Vatican City

Visa requirements for Vatican City depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.

September–November and March–April avoid the worst summer crowds. The Vatican Museums see up to 6 million visitors a year — book skip-the-line tickets months in advance for peak times. Papal Audiences (Wednesday mornings) are free but require advance tickets from the Prefecture. Christmas and Easter are spectacular but overwhelming.

• STRICT: Shoulders and knees must be covered for entry to St Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums — no shorts, sleeveless tops, or bare midriffs
• Guards will turn you away or offer you a wrap at the entrance — dress appropriately
• Smart casual is the norm; visitors often dress for church

• The Vatican is a functioning sovereign state and the centre of the Catholic Church — treat all spaces as religious sites, not just tourist attractions
• Silence in the Sistine Chapel is enforced — guards will shout 'Silenzio!' if the noise level rises
• St Peter's Square is free to enter and extraordinary at any hour — early morning before 8am is magical
• Photography inside the Sistine Chapel is technically prohibited but widely ignored; flash photography is strictly banned

• Vatican City has its own laws and the Gendarmerie Corps polices it
• All visitors to the Basilica must comply with dress code — no exceptions
• Demonstrations and political activity are prohibited on Vatican grounds