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The Vatican

The Jesuit Guest Bureau offers the following information for visitors who want to see the Vatican
(Updated May 6, 2008)

Schedule information
Papal audiences
Vatican Museum
Excavations under St. Peters
Vatican Gardens
Vatican Library

Schedule Information

For up-to-date information on Vatican schedules, check its website


Daily Masses at St. Peter's Basilica

8:30 a.m. in the chapel of the Holy Sacrament (SS.mo Sacramento)

10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and noon: at the altar of St Joseph (S. Giuseppe)

Every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. for pilgrims at the altar of the Cattedra

Sunday Masses

9:00 a.m. Parochial Mass

10:30 a.m. Capitular Mass at the altar of the Cattedra (songs in the Latin language)

11:30 a.m. in the chapel of the Holy Sacrament

12:15 p.m. at the chapel of the Cattedra

1:00 p.m. at the altar of St. Joseph (S. Giuseppe)

4:00 p.m. at the altar of the Cattedra

5:45 p.m. at the altar of the Cattedra

5:00 p.m. Capitular Vespers at the altar of the Cattedra

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Papal audiences

The Vatican requires tickets to get into the regular Wednesday morning Papal Audience at 10:30 a.m.. These tickets are available from the JGB without cost for individuals and groups. They can be picked up on the day of the audience. Since reservations are for sections of St. Peter's Square, not for individual seats, visitors are recommended to pick up their tickets by 8:30 a.m. and go to the Square to reserve a good spot. The JGB is only a three-minute walk from St. Peter's Square. For a group, it is easiest to have one person pick up the tickets for the entire group which waits at a designated point near the Square.

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Vatican Museum

Tickets for the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel can be purchased at the entrance. The opening hours are the following: from Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 15:30 PM, which is the last entrance to the Museums, final closing at 16:45 PM, on Saturdays open from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM, final closing at 13:45. Sunday they are closed except for the last Sunday of each month from 9:00 AM. to 12:30 PM. There are a few cafeterias located inside which permits you to visit the museums at your leisure.

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Excavations under St. Peter’s

Visitors must apply directly to the Vatican office; the JGB cannot handle this matter.

Given the unique location of the Vatican necropolis, a visit to these excavations is a privilege accorded to visitors by the Excavations Office and depends entirely on the space available and the preservation needs of the necropolis. Due to the need to give careful attention to the conservation of this irreplaceable historical-archaeological site, wherein is preserved the original Grave of St. Peter, only about 200 visitors per day are permitted in the necropolis.

Groups are arranged by language and contain about 12 participants. Only those who are 15 years or age or older are permitted to make the visit. No exceptions whatsoever can be made.

On account of the significant and repeated difficulties that the Excavations Office has had with third-party requests for tickets (i.e. through travel agents, etc.), the Office only makes reservations directly for those individuals who will actually be visiting the necropolis. No third-party applications will be processed. Confirmations for visits will only be sent to those who will actually be visiting the excavations.

While purses and small handbags are permitted in the excavations, visitors are reminded that large bags and backpacks are not permitted in the excavations at all. St. Peter's Basilica offers a free bag check service located in the lower right façade of Basilica. Large bags and backpacks must be deposited there prior to coming to the Excavations Office. This must be done before entering the office to pick up your tickets.

Photography, with or without flash, is not permitted in the excavations.


Reservations
are only by e-mail: scavi@fsp.va, by fax: (39-06) 6987-3017, or directly in the Excavations Office.
With your request to visit the excavations, please provide the following information:

  • The exact number of visitors
  • Their names (in case of groups, the composition and provenance of the group is also needed [e.g. university, parish, etc.])
  • Language desired for the visit
  • The dates available during which the Office can arrange the visit (The precise time of the visit will be determined by the Excavations Office).
  • Contact information (an e-mail address, fax number, or full postal address) so that the Excavations Office may advise you about your visit.


    When a visit is possible, the Office will send a proposed date and time. If the proposed date and time are acceptable, the visitors must so inform the Excavations Office, which will then definitively confirm the visit.
    When a visit is not possible, not all requests can be answered positively. On occasion, due to the vast number of requests received and the time needed to process them, it may not be possible for the Office to even respond to an application prior to one's arrival in Rome. In such cases, the Excavation Office regrets that a visit will not be possible.

    Office hours

  • The Excavations Office is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except Sundays and holidays.
  • Excavations Office Hours: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
  • Closed Sunday and Holidays
  • Usually the last tour each day begins at 3:30 pm

    Tickets and location of the Excavations Office

  • The visitor must always confirm his reservation in the way and during the time period given by the Excavations Office in positive responses to requests.
  • Visitors ought to be at the Excavations Office [without large bags and backpacks] at least five minutes prior to the beginning of their tour.
  • The Excavations Office may be reached through the Holy Office Gate to the Vatican (through the colonnade to the left, on Via Paolo VI). The Swiss Guard will direct the visitors to the Office. The visit to the necropolis ends back at the Excavations Office.
  • On occasion, the basilica and the excavations may be closed for unforeseen reasons. In such cases, the Scavi Office will attempt to reschedule those groups affected by the closing. When this is not possible, any reservation deposit will be refunded.

    Excavations Office
    Fabbrica di San Pietro
    00120 Vatican City
    Tel. +39 06 6988.5318
    Fax +39 06 6987.3017 - 6988.5518
    E-Mail: scavi@fsp.va

    href="http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/institutions_connected/uffscavi/documents/rc_ic_uffscavi_doc_gen-information_20040112_en.html">here to see the official website for more details

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    Vatican Gardens

    The policy for visiting the Vatican Gardens has changed. Now visitors must contact the Vatican Museums directly in order to reserve tickets. (fax number # 011-39-06-69884019 or e-mail visiteguidate.musei@scv.va) The cost is Euro 18,00. Some reductions are available, and certain information is required in order to reserve tickets. For full information, contact the Vatican Museums: 001-39-06-6988-4676.

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    Vatican Library

    The Vatican Library is open only to scholars who know precisely what they wish to consult. Visiting scholars need a letter from their university and two photos. Go directly to the Vatican entrance through Santa Anna’s gate from 9 a.m. till 12 noon.

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