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Vatican City State 🇻🇦

backpacking Europe Vatican City State 🇻🇦Spend one dense day among basilica marble and Renaissance frescoes.

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Backpacking Vatican City in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
A first look at the country

Backpacking Vatican City
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 17, 2026

In Vatican City State (Vatican City), the trade-off is time against access. The Vatican Museums take in roughly six to seven million visitors a year, nearly all through one entrance on Viale Vaticano, so a summer walk-up can cost you an hour or more on hot pavement before the first fresco.

That wait buys you more art than any other 44 hectares on earth: Michelangelo’s Sistine ceiling, the Raphael Rooms, and Bernini’s colonnade framing the largest church facade in Christendom. After twenty minutes in the shadeless square, I felt the basilica’s marble floor go cold through thin sandals, and the noise dropped like a door had shut. The challenges are blunt. There are crowds at every hour, guards turn away bare shoulders and knees, and pickpockets work the queues.

Italy surrounds it completely, so you sleep and eat in Rome and treat this as one or two dense days. It suits art, history and faith travelers. Nightlife seekers and hikers will find little here.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Vatican City

St. Peter’s Square and Basilica (St. Peter’s Basilica, Dome, Vatican Grottoes)

The open public face of Vatican City sits inside Bernini’s colonnade, roughly a 10-minute walk from Ottaviano on Rome’s Metro A. Security lines snake under the columns and move fastest before 8 a.m., ahead of the tour buses. Inside, the Pietà sits behind glass near the entrance. Climb the dome’s tight, slanting final stairwell and you get Rome’s rooftops lined up along Via della Conciliazione. Best for early risers.

Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel, Raphael Rooms, Pinacoteca)

The museum entrance on Viale Vaticano is about 15 minutes on foot from Ottaviano. The route is largely one-way and funnels everyone toward the Sistine Chapel, so the Gallery of Maps jams solid by late morning. Expect several kilometers of marble floors and few benches. Art lovers with stamina get the payoff: Michelangelo’s ceiling overhead while guards hiss for silence.

Vatican Gardens (Vatican Gardens, Casina Pio IV, Vatican Railway Station)

Roughly half the territory is gardens, open only on guided tours that start at the museums. Gravel paths climb a steep hill, and the crowds thin to a small group. Repeat visitors gain the rarest angle: the dome seen from behind, framed by umbrella pines.

Castel Gandolfo (Apostolic Palace, Barberini Gardens)

This extraterritorial papal estate in the Alban Hills is 40 to 50 minutes by regional train from Roma Termini. The town is small and slow. Travelers wanting a calmer half-day get formal gardens and views over Lake Albano.
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Why go?What makes this country worth the trip

Architecture

Vatican City State packs Renaissance and Baroque masterworks into a few hundred meters because popes treated building as statecraft. Bramante planned … read more 👉
Vatican City State packs Renaissance and Baroque masterworks into a few hundred meters because popes treated building as statecraft. Bramante planned the basilica, Michelangelo shaped its dome, and Bernini added the 29-meter bronze baldacchino and the colonnade. I would stand on one of the two marble discs set between the square’s fountains, where the four rows of columns line up into one.

Food

Vatican City has almost no restaurants of its own, beyond a cafeteria and a pizzeria inside the museums, so the food scene sits right outside the walls. … read more 👉
Vatican City has almost no restaurants of its own, beyond a cafeteria and a pizzeria inside the museums, so the food scene sits right outside the walls. Restaurants on Via della Conciliazione charge for proximity. Walk ten minutes north into Prati for Mercato Trionfale’s produce and cheese stalls, or Pizzarium on Via della Meloria for Roman pizza by the slice.

Uniqueness

Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign state, with no border check, yet it runs its own postal service, pharmacy, stamps and army. That army is … read more 👉
Vatican City is the world’s smallest sovereign state, with no border check, yet it runs its own postal service, pharmacy, stamps and army. That army is the Swiss Guard, still recruited only from Swiss Catholic men. The strangeness lies in a functioning country hiding behind a monument. Send a postcard from the Poste Vaticane, since it carries a Vatican postmark Rome cannot give.

