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Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

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Sistine Chapel

See all things to do
See all things to do
Sistine Chapel
4.5
20,086
#2 of 54 things to do in Vatican City
Historic Sites • Architectural Buildings • Art Museums • Churches & Cathedrals
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9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
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About
Probably the most famous chapel in the world because of its incredible artwork, notably "The Last Judgment," Michelangelo's stunning fresco covering 10,000 square feet of the ceiling and wall.
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Admission tickets
from $5.84
All you need to step foot in the door.
Full view
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The area
Address
Neighborhood: Vatican / Borgo
Frocked priests, colorful Swiss Guards, insistent souvenir shop owners, flag-waving tour guides, and pilgrims from around the world. This is the Vatican and Borgo, Rome's most recognized neighborhood which acts as Vatican City's front yard. Aside from the souvenir boutiques and a few food spots, the only business conducted here is papal. In the daytime, the tiny medieval sector bustles with holy activity, as visitors vie for elbow room, or stand in line for a visit. Once the sun sets, the neighborhood is transformed into a quiet and picturesque hamlet.
How to get there
  • Ottaviano - San Pietro - Musei Vaticani • 10 min walk
  • Cipro • 10 min walk
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Attractions
1,967 within 6 miles
Vatican Grottoes
451
194 ftSpeciality Museums • Religious Sites
St. Peter's Basilica
41,118
287 ftHistoric Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
La Pieta
4,575
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Vatican Necropolis
872
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Cemeteries
Porta Santa
601
239 ftPoints of Interest & Landmarks
St. Peter Enthroned
317
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Cupola di San Pietro
3,358
0.1 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Vatican City
7,197
0.1 miHistoric Walking Areas • Religious Sites
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159
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
20,089 reviews
Excellent
13,718
Very good
3,357
Average
1,853
Poor
646
Terrible
516
Michael G
Wicklow, Ireland34 contributions
Amazing
Mar 2022 • Couples
Amazing place to see so much history. To do this you have to do the museum first we got a tour guide this I would not recommend as the rush you through the museum not stopping very often to look at things or take pictures do it on your own and take your time walking through so much to see. The chapel you have to do on your own as your guides not allowed in and no pictures allowed in there and to be silent in the chapel to. There was a Priest there and we had a prayer said for us a nice touch but again do it on your own don’t waste money on the tour guide
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mibaba4
175 contributions
Very beautiful place but crowded!
May 2022
I booked a small group guided tour for the early afternoon as that is what was available on the day of our visit. First of all the tour location or meeting point was hard to find. Turns out the morning tour meets in one location and the afternoon tour meets at a different location. The tour guide was really good. The walk up to the beginning of tour was long not only the walk but also all the information and history that is presented to you. It was a really hot and humid day and we followed protocol wearing our face masks. The Vatican museums that you have to go through before you enter the chapel are amazing but have to move because there are other people behind you. Tour groups are everywhere. When we finally got to the chapel I was shocked to see hundreds of people all squished together. Then the ushers had us move to the side of the room. At this point I lost everyone from my group. I moved towards the back of the room and started to look around. I was feeling overwhelmed and that is probably inevitable. I was dealing with my own personal emotions because I couldn't believe I was finally standing in this very iconic place that is so meaningful for thousands of people. At the same time I was concerned as to where everyone from my group had gone. The tour guide had to track us down. When instructed by the tour guide we proceeded to exit the chapel and continued with the tour which was the St Peter's Basilica.
Written June 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
clivefield
Harare, Zimbabwe23 contributions
well worth it!
Aug 2019
I booked a day ticket for the Musei Vaticano and this includes the Sistine Chapel, which was the highlight of the trip. What struck me most when I finally gained access (be warned: because the SC is so popular, queues are long and it took me more than a hour to get inside) was that the Sistine Chapel is not bigger. It is after all a Chapel. The paintings are vivid and the entire cieling is spectacular and I recommend you sit and drink it all in, allow at least 45 minutes to marvel at all the paintings and detail because it really needs that much time to look at it all.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Stefanie H
Lincoln, NE1,341 contributions
Beautiful
Mar 2022
The Sistine Chapel is at the end of all of the Vatican Museums, and it is more crowded because it has seating along the sides. Photos are not allowed, and the security periodically makes announcements that there are no photos and that everyone should be silent. The artwork is beautiful!
