Italy Vatican City Sistine Chapel Entry Tickets

Yes. In addition to regular Sundays the Sistine Chapel is closed on 1 January, 6 January, 11 February, 10 April (Good Friday), 1 May, 29 June (Sts Peter and Paul), 15 August, 1 November, 8 December, 25 December, 26 December, and 31 December. Always check the official Vatican Museums calendar at museivaticani.va before your visit to confirm current closure dates.

The Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums are closed on all Sundays except the last Sunday of each month, when entry is free and opening hours are 09:00 to 14:00 with last entry at 12:30. Free admission Sundays attract very large crowds and waiting times of 2 to 3 hours are common. Arriving before 09:00 and queuing before opening is strongly recommended if planning to visit on a free Sunday.

Allow at least 3 to 4 hours for a complete visit covering the key galleries of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Art lovers and history enthusiasts may wish to allow a full half-day of 5 to 6 hours. If you also plan to visit St Peter's Basilica add at least a further 1.5 to 2 hours to your schedule. The Sistine Chapel is reached after approximately 20 to 30 minutes of walking through the museum galleries.

A strict dress code applies throughout the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Shoulders must be covered at all times so sleeveless tops, vests, and tank tops are not permitted. Knees must also be covered so shorts and short skirts are not allowed. Hats must be removed inside the buildings. Visitors who arrive not meeting the dress code may be refused entry or offered plastic covering at the entrance gates.

Photography and filming of any kind are completely prohibited inside the Sistine Chapel. This is the result of a contractual agreement with Nippon Television Network of Japan, which paid for the 9-year restoration of all artworks and received exclusive photography and videography rights in exchange. Guards are stationed throughout the chapel and will ask visitors to delete photos or leave if a camera or phone is raised.

Early morning visits beginning at opening time at 08:00 offer the calmest and most immersive experience before group tours arrive from 09:30 onwards. Late afternoon visits after 14:00 on weekdays are also significantly quieter. The chapel is at its most crowded between 10:00 and 13:00. Mondays are busier than midweek days as many other Roman museums are closed on Mondays, making Tuesday through Thursday the best days to visit.

No. The Sistine Chapel does not have a standalone entry ticket and can only be visited as part of the Vatican Museums. Every Vatican Museums ticket includes access to the Sistine Chapel as the culminating highlight of the visit. No separate admission is possible and visitors who have not booked a Vatican Museums ticket cannot enter the Sistine Chapel.

On the way to the Sistine Chapel the Vatican Museums route passes through the Gallery of Maps, a spectacular 120-metre-long corridor lined with 40 topographical maps of Italy commissioned by Pope Gregory XIII; the Raphael Rooms, four private papal apartments painted entirely by Raphael and his workshop including the School of Athens; and the Gallery of the Candelabra. The Pinacoteca painting gallery is a short detour worth making for works by Caravaggio, Leonardo, and Raphael.