tour Vatican Museum & More
• Vatican Museum Group Tour & Rome Private Sightseeing
• [email protected]

• +39 0669348035
• 08:30 AM - 8:30 PM Rome (IT) Local Time

Proceed Booking

Already a member, don't have an account create one., or continue as guest, adding item to wishlist requires an account.

Starting with one of the most popular events at the Vatican, this tour will offer you the chance to see the Pope and avoid all the crowds in an exclusive visit to the Vatican and Sistine Chapel. With an early bird meeting, the first stop is St. Peter’s Square or inside the Hall of Pope Paul VI (just when raining or on very cold days), where the Papal Audience will start around 9 am.

After that, you’ll be guided to the Vatican Museums for a private tour. With an experienced guide, you’ll have access to a famous gallery of masterpieces, with works by da Vinci, Bellini, Titian, Raphael’s rooms and much more.

The Sistine Chapel and its extraordinary ceiling also will be waiting for you, where you can contemplate Michelangelo’s work and all the grandeur of the Chapel’s interior.

Tour’s highlights: Papal Audience

• Chandelier Gallery
• Tapestry gallery
• Belvedere courtyard
• Visit the Hall of the Muses
• See the statue of Hercules
• Experience Constantine’s sarcophagus
• Discover the Vatican Map Gallery overlooking the Vatican Gardens
• Be in Raphael’s rooms
• Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel

***Observation: all tours are suitable for kids. Papal Audience is a group experience

MEETING POINT

At the Vatican Museum entrance

Related Tours

Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace, Villas, and Gardens

Online Enquiry Form

Email Address*

Your Enquiry*

• Holidays in Rome
• New Years Eve
• Where to Stay
• Where to Eat
• Best Time to Visit Rome
• Top 10 Tips for Rome
• Bathrooms in Rome
• What to Pack & What to Wear

Money Matters

Getting Around

Getting to Rome

• Learn Italian
• Rome & Vatican Tours
• Italy Tours
• Transfers & Transport
• Sign up & get a FREE ebook  Subscribe NOW!  Our New Italy Travel Website Is HERE VISIT NAPLESWISE TODAY!
• Romewise Home Page
• Rome Tourist Attractions
• Visiting the Vatican

Visiting the Vatican - Top tips you need to know!

By Elyssa Bernard

August 8, 2024

Planning on visiting the Vatican when you come to Rome?

Here's everything you need to know!

Visiting the Vatican - everything you need to know

Here is what you really need to know about visiting the Vatican:

• When to go ? (what time of year and time of day)
• What to see ? (St. Peters Basilica and the Vatican Museums, and much more!)
• Which should you visit first, the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) or Saint Peter's Basilica ?
• How to skip the lines for Saint Peter's Basilica ?
• How to get tickets/skip the line to the Vatican museums ?
• Can you just visit the Sistine Chapel ? 
• Can you see the Sistine Chapel without crowds ?
• How do you visit the Vatican Gardens ?
• How do you visit St Peter's tomb ?
• How to plan all your Vatican visits for your trip ?
• How to get to the Vatican ?
• Where to eat near the Vatican ?

The first time I came to Rome as an adult, I missed seeing the Sistine Chapel because I had no idea the Vatican Museums closed at 2pm (long before smartphones and Google, ahem.) 

It must have been a Free Sunday, when the Vatican Museums are open and free but with reduced hours.

Now that I live here, I go often to Saint Peter's Basilica , Saint Peter's Square , and the Vatican Museums .

I also helped thousands of our guests plan their visits in the 17 years we ran our B&B .

Based on years of first-hand experience, I know what to do and what not to do.

You can avoid a stressful visit to the Vatican by reading my tips first!

QUICK FACTS ABOUT VISITING VATICAN CITY

• You don't need a passport.
• Vatican City is a separate state from Italy, with just over 500 residents.
• The two main places to visit are Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums (where the Sistine Chapel is.)
• The pope is head of Vatican City.
• The pope's church is not Saint Peter's Basilica. It is Saint John in Lateran.
• You can visit the Vatican, and you can stay nearby, but you cannot sleep inside the Vatican.

Visiting the Vatican - When to go

• There really is no "best day" for visiting Vatican City, i.e. when there are fewer people. The Vatican is Rome's most popular tourist destination and is pretty much always busy. You might consider Tuesday or Thursday as your best bets. Dates around a weekend can be a bit busier, and on Wednesday there is (usually) the Papal Audience , meaning even more crowds.
• In the mornings, many tour groups show up, including those offering early skip-the-line access. Also, people in general come early to try to "beat the line," so you may find the Vatican Museums much more crowded in the early morning than you expect, and  slightly less crowded in mid-afternoon.
• St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums tend to be even more crowded on Saturdays, when Rome fills up with weekend visitors.
• The Vatican Museum is closed Sundays, except for the last Sunday of every month , when they are free . This is the most crowded day you can imagine for visiting the Vatican Museums .
• On Wednesdays (except for  July , when the pope generally takes a break), the pope holds an audience at St Peter's Basilica . In warmer months, it will be in Saint Peter's Square . In colder months, or if it's raining , it will be in an auditorium-type hall just to the left of the basilica. This means that the whole area will be packed due to all the people who attend the papal audience , many of whom visit the Vatican Museums after the audience.
• If you do visit Vatican City on a Wednesday, keep in mind that St Peter's Basilica will be closed until the papal audience is over (around 12-1pm.)
• As for time of year, winter low season months are best if you want to be more relaxed and find smaller crowds. This means most of December (except  December 8 , and Christmas through the Epiphany, January 6 ), January and February . Believe it or not, it's Vatican City is just as crowded between Christmas and January 6 as it is during summer .
• Here's  how and when to include visiting the Vatican in a 3-day itinerary in Rome .

