8 Awesome Things to Do in the Vatican City for First-Timers

8 Best Things to Do in Vatican City

1. Visit Saint Peter's Square First Thing in the Morning

Saint Peter's Square is where your day at the Vatican City will begin. The square is a massive plaza built in the 17th century with a beautiful Egyptian obelisk adorning its center surrounded by all the important landmarks and architecture in the Vatican such as St Peter Basilica, the Vatican Museum, and more.

As with all other tourist attractions in Rome, the Vatican city gets extremely crowded during the peak season and the last thing you want to do during your holiday here is to wait in a long queue under the scorching Italian sun to get into places like St. Peter Basilica which operates in a first-come-first-serve basis.

That's why I highly recommend you come to Saint Peter's Square as early as you can, just before the basilica is open, and spend some time and take photos of the empty Saint Peter's Square which is not something you see every day.

When I was traveling there, I decided to wake up around 6:30 AM and catch the metro at 7 AM before dropping off at Ottaviano, the closest metro station to the Vatican City. With a few minutes walk, I arrived at the square at 7:20 AM and I was able to have the whole place to myself.. for a few minutes at least.

I spent around 20 minutes taking photos at the square before the security gate into the basilica is opened. It only took me about 10 minutes in line to get into the basilica and since it was in the morning, the weather was perfect, and entering the basilica was a breeze.

When I got out of the basilica around 9:30 AM, the queue was already ridiculously long and the weather was way warmer than in the morning. If you do not want to be waiting in line here, be sure to wake up early and visit St. Peter's Square early in the morning. Definitely one of the best things to do in the Vatican City so be sure not to miss it.

2. Climb the St. Peter Basilica's Dome

One of the highlights of visiting St. Peter Basilica is going up to the top of the basilica's dome and admiring the sweeping 360° view of St. Peter's Square from above as well as all of Rome's cityscape and its massive attractions, all in your vicinity.

Once you get through the security in front of St. Peter Basilica, the path will split into 2 with the left side going to the basilica and the right side going to the top of St. Peter's Dome. I highly recommend you climb to the top of the dome first when the light is great and then you can spend as long as you like inside the basilica.

After you go right, you will find a kiosk where you can buy a ticket to the top of the dome. There are 2 types of tickets available for you to choose from. One will give you access to the staircase where you have to climb the 556 steps to the top yourself for 8 EUR per person.

For the second option, you can get on an elevator for around 10 EUR to take you halfway to the top, and then you will have to climb the rest of the 320 steps yourself to get to the top of the dome.

Personally, it doesn't really matter much which one you pick since the steepest part of the climb is the last 320 steps which both tickets require you to ascend. If you want a little bit of exercise, go for the stair ticket. If you can't be bothered with it, the elevator is a great option too.

Once you climb all the way to the top, you will be rewarded with the incredible view of St. Peter's Square from above which will allow you to really appreciate the scale and its perfectly symmetrical layout even more so than when you are down there.

From the observational deck, you will also see just how massive the Vatican Museum is as well as the incredible cityscape of Rome on the horizon. From the top of the Dome, you will be able to see all the way to the Altar of the Fatherland and beyond. It was incredible.

The climb should take about 15 minutes and you can expect to spend around an hour here. The dome access is open from 7:30 AM to 5- 6 PM with the last ascend at 4 - 5 PM every day depending on the season.

You can buy the ticket at the kiosk when you are there or you can go on a guided tour if you want to learn a bit more about the Vatican City as you explore this tiny but historical city-state. Booking in advance is not required since you will still have to queue up to get through the security anyway even if you are on a guided tour so I recommend you visit the basilica as early as you can.

3. Be Amazed by the Scale of St. Peter Basilica

After you climb to the top of the dome, it's time for you to see what St. Peter Basilica looks like from the inside. You should be able to get inside as you exit the stairway into the massive entrance of St. Peter Basilica where you will be able to get a glimpse of how big the basilica is.

