Are you considering a stop at the Vatican City with kids while visiting Rome? Enjoying this incredible country can be very challenging with young kids. In this guide, I have provided helpful knowledge and insights from our trip that may better prepare you for your family trip to the Vatican.
The Vatican “city” is a country; in fact, the Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. It is a beautiful place filled with culture, ancient history, and magnificent art. This UNESCO World Heritage site, home of the Pope and Roman Catholic Church is a place worth visiting; however, it was a bit challenging with a toddler. Of all the cities we saw on our two-week trip to Italy, the Vatican City was hands down the hardest to visit with young children.
Should I travel to the Vatican with kids
There is such historical significance to the Vatican that if you are planning a family trip to Rome, it would be hard not to seize the opportunity.
Of all the cities we visited on our two-week trip in Italy, the Vatican was by far the most challenging to enjoy with a two-year-old.
Truthfully, to enjoy traveling to the Vatican with kids depends on your children, their ages, and their temperaments.
I would encourage you to ask these questions before planning a trip to the Vatican with kids:
- Is the Vatican City on your Rome bucket list?
- Will you have another opportunity to visit the Vatican City?
- How do your younger children tolerate museums and crowds?
- Are you okay with dedicating only a half day to the Vatican Museums?
Reasons why you should visit the Vatican with kids
The historical significance is paramount to those with both religious and secular beliefs.
- Take advantage of this unique experience.
- If you have older children that are school-age, they may appreciate the beautiful works of art.
- Visiting the Vatican with kids would be a great cultural experience for them.
- It could end up being a great trip and a great experience for the whole family.
- A perfect way of adding another country visited to your list!
- It is an excellent addition if you travel to the city of Rome with kids.
“The Centre of Christianity since the foundation of Saint Peter’s Basilica by Constantine (4th century), and at a later stage the permanent seat of the Popes, the Vatican is at once the pre-eminently holy city for Catholics, an important archaeological site of the Roman world and one of the major cultural reference points of both Christians and non-Christians.”WHC.UNESCO
Reasons to postpone visiting the Vatican with kids
- Avoid planning your Vatican visit during the high season. We happened to be visiting on Easter weekend, and the crowds were horrible. Both the city and the museums were packed. The crowds felt particularly claustrophobic, especially inside the museums.
- The museums in the Vatican City are pretty large and are not “fun” for little kids. It’s important to note that the Vatican Museum can take a long time to get through, and snacks are prohibited in the museums.
- The lines to enter the museums can be pretty long- and I mean long. There is no way my toddler would tolerate standing in line for hours.
- Are your kids too young to enjoy (or tolerate) museums? We tend to avoid large adult museums on our travels unless it is a small museum or one with a children’s center.
- Unlike cities like (Florence and Genoa), there really isn’t many fun things to do for younger kids in the Vatican City.
The Vatican City wasn’t built with kids in mind.
- Related Post: The Best Toddler and Baby Packing List
Sites to see at the Vatican
Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel
The Vatican Museum is enormous; one could easily spend hours walking from one exhibit to another. From the magnificent statues to the painted ceilings- it truly is the most impressive museum I have ever visited. For many of the main galleries, non-flash photography is permitted.
To see the Sistine Chapel, you must walk through all museum exhibits. When you enter the chapel, it can be a bit crowded, and you must be quiet. All photography is prohibited.
The Vatican Gardens
Aside from St Peters Square, this was my favorite spot to visit with our toddler.
Everything was well-manicured, providing a safe place for my toddler to run around, and after a long day it was nice to see him having a great time.
It is prohibited to walk on the grass; however, we did see several kids running around chasing the birds.
There is a cafe right towards the exit of the Sistine Chapel, opening up to the Vatican Gardens. Seating is available both inside and outside. From my understanding, you can only access the gardens by touring the museum.
St Peter’s Square
St Peter’s square, is the main square of the Vatican City State, and would be my top choice for visiting the Vatican with kids. It is a massive area that is pedestrian-only. The beautiful and enormous site has plenty of space to run around. The columns are impressive; it’s truly the most magnificent square I have seen.
There are also a lot of vendors and restaurants in the area, which gives you an opportunity to buy some snacks for the day.
I would consider this the most toddler-friendly historical site in the Vatican City, and a good option for the entire family to enjoy.
St Peter’s Basilica
Translated as “the Royal House,” the Basilica is the “Holy Place” and one of the most famous churches located in the Vatican.
The Basilica is decorated in the beautiful Renaissance style, with artwork featured by some of the most famous artists in the world, including Michelangelo.
The Basilica has free admission to enter the church; however, the line to enter is significant and can stretch outside far beyond the entrance. It can take hours just to enter.
St Peter’s Dome of the Basilica
The Dome of the Basilica is the largest in the world. To climb the Dome, you must purchase tickets inside for a small fee.
There is an elevator option for a few Euros more. Many have said that the view from atop is well worth the wait, giving you a beautiful view of the Vatican City.
