Bring a valid ID, your booking confirmation, a bottle of water, comfortable shoes, and a light layer to cover your shoulders. Leave large bags, tripods and anything sharp at your hotel — anything not allowed inside will need to go into the free cloakroom instead.
BringID, booking confirmation, water, comfortable shoes, a scarf/light jacket
Leave at homeLarge bags, tripods, drones, weapons, sharp objects
Free cloakroomAvailable at the entrance for anything not allowed inside
What gets checked at security
Large umbrellas, video cameras, tripods, weapons and hazardous materials must be checked into the free
cloakroom; alcoholic beverages must be stored there too. There's no need to arrive without any bag at all —
just expect anything bulky to be sent to the cloakroom rather than carried through.
Practical extras worth packing
A phone charger or power bank if you're planning to take a lot of photos
A snack for kids, to eat at a designated refreshment area (food isn't allowed in the galleries)
Comfortable, broken-in shoes — the route is roughly 7 kilometres by the exit
Small bags are generally fine; large backpacks and suitcases must be checked at the free cloakroom near the entrance.
Is there a size limit for bags?
There's no published size limit, but anything larger than a daypack is likely to be sent to the cloakroom.
Is there anywhere to store prohibited items if I bring them by mistake?
Yes — a free cloakroom near the entrance accepts oversized bags and prohibited items, though it adds time to your visit, so it's simpler to just leave them at your hotel.
Last verified: August 2026.
Source: Vatican Museums — Useful Advice for visitors (museivaticani.va).