⭐ HighlightsWhat not to miss along the way

  • St. Peter’s Basilica: The nave is so long that the bronze letters running along the cornice, each close to two meters high, read like normal print from the floor. Incense hangs in the side chapels, and shafts of light cut through the windows of the dome in late morning.
  • Sistine Chapel: Several hundred people stand with their necks craned in near silence while guards hiss “No photo!” every few minutes. Let your gaze run along Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, then turn to the Last Judgment on the altar wall, which is darker and far angrier.
  • The Necropolis (Scavi): Beneath the basilica, small guided groups walk a Roman street of tombs. The air is humid, and the brick is damp enough to smell, as the route ends near the spot venerated as St. Peter’s grave.
  • Raphael Rooms: These four rooms are packed wall to ceiling. In the School of Athens, you can spot Plato pointing upward while traffic jams around you at the doorways.
  • Gallery of Maps: This 120-meter corridor is painted with 16th-century maps
… read more 👉
  • St. Peter’s Basilica: The nave is so long that the bronze letters running along the cornice, each close to two meters high, read like normal print from the floor. Incense hangs in the side chapels, and shafts of light cut through the windows of the dome in late morning.
  • Sistine Chapel: Several hundred people stand with their necks craned in near silence while guards hiss “No photo!” every few minutes. Let your gaze run along Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, then turn to the Last Judgment on the altar wall, which is darker and far angrier.
  • The Necropolis (Scavi): Beneath the basilica, small guided groups walk a Roman street of tombs. The air is humid, and the brick is damp enough to smell, as the route ends near the spot venerated as St. Peter’s grave.
  • Raphael Rooms: These four rooms are packed wall to ceiling. In the School of Athens, you can spot Plato pointing upward while traffic jams around you at the doorways.
  • Gallery of Maps: This 120-meter corridor is painted with 16th-century maps of Italy beneath a gilded ceiling. The crowd flows like a river, so step to the window side to read the regions.
For off-the-map corners, look for the Campo Santo Teutonico cemetery, the Carriage Pavilion inside the museums and the spiral Bramante staircase; I would go for the cemetery first, for its cypresses and silence.
Spotted a mistake or missing a highlight? Contact us.
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🧭 RoutesSuggested travel routes through Vatican City

The 2-Day Essentials Route


Two early mornings, two heavyweight visits and the rest of each day free for Rome. It suits first-timers who want the famous sights done right, ahead of the crowds.
  • Dawn entry to St. Peter’s Basilica
  • The dome climb above St. Peter’s Square
  • A paced walk through the Vatican Museums
  • Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel

👉 explore this 2-day route

The 3-Day Layers Route


This one goes beneath the floor as well as up to the frescoes, linking an ancient burial street to the papal apartments. Each day carries a single focus, so the history builds instead of blurring.
  • The Vatican Necropolis beneath the basilica
  • The quiet tombs of the Papal Crypts
  • Raphael’s rooms in the Apostolic Palace

👉 explore this 3-day route

The 5-Day Deep-Dive Route


Five unhurried days spread the collections over separate visits and reach the quieter corners. Expect sculpture galleries with breathing room, Bernini’s architectural tricks and a slow finish under the dome.
  • Ancient statues in the Braccio
… read more 👉

The 2-Day Essentials Route


Two early mornings, two heavyweight visits and the rest of each day free for Rome. It suits first-timers who want the famous sights done right, ahead of the crowds.
  • Dawn entry to St. Peter’s Basilica
  • The dome climb above St. Peter’s Square
  • A paced walk through the Vatican Museums
  • Michelangelo’s ceiling in the Sistine Chapel

👉 explore this 2-day route

The 3-Day Layers Route


This one goes beneath the floor as well as up to the frescoes, linking an ancient burial street to the papal apartments. Each day carries a single focus, so the history builds instead of blurring.
  • The Vatican Necropolis beneath the basilica
  • The quiet tombs of the Papal Crypts
  • Raphael’s rooms in the Apostolic Palace

👉 explore this 3-day route

The 5-Day Deep-Dive Route


Five unhurried days spread the collections over separate visits and reach the quieter corners. Expect sculpture galleries with breathing room, Bernini’s architectural tricks and a slow finish under the dome.
  • Ancient statues in the Braccio Nuovo
  • Old masters in the Pinacoteca Vaticana
  • The giant bronze of the Pinecone Courtyard
  • Bernini’s Scala Regia

