Vatican Museums exterior with green lawn, part of small-group guided tour.
Vatican Museums gallery with classical statues and ornate ceiling.
Laocoön and His Sons sculpture in Vatican Museum.
Visitors exploring the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum, admiring detailed frescoes.
Vatican Gardens fountain surrounded by flowering arches on open bus tour.
Vatican Gardens with St. Peter's Basilica dome in the background, Rome.
Vatican Gardens aerial view with pathways and statues, part of the Open Bus Tour with Museum Access.

Vatican Museums Tickets with Vatican Gardens Open Bus Tour, Rome

Rome
Landmarks
Google Verified Seller

Duration: 3 hours (approx.)

Audio guide

Access to multilingual audio guide

Get your booking confirmed instantly

Explore Rome's Vatican Museums Tickets with Vatican Gardens Open Bus Tour for an exclusive visit to one of its most popular attractions, bypassing long queues thanks to reserved entry tickets. Discover the serene beauty of the Vatican Gardens, a lush retreat covering a third of Vatican City’s 44 hectares and once exclusively enjoyed by popes since opening to visitors in 2014. This tour offers both historical insight and tranquil relaxation within Rome's iconic sites.

A unique Vatican City experience—start with a scenic open-top bus tour of the lush Vatican Gardens, then explore the historic museums on your own.

Ride through history as you glide past Italian, French, and English-style landscapes covering nearly half of Vatican City, all while tuning into a multilingual audio guide.

Skip the long lines and step straight into the Vatican Museums, home to world-famous treasures like the Raphael Rooms and classical sculptures.

Stand beneath Michelangelo’s masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, where the breathtaking Last Judgment and Creation of Adam come to life.

Vatican Gardens tour by open bus with a multilingual audio guide

Entry tickets to the Vatican Museums

Access to Sistine Chapel

Audio guide for Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Live guide

Vatican Museums exterior with green lawn, part of small-group guided tour.

Vatican Museums exterior with green lawn, part of small-group guided tour.

As one of the most sought-after attractions in Rome, the Vatican attracts hordes of visitors. With reserved entry tickets, you can be sure you won't be spending your vacation time in the waiting queues. The Vatican Gardens (also Giardini Vaticani) is a green oasis renowned as the pope’s personal garden where he returns to relax and unwind. They cover one-third of Vatican City's 44 hectares. Since 2014, visitors are invited to relish in the same exquisite scenery that was once exclusively available to popes of the past.

At the meeting point, you will receive assistance to board the minibus, after which you can admire the amazing manicured lawns, fountains, sculptures, and buildings. The Fontana dell'Aquilone and Fontana della Galera are among the most striking fountains you will find in the whole garden. Moreover, the historic building of the Governor’s Palace stands out among tourists due to its imposing structure. You can spend some time visiting the Grotta di Lourdes, an artificial cave designed to replicate its famous namesake in France. Another monument to surely catch your attention is the Casino of Pius IV, a 16th-century summer house designed by Pirro Ligorio.

With your ticket, you can also visit the lavish interiors of the Vatican Museum. It boasts one of the most impressive art collections in the world. Lastly, do not leave without seeing Michelangelo’s revered frescoes adorning the ceilings of the Sistine Chapel.

Vatican Museums gallery with classical statues and ornate ceiling.

Vatican Museums gallery with classical statues and ornate ceiling.

Laocoön and His Sons sculpture in Vatican Museum.

Laocoön and His Sons sculpture in Vatican Museum.

Visitors exploring the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum, admiring detailed frescoes.

Visitors exploring the Gallery of Maps in the Vatican Museum, admiring detailed frescoes.