IMPORTANT TIPS :

• To visit St Peters Basilica and the Sistine Chapel, you must be properly dressed : no bare knees, midriffs or shoulders.
• Sandals and jeans are fine.
• Be careful when wearing knee-length shorts and skirts; the opinions of the Vatican guards as to what is acceptable may vary.
• You may wish to bring a scarf or sarong ,or wear the kinds of shorts that have attachable legs, such as hiking trousers .
• In a pinch, you will find plenty of vendors just outside the Vatican, who sell t-shirts or scarves.

No matter what season you visit Rome, here are 4 essential things we recommend never leaving home without:

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Visiting the Vatican - What to see?

The main things to see when visiting the Vatican are  Saint Peter’s Basilica  and the  Vatican Museums .

You can see one and not the other, although v isiting both in a single day is very do-able.

Looking for Michelangelo's masterpieces?

Michelangelo’s Pietà is inside Saint Peter's Basilica .

Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican Museums .

Just try not to plan any other big visit like another museum or archeological site like the Colosseum  for the day you visit the Vatican, as you will be pretty exhausted.

Do you really want to visit the Vatican and Colosseum in one day? Here's how!

Or take the stress out of it by taking this "Rome in a Day" Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center.

St Peter's Basilica

Saint Peter’s Basilica  is a Renaissance-era church and by many standards, the world’s largest. 

The Vatican is a basilica but not a cathedral, as it does not have its own bishop.

The main cathedral of the “Bishop of Rome”, as the pope is called, is San Giovanni in Laterano, or Saint John in Lateran .

But the pope is head of Vatican City , where he resides.

It's a little confusing isn't it?

Anyway, just think of the Vatican as a huge church, with a lot to see inside.

Click here to read more about what exactly the Vatican is.

Click here to visit my dedicated page all about Saint Peter's Basilica and its history, and things to see and do there.

 🤙 Roaming in Rome? 📱

Get yourself an Italian eSIM for calls, messages and data when traveling here.

Save on data charges with plans from just 19€ from Holafly - our recommended eSIM provider!

Click here to get yours now  and use code ROMEWISE to save 5%!

St Peter's Dome

It's worth  visiting the basilica's dome , but you should know it can get a little crowded up there, and there are a LOT of steps.

The first level is 231 steps, but there is an elevator option.

( Someone in a wheelchair or with walking difficulties can take the lift to this first level.)

The second portion is another 320 steps, with no elevator option.

The dome gets narrower as you go up, so you will be climbing this part single file, and with the roof slanting over your head.

I say this as someone with a close relative with vertigo: you may want to avoid climbing the dome at the Vatican if you suffer from vertigo or claustrophobia.

But if none of that is an issue, then do it!

You'll love the views from up there, both of the church and of the surrounding city.

Visit my dedicated page all about Saint Peter's dome and how to climb it.

Michelangelo’s Pieta

My favorite piece of art inside of  St Peter's Basilica  is Michelangelo’s Pietà .

Actually, it may be my favorite piece of art in the world.

An exaggeration?

I can't help it...just look at it:

It’s on your right as soon as you walk inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

When I visited it with my mom, she cried, saying “look at her face, it’s just about a mother’s love for her child."

Unfortunately, someone wielding an axe once attacked it, and it’s now behind glass.

But you can still see it very well.

And take note of Mary’s face.

It’s really special when you see it in person.

Michelangelo Tidbit :

This was one of Michelangelo’s first major works.

He made it when he was only 22.

He was not sure people would know he did it, so he snuck in late one night and carved his name (Michelangelo Buonarroti) on Mary’s sash.

The Pietà is the only sculpture Michelangelo ever signed (or needed to sign.)

Vatican Grottoes - The Tombs of the Popes

Inside Saint Peter's Basilica, you can go down one level and see the area where some of the popes are buried.

Saint Peter is said to be entombed just underneath the church .

This is why many popes are also buried here. 

It's quite interesting to visit the popes' tombs , called the Vatican Grottoes   - there is a lot of history down there.

Don't worry, it's not dark or claustrophobic.

On the contrary, it's a huge open space full of light and lots to see (no photos allowed.)

To visit the Vatican Grottoes, get up close to Bernini's Baldachin and look for the entrance nearby.

It's free to visit the Vatican Grottoes.

You should make sure you are done visiting the basilica or have a plan to go back up, because the normal route through the grottoes has you exit the basilica entirely.

Not to be confused with St. Peter's tomb

When people talk about visiting the Vatican grottoes, they are referring to a place where you can see the tombs of many popes (as I wrote above.)

But this is not the same as visiting the  Vatican Necropolis , where St. Peter is said to be buried.

A  visit to Saint Peter’s tomb , also referred to as a scavi  visit, is a special and wonderful thing to do, and I highly recommend it.

(" Scavi " means "excavations".)

It is a delicate archeological site, and they only take 250 people in per day, in 12-person tours at a time, so you must  book way in advance . (No photos allowed.)

NEW FOR 2024!

The archeological area of the Vatican Necropolis of Via Triumphalis is now open for visitors.