👉 explore this 5-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Vatican City

The best months for Vatican City State are February, March and October, when highs sit around 14 to 22°C, Museum lines shrink and room rates in the surrounding Rome neighborhoods drop well below summer levels. At 44 hectares, the country has no regional differences, so timing depends on the weather and the Church calendar.
  • Winter low season (November to February): Cool, 3 to 14°C, with November the wettest month. You get the shortest queues and cheapest beds, but the Museums close on holy days. The first week of January is an exception, packed with holiday crowds until Epiphany (6 January), before the quietest stretch of the year begins.
  • Spring shoulder (March to May): 16 to 24°C and mostly dry. Easter and Holy Week fill St. Peter’s Square, and school groups crowd the Museums.
  • Summer peak (June to August): 28 to 33°C and humid, with the longest queues and highest prices. Papal general audiences usually pause in July.
  • Autumn shoulder (September to October): 21 to 28°C, with crowds easing through October.
I’d book Museum tickets online a few weeks out in any month. Pack a light scarf or long trousers, because St. Peter’s turns away bare shoulders and knees year-round.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: highly recommended for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: fair for travelingMAYMay: good for travelingJUNJune: below average for travelingJULJuly: below average for travelingAUGAugust: below average for travelingSEPSeptember: good for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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💰 Costs (as of 2026)Prices, expenses, and money tips

Backpacking Vatican City State costs €60 to €110 a day, and most of that goes on a dorm bed and food across the border in Rome, because the Vatican itself has no hostels.
The euro is the only currency here, and the prices are the same as in Rome. Italy is the only neighboring country, so every comparison is really with the city around you. St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square are free. Your money goes on museum tickets, sleep and slices of pizza.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€30 to €60 per nightThere are no beds for travelers inside the walls. Dorms in Prati, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Vatican, run €35 to €60. Dorms around Termini station run €30 to €50 and are one metro ride away. Rome adds a city tax of a few euros per person per night, paid in cash at check-in. For a lower rate, book Sunday to Thursday and avoid Easter and big papal events.
Meals€15 to €30 per dayThe Vatican has no supermarket open to visitors, so stock up at a Conad or Carrefour Express in Prati. Bread, cheese, fruit and water cost €6 to €10. Pizza al taglio near Via Ottaviano costs €3 to €7 a slice, and a supplì costs €2 to €3. An espresso at the counter is €1.20 to €1.50. Restaurants
… read more 👉
Backpacking Vatican City State costs €60 to €110 a day, and most of that goes on a dorm bed and food across the border in Rome, because the Vatican itself has no hostels.
The euro is the only currency here, and the prices are the same as in Rome. Italy is the only neighboring country, so every comparison is really with the city around you. St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square are free. Your money goes on museum tickets, sleep and slices of pizza.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodation€30 to €60 per nightThere are no beds for travelers inside the walls. Dorms in Prati, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Vatican, run €35 to €60. Dorms around Termini station run €30 to €50 and are one metro ride away. Rome adds a city tax of a few euros per person per night, paid in cash at check-in. For a lower rate, book Sunday to Thursday and avoid Easter and big papal events.
Meals€15 to €30 per dayThe Vatican has no supermarket open to visitors, so stock up at a Conad or Carrefour Express in Prati. Bread, cheese, fruit and water cost €6 to €10. Pizza al taglio near Via Ottaviano costs €3 to €7 a slice, and a supplì costs €2 to €3. An espresso at the counter is €1.20 to €1.50. Restaurants on Via della Conciliazione charge almost double.
Local transport€0 to €9.30 per dayYou can cross the whole country on foot in about 15 minutes, so getting around costs nothing. A BIT ticket on Rome’s metro to Ottaviano or Cipro is €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes. A 24-hour Rome pass is €9.30.
Activities€0 to €45 per dayThe Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are the main cost: €20 at the door, plus a €5 fee if you book online. Entry is free on the last Sunday of the month, when the queues are long. Climbing the dome costs about €10 on the stairs or €15 with the lift. I would skip a paid guided tour, put the money toward a booked museum slot, and climb the dome stairs instead of paying for the lift.
Miscellaneous€3 to €10 per dayCloakrooms and the toilets near the colonnade are free. Rome’s public drinking fountains will refill your bottle for free too. The museum audio guide costs about €8. A postcard sent with Vatican stamps from the Poste Vaticane costs about €1.50 to €3.50. Bring a scarf to cover your shoulders, so you don’t have to buy one from a street vendor for €5.
Total Daily Budget€60 to €110On a museum day you will spend around €100 to €110: dorm €40, museums €25, food €20, plus metro and small extras. A day of free sights, with the basilica, the square and the Wednesday papal audience (free tickets), comes to about €60.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutVatican City Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (70 pages) contains:
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base for your trip

