Vatican Museums opening hours
The regular hours are Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 20:00. The last entry is at 18:00, so the museums do not shut their doors at 18:00. Visitors are asked to leave the rooms 30 minutes before closing, which means you have to be out of the galleries by about 19:30.
The same hours apply to the Sistine Chapel, because it is part of the museum route. The Vatican Gardens and the necropolis follow their own calendar and are closed on Sundays and holidays, also on the free Sundays of the museums.
Hours by day
The pattern for a normal week in 2026.
| Day | Opening | Last entry |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 08:00–20:00 | 18:00 |
| Sunday | Closed | – |
| Last Sunday of the month | 09:00–14:00, free entry | 12:30 |
| Public holidays on the closing list | Closed | – |
On a free Sunday the rooms are cleared from 13:30. If the last Sunday falls on Easter Sunday, 29 June, 25 December, 26 December or 31 December, the museums stay closed that day. The free Sunday page has the details.
Vatican Museums tours by time of day
Morning entry, guided visits and early-access options, with live prices and availability.
Closing days in 2026
On top of the normal Sundays, the museums are closed on these dates.
| Month | Closed on |
|---|---|
| January | 1 and 6 January |
| February | 11 February |
| March | 19 March |
| April | 6 April |
| May | 1 May |
| June | 29 June |
| August | 14 and 15 August |
| November | 1 November |
| December | 8, 25 and 26 December |
Do not work out closing days from a general Roman holiday calendar, because the museums keep their own list. An annual calendar for 2026 and 2027 marks closed days by colour. For 24 and 31 December, shorter hours can apply, so check the current calendar before you go. For dates in 2027, use the calendar as well.
Other visits have their own calendar
Do not apply the museum hours to every Vatican booking.
| Visit | Sundays and holidays | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Museums and Sistine Chapel | Closed, except the last Sunday of the month | Hours as in the table above |
| Vatican Gardens | Closed | Closed on free museum Sundays too |
| Necropolis on Via Triumphalis | Closed | Booked separately |
| Papal Palace and Secret Garden, Castel Gandolfo | – | Separate booking and calendar |
If you want the Vatican Gardens in the same trip, pick a weekday. A Sunday visit to the museums will not include the garden, even on a free Sunday.
How to use the hours
Practical points for planning the day.
Do not arrive at the last entry
A late entrance shortens the time you have inside. With the last entry at 18:00 and the rooms clearing at 19:30, you would have little time for the Sistine Chapel at the end.
Sistine Chapel →08:00 is regular opening
The first entry is at 08:00. A ticket sold as early entry has to offer something more than that time, so read the details.
Early entry →Pick the day first
Because the ticket is valid only on the day of issue, choose a date outside Sundays and the closing days before you pay.
Tickets →Count the time you really have
If you enter at 08:00, you have about 11.5 hours before the rooms clear at 19:30. If you enter at 18:00, you have 90 minutes at most. The earlier you start, the less you need to hurry.
Think about the season
Summer is the hottest time of year in Rome, and autumn is the wettest. The best time page looks at months and hours together.
Best time →Hours of St Peter's Basilica
A separate building with separate hours.
The museums and St Peter's Basilica do not share an opening schedule or an entrance. If you plan to see both on one day, check the hours of the basilica too, which are covered in the guide to St Peter's opening hours. Do not plan on a shortcut from the Sistine Chapel to the basilica.
Opening hours: frequently asked questions
What time do the Vatican Museums open?
At 08:00 from Monday to Saturday. They close at 20:00, and the last entry is at 18:00. On free Sundays the hours are 09:00 to 14:00.
Are the museums open on Sundays?
Only on the last Sunday of the month, with free entry, and not when it falls on one of the excluded dates. All other Sundays are closed.
Do the museums close at 18:00?
No. 18:00 is the last entry. The galleries stay open until 20:00, and the rooms start to clear 30 minutes earlier.
Which holidays are closed in 2026?
1 and 6 January, 11 February, 19 March, 6 April, 1 May, 29 June, 14 and 15 August, 1 November, and 8, 25 and 26 December.
Can I still get in at 19:00?
No. The last entry is at 18:00 Monday to Saturday, and on a free Sunday at 12:30. The rooms clear 30 minutes before closing, so a late entry leaves you very little time.
Are the Vatican Gardens open on Sundays?
No. The gardens and the necropolis are closed on Sundays and holidays, including the free Sundays of the museums. See the Vatican Gardens page.