This is an ancient Roman burial site that is within the Vatican walls and before now was very difficult to get access to.

You can only enter as part of an official Vatican tour group, and tickets need to be purchased through the official website .

This is an entirely separate visit, so you will not have access to either St Peter's Basilica or the Vatican Museums.

Click here to watch my YouTube video about it and see what it's like!

The Vatican Museums

The second major site to visit at the Vatican is the Vatican Museums.

This is the part about Vatican City that will take most of your time and energy.

The Vatican Museum contains the world’s largest private art collection (and just imagine that much of the art they own is not even on display!)

They are called "museums" and not just singular "museum" because the museums were started in 1506 and have been added to many times over the centuries.

They now occupy many different buildings all connected to on another.

That's one reason there is so much to see!

You will see a lot of art inside the Vatican Museums, including paintings, sculptures, ancient artifacts, and much more.

I think the number one thing people want to see when they visit is the Sistine Chapel.

For more about the Vatican Museums and Sistine chapel, visit my dedicated pages:

• Visiting the Sistine Chapel
• Michelangelo and the Sistine Chapel
• Visiting the Vatican Museums
• Vatican Museums Must Sees
• Vatican Museums Tickets
• Vatican Museums Tours
• Vatican Secret Rooms

More things you will see at the Vatican:

Besides the two main sites - the museums (Sistine Chapel) and the basilica, there are more things you will see when you visit Vatican City.

Look for these as you walk around:

St. Peter's Square

It would be easy to take Saint Peter's Square, Piazza San Pietro in Italian, for granted.

After all, if you're beelining to get into the basilica, you might be focused on the security queues and wondering how long you will have to wait.

But St. Peter's Square, also called Vatican Square, is worth visiting and enjoying by itself.

It's the only part of Vatican City you can visit without any tickets or queuing.

If you have very limited time , you may even decide that this is about as much as you want to see of Vatican City, since everything else involves queues and/or tickets plus an involved visit inside.

Click here to visit my page all about St. Peter's Square, its history, and what to see.

The Swiss Guard

You might spy one or more of the Swiss Guard at the gate to Vatican City.

The Swiss Guard wear different outfits depending on their duties, but they are all dressed in costumes originally designed in the early 1500s (although not by Michelangelo, an urban myth.)

The Swiss Guard have a specific duty to guard the pope's life and Saint Peter's Basilica.

They are the world's smallest army and they are well trained.

You will not see the Swiss Guard at the Vatican Museums.

There, you will see Vatican Museums guards who dress in more modern attire.

The Leonine Walls

In the 9th century, Pope Leo IV had defensive walls built around Vatican City following the sacking by raiders of Old St. Peter's Basilica in 846.

You can still see those walls today in and around the Vatican, especially if you visit the Vatican Gardens .

You can also see parts of these walls surrounding Saint Peter's Square on the side where the security gates are, and along the way from the Vatican to nearby Castel Sant'Angelo .

Click here to read a more detailed yet brief history of the Vatican.

The Vatican Post Office

Don't miss a visit to the Vatican Post Office if you want to mail any postcards. 

It's easier and more efficient than going to the Italian Post Office, and your mail will get there faster!

There is also a Vatican mailbox up on the roof ( Saint Peter's Dome ), and usually another post office in Saint Peter's Square .

More sites you can visit in Vatican City

Besides Saint Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, there are some more sites you can visit in Vatican City.

You have to pay for these (and for the scavi and gardens, you must book in advance.)

You will find more details about each one on their respective dedicated pages:

• Saint Peter's Tomb (Vatican Necropolis or Scavi )
• Saint Peter's Dome
• Vatican Gardens

Which to see first - The Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel, or St. Peter's Basilica?

If you book a tour of the Vatican, usually this means taking a guided tour of the Vatican Museums , which ends with the Sistine Chapel .

Some tours include taking the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel into St Peters Basilica.

There has been some back and forth recently about whether the shortcut is available or not, but as of 2024, it is once again the case that  you can only take the shortcut  from the Sistine Chapel to  St Peter's Basilica  if you are on a tour that  INCLUDES  the basilica.

The Vatican can, and does, change their mind frequently on this matter, so if it is important to you to be able to take this shortcut, I recommend booking a tour that ends in St Peter's Basilica to be on the safe side.

If you are on a tour that ends in the Basilica the decision is made for you.

But if you are taking a Vatican Museums tour that does not include the Basilica, or if you are visiting the Vatican Museums on your own, you'll have to decide what order to visit the museums and the basilica in, assuming you want to visit both on the same day, which many people do.

How long does it take to visit the Vatican Museums?

To  visit the Vatican Museums  (where the Sistine Chapel is),  you need a purchase a ticket  (unless you  come on the Free Sunday .)

Once inside, even if you go quickly, you will need about 2 hours for this this visit.

If you are not able to take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to Saint Peter's basilica, you will exit the museums where you entered them.

This is about a 15-20 minute walk from Saint Peter's Square and the entrance to the basilica.

Click here to see a map of Vatican City and how far apart the entrances of the Museums and the Basilica are  (it opens in a new window.)

St Peter's Basilica Shortcut

You can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

The shortcut is open from 9:30 am - 5 or 5:30PM, and it's ONLY accessible to tour companies or private guides that you book OUTSIDE the Vatican Museums website.

The Vatican Museums does not have any ticket or tour that includes the shortcut.

This means that you won't have access to the shortcut during the  KeyMaster tour , the  Extra Time tour , or any other tour that does not specifically include the basilica.

