Vatican Museum Tickets

Posted by schumacherc on 02/07/22 11:33 PM

My husband and I are traveling to Italy in June. We have tried several times to book tickets to the Vatican Museum on the Museum website. They say that the date we are requesting "is not bookable at this time." A bit of fiddling indicates that they aren't allowing any bookings after the first of June. But maybe all tickets are sold out because the high season really kicks in at that time? Can you shed any light on this? If they just aren't booking "yet", do you know when they will begin booking for that timeframe?

(I would rather not book a tour, mainly because I don't want the tour to be setting our pace through the museum. My sense is that they all rush through the main museum to get everyone to the Sistine Chapel in the prescribed 2 hours, or whatever. We really want to take our time in the rest of the museum.)

Posted by Dario

Italy

02/07/22 11:51 PM

3812 posts

But maybe all tickets are sold out because the high season really kicks in at that time?

There is no reason to think that June tickets are sold out in February! And how could "the others" get those tickets if you couldn't?

I'd check again before April 17, the beginning of the season.

Posted by RnR

The Hague, NL (AMS)

02/07/22 11:54 PM

2207 posts

Generally, 60 days in advance!

Posted by TravelingNurse

02/08/22 01:48 AM

119 posts

My wife and I are also going to Italy in June. This is good to know. I wonder if it is too far out like others have said. I know for the Duomo in MIlan it was like 4 months in advance, down to the hour lol So I bought tickets the minute we could.

Posted by Dario

Italy

02/08/22 02:18 AM

3812 posts

There are general admission tickets available for February 9, I have just checked.

I doubt the Vatican Museums tickets are sold out 5 months in advance, but not in the next 2 days.

Anything can happen, but this would be pretty unlikely even during a Pandemic.

Posted by Rome2022

02/08/22 03:53 AM

50 posts

We are going to Rome in March. I kept checking for Vatican tickets in November and December. They only became available for March like a week ago. My dates didn't come available until just recently.

Posted by Kathy

Minnesota 🎒

02/08/22 10:36 AM

16662 posts

Today the website is showing regular entry tickets available up to April 9th so as RNR said, approx. 60 days in advance. Other than some possible tweaking for COVID in the recent past, It's been that way for years so no, they're not sold out for summer. :O)

Posted by Glenn

St Pete, FL

02/08/22 08:10 PM

214 posts

Just my 2 cents. I would investigate getting entry either before or after opening time. I have been to the Vatican museum numerous times, and back in the day, felt like I had the museum to myself!.. However, just before covid, Oct 2019, I took my Wife, and even though we had morning scheduled tickets, got in immediately, it was by far the single worst part of our trip for my Wife. Getting in was easy... the crowds and hoards was stifling once in, and we couldn't really enjoy anything. I have vowed never to go again using "regular" tickets - really was a horrible experience. I know there are before entry tours, etc, that cost more... but If I was doing it now, I would spend the money, and get the tour. The other issue we had was once through the Sistine Chapel, we had to exit, and it was impossible to get into St Peters cathedral (the old "trick of going through the door in the right back (which I had done a number of times) didn't work as it was guarded :-). Anyway, just some words of advice. Maybe things are different after Covid...

Glenn