Vatican City tours & holidays

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveler. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more information.

If you visit the Vatican Museum as part of a guided tour, a tip for the guide will be appreciated. Apart from this, tipping isn't expected.

For security reasons the Vatican Museum does not provide Wi-Fi access, however in open areas and in Piazza San Pietro, you may be able to pick up the regular mobile phone signal from the neighboring city of Rome.

In open areas within the Vatican Museum and in Piazza San Pietro, you may be able to pick up the regular mobile phone signal from the neighboring city of Rome. Make sure that global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home. 

The Vatican Museum strongly discourages the use of mobile phones inside the exhibition spaces and using your phone inside St Peter’s Basilica is frowned upon, as with most working churches. At a minimum, you should switch your phone on to silent. Mobile phones are strictly forbidden inside the Sistine Chapel.

Restrooms can be found within St Peter’s Basilica and in the Vatican Museum, however there are none in Piazza San Pietro. The best option in this area is to leave the square and find a local café.

• Cup of coffee = 2 Euro
• A glass of beer = 5 Euro 
• Bottle of wine in a restaurant = 16 Euro
• Small gelato cone = 3 Euro

Drinking water from taps in Vatican City is considered safe. For environmental reasons, try to use a refillable water bottle rather than buying bottled water.

Major credit cards are accepted at the ticket office for the Vatican Museum. Cafes and shops within the museum will also accept credit cards. Small souvenir shops within St Peter’s Basilica or in the square will only accept cash.

There are only a few ATMs in Vatican City, so it’s easier to withdraw cash in the neighboring city of Rome before you enter.

The Vatican is closed on Wednesday mornings for papal audiences, which is when Piazza San Pietro is busiest. The Vatican Museum is closed on Sundays, except on the last Sunday of each month when entry is free, however, on these days you can expect to find large crowds. St Peter’s Basilica is open every day, but it may be especially busy on Sundays and special religious days such as Easter. Masses are held in St Peter’s Basilica frequently throughout each day.

Homosexuality is legal in Vatican City, but it is a much-discussed topic in the Roman Catholic Church. The Vatican sees same-sex relationships as a sin and for this reason, LGBTQIA+ travelers may attract unwanted attention and officials, such as police, may not be sympathetic if anti-social behaviour is reported. For this reason, we encourage our travelers to exercise discretion when in the Vatican.

Modest clothing is recommended for travelers who wish to visit the Vatican. If you are wearing low-cut or sleeveless tops, shorts, miniskirts or a hat, you may be refused entry.

You are permitted to take photos for personal use only, in all areas of the Vatican Museums, apart from the Sistine Chapel. The use of tripods, stands, selfie sticks and any professional photography equipment must be authorized in advance by the Directorate of the Vatican Museums. Flash photography is not allowed at any time.

Absolutely. All passengers traveling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travelers, regardless of their nationality.

We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.

For travelers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travelers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

Read more about travel insurance