Vatican City With Kids: How to Plan a Family Visit to the Vatican

Vatican City is technically its own country, but you will not go through passport control or change currency. You walk in from Rome. The two things most families come for are St. Peter’s Basilica, which is free, and the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel, which costs about €25 per adult. Kids under 7 are free. A family tour makes the museums manageable with younger kids, and booking tickets in advance is not optional.

When to go

Vatican City on a school calendar

1. 1March and April
   

   Spring

   Comfortable walking weather. Easter week is beautiful but packed. The weeks right after Easter are slightly less crowded and still warm.

2. 2September and October
   

   Early fall

   One of the best windows for families. Warm but not hot, lighter crowds than summer, and everything is open. Monday is the least crowded day.

3. 3June through August
   

   Summer

   Hot and crowded. If you are visiting in summer, book the earliest morning slot you can and plan for breaks. The dress code still applies, so pack something to cover shoulders and knees.

4. 4November through February
   

   Winter

   Fewer crowds and shorter lines. The museums are fully open. Weather is cool but comfortable for walking. December can be busy around Christmas.

What to see

The three things families come for

Most families do the basilica and the museums in one day. If you have younger kids, split it into two visits so nobody burns out before the Sistine Chapel.

Free entry

St. Peter’s Basilica

Free to enter but expect a line. The scale of the interior surprises even kids who have been to a lot of churches. No strollers inside. The dome climb is separate and best for older kids who can handle narrow stairs.

Ticketed

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

About €25 per adult, discounted for ages 6 to 17, free under 7. The route is about 7 km of galleries ending at the Sistine Chapel. A family tour with a scavenger hunt keeps kids engaged through the long walk.

The square

St. Peter’s Square

Free and open. Kids like the perspective trick where the four rows of columns line up into one. You can see the Swiss Guards at the gates. Allow about 30 minutes here before heading inside.

Where to sleep

Stay in Rome near the Vatican

Vatican City has no hotels. Stay in Rome’s Prati neighborhood, which is the closest to the Vatican entrance and has good restaurants and a metro stop.

Book as early as possible for spring and fall. Rome hotels fill up fast during school holidays.

Getting around

Metro, walking and taxis

• Take Metro Line A to Ottaviano station. The Vatican Museums entrance is a 5 minute walk from there
• St. Peter’s Square is about a 10 minute walk from the museums entrance, so plan your route
• The museums route is about 7 km of walking, so wear comfortable shoes and bring water in a plastic or metal bottle
• No strollers in St. Peter’s Basilica. The museums allow strollers but some tours do not because they use non-accessible paths
• Arrive 20 to 30 minutes before your ticket time because security takes 10 to 20 minutes
• The dress code is enforced for everyone including kids. Cover shoulders and knees. Pack a light scarf in summer

Before you go

The practical stuff

Add a country

Vatican City as part of a Rome trip

Vatican City is inside Rome, so you are already there. Most families spend one day on the Vatican and the rest of the week exploring Rome itself. From Rome you can also day trip to other parts of Italy by train, including Florence, Naples and Pompeii.

Quick answers