Vatican City State has no hostels, hotels or budget beds open to travelers, so everyone sleeps across the border in Rome, where dorms run roughly €30 to €60 a night. Prati and Borgo put you a 5 to 15 minute walk from St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museums and feel safe and quiet after dark, though dorm options are few and evenings are calm, while Trastevere offers late bars and trattorias about 25 minutes away on foot at the cost of weekend street noise. The biggest concentration of hostels sits around Termini, cheapest and best connected (Metro A reaches Ottaviano near the Vatican in about 15 minutes), … read more 👉
Vatican City State has no hostels, hotels or budget beds open to travelers, so everyone sleeps across the border in Rome, where dorms run roughly €30 to €60 a night. Prati and Borgo put you a 5 to 15 minute walk from St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museums and feel safe and quiet after dark, though dorm options are few and evenings are calm, while Trastevere offers late bars and trattorias about 25 minutes away on foot at the cost of weekend street noise. The biggest concentration of hostels sits around Termini, cheapest and best connected (Metro A reaches Ottaviano near the Vatican in about 15 minutes), but the streets right around the station feel scruffy and need more attention late at night.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.



Best quality hotels in Vatican City

🚌 Getting aroundPublic transport and other ways to get around

Vatican City State has no towns to travel between: the entire country covers about 0.44 square kilometers, and you can walk its outer wall in roughly 40 minutes. A typical travel day means a €1.50 metro or bus ride across Rome to the border, then walking, because no public transport runs inside the walls.
  • Rome Metro Line A: €1.50 for a single ticket valid 100 minutes, or tap a contactless card at the gates. Termini to Ottaviano takes about 12 minutes. Trains come every 3 to 6 minutes and get packed
… read more 👉
Vatican City State has no towns to travel between: the entire country covers about 0.44 square kilometers, and you can walk its outer wall in roughly 40 minutes. A typical travel day means a €1.50 metro or bus ride across Rome to the border, then walking, because no public transport runs inside the walls.
  • Rome Metro Line A: €1.50 for a single ticket valid 100 minutes, or tap a contactless card at the gates. Termini to Ottaviano takes about 12 minutes. Trains come every 3 to 6 minutes and get packed at rush hour. Get off at Cipro rather than Ottaviano for the Museums, since it puts you a 5-minute walk from the entrance along the wall, which means less time in the sun before the queue.
  • City buses 40 and 64: Same €1.50 ticket, 20 to 35 minutes from Termini depending on traffic. Line 40 makes fewer stops, so it is quicker. Validate on board or tap your card. You step off near Via della Conciliazione with the dome straight ahead, a better arrival than any metro exit.
  • Regional train to Roma San Pietro: Urban fare of €1.50 from Roma Trastevere or Ostiense, about 10 minutes. Trains are quieter than the metro. The station sits a 10-minute walk south of the square, and the approach gives you a side view of the dome.
  • Walking: Free. Castel Sant’Angelo to St. Peter’s Square is about 1 kilometer, 12 minutes on a flat, wide avenue. You get the full axis of the basilica growing in front of you.
  • Taxi: White cars with meters, €12 to 18 from Termini, 15 to 25 minutes. Use official ranks or the itTaxi or FreeNow apps. Worth it late at night or with heavy bags, and you get dropped right at the colonnade.
I’d ride in to Cipro for the Museums, then leave the square on foot toward the river, because walking out beats any bus stuck in Borgo traffic.
Vatican City has no airport of its own, so you’ll fly into Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), about 25 km (16 miles) from St. Peter’s Square, and the cheapest reliable route is the FL1 regional train to Trastevere followed by a short tram, bus or train hop to the Vatican.
  • FL1 regional train + FL3 train (45 to 60 minutes, about €8 plus €1.50 for the connection): catch the FL1 at the airport rail station, ride to Roma Trastevere, then change to an FL3 train two stops to Roma San Pietro, a 5 minute walk from the square; buy tickets at the station machines or tap a contactless card at the gates.
  • Leonardo Express + Metro A (50 to 60 minutes, about €14 plus €1.50): the nonstop train leaves every 15 to 30 minutes for Roma Termini, where you switch to Metro Line A toward Battistini and get off at Ottaviano; the last train usually departs around 11:30 pm.
  • Airport shuttle bus to Via Crescenzio (45 to 70 minutes, about €7 to €9): several private shuttle companies stop in the Prati district near the Vatican before continuing to Termini, with departures from the bus area outside Terminal 3 and tickets sold online or from the driver.
  • Official white taxi (35 to 50 minutes, fixed fare of €55): use only the marked rank outside arrivals, as the flat rate covers up to four passengers with luggage to the central zone, which includes the Vatican area, and card payment is accepted.
  • Uber (35 to 50 minutes, roughly €60 to €90): the app works in Rome for licensed cars and taxis, with pickups in the designated rideshare zone at arrivals, and prices climb at night and during peak demand.
If you land after the last trains, skip the touts in the arrivals hall and head straight for the official taxi rank, since the €55 fixed fare applies at any hour.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: medium)Common concerns and things to watch out for

