Whats the best time to visit Vatican City?
A. St. Peter’s Basilica is open and can be visited every day of the year (see hours). The Vatican Museums open at 8:45 AM Monday through Saturday, closed Sundays except the last Sunday of every month, when there is no charge to enter (see hours). On average 25,000 people walk through the museums every day, which means that there is often a line of people waiting to enter in the morning. Monday tends to be the busiest morning, followed by Saturday morning and Wednesday afternoon. We recommend scheduling your visit for early afternoon during weekdays (or in the morning on Wednesday, if you won’t be joining the throngs for the papal audience.) Note that afternoon visits are not an option during the winter, when the last entrance to the museums is at 12:45. And on a final note, while the museums are open and free of charge on the final Sunday of every month you don’t want to brave the staggering crowds unless you absolutely have no other choice.