You can purchase tickets here:
My tips for planning a trip to the Vatican City with kids
Break the days up
I would suggest planning a half day of museums if you have younger children. Between wait times and the size of the museums, it can be too much for little kids.
Plan ahead
Likely, you won’t be able to visit the Vatican Museum and the Basilica in one day. If your Vatican City itinerary is for one day only, I would suggest choosing between the two.
Book tickets ahead of time.
Once you have your family visit to Italy planned, go ahead and decide on a small group tour or a private tour and book these tickets ahead of time.
For the Vatican, you can purchase different guided tours: Audio, group, or private tours.
I would suggest purchasing “skip the line” tickets for any entry.
Purchase entrance tickets here:
Bring snacks and water
Snacks are prohibited inside the museums, but I would suggest you have some available for standing in the long lines. You are permitted to bring a water bottle inside the museums.
Entertainment
Have some entertainment. I like purchasing a couple of new toys before a big trip. These are great for providing entertainment while standing in lines or eating at restaurants
Don’t force it
If your little one is having meltdowns and having a bad day, it’s probably not ideal to bring them into a museum. Be flexible, and manage your expectations. Patience is so important.
Our experience
This was the most challenging leg of our two-week trip, so much so that we were tempted to shorten our trip and return home. The meltdowns were intense, and we were all exhausted from traveling.
Having patience and flexibility with your little one is vital. The Vatican City isn’t designed for little children, and should be an important consideration when visiting the Vatican with kids.
We only had one day in the Vatican City, and that was all we could manage with a toddler. Visiting during the high season and on Easter weekend was a poor choice. We made the most of the day, and spending the last half in the Vatican Gardens was the perfect way to end our Vatican City trip.
The Vatican Museum
Thankfully, we had purchased the skip-the-line tickets. We were part of a group tour; however, our tour guide let us walk through on our own. This was ideal for us, allowing us to set our own pace.
We walked through all the exhibits without truly admiring and learning about each piece. My husband and I have just accepted that we are currently not in that phase of life.
We spent some time admiring the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. My favorite most awe- inspiring room was the gallery of the tapestries.
The Vatican Gardens was our favorite spot, and can be a great reprieve for the whole family. My son could run around and have fun. My husband and I felt so relieved when we walked outside; we successfully walked through the museum without a meltdown. That is a win!
It was a perfect area to buy food at the cafe and sit outside.
We didn’t visit the Basilica. The line was too extensive to enter, and we had already had such an entire day.
I encourage you to check out my posts on tips for enjoying a trip to Italy with little kids for more tips.
A one-day itinerary of the Vatican City with a toddler:
Morning at St Peter’s Square
After dropping off our luggage at the Airbnb we walked straight to St Peters Square. After about an hour my toddler had a major meltdown that lasted for an hour.
walked the neighborhoods
We walked the neighborhoods of the Vatican while my son was napping in the carrier. It was rather nice.
Afternoon at the vatican museum, sistine Chapel & Vatican Gardens
The afternoon we spent at the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and finished our day at the Vatican Gardens.
St Peters Square, although massive, was filled with so many people. The crowd was a bit overwhelming. Thankfully, my son was able to run around for a bit.
Dress code for the Vatican museums and the Basilica
The strict dress code for everyone is relatively easy to follow.
They must have their knees and shoulders covered. I would suggest your kids follow this dress code out of respect.
For the hot summer months, it is essential to plan ahead especially with the hot summer heat.
My recommendation for dressing appropriately during the summer months, especially on those hot summer days would be the following:
Women – wear a lovely cool dress that is length-appropriate. To cover your arms, bring in a shaw or cardigan.
Men– wear a nice shirt with knee-length shorts or pants. Jeans are allowed.
- Related Post: My experience: How to enjoy a family trip to Italy
- Related Post: The Best Travel Items for Your Baby and Toddler
Additional questions
What is the best way to travel to the Vatican City
By train
Roma S. Pietro is the main train station, and about a 10-15 minute walk to St Peter’s Square.
Do you need a passport to enter the Vatican City?
No. Although the Vatican State is a separate country, you do not need a passport.
Are Backpacks allowed in the Vatican?
Yes. However, they have to go through security checks. We had a baby carrier with us and had no issues.
What day is the Sistine Chapel free to the general public?
“Free Sundays” is the the last Sunday of every month. Expect these Sundays to be extremely busy. I would suggest avoiding these Sundays if you are traveling with kids.
Can you walk through the Vatican City for free?
Yes. This is an excellent opportunity to visit St Peters Square.
When is the best time of year to visit the Vatican Museum and St Peter’s Basilica?
I would recommend visiting the museums in the early morning when they open.
Try to avoid high season (April – October) when you plan your Vatican trip.
Are children free to visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel?
Children under six years of age have free entry.
Are strollers allowed in the Vatican?
Yes, but I would strongly advise against a stroller. It can be so crowded that the stroller may be too much of a hassle.
I would recommend a carrier! Check out my two favorite here
My thoughts
If you do decide to visit the Vatican City with younger children, I encourage you to manage your expectations. Try to make the most out of this unique experience; and above all, make those memories!
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