Vatican City: 8 Must-See Places for Your Visit

Come discover the main things to see in the Vatican as you plan your trip to Rome. Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It's an independent state covering 0.44 km2, with around 1,000 inhabitants.

One day is enough to cover its highlights, but if you're an art and history enthusiast, you could take up to 2 days to go slowly and take in the details of these 8 must-see places in the Vatican that we'll walk you through below.

1. St. Peter's Square

St. Peter's Square is the very heart of the Vatican. It's one of the most famous squares in Rome and one of the most beautiful in the world, thanks to its sheer scale and beauty. It measures 320 meters long and 240 meters wide, and it's where the faithful gather for the Pope's religious services. 

It was built by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the great artist of the Roman Baroque, between 1656 and 1667, on the spot where the apostle Peter is believed to have been killed. That's why both the square and the basilica bear his name, and he was also considered the first Pope in history.

Although the square was conceived as a space for hearing the Pope's homilies and as the gateway to the basilica, you'll find it's full of details. Bernini built 284 columns and 88 pillars that ring the square and seem to embrace visitors the moment they arrive. 

High above you'll also spot a total of 140 statues (designed by Lorenzo Morelli) and a tall Egyptian obelisk right in the center, brought over by the emperor Caligula in 37 AD. Impressive stuff.

2. St. Peter's Basilica, a free visit in the Vatican

St. Peter's Basilica is one of the most incredible churches in the world and one of the holiest sites in Catholicism. It has been declared a World Heritage Site for its history and beauty, and the best part is that you can visit it completely free. Just bear in mind that long lines form to get in, though the wait is worth it.

Inside, you'll be able to admire artworks that will take your breath away. There are more than 40 statues, 25 monuments, 24 altars and 8 chapels!

You'll want to get a close look at the Pietà, Michelangelo Buonarroti's famous Renaissance sculpture, created in 1500. You can take in the Papal Altar, with Bernini's baldachin and the Chair of St. Peter. You'll also see the Tomb of St. Peter and the Confessio, a small altar built in 1617, plus the Chapel of St. Sebastian, which holds the tomb of John Paul II.

But much of its beauty undoubtedly rests on its dome, and we'll tell you more about that next. 

3. The dome of St. Peter's Basilica

The dome of St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest in the world. It was designed by Michelangelo and rests on four huge pillars above the altar.

It rises to a height of 122 meters! Its interior was painted by artists such as Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Michelangelo himself. You'll be struck by its beauty and detail. 

Although visiting St. Peter's Basilica is free, you do have to pay for a ticket to climb the dome. You can book an activity to visit the basilica's dome, which includes an audio guide and an elevator up to the base of the dome. Note that these tickets don't include a guided tour.

Around the drum of the dome you can read the words Christ said to Peter, according to Matthew 16:18: «You are the ‘Rock' and on this rock I will build my Church, and to you I will give the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven«.

4. The Vatican Necropolis

The Vatican Necropolis is one of the most incredible places to see in the Vatican. It lies beneath St. Peter's Basilica (between about 5 and 12 meters down) and you can only access it on a 90-minute guided tour, after filling out this form.  

This imperial necropolis was discovered in 1940 following excavations requested by Pope Pius XI, who wanted his body to rest as close as possible to the tomb of St. Peter the apostle. It's a fascinating tour for rediscovering the historical and archaeological evidence beneath the basilica. 

During the visit you'll see several mausoleums spread across 22 burial buildings that were thought to hold at least 1,000 tombs. At the end of the route you'll reach the tomb of St. Peter, where you can read the Greek inscription «Petros Eni», meaning «Peter is here«, believed to date from around 160 AD.

5. Attending a papal audience

One of the most important events in Vatican City is hearing the Pope's weekly blessing. It takes place every Wednesday in St. Peter's Square, when hundreds of the faithful gather to hear the head of the Catholic Church.

The event is free, but keep in mind that big crowds form, so we recommend booking a papal audience so you don't have to worry about getting to and from your hotel, and you'll have someone to guide you to one of the seats set aside for the occasion.

You can also attend a live Mass every Sunday when the Pope is in Vatican City.

6. The Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums are the Vatican's main attraction. This is a vast complex of rooms and galleries where you can see the most impressive artworks of the Catholic Church from the 15th to the 19th century. You'll find Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Italic, Christian, medieval and modern religious art, and none of it will leave you indifferent.

Inside the museums is the famous Sistine Chapel (more on that below), but also other rooms that will take your breath away, such as: 

• The Raphael Rooms 
• The spiral staircase
• The Gallery of the Candelabra
• The Gallery of Maps
• The Carriage Pavilion
• The Room of the Immaculate Conception
• The museums of classical antiquities
• Gregorian Etruscan Museum
• Ethnological Missionary Museum
• Vatican Pinacoteca and more

To make the most of your time, we recommend booking a guided tour of the Vatican Museums. You'll get skip-the-line entry to the museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica, in small groups with a Spanish-speaking guide.

7. The Sistine Chapel, the single most important thing to see in the Vatican 

The Sistine Chapel is considered one of the most beautiful works of art in history. It's inside the Vatican Museums, and to get in you'll need to buy one of the skip-the-line tickets so you can take your time inside. 

Pope Sixtus IV had already commissioned several Renaissance artists such as Botticelli, Ghirlandaio, Signorelli and Perugino to decorate the chapel's walls, but it wasn't until 1508 that Pope Julius II handed Michelangelo the job of painting the ceiling and other spaces.

It took Michelangelo four years to complete the Old Testament scenes, among which the Creation of Adam stands out. Years later he also painted The Last Judgment on the altar wall, a work that astonishes everyone who comes to admire it, day after day. 

Keep in mind that photos are not allowed inside the Sistine Chapel, and silence is much appreciated so you don't get a telling-off from the guards. It's without doubt one of the most impressive places to see in the Vatican during your visit.

8. The Vatican Gardens

Did you know the Vatican Gardens cover a little more than half of the country's territory? They're beautiful green spaces dating back to medieval times, used for centuries as a place of meditation and prayer for bishops, cardinals and popes.

From here you get magnificent views of St. Peter's Basilica, and you can also admire several medieval fortifications, Renaissance and Baroque buildings and monuments, and breathe in the calm of a wooded area covering 3 hectares. 

The Vatican Gardens can only be visited if you have one of the combined tickets for the museums and the Sistine Chapel. It's always on a guided tour, so you can't explore on your own.

On the official website you can also buy a ticket for a bus ride around the gardens' 23 hectares, but book well ahead because these sell out fast.