If you book any tour of the Vatican Museums, you can check the details to see if it finishes in the  Sistine Chapel  or the basilica.

Click here to view a map of Vatican City  (it will open in a new page.)

How long does it take to visit Saint Peter's Basilica?

A visit inside Saint Peter's Basilica could take anywhere from 1-2 hours, not including the time you spend in line waiting to go through security (assuming you go through security in the front and do not take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel.)

To visit Saint Peter's Basilica, you do not need (nor can you buy) tickets, as it's free to go inside.

But you do have to wait in the line for security, which is airport-style - there is an x-ray machine to put your items in and you will walk through a metal detector.

And that can cause the queues to get pretty long.

Lately, the lines to get into Saint Peter's Basilica have been so long, they are looping back again around the square.

Wondering which tour to take of the Vatican Museums?

Visit my page about Vatican Museum tours to find out all the options!

If you book a Vatican Museums tour that does not allow you access to the Basilica, and/or you want to visit the Basilica separately, even on a different day, I'd suggest getting to Saint Peter's Basilica when it opens at 7 AM (if you want to avoid the line).

The lines are longest from about 10 AM - 5 PM, and in high season can be long throughout the day, even from 7 AM until closing!

Skipping the lines at Saint Peter's Basilica

The easiest way to skip the lines at Saint Peter's Basilica is to visit it using the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel (which currently is only available on booked museum tours that end in Saint Peter's Basilica).

You can only take the shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter's Basilica if you are on a tour that INCLUDES the basilica.

If you only plan to visit Saint Peter's Basilica, and not the museums, or you decide to visit these two sites separately, you can avoid the queues by following the tips in my video above:

• Come when it opens at 7 AM
• Come in Low Season
• Book a visit to Saint Peter's tomb
• Use the Pilgrims' entrance - reserved for prayer or attending mass or confession

Wondering where the bathrooms are at the Vatican?

Find out here .

Brief History of Vatican City eBook

The history of the Vatican stretches back thousands of years, and to know everything about this incredible micro-state would take a lifetime to learn.

With this eBook, discover the brief history of Vatican City - where it got its name, who built the basilica, where the Popes are buried and more!

Topics covered include:

• Details about the Vatican's origin , going back to the time of Ancient Rome
• The role important artists such as Michelangelo played in the creation of the Vatican as we know it today 
• How the Vatican came to be an independent city state within the boundaries of Rome

What else is included in this Brief History of Vatican City e-book?

• 50+ pages of information covering all areas of the Vatican's history
• Dozens of stunning and original photos showcasing the Vatican
• Insightful diagrams and drawings to help illustrate the more detailed elements of the Vatican's history
• + much more!

Look inside:

Skipping the line to get into the Vatican Museums

This may be the number 1 question I get about visiting Rome - How to skip the line for the Vatican Museums?

It's quite simple:

• You can pre-purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums through the Vatican's website . This means that you will not have to stand in the line waiting to buy tickets. You will, however, have to wait in a very short line of others like you, who have pre-booked tickets and have to pick them up. (The tickets you purchase in advance are more of a voucher, and they must be converted into physical paper tickets to enter the museums.) You also still need to go through security as everyone does. So you do not entirely skip the line, but your line will be much shorter.
• You can pre-purchase tickets to the Vatican Museums through a ticket reseller . There is usually a small surcharge for this but it can be worth it due to 1) Ease of use and/or 2) the possibility of finding tickets available here when tickets are not available on the Vatican Museums' website.
• You can purchase an Omnia Pass  or Turbo Pass . These will also get you a tour with a guide from the Vatican Museums, as above. It’s not as simple as it sounds and you will need to be careful to understand what you are getting into. Click here to go to my page about the Roma Pass and Omnia Pass  or to this page about other Rome City Passes for more details about these passes.
• You can  book a tour of the Vatican Museums , either with a tour company or with the Vatican Museums themselves. Your entry tickets are included in the tour, so you only have to go through the security line.
• If you book a visit to the Vatican Gardens , skip-the-line tickets to the Vatican Museums are included!
• I do not recommend this at all, but if you have not booked tickets, and they are sold out online, and you find yourself arriving at the Vatican Museums, you will ALWAYS find touts selling you a skip-the-line ticket or tour. I don't recommend it because you cannot be sure they are legit, and if they are, you have no idea what kind of tour you are getting. I also just can't stand, in principle, to be so bombarded by these guys every time I am within a mile of Vatican City. But it can be a good option if it's your last recourse and the lines are crazy long. Just be aware that  only licensed tour guides may give tours inside Vatican City .

Visiting the Vatican Museums with a Guide

Most Vatican City tourism consists primarily of a visit inside the Vatican Museums, which always includes  the Sistine Chapel .

Some tours also include a visit or even a tour inside Saint Peter's Basilica.

You may expect a guided tour of the Vatican Museums and Basilica to last roughly three hours total.

To find out about the many different kinds of tours you can book, visit my page about Vatican Museum Tours , which breaks down your options between group tours, early access tours, semi-private tours and more.

Can you just see the Sistine Chapel?

No, you cannot just see the Sistine Chapel .

To see the Sistine Chapel , you must go through the entire Vatican Museums, which can take at least 2 hours if you tour it and see the highlights .

The Sistine Chapel is at the very end. 

