Despite being the smallest country in the world by both area and population, there are quite a few must-do’s in Vatican City! I recently visited for the first time, and there are still a few things I need to go back for–mainly because not everything is open to the public without a tour, and the Vatican Museums are so large! If you’re heading to Rome and Vatican City soon, here is the best top 10 list to get you started.

Photograph St. Peter’s Square

This is a great place for photos. Even if there are a million people there, St. Peter’s Basilica and the surrounding architecture loom so large, you can still get an amazing photo. It’s iconic, it’s unique, and it’s free and easy to visit. We visited at Christmastime; there’s not always a Christmas tree and Nativity scene set up, for your planning purposes. 

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Visit St. Peter’s Basilica

This is the big thing, right? If you do nothing else in Vatican City, you go into St. Peter’s Basilica. It was recently cleaned from top to bottom for the upcoming Jubilee year (2025), so we really got to see it in all its glory. You’ll have to line up and go through security to get inside, so be ready to wait in line for that. Inside, you’ll find historic artwork, statues, and artifacts. It’s actually one of the largest buildings in the world, with an area of 23,000 square meters (over 247,000 square feet). Don’t get lost inside!

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Take a closer look at the Madonna della Pietà

Speaking of statues inside the Basilica, walk over to the right as you enter, and join the crowd looking at the Madonna della Pietà. It’s a sculpture of Mary holding Jesus after the crucifixion, made entirely of Carerra marble and sculpted by Michelangelo in the 15th century. It’s considered a masterpiece for a variety of reasons, and the fact that it’s 600 years old is reason enough to consider it a marvel. 

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Go into St. Peter’s Basilica Dome

We are so glad we did this! We opted to take the 200+ stairs, but you can also pay a little more to take the elevator if you prefer. There are several steps to take after the elevator, but once you get up there, you’ll see why it’s so worthwhile. Seeing the dome so much closer is absolutely stunning, and seeing inside the Basilica from above is also a unique view. We would do it again.

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Climb to St. Peter’s Basilica Cupola

This is for the fitness enthusiasts and the gluttons for punishment. After you’ve made it to the dome, you can take another 300+ stairs up to the cupola! It’s not necessarily for the claustrophobic, but you will be rewarded with stunning view of St. Peter’s Square and Rome. This was perhaps my favorite part of the day, between the sense of accomplishment and the beautiful view. I do recommend this for a sunny day!

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Learn a Bit of the History

Something that I think is grossly overlooked is the history of Christianity in Rome, including why Vatican City is located where it is. This place was once known as Vatican Hill. Emperor Nero built a circus here (at the time a “circus” was an outdoor venue for chariot racing in a circle). He decorated it with an Egyptian obelisk, which his predecessor Caligula had taken from Egypt; this is the obelisk still seen here in St. Peter’s Square. (You’ll find a total of eight such obelisks around Rome.)

Many Christians were martyred here in the first century, including the Apostle Peter, whom Catholics believe was the first Pope. That was around the years 64-67 A.D. It wasn’t until the 4th century that Emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity, and construction began on what is now St. Peter’s Basilica, built over Peter’s gravesite.

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Marvel at the Sistine Chapel

Michelangelo’s masterpiece covers the ceiling of what is perhaps the world’s most famous chapel. You’ll have to go through a portion of the Vatican Museums to arrive here, but once you’re in, you can feet free to take a seat along the sides and back of the chapel, or stand in the middle and look up. The famous painting of Adam nearly touching the hand of God is one of the most well-known pieces artwork here, but the frescoes on the ceiling depict several iconic scenes from the Old Testament.

Fair warning: No photos!

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Walk through the Gallery of Maps

You’ll do this on your way to the Sistine Chapel. It’s one of the most Instagrammed places in Vatican City, and you’ll see why as soon as you enter. It’s a long hallway covered in painted, topographical maps along the walls, and frescoes the length of the ceiling as well. These works were commissioned by the Pope in 1580, and they took three years for the artist, friar Ignazio Dante, to complete. There are 40 panels, and the gallery is 394 feet long!

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Walk the Bramante Staircase

This famous stairway is another incredibly photogenic hot spot in Vatican City. Its Gothic style and widening, double helix spiral make it very dramatic. The original Bramante Staircase from 1505 is closed to the public, except on a special guided tour, but this one from 1932 is located at the exit of the Museums and open to all visitors.

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Mail a Letter or Post Card

Though you won’t be getting your passport stamped, you can get a different type of stamp–a postmark on an envelope or post card you send from Vatican City. There is a post office at the exit of the Vatican Museums, near the Bramante Staircase, and we saw at least one mailbox in St. Peter’s Square, near the exit of St. Peter’s Basilica. Just keep in mind that you must buy postage stamps from the post office or a gift shop in Vatican City while you’re there. Vatican City postage stamps can’t be used in Italy, and Italian stamps can’t be used as postage in Vatican City!

Good info: How to Be Your Own Travel Advocate

Want more? Get everything you need on my dedicated Vatican City Page!

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