Access the Vatican Museums Gift Shop without a Ticket?

Can't speak about Vatican Museums gift shop, but generally museums are delighted to have you in the gift shop -- there's usually a one-way door from the museum to keep people from sneaking in to the museum without tickets, but if you want to get in to buy stuff they're OK with that.

There are many "Vatican-themed" gift shops outside, along St. Peter's Piazza. Some are better than others in terms of products and prices and the junky trinkets. You just have to compare. (I'm sorry I can't advise about a shop inside the Vatican itself.)

I got a couple of beautiful SS crucifixes and exclusive Vatican medallion at:

Capriotti S.R.L.
Piazza Pio XII 5
Roma

(Keep in mind, if you want gold, it will be 18K and above and of course a higher price point)

They have two stores within St. Peter's Piazza---both about the same size. They are very nice, speak English, patient with your choices and questions, etc. They wrap each item in their respective little boxes with special wrapping. Don't forget about VAT if you purchase a big amount They will set up and give you the properly filled out paperwork to hold onto until you can exchange it at the airport. Or, that is what I did.

Inside St. Peter's, there is a big, center gift/book store (Museo Storico Artistico Testoro Di San Pietro) as well as "extensions of the store winding through doorways.". They have a lot of things to choose from as well as fair price points for most items. Some items are Made In Italy and will be reflected as such on the item.

Thank you both for the info/ideas! When we visit museums we tend to buy a coffee table type book about the museum/works in the museum, and I'm not sure if shops outside of the Vatican Museum would sell that sort of thing. So, that's why we want to be able to go to the official gift shop, but also not have to lug around big, heavy books all day :)

Ahh, okay, Starbuck.

I think the best answer would be to ask a guard at the entrance to the Vatican. Hopefully it will be the same answer when you return later, lol.

But, here are some other options you may consider as a back up.

Walking down the street (facing St. Peter's Basilica) before you reach the center Piazza, you will see many stores and eateries to your right and left (the middle cobblestone street is pedestrian friendly. You will be on it as you're walking toward St. Peter's. On the right side, I happened to see a store which had a lot of Vatican themed items as well as books of the Pope displayed in their front window. Other shops had similar. Some shops are priced differently for the same item.

Within the Piazza, I saw a real book store (I'm sorry, the name escapes me.) I went up the stairs and in. There were many books (in several languages) about the Vatican, the Pope, Rome, Italy, and so on. They also had post cards, sold tickets for the bus/metro. There were some inexpensive and expensive "trinkets." But, it was mostly a book store.

edit to add: I found the name, Ancora Libreria, Via Della Conciliazone, 63, Roma

Also, as another "back up, just in case" - There is la Feltrinelli (books and music) They have a few in Rome.

But, hopefully, you'll be able to access the Vatican book store after your initial visit.

The last time that I was in the Vatican Museums was three years ago, but this is my recollection of that visit. I was with a small group "early entry" tour, so went in a separate line from the main entry line (for those who don't yet have tickets). All lines have to first go through security, just inside the entrance to the building. This is what takes awhile, and what you may want to avoid having to deal with a second time. If you are not in a "tour group" line, and in the line for folks who have not pre-purchased tickets, you will be in a line outside that is VERY long, most of the day. Once everyone goes through security, then there are ticket booths for folks who need to purchase tickets. Those people who are with tour groups, or have pre-purchased tickets, don't need to stop at those booths. After the booths, up a few stairs, is one of the gift shops. Another is up some more stairs, off to the right, near the great spiral staircase. (This one is on the "designated exit route" if you are not with a tour group exiting through the Sistine Chapel, and has more books). After all of those are where your actual tickets are taken. I could be wrong about a couple of these details (the gift shop near the spiral staircase before/after tickets taken?), but the conclusion is: you will have a heckuva line to have to wait in to get through security, to get access to the gift shops. One thought: Find a decent restaurant near the Vatican, have early lunch there, and ask them if they will hold the book for you until later in the day. Not a sure thing, but one more possibility.

You have to go through security. We ran into this and ended up with three trips to the Vatican. One, night tour of the museum, walked by numerous shops and didn’t stop because it was late, we didn’t feel like carrying anything, we were tired and then I was getting hangry. Two, visited St. Peter’s on Sunday and found out that the Vatican Post Office is open but gift shops are closed on Sundays. Three, back on Monday for the gift shop! Don’t be us, that’s my only advice. We laugh about it now but it was not funny then.

Thanks, all!! Super helpful! Sounds like it would be possible, but a hassle. :)