What to bring

  • A valid ID or student card (for reduced-price tickets)

  • Comfortable shoes for exploring the museums

  • A printed or digital copy of your booking voucher

What's not allowed

  • Large bags, backpacks, or luggage (cloakroom available)

  • Sleeveless tops, short shorts, or hats (strict dress code applies)

  • Tripods, selfie sticks, or professional camera gear

  • Food and drinks inside the Museums

Accessibility

  • The open bus tour is not wheelchair accessible

  • The Vatican Museums have ramps and elevators for easy accessibility

Additional info

  • Arrive at least 30 minutes early at the Vatican Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano

  • After security, head to the 'Open Bus Garden' desk (first on the left) — not the usual Guided Tours desk

  • The bus tour lasts approx. 45–60 minutes, with no stops along the route

  • Audio guide available in 7 languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Russian

  • Entry to the Museums is timed — late arrivals cannot be accommodated

  • Children under 7 years are not permitted on the Open Bus Tour

Vatican Gardens fountain surrounded by flowering arches on open bus tour.

Vatican Gardens fountain surrounded by flowering arches on open bus tour.

Vatican Gardens with St. Peter's Basilica dome in the background, Rome.

Vatican Gardens with St. Peter's Basilica dome in the background, Rome.

Customer Reviews

Discover what our customers are saying about their experiences

4.3

Loading reviews...

5
-
4
-
3
-
2
-
1
-

Operating hours

Vatican Museums

Monday
8:00am - 8:00pm • last entry 6:00pm
Tuesday
8:00am - 8:00pm • last entry 6:00pm
Wednesday
8:00am - 8:00pm • last entry 6:00pm
Thursday
8:00am - 8:00pm • last entry 6:00pm
Friday
8:00am - 8:00pm • last entry 6:00pm
Saturday
8:00am - 8:00pm • last entry 6:00pm
Sunday
Closed
  • Timings are displayed in the venue's time zone.
  • Closed on 1st Jan 2026, 6th Jan 2026, 11th Feb 2026, 6th Apr 2026 and 1st May 2026.

Gardens of Vatican City

Monday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Tuesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Wednesday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Thursday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Friday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday
9:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday
Closed
  • Timings are displayed in the venue's time zone.

By proceeding with any booking via Staybook, you acknowledge and agree to adhere to all the .

FAQs

You should bring a valid ID or student card if you're eligible for reduced-price tickets, comfortable shoes suitable for exploring museums, and a printed or digital copy of your booking voucher.
Your ticket includes an open bus tour of the Vatican Gardens with a multilingual audio guide, entry tickets to the Vatican Museums, and access to the Sistine Chapel.
No, this tour does not include a live guide for visiting the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. You will explore these areas on your own.
The specific restrictions for the Vatican Gardens are not detailed; however, general visitor guidelines include no large bags or professional camera gear as per standard rules in such attractions.
No, a strict dress code applies which prohibits wearing sleeveless tops. You should also avoid short shorts or hats.
You'll enjoy an open-top bus tour through lush Vatican Gardens and explore historic museums independently. Highlights include viewing Italian, French, and English-style landscapes, entering the famous Raphael Rooms, classical sculptures, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
Yes, you can use the available cloakroom for storing your large bags or luggage while visiting the museums.
With reserved entry tickets included in this tour package, you can skip the lines and enter the museums directly.
Large bags, backpacks, or luggage are not permitted inside; however, a cloakroom is available. Additionally, tripods, selfie sticks, and professional camera gear are prohibited, as well as food and drinks.
The open bus tour of the Vatican Gardens includes a multilingual audio guide, but no audio guide is provided for the Vatican Museums or Sistine Chapel.

You might also like ...

Explore more experiences in Rome.

From
5,712per person
1

Were Online

How may

Why travellers trust Staybook

We've served 50 million+ guests and are here to serve you better

Premium support, curated experiences, and trusted reviews so every trip feels effortless.

Guests hosted
50 million+

Happy travellers across 12,000+ carefully curated experiences worldwide.

In the media
Featured brands

Recognised and recommended by leading travel and lifestyle publishers.

Support
24×7 help center

Live chat with local experts before, during, and after your experience.