Looking to visit the world’s smallest country? The Vatican is filled with unique treasures and artifacts of immeasurable historical and religious significance. It’s a small country with its own rules and customs, but planning your trip to Vatican doesn’t have to be a hassle.
Read on to find out everything you need to know before visiting the Vatican.
Visiting The Vatican: Getting There
There is nowhere to stay in the Vatican. You will need to book a nearby hotel in Rome. When doing so, make sure you reserve enough time to fully explore the Vatican. It’s very hard and tiring to see all landmarks in a single day.
When in Rome, it’s remarkably easy to get to the Vatican. Virtually all means of transportation connect with the tiny country.
Booking in Advance And Planning For Lines
Getting to the Vatican is one thing; getting inside is another. This is one of the world’s most popular destinations, and the waiting lines can literally circle the whole country!
To fully enjoy the Vatican, you should book your visit in advance, either through their official site or as part of one of the comprehensive Vatican tours.
Keep in mind that different landmarks will require different tickets, and to explore the whole of Vatican you will have to make multiple reservations, some of which are non-refundable. So, plan ahead!
Museum, Churches and Other Landmarks
The most popular landmarks are, of course, Saint Peter’s Square and Basilica, and the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s fresco. However, these are just the tip of the holy iceberg.
The Vatican has 54 different museums in total. These include some very obscure and unusual museums, such as the Pagan cemetery underneath the basilica.
There is even a museum dedicated to the famous Popemobile and other ultra-luxurious means of transportation used by Popes of yesterday.
In addition to the above, some must-see museums in the Vatican include:
- The Pinacoteca Vaticana. This is the Pope’s own art gallery, with some of the most famous paintings in the world.
- The Sculpture museums. These 4 museums house ancient, medieval and Renaissance statues.
- The Vatican Historical Museum, which explores the history of the Holy See itself.
The Law
The Holy See has its own rules and regulations, including strict security controls and a certain dress code. When visiting the Vatican, you should abide by the country’s dress code.
For example, you won’t be able to enter Saint Peter’s Basilica, unless your clothes are appropriately modest. The same holds true for several other landmarks, especially those that are still active religious sites.
Things to avoid include sleeveless t-shirts, mini-skirts, and short pants. As a general rule, you should keep your legs and shoulders covered.
Visiting The Vatican
Are you eager to explore the vast riches and innumerable masterpieces of the Vatican? There are over 20,000 works of art, from prehistory and ancient Egypt, all the way to modern popemobiles, and more!
To save you trouble and hassle, consider booking with a travel agency that specializes in Vatican tours. The help of an expert will be invaluable in fully enjoying one of the world’s most unique countries, where every corner is a historic treasure waiting to be rediscovered!
