How to get to Vatican City?

Many tourists wonder how to get to Vatican City before planning their trip. 

Luckily, traveling to Vatican City is simple and convenient. 

It is connected to various areas of Rome and is accessible by bus, metro, tram, train, and car. 

This article provides a complete guide that will assist you in reaching Vatican City.

Where is Vatican City?

The Vatican, also called the State of Vatican City, is the smallest independent territory in the world. 

It is on the western bank of the Tiber River, and Rome surrounds it.

Since the Lateran Treaty in 1929, the Vatican has been independent of Italy. 

There are no limits or checks on public and private transportation between Vatican City and Rome.

Map of the Vatican City

Vatican City covers an area of over 109 acres (44 hectares). 

Despite being one of the smallest, navigating within its boundaries might be difficult. 

We recommend getting a Vatican City map to help you navigate the city more simply.

You can find the Vatican City Map here.

Where is the Vatican City in relation to the City of Rome?

The Vatican City, located north of the center of Rome, Italy, is easily accessible by public transportation. 

Despite being a separate state within Rome, there are no limitations or checks to travel between Vatican City and Rome. 

Walls surround Vatican City, but it is accessible to the rest of the city by Bernini’s colonnade of Saint Peter’s. 

A lot of first-time visitors mistake Vatican City for Rome’s walled city. 

Within its boundaries are notable Christian structures such as St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Peter’s Square, and the Vatican Museum, which attract visitors from all over the world.

How to get to Vatican City from Rome?

If you are in Rome and wondering about how to get to Vatican City from Rome, here are several ways for visitors to Rome to get to the Vatican City:

By Train:

It takes only 11 minutes to travel from Rome to Vatican City via train. 

Visitors can board a train from Termini Station and get down at the Roma San Pietro in St. Peter’s Square. St. Peter’s is only a 10-minute walk away from San Pietro.

By Metro:

Metro Line A in Rome has a stop called Ottaviano-S, which is easily accessible just outside of Vatican City’s boundaries. 

To get to the Vatican, travelers can use the metro and get off at Ottaviano-S, then walk for about 5 minutes to reach Vatican City.

By Bus:

Bus lines 64, n904, and 916 link Rome to Vatican City. 

These buses stop at Lgt. Sassia/S. Spirito (H) in Vatican City, and passengers can board them at Plebiscito in Rome. 

It takes 7 to 10 minutes to travel by bus.

How to get to Vatican City from Colosseum?

To travel from the Colosseum to Vatican City, you have multiple transportation options:

By Metro: 

Board Line B of the Rome Metro at the Colosseo station and travel towards Jonio or Rebibbia. 

Once you arrive at Termini station, change to Line A, which travels towards Battistini. 

Get off at the Cipro station. 

The metro ride from the Colosseum to Vatican City takes about 17 to 20 minutes.

By Bus:

You can get to Vatican City by boarding bus lines 81 and 87. 

Take bus Line 81 from Claudia/Colosseo or Line 87 from Colosseo (Mb). 

Both lines will take you to P.Za Cavour, close to Vatican City.

By Tram:

From the Barberini tram stop, take Line A in towards Battistini. 

Get off at Ottaviano-S.

Where is Vatican Museum 

Vatican City has many monuments and historical buildings on its 109 acres (44 hectares). 

And out of all these grand historical and architectural marvels, One of the most popular and visited places is the Vatican Museum, also known as the Museum of Museums. 

The Vatican Museum is one of the primary attractions that draws many tourists from around the World to the Vatican City. 

This museum is one of Rome’s oldest and biggest museums that houses 54 Museums. 

Finding Vatican Museum In Vatican City

Navigating your way to the Vatican Museum within Vatican City can be challenging.

However, depending on the kind of transportation you take to enter the city, there are different routes to get to the museum. 

The best route to the Vatican Museum depends on how you get there – bus, metro, tram, or train and the stops you take. 

We are here to guide you step by step to the Vatican Museum inside Vatican City, depending on your chosen transport option. 

By Bus:

V.Le Vaticano/Musei Vaticani is the closest bus stop to the Vatican Museum.

• Bus 49: Get off at Viale Vaticano/Musei Vaticani, directly in front of the Vatican Museum entrance. This stop is only 800 meters away from the museum.
• Bus 40 and 64: These buses will take you to Piazza Pia and Terminal Gianicolo, respectively.
• Buses 32, 81, and 982: These buses stop at Piazza del Risorgimento, which is only 7 minutes by walk from the Vatican Museum.
• Bus 492: Get off at Via Leone IV and walk for about 5 minutes to the museum.
• Bus 990: Take the bus to Via Degli Scipioni, which takes you to the Vatican Museum. The museum is only a 12-minute walk away from there.