That said, if you are interested in an "Express Tour" of the Sistine Chapel, you can book this tour that skips the line then beelines to the Sistine Chapel and finishes in Saint Peter's Basilica .

This tour is only 1 hour and 45 minutes and does not include a tour of the rest of the Vatican Museums.

You do still have to walk through them, but the focus of the tour will be the Sistine Chapel and Saint Peter's Basilica.

(If you are really pressed for time, you could peel off once you get to the basilica and just not finish the tour.)

is it worth taking the time to explore the museums?

I really do believe that visiting the Vatican museums  is absolutely worth doing in its entirety, even if you really only wanted to see the Sistine Chapel.

The  rest of the museums   are truly wonderful.

You have the Raphael rooms, the maps gallery, the floor-to-ceiling tapestries, papal apartments, Etruscan art, and  so much more.

Click here to visit my page about the top 10 Vatican Museums must-sees.

I highly suggest  taking a tour  to visit the museums. 

They will take care of getting your tickets.

But if you go your own without a tour, you could get the audio guide, or follow my instructions here for the best way to visit the Vatican Museums .

And you will have to book your tickets on your own .

If you are heading to the Vatican in the morning, as I said above, I suggest you visit Saint Peter’s Basilica first, and the museums later, because the queues for Saint Peter's Basilica have gotten so long (sometimes it's a 1-2 hour wait to get in!)

If you decide to go to the Vatican Museums first, just make sure to leave enough time to stand in line to visit Saint Peter's so that you get inside while there is still some daylight, so you can enjoy the sun coming through all the stained glass.

Here's a great Vatican Highlights Tour with St. Peter’s Dome Climb .

Can you see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds?

Perhaps the easiest way to see the Sistine Chapel with fewer crowds is to come in really low season .

But we hardly have a low season anymore in Rome, and even when we do, somehow the Vatican is always still crowded.

So how can you see the Sistine Chapel without the crowds?

It is possible!

With the below tours, you will have a VIP, exclusive experience, and you'll get to enjoy the Sistine Chapel almost alone :

Open the Vatican Museums with the Key Master

On this exclusive tour with Walks of Italy , you will have true VIP access to the Vatican museums - literally accompanying the guard who opens all the doors to get the museums ready for visits.

You will accompany the Vatican Museums Key Master as you walk through the museums, turning on the lights, even inside the Sistine Chapel!

Watch my video to see what it's like:

How to plan all your Vatican trips during your stay

The typical way of visiting the Vatican is to spend half a day seeing the  Vatican Museums  and  Saint Peter's Basilica .

These are both easy to fit into a typical  3-day visit to Rome .

The perfect 3-day itinerary in Rome

Trying to figure out how to organize your visit to Rome? I've got the perfect 3-day itinerary for first-time visitors (or those who have not been here in a while.) It works for a 2.5 day visit as well.

In my 3-day itinerary, you'll see all the major must-see Rome attractions like the Vatican , Colosseum , Trevi Fountain , Pantheon , Piazza Navona , Spanish Steps , Castel Sant'Angelo , and much more.

And if you have more time, or want suggestions for extra/other things to do, you'll find that there too.

Visit my page with the best 3-day itinerary in Rome for first-timers .

I have found that often when people can get tickets to special things at the Vatican, like St Peters tomb (the Vatican Necropolis, or scavi), the Papal Audience, or the Vatican Gardens, they often want to also visit the Vatican Museums on the same day.

Here's my advice for visiting Vatican City when you want to see more than just the Vatican Museums:

Including the Papal Audience

How to visit the vatican museums and attend the papal audience.

Papal Audience tickets  are not difficult to come by, and since it's "in the morning", many visitors assume it would be a good idea to go to the Vatican Museums right after the audience.

I don't agree.

If you are really short on time, then, you CAN go to the Vatican Museums after the Papal Audience.

It's just that this is going to make for a pretty exhausting day.

To go to the Papal audience, you need to get there by 8am to get a decent spot, let alone a seat.

The audience begins around 9:30 AM and finishes around noon.

You'll probably want to grab at least a snack or lunch somewhere in there .

This means going inside the museums from about 2 PM once you have made your way to the Vatican Museum entrance.

If you also visit St. Peter's Basilica after the museums (which is typical), that is a 3-4 hour visit.

And a very long day.

(Also, if you want to climb the dome , you likely won't get there in time.)

My suggestion?

If you can break these visits up over two days, I would.

Attend the Papal Audience and then go inside Saint Peter's Basilica (and climb the dome if you want.)

Then on a separate day, visit the Vatican Museums and see the Sistine Chapel.

Including a visit to the Scavi (St Peter's tomb)

How to visit the vatican museums and also take a scavi tour.

At the end of the  scavi  tour (St. Peter's tomb), you wind up inside  Saint Peter's basilica .

So you will already see that.

You could also  climb St. Peter's dome  if you have time and energy.

Visiting the Vatican Museums takes easily 2.5 - 3 hours, and that does not include the time it takes GETTING there once you leave the basilica.

If you are coming to the museums from St. Peter's basilica, you need to factor in about 15-20 minutes' walk to the Vatican museums entrance.

This is after you've already done a 1.5 hour scavi tour, and spent time walking around one of the largest churches in the world.

So as you can see, adding the Vatican Museums makes it a pretty exhausting day.

If you need to do it all in one day, make sure to book your scavi tour first, then book your museums visit with at least 4 hours between visits.

Break this up over two days.

Book the scavi tour.

