The Vatican is home to several ancient ruins and interesting architecture, including the famous St. Peter’s Basilica, which is one of the largest and most renowned churches in the world. The basilica is known for its stunning Renaissance …
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Backpacking Vatican in 2025
A complete guide for backpacking in Vatican with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.
Visit Vatican
The Vatican City, while small in size, offers a unique and enriching experience for backpackers. As the spiritual center of the Catholic Church, it provides a rich cultural and historical experience, with iconic landmarks such as St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. The compact size of the city makes it easy to explore on foot, and the vibrant atmosphere of St. Peter’s Square offers a sense of community and connection. However, due to its size, the Vatican can be crowded and expensive, with limited budget accommodation options. Additionally, as a religious center, visitors are expected to dress and behave respectfully, which may not appeal to all backpackers. Overall, the Vatican City is a must-visit for backpackers seeking a unique cultural and spiritual experience, but may not be ideal for those on a tight budget.
Why to go?Why backpacking in Vatican
Architecture
Food
The food in Vatican is so good because it is prepared with the highest quality ingredients and traditional recipes that have been passed down for generations. The cuisine in Vatican is influenced by Italian and Roman culinary traditions, resulting …
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Uniqueness
Exploring the Vatican is a unique and off the beaten track experience because it offers a rare opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich history, art, and culture of the smallest independent state in the world. The Vatican City is home to some of …
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💡 HighlightsTop-5 things to do in Vatican
- St. Peter’s Basilica: The largest church in the world, it is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture and home to iconic artworks such as Michelangelo’s Pieta.
- The Vatican Museums: Housing one of the most important art collections in the world, including the Sistine Chapel with its famous ceiling painted by Michelangelo.
- St. Peter’s Square: A grand plaza in front of St. Peter’s Basilica, designed by Bernini, and a place where many important events and ceremonies take place.
- The Vatican Gardens: A peaceful oasis within the Vatican City, featuring beautifully landscaped gardens, fountains, and sculptures.
- The Apostolic Palace: The official residence of the Pope, where visitors can admire the stunning architecture and explore the various rooms and chapels.
But Vatican offers more...
🌤️ When to go?Best time to go backpacking Vatican
The best time to visit the Vatican for backpacking is during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall. During these times, the weather is mild and pleasant, making it perfect for exploring the outdoor attractions of the Vatican City, such as St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican Gardens. Additionally, the crowds are generally smaller during these times, allowing for a more peaceful and enjoyable experience.
Visiting in the spring (April to June) means enjoying the blooming flowers and longer daylight hours, while visiting in the fall (September to October) offers cooler temperatures and beautiful autumn foliage. Both seasons provide a comfortable climate for walking and exploring the Vatican’s many historic sites and museums.
It’s important to note that the Vatican can get quite crowded during the summer months and winter holidays, so visiting during the shoulder seasons can help avoid long lines and overcrowding. Additionally, backpackers may find better deals on accommodations and flights during these times, making it a more budget-friendly option.
Visiting in the spring (April to June) means enjoying the blooming flowers and longer daylight hours, while visiting in the fall (September to October) offers cooler temperatures and beautiful autumn foliage. Both seasons provide a comfortable climate for walking and exploring the Vatican’s many historic sites and museums.
It’s important to note that the Vatican can get quite crowded during the summer months and winter holidays, so visiting during the shoulder seasons can help avoid long lines and overcrowding. Additionally, backpackers may find better deals on accommodations and flights during these times, making it a more budget-friendly option.
Risk level: medium (50%)Safety advice for Vatican
Safety has impact on the way you can travel. Always check the safety of the country you go to and adjust the way you travel to the advice.
VaticanMy tips to get you on the way!Does Vatican sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.
Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.
Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Vatican. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Vatican may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Vatican. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Vatican may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.
Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Vatican, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Vatican, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.
Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.
My personal packing list 🎒
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Over 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.
Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Over 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.Money & Documents
Clothing
Electronics
Health
Others
Moneybelt
[Amazon]
“Best way to carry your important documents”
Quick dry pant
[Amazon]
“Nothing beats these quick dry and light pants when traveling”
Light rain jacket
[Amazon]
“Hiking in rainy season? These keep you dry”
Thermo underwear
[Amazon]
“Less weight and volume than bulky sweaters or jackets”
Quick dry towel
[Amazon]
“Normal towels get smelly and heavy when traveling”
Power bank
[Amazon]
“Pick a small and light one, with 10.000mAh or more”
Travel adapter
[Amazon]
“Needed as each country has its own electricity plugs”
Number lock
[Amazon]
“No chance of losing your key; handy for lockers in dormitories”
Packing cubes
[Amazon]
“Keep your wet or dirty clothes separate from the rest”
Travel pillow
[Amazon]
“Light and great for flights and long bus journeys”
last page update: 28 September 2024