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Vatican City

The world's smallest country holds its greatest art: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica and 2,000 years of history.

  • Currency € Euro (€)
  • Language Italian, Latin
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The world's smallest country holds its greatest art: Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel, St Peter's Basilica and 2,000 years of history.

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Vatican City is the world's smallest independent state, yet it holds an astonishing concentration of art, faith and history. This tiny enclave within Rome is the spiritual heart of the Catholic Church and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its entirety.

Here you will stand beneath Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel ceiling, gaze up into the vast dome of St Peter's Basilica, and walk galleries brimming with the treasures of the Vatican Museums.

Best experienced mindfully and early, before the crowds, it rewards the culture-loving traveller with some of the most profound and beautiful sights in the world, all within a short stroll.

When to go

Weather & timing in Vatican City RIGHT NOW 36° mostly clear

Best Apr–May, Oct · Shoulder Feb, Jun–Jul

  1. Jan / -4°
  2. Feb / -2°
  3. Mar 12° /
  4. Apr 18° /
  5. May 24° / 14°
  6. Jun 28° / 18°
  7. Jul 30° / 20°
  8. Aug 28° / 18°
  9. Sep 24° / 14°
  10. Oct 18° /
  11. Nov 12° /
  12. Dec / -2°
Best for
  • Culture
  • Cuisine
  • Landscape
  • History
At a glance
Sunshine 7 hr/day (est.)
Rain days 8 days/mo (est.)
Wettest December · 60mm
Driest June · 10mm
Part of Mediterranean Europe →
Vatican City monthly temperature & rainfall charts
Things to do

Nature, culture & hidden gems

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We're hand-picking the standout places, hidden gems and can't-miss activities in Vatican City. Meanwhile, the cities above are a great starting point.

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Curated Vatican City itineraries

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