You have no control over when they will grant you tickets, so if you are lucky enough to get them, you can then book other things around that. 

Plan to see St. Peter's basilica (and climb the dome) on this day.

Then, book your Vatican Museums visit for another day. 

HOW TO VISIT ST PETERS TOMB, THE VATICAN MUSEUMS (SISTINE CHAPEL), AND ATTEND THE PAPAL AUDIENCE

You are definitely going to need two days.

First book the scavi visit  which is never on a Wednesday mornings anyway (the Papal Audience is on Wednesdays.)

Plan to  visit St Peter's Basilica  after that, since you will come out into the basilica after the tour anyway.

If you want to  climb St Peter's dome , you will do it on this day.

This is a pretty long and full day by itself.

Then, once you get your  Papal Audience tickets , book your tickets or tour of the Vatican Museums for after the audience (even if I said above I discourage doing all this in one day, at least if you don't include the basilica it's a little less tiring).

This will be a very full and long day also.

Ready to plan your trip?

Book your train.

Planning to travel between cities in Italy and other parts of Europe?

Use Trainline to see all the different options available across the different rail companies.

Find your hotel

Find your perfect place to stay in Rome.

Use Booking.com to choose between hotels, guesthouses, and self-catering apartments in neighborhoods throughout the Eternal City.

Buy your TurboPass

Purchase the convenient Turbopass and visit all of Rome's top attractions including the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Vatican.

With one handy pass, it's all included.

Including a visit to the Vatican Gardens

If you want to visit the vatican gardens and visit the scavi (st. peter's tomb).

TWO Vatican Gardens

On this page, I'm referring to the gardens inside Vatican City , i.e. directly behind Saint Peter's Basilica.

There are ALSO papal gardens at the Pope's summer residence, the Apostolic palace at Castel Gandolfo.

To learn more about the gardens at Castel Gandolfo and how to visit them (it's easy!), visit my dedicated page here.

If you are able to get tickets to St. Peter's tomb ( scavi ) and also the Vatican Gardens , congratulations!

Here's how to include visiting the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's basilica as well.

First book the scavi visit .

Then book the Vatican Gardens tour on a different day, and plan to visit the Vatican Museums right after the gardens, as it's included in your ticket price with the gardens.

Visit St. Peter's Basilica after the scavi, again, on a different day from the Gardens/Museums.

If you want to do it all - visit the Vatican Museums, vatican gardens, papal audience, scavi tour and st peter's basilica and dome

How you plan your days fitting in these visits will depend on two things - the Papal audience , which is always Wednesday morning 10am - 12pm (although you need to get there by no later than 8am); and the time of your scavi booking (which depends on the scavi office - you cannot control this).

Once you get those two bookings, the next difficult booking to get is for the Vatican Gardens . 

So book that one around the Papal Audience and scavi tour.

Note that tours of the Vatican Gardens are at 9am or 11am.

They are also not held on the morning of the Papal Audience.

I'd suggest you spread this over 3 days.

Or, to fit this into two (intense) days, try to do the scavi tour after the Papal audience, if you can get scavi tickets for the afternoon.

Then book the Vatican Gardens, Vatican Museums , and St. Peter's Basilica on a separate day.

(And climb St. Peter's dome once you are inside St. Peter's basilica if you like.)

How to Get to Vatican City

You have several options for how to get to the Vatican.

But the most important factor to consider is what you are visiting first.

Click here to see a Google map showing where the different entrances are for the Vatican Museums, Saint Peter's Square, and the scavi entrance .

It will open in a new window.

How to get to the Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums entrance is on Viale Vaticano .

If you plan to take a taxi , just tell the driver "Vatican Museums".

Visiting the Vatican Museums and arriving by Metro

Otherwise, the most common way to get there is by Metro.

Rome's metro red line A has two stops, equidistant from the entrance to the museums (about a 10-12 minute walk): Ottaviano and Cipro.

The Ottaviano metro stop is the first one you will come to if you are coming from Rome's center.

When you emerge from the metro station, you just need to follow the crowd towards Vatican City.

Once you see Michelangelo's bastions (walls), follow them to the right and you will come to the entrance of the Vatican Museums.

If you are visiting the Vatican museums from the opposite direction, or if you forget to get off at Ottaviano, or, better yet, if you want to get off at the next stop to get some fabulous pizza by the slice from Bonci's Pizzarium, then you will get off at Cipro stop. 

However, from this stop, you cannot see the same stream of people, nor can you immediately see the Vatican City walls, so you will need to navigate a little bit to find the walls.

Once you see the walls, follow them until you come to the entrance.

Visiting the Vatican Museums and Arriving by Bus

Another option for arriving at the entrance of the Vatican museums is to take a bus or buses.

Many buses will get you pretty close to the entrance of the Vatican museums.

These include the 492, 49, 23, and the 81.

How to Get to Saint Peter's Basilica and Square

The entrance to St. Peter's Basilica is on Saint Peter's Square .

This is about a 15-20 minute walk from the Vatican Museums, so if you are not visiting the Vatican Museums (or not visiting them first), and want to go directly to the basilica, you can still take the metro, but make sure to get off at Ottaviano, not Cipro.

From Ottaviano metro stop, St. Peter's Square is about a 10-15 minute walk .

Follow the crowds, but at the walls, do not make a right towards the museums, just keep going straight. 

Buses that arrive closest to St. Peter's Square include the 40 and the 64.

