Beautiful. Make sure you get the tickets ahead of time because the wait to get in takes hours. I went with a tour guide so we didn't have to wait in line. Once you get inside it's very packed, certain areas you are not allowed to take photos or you'll get yelled at, like the Creation of Adam. The only reason this is getting four stars is because I felt like cattle being rushed towards the finish line. read more

See all

I had a friend recently ask me about my trip to Rome and specifically to Vatican City, which reminded me of how spectacular my experience was when I visited a couple of years back. I can't believe I didn't write a review, but here it goes... Vatican City aka Citta del Vaticano is the smallest sovereign nation-state in the world, and they even have their own flag. We visited multiple times during our trip to Rome, once for the museums, and other times to walk by and view the sights night (highly recommend - less crowded and equally as stunning). For our day visit to Vatican City, home of St. Peter's Basilica, St. Peter's Square, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums, we chose to do a Skip-the-Line Tour purchased via Viator (under $50) which I would highly suggest since lines are long year-round. Tourists from all over the world (not just Catholics) visit to experience the art, history, and unbelievable architecture. Once we were in, the tour was self-guided which we didn't mind. If you are looking to visit the museums, do keep in mind that there is a dress code so you will need to be dressed modestly (and don't forget to wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking A LOT). There is SO much to take in, but I will let you experience for yourself. A written description would never do it justice. Pro Tip - Send a letter back home from the Vatican Post Office. We sent postcards back which was such a cool experience (and a bucket list item for my friend). Just note that you'll need to drop your letter or postcard into a post box situated within Vatican City territory. You can't mail it from the outside or the stamp will be invalid. There are post boxes near the area where stamps are purchased for your convenience, so don't forget to take advantage of those. When visiting Rome, be sure to carve out some time for a visit Vatican City. This was one of the highlights of our trip. An absolute must-see. read more

See all

Considering the beauty and wealth contained within Vatican City the grounds are extremely poorly kept, with trash everywhere little to no trash cans and those that are around are overflowing with trash. The toilets in the bathrooms have no toilet seats. Everything that's truley important to those visiting is lacking. read more

Vatican City - An unacceptable amount of trash - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM

Vatican City, a city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy, is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. It's home to the Pope, iconic art, and architecture. It also houses ancient Roman sculptures such as the famed "Laocoön and His Sons" as well as Renaissance frescoes in the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel, famous for Michelangelo's ceiling. With just a 2-mile city border, the entire city is less than one-eighth the size of Central Park in New York. Despite its incredibly small nature, the Vatican is indeed a "city-state" and the smallest country in the world with a population of under 1000. It's a must-see if visiting Rome. I would highly recommend buying "skip-the-line" tickets in advance. For a couple, this could run you about $150. If you try to buy tickets in person, you may be waiting outside the gates of the city for many hours which isn't worth it. There are multiple tourists, and walking through Vatican City takes forever. Also, the Sistine Chapel is considered "holy," so pictures are not allowed. They say the flash photography ruins the art over time. Overall, Vatican City has a lot of beautiful art. It's great to experience, but all of the pieces begin to blend together and all start to look the same! Spending a couple hours max is enough. read more

The whole structure is a wonder. Definitely if you are or not catholic, should come and visit. However, people working there are RUDE AS THE DEVIL. I was expecting to have a smile at least.. omg who force them to work there? They should be doing what they love. So don't expect to receive a good service and/or a smile. So be prepared. I do recommend to go all the way up to the Dome, is breath taking, literally, be prepare to climb some stairs even if you pay the elevator. Overall good experience. Except for the people on charge... I don't know what am I surprised. Whatever.. they doing a job to bring food to their tables I guess, not for love of god. Ok bye. Enjoy your visit !! read more

Beautiful churches and museums! If you get the tickets to the museum, you can skip the line for St. Peter's Basilica and have access to the Sistine Chapel. Highly recommend the museum! Beautiful! Can def get crowded tho unless you pay for an early tour in the morning, you'll be able to get in before museum opens and enjoy without the crowd read more

See all

Beautiful sculptures and artwork but I don't recommend coming here. It's overcrowded and you don't get time to actually enjoy the sights. You'll be herded like cats to go through the rooms and either you take photos and enjoy it later on your phone or too bad. People are squished walking through and everyone is shoving phones in your face to take photos of sculptures, artwork and paintings. Even with a guided tour, we were all rushed through all the areas. Horrible experience and wouldn't recommend coming here. read more

