Vatican

Yes. A shoulder bag/messenger bag is fine, but no backpacks or large totes. Those must be checked.

Perfect! Thank you. Do you know anything about umbrellas? I read medium to large have to be checked in. We have one where the handle closes down into umbrella part. Not sure if this is considered medium or if it is small. It is suppose to be rainy tomorrow and we will be walking the half hour there.

Just a FYI most big museums have a web site where you can look up these kind of policies
http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/consigli-utili.html

I had a camera bag with me when I last visited the Vatican Museum. I had to check the bag at the front desk and then had to walk ALL the way back once we exited near St. Peter's Basilica.

You can get by with a purse, but anything else I would just leave in your hotel room. Even though Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, it is still walking several blocks to go and retrieve your bag.

https://everything-everywhere.com/travel-vatican-city/

Hi mkusters2, I'm leaving for Italy in a few weeks, and I was wondering if you had a follow-up to this. Did you have any issues with purse/water bottle in historic sites/museums in Italy? I'd like to have a smallish water bottle with me that fits neatly in my purse. Just curious :)

Thanks!!

Hi

When I visited the Vatican, small umbrellas were allowed (on the day I visited, it was raining a bit. ) Close it to "hand size" and put it in your bag if possible.

Very large bags, backpacks, "walking stick" umbrellas had to be checked. Coats, assisted devices were allowed after security check. Water bottles/food had to be put away (in your purse or bag was acceptable at that time.)

St. Peter's Basilica allows the same (and restrictions) as the Vatican.

ETA: oops, didn't see the bump in thread.

I believe everywhere we went I could bring my medium size purse in with me if I had it. We often carried a bottle of water with us too and didn’t have any trouble. Don’t know/remember about water bottles at the Vatican. My purse was fine and our small umbrella that folded down was also. Just don’t remember if we had water with us that day.