How to get to the Scavi/St Peter's Tomb

If you are visiting the Vatican for an appointment to see St. Peter's tomb, the fastest and easiest way to arrive is by taxi .

They can drop you right in front of the entrance where you need to go, which is at the Swiss Guard, to the left of the basilica as you face it.

If you take a bus, get the 64, as it drops you about a block away.

To take the metro , make sure to get off at Ottaviano, and give yourself about 20 minutes' walking time from there to get the the entrance of St. Peter's tomb.

Where to Eat Near the Vatican

There is no place to eat inside St Peter's Basilica or in St Peter's Square (there is a tiny snack bar on the roof of the basilica, which you can only access if you climb the dome .)

There are some cafés and fast-food options inside the Vatican Museums.

There are also fun dining options you can book, and combine with your visit to the Museums.

Otherwise, visit my page about lots of options for eating breakfast, lunch, dinner and aperitivo near the Vatican . 

Want to  share this page on Pinterest ? Pin it here!

Romewise's Top Travel Resources

Ready to book your trip to Rome? Take a look at these helpful links to companies we use and trust:

• Keep your travel spending simple with the Wise card, which removes all the worry about exchange rates and high transaction fees all over the world
• Search for and book your perfect accommodation
• Our complete guide to what to pack for Rome
• The number one travel accessory, a multi-point travel adapter and voltage converter  
• Browse a huge range of tours in Rome and beyond
• Experience unique tours and special access to Rome's most popular sights  
• Protect yourself with comprehensive travel insurance

Within this post there are some affiliate links for products and services. For more details about our affiliate policy click here .

Get your 100%  free  Rome trip planner now!

Simply sign-up today for our free newsletter and get the Romewise Quick Start guide to Rome:

We are committed to respecting your data. Click for our Privacy Policy .

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?

Please come over to the private Romewise Facebook group and join in the conversation.

You will often find me there, happy to answer your questions / comments!

You will also meet other Rome lovers and experts, too.

What are you waiting for?

Come join in the fun !

Read here about our sponsorship policy

Top attractions and tours

• Colosseum - Don't miss visiting Rome's most iconic monument
• Vatican Museums - This is where the Sistine Chapel is
• Pantheon - Book ahead and skip the line
• Galleria Borghese - You'll need to book ahead for one of Rome's best museums
• Castel Sant'Angelo - See Rome's history through its architecture
• Rome City Pass - A great way to make your Rome visits easier

Disclosure : If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

New to Romewise? Start Here

Get the most out of Romewise

Coming To Rome?

Weather in Rome

Accommodation

Already in Rome?

Things to Do

MORE CITYWISE WEBSITES:

Florencewise

Atlantawise

Citywise LLC

Home    |    About Me     |    STORE     |    Privacy Policy    |    Legal Disclaimer    |    Affiliate Disclosure    |   Contact Me

Copyright © 2009-2024 by Elyssa Bernard, Romewise.com | All Rights Reserved.

Papal Audience: Guided Experience

COMING SOON

No schedules available

No languages available

Cancellations

Read cancellation policy

Verifica disponibilità

Get this Papal Audience tour and enjoy a full spiritual experience made by guided assistance . Take part in the Pope's Wednesday audience and learn about Rome's history from your knowledgeable guide.

What to expect

Begin your memorable day by meeting your expert guide, who will lead you to the iconic St. Peter's Square for the Papal Audience .

Your guide will assist you with seating arrangements and provide fascinating insights into the rich history of the Holy See and the legacy of Rome's popes. Discover the architectural splendor of St. Peter's Basilica and its grand colonnades, symbols of faith and tradition.

As the event begins, your guide will escort you to your reserved seat, where you can relax and immerse yourself in the spiritual atmosphere as Pope Francis delivers his message.

After the Papal Audience concludes, reconvene with your guide for additional tips and information to enhance your stay in Rome. 

• Professional and live-speaking guide
• Reserved ticket for the papal audience
• Seat in St. Peter's Square
• Help and Assistance

Not included

• Pick up and mobility

Know before to go

• Only small back pack or hand bags allowed
• Before entering the venue, you'll have to pass through a security checkpoint, which cannot be accessed with metal objects such as knives, thermoses, bottles with liquids, or umbrellas
• Follow proper dresscode

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible.

See availability

1. Choose your date

2. Set your activity

3. Include people

7 reviews 5/5

Family Holiday

My wish came true like Simeon

To see Pope Blessing everyone who was present there live. It is what I wished to experience for many years.

August 30, 2024

Couples trip

Overwhelming

Overwhelming experience- not sure the guided tour was needed basically just met you and walked you round to the queue and waited with you. We came straight of the night train and had luggage they were not knowledgeable about where to store this a very very kind young man who had accompanied his mother took our luggage as he was not going

You may also like

Vatican Museums Rome: Guided Tour

Guided Tour of the Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill

Colosseum Arena, Forum and Palatin Hill Tour

Pay safely with us

The payment is encrypted and transmitted securely with an SSL protocol.

• Privacy Policy
• General Condition of Use
• Legal Disclaimer

Copyright © 2024 Nafasp Slu

This website enables technical cookies who are required for website operation and its improvement. For using technical cookies your agreement is not required.

Closing this banner you will go on navigating only through technical cookies that will be enabled. Otherwise you can read Cookies Policy.

PAPAL AUDIENCE

With pope francis, papal audience.

