ROME · VATICAN MUSEUMS · SISTINE CHAPEL
Vatican Museums tickets: price, what's sold out, and what to book instead
A Vatican Museums ticket costs €20, plus a €5 booking fee when you buy it online on the official site (€25 total), and it includes the Sistine Chapel. When we checked on October 27, 2026, standard tickets were sold out on every date we checked through November 14, while the official guided tour still had places. Here is what's left, which ticket to buy, and the closure days to plan around.
Ad / affiliate disclosure: I may earn a commission if you book a tour through the GetYourGuide links or buy an Italy eSIM through the Airalo link on this page, at no extra cost to you. Links to tickets.museivaticani.va (the Vatican Museums' own ticket site) are not affiliate links, and the official site is the cheapest way in. PracticalPivot is not affiliated with the Vatican Museums or any tour company. Prepared with AI assistance; prices, rules, closure days and availability below were read on museivaticani.va and tickets.museivaticani.va on October 27, 2026.
The 30-second answer
Most visitors: the official entry ticket, €20 + €5 online fee. It covers the Museums and the Sistine Chapel on your booked day and time. On October 27 the first dates with standard tickets left were from November 16, and that day had only the 17:30 slot. By December 1 most morning slots were still open.
Your date is sold out: look at the official guided tour (€40 per adult) before anything else. On November 9, a sold-out date for standard entry, the official English tour still had 08:00 places.
Still nothing: a reseller tour that includes entry costs more, but often has space and free cancellation. Official tickets can't be refunded.
Only buy from: tickets.museivaticani.va. The Vatican Museums say it's the only official site for buying tickets online and warn about look-alike sites that charge much more.
Check official availability (not an affiliate link)
Official Vatican Museums ticket prices (checked October 27, 2026)
| Ticket | Price | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Full entry | €20 (+€5 online) | Adults. Museums + Sistine Chapel, on the day the ticket is issued only |
| Reduced entry | €10 (+€5 online) | Children aged 7 to 18; priests, religious, seminarians and novices (with documents); Holy See / Vatican employees |
| Reduced students | €10 (+€5 online) | Students up to and including 25, with a document from their school or university confirming enrolment this year (a student card alone isn't listed) |
| Official guided tour (individuals) | €40 per adult | €20 ticket + €5 booking fee + €1.50 headset + €13.50 guide. Up to 20 people; tours in English, French, Italian, Spanish and German |
| Free | €0 | Children under 7, visitors with a certified disability of at least 67% plus one companion if needed (issued at the museum, not online), and everyone on the last Sunday of the month |
If you buy a reduced ticket and can't prove you qualify, staff make you pay the full price and the reduced ticket isn't refunded. Purchased tickets are non-refundable.
What was sold out on October 27, 2026
We checked the official booking calendar for one adult, standard entry ("Biglietti d'ingresso"). Slots run every 30 minutes from 08:00 to 17:30.
| Visit date | Standard entry | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 to Nov 14 (Oct 28, Nov 2, 6, 9, 11, 13, 14 checked) | Not available | Official guided tour still bookable on Nov 9 (English, 08:00) |
| Nov 16 | Only 17:30 left | Every slot from 08:00 to 17:00 sold out |
| Nov 21, 23, 28, 30 | Bookable | Times not checked one by one; expect the morning to be gone first |
| Dec 1 | Most slots open | 09:30 and 10:00 sold out, 10:30 almost gone |
| Dec 7, Dec 14 | Bookable | Dates into January 2027 were already on sale |
The pattern: the next two to three weeks go first, and the 09:30 to 10:30 slots sell out before the rest. If you're traveling in late November or December, book now.
Closed days and short days to plan around (November and December 2026)
From the Vatican Museums' official 2026 calendar. Normal hours: Monday to Saturday, entry 08:00 to 18:00, everyone out by 20:00.
| Date | Status |
|---|---|
| Every Sunday except the last of the month | Closed (Nov 1, 8, 15, 22; Dec 6, 13, 20) |
| Sun Nov 29, Sun Dec 27 | Free entry, 09:00 to 12:30 last entry, closes 14:00 |
| Tue Dec 8 | Closed |
| Thu Dec 24, Thu Dec 31 | Short day: entry 08:00 to 13:00, closes 15:00 |
| Fri Dec 25, Sat Dec 26 | Closed |
Exit from the galleries starts 30 minutes before closing time.
