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Visiting Vatican City (December 2023)

Home to the such marvels as Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peters Square, Vatican City is a small territory which has so much to offer.  Officially designated as the smallest country in the world, this sovereign nation is physically landlocked within the geographical confines of Rome and home to the head of the Catholic Church.  Aside from seeing church clergy roaming about in their religious attire and well-dressed security guards roving around the premises, visitors will be hard pressed to find any discernable signs they are outside of confines of Rome.  Although Vatican City and its dwellings are of extreme importance to the Catholic faithful, millions of visitors with varying religious affiliations and from all walks of life visit each year to enjoy the sights, sounds, and splendor of the environment.

🇵🇭 Official Language(s): Italian and Latin.

💲 Currency: Euro (EUR).  The USD to EURO exchange rate during my visit was $1.00 to €0,92

🧭 Time Zone: Central European Time (CET); 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (EST)

✈️ Airports: Rome-Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) and Ciampino Airport (CIA)

🚙 Mode(s) of Transportation: buggy and walking


Fun Facts 🔓

  • No passport required.
  • When visiting Rome, you can actually get a “two for” and check another country off of your passport bingo card, without the need for another flight, by visiting Vatican City.


Nice to Know 🔎

  • Visitors and personal belongings are subject to security screening upon entry into Vatican buildings
  • No photos are permitted in the Sistine Chapel!!
  • Free tickets are available for all public Papal ceremonies, but they must be retrieved the after prior or the morning of the event.
    • Tickets are distributed on a first come, first served basis.


Recommendations, Tips, and Tricks 🆓ℹ️

  • In my opinion, purchasing the “skip the line” tickets are not worth the money
  • Arrive early to avoid the crowds and long security lines
  • The Vatican has its own post office.  Feel free to send a self-address postcard to commemorate your trip.
  • Some souvenirs in the Vatican Museum gift shops are marked up by at least 20% and sold at a premium compared with the gift shops outside of the museum.

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