Museum · Rome
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: free entry days, tickets & hours
Independent guide, not the official Vatican Museums website. Official links are under Sources.
Vatican Museums is free for some visitors, not for everyone.
- Free for: children under 7; disabled visitors (invalidity of at least 67%) and a companion if not self-sufficient.
- Otherwise: full entry ticket (bought on site) — €20.
Before you go
How to actually get in for free
- The free last Sunday draws huge crowds; arrive well before 9am and remember last entry is 12:30.
- Next free Sundays: 25 Oct, 29 Nov, 27 Dec 2026; none in March or December 2027.
- Only tickets.museivaticani.va is the official online seller.
All free options
Who gets in free, and when
| Free option | Who | Conditions | Book? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free dayFree for everyone on the last Sunday of the month, 9am-2pm · 09:00–14:00 | everyone | Final entry 12:30. Not when the last Sunday coincides with Easter Sunday, 29 June, 25, 26 or 31 December (per the 2027 calendar: no free Sunday in March or December 2027). Very long queues. | No |
| Free forFree for children under 7 | children under 7 | — | No |
| Free forFree for disabled visitors (invalidity of at least 67%) and a companion if not self-sufficient | visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) | Documentation or the European Disability Card required; companion free only for visitors who are not self-sufficient. Priority entry. | No |
Official prices
Vatican Museums ticket prices
| Full entry ticket (bought on site) — Online 'Skip the Line' booking adds €5 (€25 total). Reduced €10 (+€5 online) for students etc. Includes the Sistine Chapel. | €20 |
| Full entry ticket with online 'Skip the Line' booking — Timed entry that skips the ticket queue; only buy on tickets.museivaticani.va. | €25 |
Prices from the official website, checked Oct 2026. Free options are listed above.
Worth timing your visit?
What a free day saves
Based on the official price (full entry ticket (bought on site)). Free days are busier — if your dates don't line up, a timed ticket is the trade-off.
Tickets & tours
Best-rated tickets and tours: Vatican Museums
GetYourGuideVatican: Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket★★★★★ 4.5 · 159k reviewsfrom €32.50
HeadoutVatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Skip-the-Line Tickets★★★★☆ 4.4 · 54k reviewsfrom €24.38
TiqetsVatican Museums & Sistine Chapel: Fast Track Ticket★★★★☆ 4.4 · 50k reviewsfrom €45
HeadoutVatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour with St. Peter's Basilica★★★★☆ 4.4 · 23k reviewsfrom €57.50
GetYourGuideRome: Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & Basilica Tour★★★★★ 4.7 · 19k reviews2 - 4 hoursfrom €64
HeadoutVatican Museums & Sistine Chapel Guided Tour★★★★☆ 4.3 · 18k reviewsfrom €59
All tickets and tours on GetYourGuide
Ratings and prices from the booking partners; prices may change.
Practical
Opening hours & how to get there
| Mon | 08:00–20:00 |
|---|---|
| Tue | 08:00–20:00 |
| Wed | 08:00–20:00 |
| Thu | 08:00–20:00 |
| Fri | 08:00–20:00 |
| Sat | 08:00–20:00 |
| Sun | Closed |
Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm (final entry 6pm); last Sunday of the month 9am-2pm (final entry 12:30), free. 24 and 31 December 8am-3pm (entry until 1pm). Halls are cleared 30 minutes before closing.
Viale Vaticano, Vatican City
Also free nearby
Make a free afternoon of it
Worth paying for nearby
Paid highlights within walking distance
FAQ
Vatican Museums: common questions
Is Vatican Museums free?
Vatican Museums is free for everyone on the last Sunday of the month, 9am-2pm. Also free: children under 7; disabled visitors (invalidity of at least 67%) and a companion if not self-sufficient. Otherwise the official ticket costs €20.
Who gets free entry to Vatican Museums?
Children under 7. Visitors with disabilities (+1 companion) — documentation or the European Disability Card required; companion free only for visitors who are not self-sufficient. Priority entry..
How much is a ticket to Vatican Museums?
Full entry ticket (bought on site) costs €20 on the official site.
What day is Vatican Museums closed?
Vatican Museums is closed on Sundays. Monday-Saturday 8am-8pm (final entry 6pm); last Sunday of the month 9am-2pm (final entry 12:30), free. 24 and 31 December 8am-3pm (entry until 1pm). Halls are cleared 30 minutes before closing.
Visitor reviews
What visitors say about Vatican Museums
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Sources
Where this comes from
- museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/organizza-visita/tariffe-e-biglietti.html · checked Friday, 23 October 2026
- museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/info/orari-musei-vaticani.html
Every free rule is checked against the official source and re-checked on a schedule. Spotted a change? Tell us.