St. Peter Basilica is considered to be one of the largest churches in the world with impressive dimensions of 186 meters (610 ft) in length, 157 meters (515 ft) in width for the transept, and 21 meters (69 ft) in width for the nave, and a height of 138 meters (452 ft) for the dome.

You will realize the true scale of St. Peter Basilica the moment you walk inside its spacious hallway that was specially designed to accommodate more than 60,000 people with a total area of around 15,160 square meters (163,300 sq ft).

The dome of the basilica is particularly striking as well, with a diameter of 42 meters (137 ft) and a height of 136 meters (446 ft) from the floor to the top of the lantern. It is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and one that must be experienced in person.

If you are there around 9 AM in the summer months, you will be right on time to witness the magical moment when a ray of sunlight shines right through the massive arch windows illuminating the altar and creating a heaven-like atmosphere you have never seen before. It was quite a sight to behold.

The basilica also contains many famous works of art, including sculptures by Gianlorenzo Bernini, frescoes by Michelangelo, and the famous statue of St. Peter that are begging you to see. One of the most important artworks you can see inside is the Transfiguration artwork by Raphael so be sure to check it out while you are there.

The basilica is open from 7 AM to 7 PM every day. There is no entrance fee for St. Peter Basilica which is awesome but you will still have to queue up to get through the security which can take hours if you are there during the day. To avoid it, I highly recommend you come as early as 7:30 AM at opening time and be the first in line to get in as the entrance to the basilica is on a first-come-first-serve basis.

4. Check out the Vatican Grottoes

While you are inside St Peter Basilica, be sure to check out the Vatican Grottoes, a series of underground tombs and chapels built in the 4th Century beneath St. Peter Basilica containing the tombs of several popes and other notable figures.

The most famous tomb in the grottoes is that of St. Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus and the first Pope, which is located right under the altar of St Peter Basilica so be sure to drop by there while you are there.

The access the Vatican Grottoes, you will have to enter the basilica first and from the entrance, walk along the aisle until you find the statues of St. Helen and St. Andrew. Here you will find a door that will lead you to the Grottoes.

The place is open to the public with the same opening hours as the basilica itself which is from 7 AM to 7 PM every day. There is no extra entrance fee to see St. Peter's Tomb. Photography is prohibited inside the grottoes for obvious reasons.

5. Explore the Vatican Museums

Another highlight of visiting the Vatican City is to go inside the Vatican Museums and explore all the wealth and prosperity the Catholic church was able to acquire over the centuries from the great frescoes and artworks of the Sistine Chapel to an extensive collection of all sorts of artifacts from Egypt to Roman and beyond.

The Vatican Museums is not one museum but in fact, a collection of museums containing some of the world's most extensive art collections, spanning more than 9 miles of galleries and exhibits which is mind-boggling.

There are so many artifacts in the museum, they have to be housed in several buildings that will take you at least 2 hours just to see the highlights of the museum, so be sure to plan your time carefully.

One of my favorite sections of the Vatican Museums is the Gallery of Maps, a gallery containing more than 40 maps of Italy, painted on the walls by Ignazio Danti in the 16th century. It is a great representation of the geography and topography of Italy at the time and you can see its accuracy evolve as you move along the corridor.

The Raphael Rooms are also worth a visit as you will be able to admire the beautiful work of art containing frescoes depicting scenes from the lives of the Popes Julius II and Leo X, all decorated by Raphael and his workshop themselves.

Also, while you are exploring the Vatican Museum, be sure to check out the Pio-Clementine Museum, a museum containing one of the finest collections of classical sculptures from the Vatican's collection, including the Apollo Belvedere and the Laocoön and His Sons, and so much more.

The Vatican Museums is massive and with so many museums and art collections to see, it can be quite confusing to navigate for first-timers. It certainly was for me, at least for the first few minutes as I entered the museums, and was bombarded by all the directional signs that made it even more confusing.