See all

lots of beautiful art work and felt like it never ended. if you decide to visit, i suggest bringing comfortable shoes and a good water bottle. my feet hurt after but it was worth it! read more

My friend and I walked into the Vatican City from Rome. This city-state is actually considered a separate country from Italy and is also the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. No visit to Rome is complete without a stop here. It is free to enter the Vatican City and wander around St. Peter's Square. However, to enter the Vatican Museum and see the Sistine Chapel, you must pay admission. The admission is only 17 euros nowadays, so there is no reason not to enter. read more

Vatican City - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM

Welcome to Jurassic Pa... Oops wrong review.... Welcome to the smallest country in the world!!! Yes, you heard that right!! Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and it's located in the middle of another country!! (it's Italy in case you had to look that up!) Haha. Whether you are religious or not, Catholic or something completely opposite, Vatican City is a sight to see. Governed by an absolute Monarchy, The Pope himself is at the head of the table. This magnificent place is home to many historical and religious structures and landmarks where multi-millions of visitors flock to every year. The list includes St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter's Square and the Apostolic Palace, the Pope's crib. I had the absolute privilege in 2016 to visit this beautiful place and really take it all in. It's one thing to see it in the movies, but in real life, it's mind blowing. If it's on your bucket list, 2020 is the perfect excuse to make it happen!! read more

See all

I would come more often if they lit the incense more. Weird guy walks around in a pointy hat.

Unbelievably gorgeous! Television and movies and photos cannot do justice to the awe you feel when you want into the square and see those pillars or when you go into the Vatican and see the Pieta the roof of the Sistine Chapel. The museums are huge. Plenty to do for both religious activities such as confession or prayers with priests in multiple languages or get holy water as well as plenty of touristy stuff to do. Definitely worth the trip! read more

The world most important church is found here. It is not most beautiful but it has the most larger in the world. Magnificent ceilings and long hallway. The church is well decorated. It took 120 years to build it. It is significant importance in the world because it has Saint Peter body burying below. It is call Basilica because is has the saint body bury here. Which make this is an important church. This church has the Pope holding the mass on Wednesday and Sunday. During the mass, there is a lot people in the square. Please avoid that time to visit. It is also the place to selection the next Pope. Many properly want to have selfie with the pope. The sixteenth chapel is the famous building with Michael Angelo painting. This place is crowd with people. Unfortunately you can not take the picture. This chapel is nice but the crowd is not great to squeeze in one place. The ticket include the museum, chapel and the basilica. I do like the square with gorgeous picture. read more

See all

First time I've checked into a country on Yelp. It was also the first time I ran around a whole country (~2 miles). "Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, is the Holy See's independent city state, an enclave within Rome, Italy. With an area of 49 hectares (121 acres) and a population of about 825, it is the smallest state in the world by both area and population." - Wikipedia This is a beautiful place to visit and it's pretty much a place of pilgrimage for Catholics around the world. I was lucky enough to be there on a Sunday when the pope addresses the whole piazza. Your spine may tingle when you hear Pope Francis through the loud speakers. read more

Vatican City was amazing. Since I did the Key Master's Tour I was able to see all of the Vatican Museums before it was open to the public and without all the people, especially the Sistine Chapel. There is SO much stuff to do here that you could spend days looking at the museums and still need more time. It's crazy how old everything is and how well preserved a lot of the city items is. All in all, a must see before you die. read more

I love Vatican City. The art is unparalleled, absolutely beautiful, stunning and overwhelming. St Peter's Basilica is gorgeous. So rich and opulent it is shocking but truly beautiful. read more

Impressive is not strong enough of description. Could spend three days here and not see everything. The crown jewel is the Sistine Chapel. Visit to Rome this is most important : read more

