Benvenuti! Italy is totally open to visitors
It’s back to the warm Italian welcome and business as usual.
You do not need any kind of vaccination certificate, test certificate, or “Green Pass” to enter the country. Nor do you need any kind of certificate to visit restaurants, museums, historical sites, etc.
Masks are no longer required to be worn on transportation or in public places (except medical facilities). Read more….
All sites in Rome are open but tickets for museums and other sites should still be booked in advance >
Paradoxically, given the immense tragedy that has necessitated these new rules, there has never been a better time to visit the Vatican. You will have the place nearly to yourself: guided tours will be limited to ten, and visitor numbers will be strictly regulated by time slots.
Here are the new rules for visiting the Vatican Museums during the Covid-19 pandemic:
You must buy an advance ticket to the Vatican Museums
The most important new rule is that you must book your ticket in advance. You may no longer line up to buy a ticket.
You must observe your entry time strictly due to social distancing
Secondly, you must arrive on time. If you miss the very short time-slot you have been allocated to start your visit, you will be denied entry. No ifs, no buts. You will not be admitted into the museums.
Vatican Museum opening hours have changed because of Covid
Vatican Museum opening hours are now:
Mon-Sat
8.30am – 6.30pm (last entry at 4.30pm, museum and exhibitions must be cleared by 7.30pm)
Sunday
The museums are now closed every Sunday. This includes all free-entry days that formerly happened on the last Sunday of every month
You must observe strict health precautions while in the Vatican Museums
- You must wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose during your visit. You may be expelled from the Museums if you break this rule, or even prosecuted. Remember, the Vatican is a different country from Italy and its own laws apply.
- Your temperature will be taken with a digital thermometer at the door, and if it exceeds 37.5C (99.5F), you will be denied entry.
Guided tours of the Vatican Museums will be smaller because of the pandemic
- Guided tours are now limited to 10 people including guide, for social distancing reasons.
- The Vatican’s own guided tours – which may be booked from the official website – are subject to the same rules.
- These rules also include visits to the Vatican Gardens – but the good news is there is now a great socially-distanced open-topped bus tour of the gardens within the Vatican walls.
- The corridor from the Sistine Chapel to St Peter’s Basilica – which guided tours used to be able to enjoy – is closed until further notice.
