Sistine Chapel

The basics

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani). To visit, purchase Vatican Museum tickets or tours and enter through the museum complex. Because the Sistine Chapel attracts millions of visitors each year, those who don’t reserve skip-the-line tickets in advance will find long lines upon arrival.

Many travelers find that the complex frescoes are best appreciated with the assistance of an official tour guide, so booking a group tour, an expert guide for a private guided tour, or even a self-guided audio tour is recommended. Tours visit the Vatican Museums first and typically pass the Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) and Gallery of Maps on the way to the chapel. They sometimes also visit the Pinecone Courtyard and Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani).

Things to know before you go

• Seeing Michelangelo's frescoes can be unforgettable even for kids if seen as part of a small-group or kid-friendly Sistine Chapel and Vatican tour.

• Because the chapel is a Catholic church with a dress code. Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees and maintain decorum by keeping your voice low.

• Though photography (without flash) is permitted in the Vatican Museums, no photography is allowed in the Sistine Chapel.

How to get there

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums complex adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica (Basilica di San Pietro) in the Vatican City (Citta del Vaticano). The Ottaviano station on Line A of the city’s underground metro system is about a five-minute walk away.

When to get there

The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are famously crowded, especially during the middle of the day.

Booking early morning and evening Sistine Chapel tours with exclusive entry or early access can help you savor the chapel in relative peace. The chapel is often quieter on Wednesday mornings, when the papal address attracts most visitors to St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) instead of the museums.

Sistine Chapel highlights

The majesty of Michelangelo’s sumptuous ceiling frescoes, which cover 5,000 square feet (460 square meters) and depict more than 300 figures illustrating the creation of the Earth and humankind, and the state of humanity, is hard to overstate. Take a few moments to focus on and appreciate the iconic scene of the “Creation of Adam” in the ceiling’s central section, one of the most famous and replicated religious paintings of all time.

Do I need to book tickets to visit the Sistine Chapel?

Yes. The Sistine Chapel is part of Rome’s Vatican Museums and to visit it, you need to book either an admission ticket or a tour of the museums in advance. Arriving on the day of your visit and waiting in line for entry tickets is impossible.

Do Sistine Chapel tickets sell out?

Yes. The Sistine Chapel is one of Rome’s top attractions, so admission tickets to the Vatican Museums—which include access to the chapel—sell out fast. If you can’t get admission tickets for a self-guided visit on your chosen day, try booking a tour that includes admission instead.

Where is the entrance to the Sistine Chapel?

You can’t enter the Sistine Chapel directly as there’s no exterior entrance—you can only reach it indirectly via the Vatican Museums’ entrance at Viale Vaticano, on the northern edge of Vatican City. After going through this entrance, follow the signposted one-way walking route through the museums’ galleries, which leads to the chapel.

Is the Sistine Chapel worth visiting?

Yes, visiting the Sistine Chapel is worth it—it’s one of the world’s greatest artistic and religious treasures. The chapel boasts magnificent Renaissance artworks, the finest being Michelangelo’s early 16th-century ceiling frescoes of biblical scenes. His central, iconic image, The Creation of Adam, is universally acknowledged as a masterpiece.

How long does it take to walk through the Sistine Chapel?

Measuring 131 feet (40 meters) by 46 feet (14 meters), the Sistine Chapel is roughly the size of two tennis courts placed end-to-end—so walking through doesn’t take long. As it’s usually crowded, most people find that 15-20 minutes is enough time to admire its stunning interior.

What is the best time to visit the Sistine Chapel?

The Sistine Chapel is busiest from late morning to early afternoon, on Saturdays, public holidays, and from early spring through fall. For thinner crowds, aim for early morning or mid-afternoon or visit from November through March, except on Easter and Christmas. Alternatively, consider early-access or after-hours tours for the least amount of other visitors.

Ways to explore

The Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican Museums (Musei Vaticani). To visit, purchase Vatican Museum tickets or tours and enter through the museum complex. Because the Sistine Chapel attracts millions of visitors each year, those who don’t reserve skip-the-line tickets in advance will encounter long lines upon arrival.

Many travelers find that the complex frescoes are best appreciated with the assistance of an official tour guide, so booking a group tour, an expert guide for a private guided tour, or even a self-guided audio tour is recommended. Tours visit the Vatican Museums first and typically pass the Raphael Rooms (Stanze di Raffaello) and Gallery of Maps on the way to the chapel. They sometimes also visit the Pinecone Courtyard and Vatican Gardens (Giardini Vaticani).

Accessibility

The Sistine Chapel, along with the Vatican Museums, is fully accessible to wheelchairs. Free wheelchairs are available for loan at the cloakroom.

Age limits

No official age limits, but small children aren’t recommended as the chapel asks for complete silence.

What to pack

Small bag for only the essentials

What to wear

The Sistine Chapel is a sacred site, and visitors must wear clothing that covers their shoulders and knees to enter.

Not allowed

Photography, large bags and backpacks, umbrellas and selfie sticks, food and drinks, knives and sharp objects

Amenities

The Vatican Museums, where the Sistine Chapel is located, include a cloakroom with lockers, audio and video guides for rent, a café, restrooms, and a shop selling books and souvenirs.

Address

Entry to the Sistine Chapel is through the Vatican Museums, which sit along Viale Vaticano on the northwest side of Vatican City. It’s about a 10-minute walk to the Vatican Museums entrance from St. Peter’s Square and a 5-minute walk from the nearest metro station.

Driving

Tricky parking and heavy traffic make reaching the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums by car a hassle. Join a guided tour that includes pickup at your hotel, or take a taxi or rideshare to the museum’s entrance instead.

Public transportation

Take the Rome Metro Line A to the Ottaviano station, about a 5-minute walk to the Vatican Museums entrance. Alternatively, take bus 49 to the square in front of the Vatican Museums or tram 19 to Piazza del Risorgimento, about eight minutes away on foot.

Best times to visit

One of the most popular and crowded sights in Rome, the Sistine Chapel is overrun with visitors during the midday hours. Time your Vatican Museums visit to reach the chapel just before closing, or book an early- or late-access tour to savor the chapel outside of general opening hours.

Best days to visit

The Sistine Chapel is especially crowded on Saturdays and bank holidays, as well as the final Sunday of the month when the Vatican Museums are open to the public for free. Tour on a weekday afternoon or during the papal audience on Wednesday morning, when the galleries and chapel are relatively quiet.

Best months to visit

The Sistine Chapel is at its least crowded during winter, especially in January and February after the Christmas crowds have cleared. The chapel is also relatively quiet in August, when tourists avoid Rome’s soaring temperatures.

Special events

Vatican showstopper housing treasures of art and architecture