The Vatican Museums are open Monday to Saturday, 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. (last entry 6:00 p.m.), and closed on Sundays except the last Sunday of the month, which has free entry from 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (last entry 12:30 p.m.). The Museums are also closed on several religious and public holidays through the year.
Last Sunday of the month9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. (last entry 12:30 p.m.), free entry
Other SundaysClosed
Annual closure dates
In addition to regular Sundays, the Vatican Museums are closed on:
January 1 and 6
February 11
March 19
April 6
May 1
June 29 (Saints Peter and Paul)
August 14 and 15
November 1
December 8, 25 and 26
The free last-Sunday opening is suspended whenever it falls on Easter Sunday, June 29, Christmas Day,
December 26 or December 31 — check the calendar for that particular month if your trip lands near one of
these dates.
Visitors are required to leave the galleries 30 minutes before the official closing time, so plan your
route accordingly if you're arriving later in the day.
Closure dates can occasionally change — always cross-check against the
official Vatican Museums website close to your travel date.
Only on the last Sunday of each month, with free entry and shorter hours (9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., last entry 12:30 p.m.). All other Sundays they're closed.
What time should I arrive to avoid the queue?
Arriving at or just before the 8:00 a.m. opening, with a pre-booked timed ticket, gives you the shortest wait of the day.
Are the Vatican Museums open on public holidays?
No — they close on a set list of Italian and Vatican religious holidays, including January 1 and 6 and December 25–26.
Last verified: August 2026.
Source: Vatican Museums official website (museivaticani.va) — opening hours and closures page.
