Vatican City is a sovereign state of only a fraction of a square kilometre, enclosed entirely within the city of Rome. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope, and despite its tiny size it draws visitors from all over the world for its art, its architecture and its long history. Because you simply walk in from Rome, it folds neatly into a wider trip to the Italian capital rather than needing a journey of its own.
Five reasons
1. St Peter's Basilica
One of the largest and most important churches in Christianity, built over the traditional burial site of St Peter. Its scale is difficult to grasp until you are standing inside it, and it holds celebrated works including Michelangelo's Pietà. Many visitors also make the climb towards the top of the great dome, which is rewarded with a sweeping view across the rooftops of Rome.
2. The Sistine Chapel
Famous above all for Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and his Last Judgment on the altar wall, the chapel is among the most renowned rooms in the world. It is also where the conclave to elect a new pope takes place. Photography and talking are restricted inside, in keeping with its religious status, and it can be very crowded, so a little patience helps.
3. The Vatican Museums
A vast collection assembled over centuries by successive popes, running through galleries of classical sculpture, ancient maps, tapestries and Renaissance masterpieces. The set route eventually leads to the Sistine Chapel, so most visits combine the two into one long, rewarding walk through the history of Western art.
4. St Peter's Square
The grand elliptical piazza in front of the basilica, framed by Bernini's sweeping double colonnades and centred on an ancient Egyptian obelisk. It is the gathering place for major papal events and an impressive piece of Baroque design to stand in even when quiet.
5. A whole country you can cross on foot
There is a genuine novelty in visiting an entire sovereign state in an afternoon. Vatican City has its own postal service, its own guard and its own institutions, all packed into a walkable space beside the Tiber — a curiosity as much as a pilgrimage.
Planning your visit
Because everything sits so close together, most people see the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel as one visit and St Peter's Basilica and Square as another, either side of a break. The order matters a little: the museums funnel you towards the Sistine Chapel, while the basilica and square are entered separately from the piazza. Whichever way round you go, the sheer volume of art and the crowds can be tiring, so it is worth building in time to sit and rest — the square itself is a fine place to pause. Bear in mind, too, that this is an active place of worship and pilgrimage, not only a museum, and the atmosphere reflects that.
Good to know
A modest dress code applies at the religious sites — shoulders and knees are generally expected to be covered — and security screening is in place at the entrances. The main sites can be extremely busy, so arriving early or reserving timed entry where it is available helps enormously. Opening arrangements, dress rules and access can all change, so confirm current details before you travel.