See all

Yes, I saw the Pope and I'm not even Catholic. There seemed to be something special about it. When I decided to go to Rome, I discovered you can request an audience with the Pope. Excitedly, I wrote a letter of request. A month later, a letter granting my request showed up and I was elated. I am almost positive that I reviewed that experience however, looking back it's not there so here is my nod to the Vatican. Go. If you have never been, make an effort to go. I would classify myself as spiritual and not religious so, my intention was not to be blessed or forgiven. I wanted to experience what has been built over 100z of years by man. My only regret is I didn't have another day or two for a full exploration. Arriving in the morning I found tremendous crowds assembling for a change in venue. That morning's event had been moved outside to St Peter's Square. Yes, its just like on TV and you have no choice but to get wrapped up in the thrill of thousands from all over the world in that one beautiful place. Words can't describe. The Pope emerged out of nowhere in his Popemobile with accompanying entourage. I happened to have a great spot in which to observe him weaving in out and around the crowd. Everyone was elated and I can only imagine how he feels witnessing it from his perspective. He then spoke for some time and afterward I made my way to the Vatican Museum. You art lovers probably know of the well-deserved reputation this museum has as one of the tops in the world. I wasn't prepared for what I encountered. It was more beautiful, larger, and held more fabulous art than I would have guessed. However, if there is anything that eclipses the art museum its Saint Peters Basilica. Years ago I use to watch Christmas Eve midnite mass performed by the Pope on TV. I always wanted to attend in person and did some research. That began my quest and really is the reason I ended up in Rome in the first place. I would describe St Peters as the single most breathtaking structure built by man, that I have ever seen. That is not stretching it. Everything is of oversized proportions and I mean everything. The Holy Water fonts are gigantic and held by almost life-size cherubs. It can be overwhelming and you need a day to see this facility. I had no idea it would take hours to consume and almost missed the best part. It was about 30 minutes before closing when I discovered a route that takes you up a brief elevator ride to the start of the stairway that goes to the top of the dome. From here you can peer over the edge and take in the entire view of the interior of the basilica below. Then you begin your circular spiraling treck up the staircase between the walls of the dome. When you realize where you are and that this was built 500 years ago, designed by Michaelangelo! Well, again words can never describe. You end up literally on top of the dome peering out with a 360-degree view of Rome and beyond. Priceless. Almost forgot! The Sistine Chapel is all and more than its cracked up to be and do not miss it. I've seen comments in other reviews that say its no big deal? Not sure what they were looking at but it wasn't what I saw. Amazing!!! Oh, and when you get hungry they have a great cafe with courtyard seating and fabulous food! read more

See all

Definitely you want to visit the smallest country in the world beside if you're religious you want to get inside and pray. For any reason that you're going there it is worth visiting; however, it's crowded because you are not the only visitor there :-) read more

See all

This place is absolutely stunning but the amount of people they let here at a time was extremely overwhelming. You could not slowly walk and take it all in. You barely could stop to look at the detail of most things. I felt rushed , pushed and very overwhelmed even on a tour. Thankfully our guide was great to keep us moving and together. read more

At 121 acres, Citta del Vaticano (Vatican City) is the smallest city -state in the world. It has it's own flag and post office. Be sure to get a post card and mail it home. Also make sure it is dropped it into one of the mail boxes inside Vatican City so you can receive the Vatican post mark. The Pope is known as the sovereign of Vatican City, as well as, the Bishop of Rome. The major structures of Vatican city include: (1) St. Peter's Basilica which is free to enter but long lines await you. The underground tomb of St. Peter has an admission fee of 13 Euros and requires an advanced reservation. It is 8 Euros to climb to the top of the dome. (2) Musei Vaticano which is actually several museums . The museum is not free but is usually combined with other Vatican city landmarks. You can buy a timed ticket online. (3) Sistine Chapel is inside the Vatican museum and is covered by your Vatican museum ticket. No photos are allowed in the Sistine Chapel but I have seen many photos in reviews. (4) The Vatican gardens are extensive at 57 acres. There is no general access but require an admission ticket. Tours are also available if you care to see the gardens. Vatican City is financially supported by donations from the faithful, the purchase of postage stamps, purchases of items from the religious stores in Vatican City, admissions to the Vatican museums and sales of publications. It is not possible to see all the highlight of Vatican city in a day. Depending on your interests the Vatican museums can be a two day event. To get the most out of your visit it is important to do a lot of research ahead of time. A general audience with the Pope requires a reservation usually months in advance. Check the Vatican website months in advance before you go. read more

See all

Depends when you go! Summer during the day is awful!!! Feels like a cattle call and you're shuffling through shoulder to shoulder. I don't recommend this. read more