It took me a while to get my bearings in the Vatican Museums and I ended up just kinda letting the crowds dictate where I was going and just followed wherever people were moving towards. Eventually, we all were following on the same route that took us through all the highlights of the Vatican Museums. If you are worried about getting lost here, simply go with the flow and you will be at the exit in no time.

To get inside the Vatican Museum, you will have to buy a ticket online and book a time slot. You can no longer buy it at the entrance so be sure to prepare your visit accordingly. You can also go on an organized tour to learn more about the history of the artworks you see in the museum. The museum is open from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM every day except Sundays. Definitely one of the best things to do in the Vatican City so be sure to check it out.

6. Admire the Beauty of the Sistine Chapel

One of the highlights of visiting the Vatican Museum and a place you should not miss is the famous Sistine Chapel, one of the most famous chapels in the world, known for its incredible ceiling fresco painted by Michelangelo himself between 1508 and 1512.

The fresco is considered to be a masterpiece of Renaissance art depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the creation of Adam and Eve and the story of Noah.

The moment you enter the Sistine Chapel, you will probably notice many of the icons straight away as they are considered to be some of the most popular artworks in the world and have been replicated so many times throughout their existence.

It was so mind-boggling for me to see these artworks, which I have seen a million times elsewhere, in their original forms with my very own eyes. It was a surreal experience.

The Sistine Chapel is located right on the other end of the Vatican Museums and you will have to walk through several museums and exhibitions before you get to see the masterpiece.

The trek to get to the chapel is well worth the effort though as you will be passing through all the highlights of the Vatican Museums such as the Gallery of Maps, Vatican Apostolic Library, and more in one go.

If you are lost in the Vatican Museums, simply follow the crowds toward the Sistine Chapel and you will have seen most of the highlights of the museums already. The Sistine Chapel is open from 9 AM to 4 PM every day except Sundays and you can access the chapel for free with the Vatican Museums ticket at no extra cost.

7. Wander Through the Vatican Gardens

If you are looking to escape the crowds of the Vatican City which can be extremely relentless, you can go for a little stroll around the Vatican Gardens, a group of gardens and parkland located adjacent to the Vatican Museums covering approximately 57 acres of area, filled with a wide variety of plant species, including flowers, trees, and shrubs from all over the world.

The gardens were first established in the Middle Ages as a source of food for the papal palace, and over the centuries, they have been expanded and decorated by various popes throughout the centuries to what we see today.

At the moment, the garden is only open to those who are visiting the Vatican Museums with a guided tour where they will take you to the Vatican's Pinecone Courtyard, the Vatican's Aviary, and the beautiful Vatican flower gardens.

The tour also includes a visit to the Vatican's Observatory and the Vatican's Meteorological Institute which makes it worthwhile for those who are interested to learn more about the history of the Vatican City and its gardens. You can book a guided tour around the garden from here.

8. Meet the Pope!

Last but not least, if you wish to meet the Pope during your visit to the Vatican City, be sure to align your visit on Wednesday where you can take part in the Pope's Wednesday audience and learn more about the attractions around St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis, and the history of the Vatican City itself.

You can also visit St. Peter's Square to meet the Pope yourself without a guide if you don't mind being there early since it is free to get in and the seats are available on a first-come-first-serve basis.

The Pope's General Audience usually happens around 9:15 AM in the morning on most Wednesdays but to be sure, you can check the Pope's calendar from the official website and plan your visit accordingly.

Further Reading for Central Italy

I hope you found this Italy travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
• Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Weeks Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You are going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Central Italy Itinerary.
• Rome needs no introduction from me. From the well-trodden attractions like the Colosseum to hidden gem spots like the Appian Way, here are the 20 Best Things to Do in Rome you shouldn't miss!
• Wondering what you can do in Rome in 3 days? Check out our 3-day Backpacking Rome Itinerary.
• If you are looking for a place near Rome with beautiful coasts, charming towns, and beaches to relax in, you can't go wrong with the Amalfi Coast. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to the Amalfi Coast.
• One of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, you definitely will want to visit Pompeii while you are in Italy. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Pompeii.
• Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or, if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.