• Tickets FREE
• Easter/Christmas Tickets
• Information & Tips
• Dress Codes
• Vatican Tours
• Vatican Tour S Priv €55
• Private Vatican Tour
• Colosseum Tour
• La Dolce Vita Tour
• Private Rome Tours

Private Italy Tours

• Florence Tours
• Venice Tours
• Pompeii Tours
• Accommodation in Rome
• Tips & Facts in Rome
• Restaurants in Rome

◊ Papal Audience Schedule 2024◊

Pope detailed calendar/schedule of the upcoming events - holy masses, general audiences, sunday angelus. january 2024 | february 2024 | march 2024 | april 2024 | may 2024| june 2024 | july 2024 | august 2024 | september 2024| october 2024 | november 2024 | december 2024 |.

For information on upcoming Papal Audiences in 2024 click on the link above which will bring you to the Official Papal Calendar.

The Papal Calendar is updated by the Vatican on a monthly basis, usually at the beginning of each month but often week by week.

If you do not see the program for future dates please be patient and check back to see when it has been updated.

Until the dates are published on the official calendar (link above), please use the following schedule as a referance.

Janurary 2024

Jan. 1st - Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Jan. 1st, 10:00am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

Jan. 1st, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Jan. 4th , 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Jan. 6th, Solemnity of Epiphany

Jan. 6th, 10:00am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

Jan. 10th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Jan 14th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Jan. 17th, 9:00am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

Jan 21nd, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Jan. 24th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Jan 27th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Febrauary 2024

Feb 2nd - Presentation of the Lord

Feb 2nd, 5:30pm - Papal Mass (tickets required)

Feb 4th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Feb. 7th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Feb 11th, 9:30am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

Feb 11th, 9:30am - Canonization of Maria Antonia of Saint Joseph de Paz y Figueroa

Feb. 14th, 9:00am - Ash Wednesday

Feb 18th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Feb 21st, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Feb 25th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Feb 28th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

March 3rd, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

March 6th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

March 10th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

March 13th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

March 17th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

March 20th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

March 24th, 9:30am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

March 24th - Palm Sunday

March 28th - Holy Thursday

March 28th - Chrism Mass in St. Peter's Basilica (tickets required)

March 29th - Good Friday

March 29th, 5:00pm Passion of the Lord

March 29th, 9:15pm - Stations of the Cross (at the Colosseum)

March 30th - Holy Saturday

March 30th, 8:30pm - Easter Vigil in St. Peter's Basilica

March 31st - Easter Sunday

March 31st, 10:00am - Easter Sunday Mass (tickets required)

March 31st, 12:00pm - Urbi et Orbi in St. Peter's Square

April 1st, 12:00pm - Pasquetta in St. Peter's Square

April 3rd, 9:30am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

April 7th - Divine Mercy Sunday

April 10th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

April 14th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Regina Caeli)

April 17th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

April 21st, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Regina Caeli)

April 24th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

April 28th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Regina Caeli)

May 1st, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

May 5th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Regina Caeli)

May 8th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

May 9th - Ascension of the Lord

May 9th - Papal Mass (TBC)

May 12th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Regina Caeli)

May 15th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

May 18th - Ascension of the Lord

May 18th - Papal Mass (TBC)

May 19th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Regina Caeli)

May 24th - Solemnity of Pentacost

May 24th - 10:00am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

May 26th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

May 29th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

May 30th - Corpus Cristi

May 30th - Papal Mass (TBC)

June 2nd, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

June 5th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

June 9th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

June 12th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

June 16th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

June 19st, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

June 23th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

June 26th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

June 29th - Solemnity of St. Peter and Paul

June 29th, 9:30am - Papal Mass (tickets required)

June 30th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

*Generally there are no Papal General Audiences will be held during the month of July.

July 7th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

July 14th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

July 21st, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

July 24th - World Day for Grandparents

July 24th - Papal Mass (TBC)

August 2024

Aug 4th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Aug 7th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required) in Paul VI Auditorium

Aug 11th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Aug 14th - No events scheduled

Aug 18th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Aug 21st, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required) in Paul VI Auditorium

Aug 25th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Aug 28th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required) in Paul VI Auditorium

September 2024

Sept 1st, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Sept 4th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Sept 8th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Sept 11, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Sept 15th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Sept 18th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Sept 22nd, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Sept 25th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Sept 29th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

October 2024

Oct 3rd, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Oct 6th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Oct 10th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Oct 13th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Oct 16th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Oct 20th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Oct 23rd, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Oct 27th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Oct 30th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

November 2024

Nov 3rd, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Nov 6th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Nov 10th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Nove 13th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Nov 17th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Nov 20th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Nov 24th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Nov 27th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

December 2024

Dec 1st, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Dec 4th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Dec 8th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Dec 11th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Dec 15th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Dec 18th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Dec 22nd, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Dec 24th, 7:30am - Christmas Eve Mass (tickets required)

Dec 25th, 12:00pm - Urbi et Orbi (Papal blessing) in St. Peter's Square (no tickets required)

Dec 26th - Festa di Santo Stefano (St. Stephen's Feast) Time to be annoucned

Dec 27th, 9:00am - Papal General Audience (tickets required)

Dec 29th, 12:00pm - Sunday Blessing (Angelus)

Dec 31th, 5:00pm - 'Te Deum laudamus' hymn in St. Peter's Basilica (tickets required)

January 2025 - TBA

February 2025 - TBA

March 2025 - TBA

Activities of the Holy Father Pope Francis

Events Archive