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Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: Entry Ticket
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Book tickets and tours →Vatican Museums: opening hours and last entry
The Vatican Museums are open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 18:00. They are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month.
Today
Opening hours for every month are on the Opening hours page.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source
| Days | Last entry | Closing |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday: opens at 8:00 | 18:00 | 20:00 |
| Last Sunday of the month, free: opens at 9:00 | 12:30 | 14:00 |
The museums are closed on all Sundays except the last of the month, and on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November, and 8, 25 and 26 December. The free Sunday does not apply when the last Sunday falls on Easter, 29 June, 25, 26 or 31 December.
Checked against the official website on 31 October 2026 · Official source: Musei Vaticani
When is the best time to go?
Arrive when the doors open at 8:00 if you can. Do not leave the visit for the last hour: last entry is at 18:00, the galleries start to empty 30 minutes before closing, and you need time to cross the galleries.
The last Sunday of the month is free but short: the museums close at 14:00 and last entry is at 12:30, so arrive early.
Is it free on some days?
Yes. On the last Sunday of the month entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30. Children under 7 and people with a certified disability of 67% or more enter free, and one companion goes in free when the person is not independent. Free tickets for people with a disability and their companion are not booked online: you collect them at the museum's desks.
Are there changes in November and December 2026?
On some days in November and December the Sistine Chapel and the Braccio Nuovo (New Wing) close earlier, and on a few mornings the museums open later. Check the date of your visit. The museums are closed on 8 December.
These are one-off changes, so check the day you plan to visit.
Is the Sistine Chapel open all day?
It is open while the museums are open, apart from the early closings on some days in December. You reach it from inside the museums, so leave yourself plenty of time before closing.
Vatican Museums: frequently asked questions
What are the opening hours of the Vatican Museums?
They are open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00, with last entry at 18:00. They are closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month, when they open free from 9:00 to 14:00.
Is the last Sunday of the month really free?
Yes: entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30. It does not apply when the last Sunday falls on Easter, 29 June, 25, 26 or 31 December.
When are the Vatican Museums closed?
They are closed on all Sundays except the last of the month, and on 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November, and 8, 25 and 26 December.