When does Vatican open tickets to buy in advance????

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60 days in advance

ChristineH I am looking for a definitive answer. I googled it also and saw 60 days, but I want the official answer not googles answer.

Christine is 100% correct: it's 60 days, not that it couldn't vary by a day or so around, say, a closure. Right now the Vatican website is showing tours available for booking through May 3. They aren't on sale yet for June 28th: that's why dates after that show as "Non Bookable".

Editing to add: That said, I have not seen that the Prime Experience tour is being offered anymore. Quite a lot changed after Jan 1, when they extended hours, made tickets nominative. etc. Haven't seen it, anyway. I checked dates for the regular tour.

Excuse me- that is the official info- not google.

Or you could take the time to investigate yourself on the Vatican website as Kathy has done for you here:

Right now the Vatican website is showing tours available for booking
through May 3. They aren't on sale yet for June 28th: that's why dates
after that show as "Non Bookable".

ChristineH I appreciate you providing the answer, I was assuming you were guessing it was 60 days that is why I said “definitive answer”. I don’t want to miss booking this tour and appreciate yours and everyone’s advice.🩷 The whole booking and not bookable has me stressed that I missed it.

Thanks again.

I bought tickets through the Vatican website and now wish I bought tickets through a tour company. I was trying to save money. I went to their website to buy tickets the day after they released them, and the only time slot available was 4:00 pm. I bought the tickets anyway, and then ITA Air changed my flight to two days earlier. The Vatican tickets bought direct cannot be changed, refunded, transferred, or even canceled. My coliseum tickets through a tour group can be modified or canceled. I am probably going to buy new Vatican tickets through a tour group and be a no-show for the tickets I already bought. It seems that with these very popular tourist destinations, many of the tickets are designated for tour companies, a few released to the public, and a few reserved for day-of sales.

That is great advice that things can change and your right The Vatican tickets are no refundable and you had a great point. Now to find a good tour company.

frekotw, very sorry you were unable to change your tickets or have them refunded - I can tell that you are disappointed- but the Vatican's website is clear about the inability to do so. From the website:

"Once payment has been made, it will no longer be possible to cancel the transaction. Tickets purchased, booking fees and any additional services chosen are non-refundable. It is not possible to change the visit date and/or time. It is not possible to change the names of the participants."

As well, because of the very flight-change issue you had, most of us don't recommend advance purchase of tours or entry tickets for arrival days, especially if they're non-refundable/non-changeable. Same goes for accommodations that don't have generous cancellation/change policies. Short story long, the fine print is important when making a purchase.

The tickets purchased directly from the Vatican Museums are a lot cheaper than the tickets purchased from commercial agencies, so you are in effect paying for the ability to cancel the ticket.