When spending time in Rome, visitors often head to Vatican City for a day. This exciting one day Vatican City itinerary is the perfect way to get a good overview of this unique country and take in all the impressive sites.
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History of Vatican City
Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world and is full of religious and historical significance. Its origins date back to the early Christian era when St. Peter was martyred on Vatican Hill. Throughout the years, it has turned into a pilgrimage site.
In the 300s, Emperor Constantine built the original St. Peter’s Basilica. As the authority of the Vatican grew, this area became the center of the Catholic Church. During the Renaissance, the present day Basilica and Sistine Chapel were commissioned.
Vatican City became an independent state in 1929 with the signing of the Lateran Treaty. Today, it remains the center of the Catholic Church, home to the pope and priceless art and religious artifacts.
When to Spend One Day in Vatican City
Vatican City is a fun place to visit anytime of the year, but some months are better than others. Vatican City will be very crowded around the religious holidays such as Easter and during the summer months. It is also very hot during the summer months, so try to avoid visiting during that time. If you can, fall and early springs are amazing times to visit. The weather will be nice and there will be fewer crowds.
How to Get to Vatican City
Vatican City is located just west of central Rome, Italy which has an international airport: Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. You can get flights here from all over Europe and from the United States. Skyscanner is my favorite way to search for flights.
Alternatively, it is very easy to take the train into Rome from other places across Italy and Europe. You can pre-book tickets on Trainline or Omio or opt to buy them at the station. Once you arrive in central Rome, it is a short walk to Vatican City.
Transportation in Vatican City
There are several buses that run to the edge of Vatican City in addition to the metro. However, the quickest and easiest way to get to Vatican City is by walking from central Rome. Inside Vatican City, there are no cars allowed, so you will need to walk around once you enter the complex.
Where to Stay in Vatican City
There are no hotels actually inside Vatican City. However, there are many hotels along the outskirts of the walls. TripAdvisor is a great place to start your hotel search. You can always try searching Priceline Express Deals for a better price or try to price match a hotel.
The following are some of the best options for hotels near Vatican City.
- Cosmopolita Hotel Rome
- Le Meridien Visconti Rome
- The Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel
- Hotel Indigo Rome-St. George
- Intercontinental Rome Ambasciatori Palace
- The Tribune
- Hotel NH Collection Roma Giustiniano
- Comfort Hotel Bolivar
What to do During a One Day Vatican City Itinerary
While Vatican City may be the smallest country in the world, there is plenty to do on a one day Vatican City itinerary.
St. Peter’s Square
This square serves as the grand entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica and the focal point of Vatican City. It was designed by Bernini in the 1600s. In the center stands an Egyptian obelisk with two ornate fountains. This square is the site of many significant events, most commonly Papal ceremonies, blessings, and public addresses. You can check the schedule and plan your one day Vatican City itinerary around these events if you so choose.
Take the Scavi Tour
Cost: €13
One of the most unique experiences you can have on a one day Vatican City itinerary is taking the Scavi Tour. I have been lucky enough to take this tour twice and it is one of the coolest experiences I have had on my travels.
This tour takes you underneath St. Peter’s Basilica to the Vatican Necropolis. This area used to be an open-air cemetery in Ancient Rome. Many mosaics are spread throughout this area. Towards the end of the tour, you get to visit St. Peter’s grave site. The tour ends inside St. Peter’s Basilica, so another pro of this tour is that you do not have to reenter the facility to see the basilica.
In order to take this unique tour, you must reserve this tour several months ahead of time. The sooner you reserve it the better because the Vatican must approve you to go on this tour and there are only a limited number of spots each day. Please note, no pictures and large bags are allowed on this tour.
Visit St. Peter’s Basilica
The Scavi Tour ends in the Basilica so next up on this one day Vatican City itinerary is to spend time in the Basilica. Visitors will want to wander around the different nooks of the Basilica. Make sure to look both up and down as everything is covered in art and very ornate.
Make sure to visit the Vatican Grottoes where all of the popes are buried. If you take the Scavi tour, you will most likely walk through the Grottoes to get to the main cathedral.
If you are feeling up to it, you can also climb to the top of the dome of the Basilica. This costs €10 and it is recommended to buy tickets ahead of time in order to ensure you get a ticket. You can also visit the treasury museum inside the Basilica.
If you do not do the Scavi Tour, you may want to pre-buy your entry into the Basilica or opt for a guided tour or this tour with the Dome climb. You could also get this Basilica audio guide.
Eat Lunch at Panificio Bonci
Cost: €
After spending the morning enjoying the Basilica, you will want to grab some lunch on this one day Vatican City itinerary. Thus, head to Panificio Bonci for some Roman style pizza. Roman style pizza has a bit of a thicker crust than Italian style pizza. You choose how big of a slice of pizza you want, the workers weigh it, and you pay per the weight.
Each day they will have different and unique flavors to choose from. When I went, they had a potato pizza that was delicious! It is about a 10-minute walk from the Vatican Museum.
Visit the Vatican Museum
Cost: €17-21
Wrap up this one day Vatican City itinerary with a visit to the Vatican Museum. This spectacular museum houses some of the world’s most renowned art and historical artifacts that have been amassed by the catholic Church throughout the years. Established in the 1500s, some of the most celebrated pieces include the Sistine Chapel, the stunning spiral staircase of Giusepee Momo, and many other works by Renaissance artists.
Make sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time so you don’t waste your day standing in line as visitors can spend hours wandering the museum. You may want to hire a guide if you want an in depth history of the pieces inside as it can be very overwhelming to take it all in.
You can choose to take the long route or the short route to the Sistine Chapel. If you are an art lover and don’t mind spending a few hours in the museum, take the long route. If your main goal is to see the Sistine Chapel, take the short route.
Final Tips for a One Day Vatican City Itinerary
This one day Vatican City itinerary highlights some of the best options to maximize your time in this tiny and historical country. Make sure to check out the best things to do in Rome when visiting Vatican City. If you have more time, see more of what Italy has to offer. Malta is another great country to pair with a visit to Vatican City.