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Vatican City State is very safe for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ visitors: violent crime is virtually nonexistent, and Vatican Gendarmerie, Swiss Guards and Italian police patrol every entrance. The real risk is pickpocketing in the crowds of St. Peter’s Square, the security lines and the Museums, and on Rome’s bus 64, so keep your phone and wallet in a front pocket or zipped bag. Ignore touts offering “skip-the-line” tickets or tours outside the walls, as many charge inflated prices for nothing official. LGBTQ+ travelers face no hostility as visitors, though the Catholic Church’s teaching on sexuality is conservative, and public displays of affection by any couple are out of place inside the basilica.

✈️ VisaVisa requirements for Vatican City

Vatican City State has no visa of its own and no border checks, so you need whatever visa or visa-free status lets you enter Italy and the Schengen Area, since the only way in is through Rome. Citizens of the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and many other countries can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, while others must apply for a Schengen visa at an Italian embassy or consulate in their home country. Check Italy’s official visa portal for your nationality before booking.

source: vistoperitalia.esteri.it
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What to wear and bring

Packing for Vatican City State is mostly about heat, crowds and a strict dress code at the sacred sites. From June to September afternoons often top 32°C (90°F) and the queues in St. Peter’s Square have almost no shade, so breathable fabrics, sun protection and a refillable bottle matter more than anything else. A light layer that covers your shoulders and clothing that reaches your knees will get you into the basilica and Museums even on the hottest day. The Museums alone involve several kilometers of marble floors and stairs, so bring well-cushioned shoes and keep your daypack small, because security bans large bags and suitcases.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

View the full list 👉

🙋 FAQCommon questions before visiting

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Vatican City can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Vatican City itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

No vaccinations are required to visit Vatican City State, and entry rules follow those of Italy. Make sure routine vaccines are up to date, including measles-mumps-rubella, tetanus-diphtheria and your seasonal flu shot, since crowds in the basilica and Museums put you in close contact with visitors from all over the world. Health standards are high, and Rome’s hospitals are a few minutes away if you need care.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Vatican City, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


