Unlocking the Vatican: Tips for a Crowd-Free & Amazing Time
The Vatican is a special place. It holds many of the world’s greatest treasures and historical moments. Visiting is awe-inspiring and spiritually uplifting.
Most of the nearly 7 million visitors end up shuffling through crowded corridors. At times, the congestion and noise is so bad that groups must use earphones to hear.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
When I visit, I walk through the Raphael Rooms alone. I sit in the Sistine Chapel, sharing its divine beauty with only a handful of other people.
You can easily do this too! Here you’ll discover an exclusive way to see the Vatican museums and what you need to know to make it a reality for your visit.
Important 2025 Jubilee Year Update: Vatican Ticket Changes
Planning a visit to the Vatican during the Jubilee Year? Be aware that with larger crowds, the Vatican has adjusted ticketing and tour options, limiting some choices available in previous years.
One key change: The popular early entry and breakfast at the Vatican—previously bookable on the official Vatican website—is now only available through private tour companies at a much higher price.
To see current ticket options and get the best price, always check the official Vatican website first: https://www.museivaticani.va. Be cautious—many third-party websites masquerade as official and charge inflated prices.
If the Vatican doesn’t offer an option, like a private tour, make sure to book with a reputable company. Always check customer ratings and read reviews to ensure you’re booking a reliable experience.
The key is to choose the early entry and breakfast at the Vatican option. The difference in price between this and a regular admission ticket is worth every penny. You get:
- Early entry before normal Vatican hours
- All-you-can-eat breakfast
- Audio guide for the day (optional)
- Opportunity to explore at your own pace and see what is important to you.
An early entrance and breakfast make your visit easier, less stressful, more amazing, and unique. Here I’ll step through the basics of the Breakfast at the Museums – Admission ticket and Breakfast at the Museums, so you know what you get and what to expect.
Starting your day at the Vatican
First, you must book ahead. Afterward, you’ll get confirmation and a voucher in an email.
The voucher tells you the start time and meeting place. Usually you meet at the museum entrance on Viale Vaticano.
When you get there, it may be dark with few people around. Don’t worry. Wait near the door with any other early breakfasters.
During the brief wait before entry, enjoy watching Rome come to life.
A Vatican staff member will come out right on time and let you in. Staff check that you have a voucher (hard copy or on your phone) and that it matches the number of people with you.
Inside, you go through security. Then, you’re directed to a booth where you present the voucher and identification to get your admission ticket/s.
The turnstile validates your tickets and a staff member escorts the group to your breakfast location.
Breakfast at the Vatican
Where you eat depends on the time of year you visit. From April through the end of October, breakfast is in a covered pavilion in the Pinecone Courtyard. The rest of the year it’s at the Coffee Bar.
You’ll show your ticket to the host or hostess who escorts you to your table.
Don’t expect the typical continental breakfast. Instead, you get the Italian version of an American breakfast. There will be a variety of beverages, eggs, meats, pastries, waffles/ pancakes, and fruit.
In the past, breakfast was served buffet style. But now, the wait staff brings trays of food to your table family style. The one exception when I was there last year was a pancake buffet table.
The breakfast lasts for 45 minutes. But you can leave to explore as soon as you are done. I eat but never linger so I have more time to enjoy the Vatican crowd free.
At this point, it is good to have a plan for your time. It doesn’t need to be rigid. But the Vatican Museums have nine miles of things to see, which can be overwhelming and confusing.
If you plan to spend the day (or several hours) at the Vatican, I recommend purchasing the audio guide when ordering your tickets. This gives you freedom to go at your own pace and get information on the things that interest you.
If you do, you’ll get a separate ticket for the audio guide when you pick up your breakfast ticket. After breakfast take this ticket to pick up the audio guide.
Over the years, the pick up point for the audio guide changes. So, I usually ask as I’m leaving the pavilion after breakfast.
Vatican touring strategy
The early breakfast option gives you a chance to absorb the atmosphere of the Vatican spaces in quiet contemplation and at your own pace. This is an awe-inspiring and uplifting experience.
Here I’ll share a touring strategy that mirrors what I do. Adjust it based on what is at the top of your must-see list.