For an overview of the bus routes and their related stops for easy access to the Vatican Museum, see the chart below:

Bus Number	Drop Off Point	Distance from Vatican Museum
Bus 49	Viale Vaticano	8 Minutes
Bus 40	Piazza Pia	15 Minutes
Bus 64	Terminal Gianicolo	15 Minutes
Bus 31, 81 and 982	Piazza del Risorgimento	7 Minutes
Bus 492	Via Leone IV	5 Minutes
Bus 990	Via Degli Scipioni	12 Minutes

By Metro:

You should take Line A to Valle Aurelia if you’re taking the Metro to the Vatican Museum. 

The Vatican Museum is only a 5-minute walk away.

By Tram:

You should take Line A to Valle Aurelia if you’re taking the Metro to the VaticanTake a tram for the best access to the Vatican Museum. 

Take tram 19 to Piazza del Risorgimento and walk about 10 minutes to the Vatican Museum entrance. 

The Vatican Museum is only a 5-minute walk away.

Vatican Museum Entrances

The Vatican Museum, located within the holy Vatican City, attracts millions of tourists yearly. 

Via Della Conciliazione and Via Vaticano are its two entrances. 

If you want to start your trip at St. Peter’s Basilica, go down Via Della Conciliazione to go to the Vatican Museum. 

Conversely, choose Via Vaticano, if you want to enter through the Vatican Museum first. 

You will find three lines outside the museum’s entrance when you arrive. 

If you’re not familiar with the function of these queues, it can be stressful. 

Typically, the longest queues consist of visitors who did not book their tickets in advance online.

We strongly recommend booking your Vatican tickets online to prevent inconvenience and save time. 

This allows you to avoid long lineups and receive straight entry to the museum, ensuring an enjoyable experience.

Map of Vatican Museum

We recommend using a map to help you navigate the vast Vatican Museum. 

With so many galleries and rooms to explore, it’s easy to get lost inside, so carry a Vatican Museum map. 

The map will let you explore the many sights, saving time and ensuring you cover all the notable works. 

Download the Vatican Museum map on your device for easy navigation during your visit.

How to get to Vatican Museum?

The Vatican Museum is located at Città del Vaticano, 00120, in Vatican City. 

Between Vatican City and Rome, there are no limitations or checks on public or private transportation. 

Paid parking is available near Viale Vaticano for visitors arriving by car. 

There are various ways to get to the Vatican Museum, including by taxi, bus, metro, tram, or other modes of public transportation.

By Metro:

Take line A of the metro in Rome, and get off at the Ottaviano-S. Pietro or Cipro stations. 

You won’t have to wait long because a train arrives every 4 minutes. 

It’s a quick 7-minute walk from there.

By Bus:

The city of Rome has an established transportation network, and multiple buses travel to the Vatican City daily. 

So, if you want to take a bus to the Vatican, take bus no. 49 and step out at the Viale Vaticano stop. 

Buses 40 and 64 depart outside Termini Train Station and end at the Vatican. 

Another option is to board bus numbers 492 or 990 and step out at the Via Leone IV stop. 

The entrance of the Vatican Museum is a 5-minute walk away. Buses no 32, 81, and 982 stop at Piazza del Risorgimento.

By Tram:

Tram 19 is the only tram that stops in Piazza del Risorgimento in Vatican City. 

The Vatican Museum is only a 10-minute walk away.

By Train:

The best way to travel to Vatican City is also by train. 

From Roma Termini, take the RE 12524 or RE 4134 from Roma Termini to St. Pietro. 

St. Peter’s Square is about a 10-minute walk from St. Pietro.

By Walk:

Walking to the Vatican museums is an excellent option if you are in Central Rome and have plenty of time to explore on foot. 

The museum is roughly  2 Km (1.4 miles) from Piazza Navona in Rome’s center. 

At Castel Sant Angelo, you will get to see the neighborhood stores. 

The best part about walking to the Vatican Museum is that it is a gorgeous walk across the Tiber River from the outside.

By Car:

Driving is another option for getting to Vatican City from Rome. 

Only a few cars are permitted to enter Vatican City, which only allows individuals traveling on official business to drive there. 

Therefore, public transit is the best way to go to Vatican City. 

If you have an official business inside the city, the quickest way to travel to Vatican City is via Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. 

You can also enter Vatican City through Viale Del Muro Torto and avoid tolls; however, this is a lengthy route.

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