Vatican City is the smallest sovereign country in the world that decided to become independent in 1929 from Rome. You know that the Vatican is the center of the Roman Catholic Church; which you may not know, this small town only has a population of less than 1,000. Behind the walls that fortify it, you'll find a rich variety of art, religious artifacts and cultural traditions. Interested in visiting the Vatican and famous sites like the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica? What are you waiting for? Immediately plan your trip by reading the complete guide below!
Step
Method 1 of 4: Making a Plan
Step 1. Plan your trip to the Pope's house
Remember, the Pope only speaks publicly on Wednesdays and Sundays. If you want to receive his blessing on a Sunday, make sure you arrive well before noon to find the ideal stand in the crowd.
If you want to visit between September and June, you can make a request to see the Pope on a Wednesday. To do this, you simply visit the vatican.va website to fill out the request form and send it by fax to the number listed on the sheet
Step 2. Do some simple research on free and paid activities in the Vatican
To enter the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, you need to spend around 15 Euros (about 255 thousand rupiah); Meanwhile, to enter St. Peter's Dome, you need to pay around 6 Euros (about 102 thousand rupiah). If your money is tight, try visiting St. Peter's and St. Peter's Basilicas. Peter's Square (a large square in the area of St. Peter's Basilica) which can be accessed for free.
The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel entrance fees have been lumped together; in other words, you can't just buy tickets to the Vatican Museums or the Sistine Chapel
Step 3. Book Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel tickets in advance, especially if you plan to travel on religious holidays or the summer
At least, you don't have to wait too long at the entrance gate, right? But remember, you can't book discounted or student-only tickets ahead of time, unless you're taking a tour in a group and they've booked it for you.
Visit the official website of the Vatican Museums to place an order
Step 4. Book an official tour guide to explore the Vatican Museums and other areas there
Italy has very strict rules regarding which tour guides are allowed to enter the Vatican area; for that, make sure you ask permission to guide them. Trust me, the money you pay won't be wasted; especially because behind the walls of the Vatican, lies information and a wealth of art that you will only understand with the help of a tour guide.
Visit the following sites to see the variety and description of the tours you can choose from. At the bottom of the page, there is a link for the number of people (groups or individuals) you can choose from
Step 5. Wear appropriate clothing
The Vatican has its own dress code; All tourists are required to wear clothing that covers the knees and shoulders. Some tourists even wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts to show their appreciation.
- Men and women who do not follow these rules will not be allowed to enter the Vatican. In other words, make sure you're not wearing stump-sleeved T-shirts, above-the-knee skirts, or shorts. For women, you can modify the style of dress by bringing a scarf and wearing tight trousers.
- Italy and the Vatican are cities that are very warm in the summer and often rainy in the winter. Therefore, make sure you bring light and easy-to-dry clothes to explore the Vatican more comfortably.
- Wear comfortable shoes. Remember, being a tourist in the Vatican requires you to walk for long periods of time. For that, make sure you wear comfortable shoes.
Step 6. Bring a small bag
Oversized bags, backpacks and umbrellas of any shape must go through a scanning process before entering the Vatican Museums. If you want to move more freely within the Vatican walls, leave most of your belongings in your hotel room.
Step 7. Watch out for pickpockets
In recent years, the highest rate of pickpocketing has been in front of Michelangelo's Pieta Statue located in the area of St. Peter's Basilica. To avoid becoming a victim, always put the small bag you carry in front of you and hold it tightly.
Do not wear excessive jewelry or carry too much money. One of the most prone to pickpockets is a men's wallet which is often placed in the back pocket of their pants. To double your security, try carrying a special waist bag for storing money and putting it inside your t-shirt
Method 2 of 4: Transportation in the Vatican
Step 1. Take the train (or what in the Vatican is known as the metro) to the Vatican
If you choose this method, you should be prepared to walk a little longer. Vatican City is located between Ottaviano and Cipro stations.
If your destination is the Vatican Museums, it's best to get off at Cipro station so you don't have to walk too far. However, if your destination is St. Peter's Basilica, get off at Ottaviano station
Step 2. Purchase a bus map from the nearest store
There are about 10 bus routes that can get you close to the Vatican; the route you choose is very dependent on your location in Rome.
Step 3. Get off at the North gate to enter the Vatican Museums
If you want to visit St. Peter's Basilica, get off at the East gate. Since the Vatican is fenced off by walls, you need to walk about 30 minutes to get from one gate to another.
Make sure you bring a map of Rome so you don't get lost
Method 3 of 4: The Vatican Museums
Step 1. Take some time to explore the Vatican Museums
Although most people are more familiar with the Sistine Chapel, there is actually a lot you can explore on your way from the museum to the chapel.
- Go to the restroom before entering the museum. Once inside, you'll have a hard time finding the restroom.
- Don't forget to bring your camera to take pictures inside the museum. You are not allowed to take pictures inside the Sistine Chapel; however, you can do so in most areas of the museum. Don't worry, you will be notified when you are allowed to use the flash.
- Spend more time at Pinacoteca. After taking the entrance escalator, turn right. Most people ignore this area because it is opposite the Sistine Chapel; however, Italians regard the compilation of works by Raphael, Da Vinci, and Caravaggio as a treasure trove of value and worth exploring.
Step 2. Don't forget to bring drinking water or buy it at the beverage machine
If you visit in the summer, you will be very susceptible to dehydration. In fact, you have very few options for buying food and drink at the Vatican. For that, make sure you always carry a drinking water bottle with a sufficient capacity!
Step 3. Exit the Vatican Museums and walk down the spiral staircase
This spiral staircase is so popular that it is often used to take pictures by tourists.
You can also enter the "secret" door which will directly lead you to St. Peter's Basilica. If you exit the door on the right after leaving the museum, you will be immediately directed to this place. Technically, the door should only be used by tour groups; that is why many visitors are not aware of its existence. After all, you'll also miss the famous spiral staircase if you take this route
Method 4 of 4: St. Peter's Basilica
Step 1. Walk to the East gate to enter St. Peter's Basilica
The following are interesting sites that you can visit there:
- The Grottoes. This place is the burial site of several members of the royal family and former popes. To enter the lower floor of the Basilica, you need to have a long queue at the entrance.
- Pieta statue by Michelangelo. The statue of the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus is one of the greatest works of all time. The statue was kept behind bulletproof glass and normally, would have been surrounded by a dense crowd of people. To see the details well, you have to be willing to stand in line, especially if you visit the Vatican during the summer holidays.
- You can visit the Vatican Tourist Office to register for a free tour of the Basilica.
Step 2. Cupola. To the right of the Basilica entrance (after passing through the Holy Door), you can climb 320 steps to reach the top of Cupola by paying an entrance ticket of 6 Euros (about 102 thousand rupiah). If you are reluctant to use the stairs, you can also pay 7 Euros (about 120 thousand rupiah) to use the elevator.
The top of the Basilica offers a very beautiful view of Rome that you will not forget. For those of you who are physically fit, climbing 320 stairs is hard work that is sure to pay off well
Tips
- If you want lunch, consider taking the train to an area away from the Vatican. Because the Vatican is a tourist spot that is crowded with tourists, the surrounding eating places also carry very expensive prices with standard quality. You can find better places to eat in the Via Germanico and Via Marcantonio Colonna areas.
- Consider using one of the many post offices in the Vatican. The post office in the Vatican has an excellent reputation; after all, even those closest to you would be delighted to receive a postcard from the world's smallest sovereign nation. Remember, postcards from the Vatican cannot be mailed from Rome.