Morning
When seeing the Vatican, you’re not required to move through in any order. I start with my top places to see in peace and quiet, which are the Raphael Rooms and the Sistine Chapel.
Fortunately, the route to get to these goes past other museum highlights. These include the Gallery of the Candelabra, Gallery of Tapestries, and the Map Gallery.
Since people usually start at the museums near the entrance, you are now way ahead of the crowd. So, you have some time to linger along the way.
Savor the experience of being surrounded by spectacular beauty in peace and quiet. Don’t worry about missing something, you can come back later to take in the details with the audio guide.
Enter the Raphael rooms, which are usually empty at this time except for the guards. At one end, there is a restroom tucked away for a convenient break if needed before the Sistine Chapel.
Arriving at the Sistine Chapel, you’ll find few people in this vast space. Sit anywhere along the perimeter benches to absorb the beauty and holiness of this sacred space. Check here for a greater understanding and enjoyment of what you see in the Sistine Chapel.
When ready to move on, take a route through the St. Peter Martyr Chapel, the Aldobrandini Room, and the halls of the Christian Museum. As you go, use the audio guide to learn about numbered items of interest.
This way takes you back to the entrance, conveniently near several food options for lunch.
Lunch
If weather permits, enjoy lunch outside at a table or bench in the Square Garden space outside of the Pinacoteca. Restrooms are in this area too.
Afternoon
After a chance to revive and relax, you have many options for what to see next. Since you are near the entrance, you will be exploring behind the biggest crowd surge.
It will be busy but should be less crowded than earlier in the day. Use your audio guide, go at the pace that is right for you, and enjoy!
Getting Tickets for the Vatican Museums
Step 1
Book the early entry and breakfast option online. It usually sells out in advance. So, try to buy tickets as soon as you know the date you want to visit.
The Vatican site usually lets you book up to two months in advance. Book as soon as possible so you don’t miss out.
There are many sites which sell tickets for Vatican Museums admission and tours. Make sure to go to the official Vatican Museums site to buy tickets and avoid paying a premium.
Here is step-by-step through the purchase process:
- Input the number of visitors and the date of your visit (calendar allows booking up to two months ahead) and the number of visitors.
- Under Area, select “Vatican Museums” and click “Search” (don’t worry about the optional “Who” category).
- A list of different options for seeing the museums on your visit day appears.
Step 2
- Scroll through and locate: Breakfast at the Museums – Admission ticket and Breakfast at the Museums. Make sure of the wording as there are some options that include a tour guide and cost more. Click “Book” on the right side.
Step 3
- Select the number of participants by ticket type – full price or reduced. Reduced tickets are for children 6 through 18 years old and students up to 25 years of age. Students must present a student identity card or International Student Card the day of the visit.
- Select the start time from the options listed. I recommend choosing the earliest time possible to maximize your crowd-free experience. General opening for the public is 9:00 a.m.
- After clicking your start time, an additional services section will appear that allows you to select an audio guide. I recommend getting the audio guide for several reasons:
- It lets you go at your own pace.
- It is easy to use. There are numbers next to items throughout the museums. When you see something of interest, enter the number in the audio guide and you hear a commentary about what you are looking at. It is available in many languages, so make sure you get the one you want.
- You choose what you want to hear about.
- It is lightweight and the attached lanyard makes it easy to carry around your neck.
- A pre-sales fee is listed along with the price of the breakfast. Click “Proceed”.
Step 4
- The next screen is a visit recap where you can review your booking. Confirm the date, which will be listed day, month, year. Note the charge is in euros.
- Below your quote you must enter contact information and participant names. Pay attention to what is asked for in each box as the input order may be different than what you are used to (e.g., surname first). Make sure to include the language preference – Inglese if English.
- Check the box that you are not a robot and agree to the General Purchase Rules. If you want to receive offers of Vatican Museum visits or the online store, check the applicable box. Otherwise leave it blank.
- If everything is accurate, click on “Buy” which takes you to the payment page. The Vatican currently accepts VISA and MasterCard. Enter the required information and click “Payment”.
The voucher is non-refundable and non-transferable. However, you can change your reservation once up to one hour before the scheduled visit. This includes changing participants, but not the number of participants.
This has become my favorite way to see the Vatican Museums. Now, you have what you need to make it a reality for you!
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