Vatican Museums Entrance: How to Get to the Vatican by Metro
- From
- Roma Termini station
- To
- Vatican Museums
- By
- Metro line A, toward Battistini
- Time
- 6 metro stops from Termini to Ottaviano and about 500 m on foot
- Cost
- 1.50 € for an ATAC BIT ticket, valid for 100 minutes
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To get to the Vatican, take metro line A toward Battistini and get off at Ottaviano or Cipro. Both stops are about 500 m in a straight line from the Vatican Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano. From Termini station it is 6 stops to Ottaviano, with no changes, on a 1.50 € BIT ticket. You can also get there on bus 49, which stops opposite the Museums, five other buses, tram 19 and taxis, which have a rank in front of the entrance. Bear in mind that the Museums and the basilica have separate entrances: St. Peter's Basilica's entrance is in St. Peter's Square.
Step by step
- 1
Buy a BIT ticket and enter the metro at Termini.
The ATAC BIT ticket costs 1.50 € and is valid for 100 minutes from validation. If you will be getting around Rome a lot, ATAC sells 24-hour (8.50 €), 48-hour (15 €) and 72-hour (22 €) tickets.
- 2
Take line A (orange) toward Battistini.
From Termini you will pass Repubblica, Barberini, Spagna, Flaminio and Lepanto. Line A crosses Rome from southeast to northwest between Anagnina and Battistini.
- 3
Get off at Ottaviano or Cipro.
Ottaviano is the sixth stop from Termini and is about 480 m in a straight line from the Museums entrance. Cipro is the next one, about 500 m away. The Museums recommend both.
- 4
Walk to the Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano.
The entrance is right against the Vatican wall. Leave yourself time: your ticket has a time slot, and you will go through a security check first.
- 5
For the basilica, go to St. Peter's Square.
The basilica entrance is at the security check under the right-hand colonnade of the square, about 570 m in a straight line from the Museums entrance; on foot you have to walk around the wall.
Tips
- Check museivaticani.va before you set out: the Museums are closed on Sundays, except the last of the month, and on several holidays.
- If you are going to the basilica on a Wednesday morning, expect closures for the general audience, according to tour listings.
- Plan the trip with ATAC's journey planner, which the Museums website links to.
- Bus 49 drops you opposite the Museums: it is the best option if you want to walk as little as possible.
Other ways to get there
| Method | Time | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 49 | Depends on where you start | 1.50 € (BIT ticket) | Stops opposite the Vatican Museums. |
| Buses 32, 81 and 982 | Depends on where you start | 1.50 € (BIT ticket) | Stop at Piazza del Risorgimento, about 350 m in a straight line from the Museums entrance. |
| Buses 492 and 990 | Depends on where you start | 1.50 € (BIT ticket) | Stop at Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni, in Prati. |
| Tram 19 | Depends on where you start | 1.50 € (BIT ticket) | Stops at Piazza del Risorgimento. |
| Taxi | Depends on traffic | By the meter | There is a taxi rank opposite the Vatican Museums, handy when you come out. |
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Vatican by metro?
On line A toward Battistini to Ottaviano or Cipro. Both stops are about 500 m in a straight line from the Museums entrance.
How do you get to the Vatican from Termini?
Take line A at Termini toward Battistini and get off at Ottaviano, 6 stops away, with no changes. The BIT ticket costs 1.50 €.
Which metro stop is closest to St. Peter's Square?
Ottaviano, on line A. From there you walk to the square, south of the Museums.
Which bus stops at the Vatican Museums?
The 49 stops opposite the Museums. The 32, 81 and 982 stop at Piazza del Risorgimento, and the 492 and 990 at Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni.
Sources