Is the free Sunday worth it?
Only if you have flexible plans and patience. The museum is free on the last Sunday of the month, but it opens for a shorter time (last entry 12:30), and the free entry is first come, first served at the door. The official site lets you reserve a guided tour for that day. If you have one shot at seeing the Sistine Chapel, a paid ticket on a weekday is the safer choice.
Official ticket vs a reseller tour
| Official entry (€25 online) | Official guided tour (€40) | Reseller tour with entry | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Availability | Sold out 2 to 3 weeks ahead | Often still open when entry is gone | Usually has space |
| Refund | No | No | Often free cancellation (check each listing) |
| Guide | None (audio guide optional) | Vatican Museums guide, up to 20 people | Depends on the tour |
| Price | Lowest | Middle | Highest |
If the official site has nothing for your date and the official tour is full too, compare reseller tours that include skip-the-line entry and read what's included before you pay.
Compare Vatican Museums tours on GetYourGuide (affiliate link)
What to do, step by step
- Check your date on the official site (tickets.museivaticani.va > "Biglietti Musei Vaticani"). Choose the number of visitors, then the date. "Non disponibili" means sold out.
- If it's sold out, open "Visite Guidate Singoli Musei" (official guided tour) for the same date and pick your language.
- Book a time between 08:00 and 09:00 or after 14:00 if you can. In our checks, 09:30 to 10:30 sold out first.
- Bring proof for any reduced ticket (age ID for 7 to 18, enrolment letter for students up to 25).
- Dress for entry: no sleeveless or low-cut tops, shorts above the knee, miniskirts or hats.
- Pack light: large bags, medium or large umbrellas, tripods and metal tools go in the free cloakroom; alcohol isn't allowed.
- Still nothing? Check the official site again a few days later for returned slots, or book a reseller tour with free cancellation.
Checklist before you go
- Ticket for the right date (it's valid only on that day)
- ID, and proof for any reduced ticket
- Shoulders and knees covered, no hat
- No large bag or tripod (or plan to use the cloakroom)
- Phone away in the Sistine Chapel: photos and phone use are not allowed
- Mobile data for maps and your e-ticket: Italy eSIM from Airalo (affiliate link), or compare options in our Italy eSIM guide
Also in Rome
Colosseum tickets sell out in a similar way, and the Underground goes first: see Colosseum tickets: what's sold out and which to buy.
FAQ
How much are Vatican Museums tickets in 2026?
On the official site on October 27, 2026: €20 full price and €10 reduced, plus a €5 online booking fee per ticket, so €25 for an adult booked online. Children under 7 are free. The ticket includes the Sistine Chapel.
Are Vatican Museums tickets sold out?
Often, for the next two to three weeks. On October 27, 2026 the official site showed standard entry as not available on every date we checked from October 28 to November 14. November 16 had only a 17:30 slot left; December 1 still had most morning slots.
What can I do if Vatican Museums tickets are sold out?
Check the official guided tour first: on November 9, when standard entry was gone, the official English tour still had 08:00 places at €40 per adult. Otherwise check the official site again for returned slots, or book a reseller tour that includes entry, which costs more.
Is the Sistine Chapel included in the Vatican Museums ticket?
Yes. The official entry ticket covers the Museums and the Sistine Chapel, on the day the ticket is issued only. Photos and phone use are not allowed in the Sistine Chapel.
Are the Vatican Museums free on the last Sunday of the month?
Yes, from 9:00 to 14:00 (last entry 12:30), unless that Sunday is a closure day. The next free Sundays are November 29 and December 27, 2026. All other Sundays are closed.
Can I get a refund on Vatican Museums tickets?
No. The official site says tickets cannot be refunded. If your dates might change, a reseller ticket with free cancellation can be worth the extra cost.