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Culture & Customs

The biggest custom in Vatican City State is the dress code: shoulders and knees must be covered in St. Peter’s Basilica, the Museums and the Vatican Gardens, for men and women alike, and guards turn away people in tank tops, short shorts or short skirts. Remove hats inside churches, keep your voice low and stay quiet in the Sistine Chapel, where photography is banned. Do give way to people praying and avoid walking in front of worshippers during Mass. Don’t eat, sit on monument steps or use flash in the basilica, and don’t touch the Swiss Guards or try to pose with those on duty at the gates. Women face no special restrictions beyond the shared dress code, and same-sex couples are welcome as visitors, though any visible affection is best kept discreet in sacred spaces.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Vatican City.
  1. Spaghetti alla carbonara: Pasta tossed with guanciale (cured pork cheek), egg yolk, pecorino romano and black pepper, no cream. Vatican City State has no separate national cuisine, so its residents and workers eat Roman food, and carbonara is the dish Rome defends most fiercely.
  2. Cacio e pepe: Just pecorino, black pepper and starchy pasta water emulsified into a glossy sauce, usually on tonnarelli. It started as shepherd food from the Roman countryside and shows how far good technique can stretch three ingredients.
  3. Supplì: Fried rice balls filled with tomato ragù and a core of mozzarella that stretches when you bite in. A cheap, filling snack sold in the Prati and Borgo streets around the walls, ideal before or after a long Museums visit.
  4. Pizza al taglio: Rectangular pizza baked in trays, cut with scissors and sold by weight, typically €2 to 5 per slice. The area just north of the Vatican is known for some of Rome’s most inventive versions, and it is the fastest decent lunch near St. Peter’s.
  5. Saltimbocca alla romana: Thin veal slices topped with prosciutto and sage, pan-fried in butter and white wine. The name means “jumps in the mouth,” and it is the classic Roman secondo found in the trattorias of the surrounding neighborhoods.
  6. Carciofi alla romana: Artichokes braised with mint, garlic and olive oil, at their best from February to April. Roman artichokes are a seasonal point of pride, and spring menus near the Vatican are full of them.
Tap water in Vatican City State is safe to drink, supplied through Rome’s well-tested system, and locals drink it without a second thought. Tourists can fill bottles at the public drinking fountains in and around St. Peter’s Square, where the water runs cold and free all day. Bottled or filtered water is unnecessary, so a refillable bottle saves you the €2 to 3 that kiosks charge in peak summer.
The main language in Vatican City State is Italian. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Italian skills have become a bit rusty.

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The complete Travel Guide for Vatican City includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English is widely spoken in Vatican City State wherever travelers go: ticket desks, the Museums, the post office, shops and security staff all handle it easily, and audio guides and signage come in English. There are no rural areas here, and most staff are multilingual clergy, Swiss Guards and Italian employees, with younger workers typically the most fluent. Italian is the everyday working language (Latin is used for official documents) and helps most, especially with guards and older staff. Learning per favore, grazie and scusi, plus keeping a translation app with offline Italian downloaded, covers almost every situation.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Vatican City is EUR (€).
Vatican City State uses the euro, and its own collectible euro coins circulate alongside Italian ones, so you can pay with any euro cash. ATMs are scarce inside the walls, but the Prati and Borgo streets just outside have bank ATMs on almost every block; Italian bank machines usually charge no local fee, while independent machines like Euronet can add €3 to 5 plus poor exchange rates, so always decline dynamic currency conversion and choose to be charged in euros. Cards and contactless payments are accepted at the Museums ticket desks, the Vatican post office, pharmacy, gift shops and most cafés nearby, although small snack stands and street vendors may want cash. Leave US dollars at home, since almost nobody accepts them and exchange booths around St. Peter’s Square offer bad rates. If you need to change money, use a bank in Rome or simply withdraw euros from a bank ATM with a low-fee card.
Tipping in Vatican City State follows Roman custom, which means it is appreciated but never expected. Cafés and restaurants around the walls often add a coperto (cover charge) of €1.50 to 3 per person, so rounding up or leaving €1 to 2 is plenty, and 5 to 10% is generous for excellent service. Private guides for the Museums usually get €5 to 10 per person, while taxi drivers are happy if you round up to the nearest euro.

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We 💚 feedbackWhat to know before planning your trip

Vatican City runs on order. Lines, dress codes and one-way routes can feel rigid until you notice how they protect the art and the worship. The best surprise is how quiet the basilica gets right at opening. I would book the earliest museum slot and carry a light scarf for shoulders. The country is ideal for art lovers, pilgrims and history buffs on a Rome trip. It suits spontaneous wanderers less, and travelers hoping for nature or local nightlife will be bored within hours.

✈️ When did I visit Vatican City?
During the last year of highschool, we had a school trip to Rome and Vatican city. While my visit dates back, this guide is continuously refined using feedback from locals and current backpackers (last update: 17 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Vatican City, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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