Extraordinary! Artistic Masterpiece! From the gold inlay, to the murals and structures! You don't even have to be religious to appreciate the beauty in the Vatican! The moment you lay eyes on it, it is just so peaceful! The photos do NO JUSTICE! You must see this to appreciate the craftsmanship of this Italian Architecture Design! St. Peter was a visionary! Another wonder of the world!!! A trip to Italy just to see Vatican City soley would be understandable. When in Italy we definitely recommend you stop by! read more

See all

We decided to tour the city and used a company called, city wonders, to arrange our tour of this magnificent city. This is a very large city and very busy hosting tourists from all over the world, you should plan on spending up to two hours. They allow you to see most of the city, the artwork, architecture and the interesting area of residences dating back years was very intriguing. You are able to spend time in the square and see where the pope addresses the people, learn the history of the city as well as those who have served there. read more

See all

We only had one day in Rome but we were told that the Vatican City was a must do and we would absolutely agree! Make sure to get there early in the morning because the line to get through security gets much longer the later in the day it gets. All of the buildings were gorgeous and the grounds were well kept. The Sistine Chapel was having some work down so we weren't able to go in, but we had a chance to walk to the top of the Basilica. This is a must do, but it ends up being a lot of stairs so keep that in mind. They have a ticket for only stairs and one for elevator plus stairs. My advise save the $2 per ticket and just take the stairs. The elevator only skips a few floors and you still have to walk the rest of the way up. The line for the elevator was also very long where you could walk right in if you took the stairs. The area near the top gets very tight and is not great if you are claustrophobic. After coming down, we walked around the ground floor and had the chance to visit the Grotto underground where all the popes are buried. No pictures are allowed down there. We were only planning on stopping for a little bit during our day in Rome, but ended up spending a few hours in Vatican City and it was a experience of a lifetime! read more

See all

It is absolutely an amazing place to visit. Get a tour guide it makes it much more interesting and informative. read more

Vatican City - Saint Mark's Basilica. - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM

First and foremost, do yourself a favor and shell out €35 or so extra to go on a "skip the line tour" from one of the private local companies. Granted, I was solo and this might be steep for a family. I used one of the popular travel websites, or you can wait two hours to gain entrance in late autumn when I was there. There are two lines, ticket line and getting in the the building line. God only knows what it's like in high season. (*DO NOT BUY THE EXPRESS TICKETS FROM THE SCAMMERS OUT FRONT, USE A REPUTABLE WEBSITE.* I heard people inside complaining about getting reamed and it seems some reviewers were scammed too.) The guide won't be offended if you just say "laters" once you get in. Mine actually asked who was bailing lol. I stayed because she was a archeologist and I was free to roam after the private tour ended. Now, even if you're not a catholic, the Vatican is an incredible work of art from entry to exit. Take it slow if possible. Each room is a trove of priceless and iconic treasures. Whether it is sculpture, tapestries, paintings, ceilings...domes. TAKE YOUR TIME. I mean for Pete's sake, the Salvador Dalì paintings are the least interesting thing there. I think I got the flu when I touched St. Peter's foot though. Pre Covid....make sure to hit the awesome gift shop. It's so unassuming, but huge and very affordable. Check out the cool tapestry below I bought for about €12 or so. Take your hat off in the Sistine chapel or get a stern reminder to remove it...guilty....no pictures of the Sistine either..don't worry it will burn into memory. Such an beautiful place no matter who you are. read more

See all

We did the early access breakfast. The tour was great, but the breakfast was stone cold and complete inedible.

You don't have to believe in god in order to visit this Vatican City. I think everybody should visit this sacred place. Lots of beautiful art work, interior of buildings is beautiful & you can see the places, where the pope himself stood at. There's big lines to get inside but it's well worth it. read more

See all

While we aren't religious, we appreciate the art and history of this place. We spent nearly all afternoon here and saw almost everything thanks to a great guided tour. I wish the Sistine chapel was a little more organized and had less bossy security, but I understand it is one of the most trafficked places in the world. Please check this city out while you can! read more

See all

The Vatican city is a beautiful country located right outside Rome. It is it's own country with it's own division and a separation wall around each and every border. It was extremely clean in the Vatican square and the assembly areas outside the Vatican Musei. There are plenty of restaurants and cafes to enjoy an espresso or a meal while enjoying the views of St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican. *The Pope does a Papal address on Sundays at Noon from inside the Vatican square from the 2nd window from the right*, don't miss this! read more