Written March 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
riju1500
Dallas, TX22 contributions
Little tricks to best use your time
Jun 2022
This was our 2nd trip to the Sistine Chapel. Keep at least 4 hours (ideal 6 hours) to visit this place. DO NOT take the guided tours over 10 people - the guides will try to rush you through. Either take a personal guide or a small group (under 10) or a self audio guide. Pace yourself as the best is towards the end. Take a break and have lunch near the brass cone.
Written June 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mariliis91
Tallinn, Estonia38 contributions
Read before or take a guide
Apr 2022
I do understand that it's a great piece of world's art history and so on, but it was just good. I suggest to go there (Vatican Museum) with a guide if you're not familiar with the history and the themes created on these frescos. It's not allowed to take pictures there (just Google them - better quality anyways) and you have to be quiet - and please do so, it's a sacred place.
Written April 24, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
AleidaWilhelmina
The Hague, The Netherlands75 contributions
Must see !
Mar 2022
A visit to the Sistine Chapel is part of the Vatican museums tour. It is one of the last “stops” of this tour and you can expect a lot of people in this room. Worthwhile and amazing to see the Leonardo da Vinci ! Nippon Japan has ordered the instruction No Photos please since they paid for the restoration of the paintings, we were told (so this instruction is not to prevent damage to the paintings).
Written March 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
BestRegards FromFar
Cape Town Central, South Africa367 contributions
Simply stunning
May 2022
They say that no visit to Rome is complete without visiting the Sistine Chapel... I think it's right! Despite the HUGE crowds it is still worth it and the art really moved me. We did not know that you are guided through the whole museum before you arrive at the chapel so make sure to go well before closing time. Benches on the sides allowed us to sit down and take it in (not long before closing time) we noticed it was getting quieter so the timing was not bad. We booked tickets more than a week prior online and they were already almost sol out. Upon arrival we did not need to queue and simply entered fast, well worth it I think.
Written May 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mgsnorwich
Norwich, UK1,020 contributions
Mesmerising chapel
Sep 2020
You arrive in the Sistine Chapel at the end of the tour of the Vatican museums. Top tip: hire a specialist guide who, before you enter the Chapel, will have spent some significant time with you explaining exactly what you will see in the ceiling paintings and on the wall behind the altar (we have used Emma Hamilton twice and is “worth her weight in gold”). There is no talking or photography allowed so knowing what to look for is paramount. The Michelangelo paintings are mesmerising.
This is the room where the Cardinals select the next Pope and you can see the fireplace where the famous smoke originates when a new Pope is elected.
Visiting in September 2020, there were few people so one was able to get an unhurried viewing of the paintings
Written October 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
JohnBoy
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK31 contributions
Beautiful
Jan 2020
Out of all the chapels I have visited all over the world the Sistine is by far the most beautiful and by far the most intricate when it comes to detailing.
You could easily spend 4/5 hours in here exploring and examining all the small little details around.
We got there for around 7.30am and there was no queue but as soon as it hit 8.15am the queue was all around the court yard. If you have the legs I would definitely recommend climbing to the top rather than taking the lift. You really can get lost in here.
Written January 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sistine Chapel
Sistine Chapel is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Buy tickets in advance on Tripadvisor. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund.
Sistine Chapel admission prices can vary. Entrance tickets currently cost $5.85, while a popular guided tour starts around $3.71 per person. See all 968 Sistine Chapel tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
Sistine Chapel tickets are known to sell out fast, and same-day tickets may not be available. We recommend booking e-tickets tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 968 Sistine Chapel tickets and tours on Tripadvisor