OM goodness!! So much history no matter what your religious preference is. Amazing artifacts and so much historical knowledge and evidence displayed here. Be prepared to walk a LOT . Well with every second ! read more

The Vatican City is unbelievable and you must see it for yourself. Look to go when the temperature are under 80 degrees or cooler. Pay for some sort of skip the line, he one hat I took was okay. But the guide went a little fast. I could have spent days wondering around. read more

See all

The Vatican Tour needs to be changed. The guided groups contain too many people and the Vatican contains too many tour groups at the same time. It is not safe from a covid standpoint or for crowd control. We went today at 2:30 pm, and never mind not being able to see the art properly, we actually feared for our safety. The guides were harried and on edge. We plead with you to restrict the number of people allowed in the Vatican at any one time. read more

The worst museum experience we've ever had. 35,000 people come through in a day. It's a claustrophobics worst nightmare. Guards in each room say hurry, hurry, and shoo people through there like cattle headed to slaughter. We were so looking forward to this experience but it was a complete let down. We bought skip the line "express" entrance tickets and honestly we regret even going. read more

Vatican City - Bumper to bumper people. You won't be able to see much or enjoy - Local Flavor Near Me - Rome, RM

See all

Although my wife and I are not religious people we had to stop by to visit Vatican City. The lines can get extremely long, however we luckily purchased our tickets months in advance and were able to bypass the lines. For men as long as your shorts are covering your knees and take off your hats before you'll be able to enter. For women you can't wear any form fitting outfits and your shoulders have to be covered. The architecture is of course amazing. To do your own self guided tour you can be in and out within 30 minutes. read more

See all

This is a must for everybody, Catholic or not. I spent two hours here. The Sisten Chapel is beautiful but paintings were tiny. NO PICTURES INSIDE THE CHAPEL. The basilica itself is nice. Every Wednesday, there is an audience to watch the Pope give a sermon if he's in town. I was lucky enough to watch, buy a private audience ticket so you can have a seat or else you have to wait and sit on the ground like everybody else. It's kind of chaotic because people are everywhere and jumping over you to see the pope. Nobody stays in their seat. read more

What can I say that has not already been said...beauty and majesty abound. We spent four hours exploring the Vatican Museums, masterpieces like the Gallery of maps and Sistine Chapel inside and almost another hour outside - it still wasn't enough time! I was apprehensive about purchasing early morning skip the line tickets from a tour agency, but it was THE BEST decision. That one hour before the doors opened to the general public, when it was fairly empty and quiet was priceless. (Maya Tours) Added bonus, the Amenhotep exhibit happened to be on display. We didn't visit the gardens, but that's a reason to return. read more

See all

My absolute favorite place in Rome!! I spent hours there and I was not done seeing everything. There is just so much to see and learn, its beautiful. I did not do the tour, so I paid for the extra for the audio because its just great to walk around and understand more about the Vatican. I recall I purchased my ticket online to avoid waiting in line, I do remember that there was a huge line trying to get tickets from there. So avoid the line and purchase your ticket ahead of time. The Vatican is a must see place, it must be seen at least once in a lifetime. Its amazing!! I recommend going early because its gets super busy later in the day. In addition, for students, they have discounts so take advantage of that. read more

I spent several days here & did not have a single negative experience. I'm not sure why it's surprising that there will be scam artists at one of the busiest tourist attractions in the world. Vatican City is a city-state surrounded by Rome, & is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. Also, this is home to the Pope. He is in fact THE holiest of men, but even he cannot stop potential thieves or criminal activity. That's what the police are for. Remember when that intruder broke into Buckingham Palace & found his way right into Queen Elizabeth's bedroom? When she was in it? Case in point. Humanity & its perils aside, there is indeed a sense of reverence here. It's the Pope's home! The architecture is amazing. The art work is beyond world class. Peppered with some great Roman restaurants, Vatican City is a place of refinement. And, I was really struck at how clean this area was. Seriously. It's actually clean. 5 million people a year come just to visit the Vatican. And during summertime it's as many as 20,000 people a day. 20 thousand people a day. That will always attract sketchy folk. Just be smart. 5 stars read more