Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel
4.5
Historic SitesArchitectural BuildingsArt MuseumsChurches & Cathedrals
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
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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AU$63.84
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: 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 neighbourhood 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 neighbourhood 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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See what travellers are saying
  • Katie G
    619 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Would only visit once.
    A place we would only visit once. It's worth seeing everything and we did a tour and our guide was amazing and very knowledgeable. It takes a good half a day to see everything so allow enough time to see everything.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 3 March 2024
  • Camila Abisai C
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Virtual tour to an old art venue
    The Sistine Chapel was built between 1473 and 1481 during the papacy of Sixtus IV, being a prominent example of Renaissance art. What catches your eye as soon as you enter is the mural painting found in every corner of the Chapel. This type of painting is known as fresco, in which pigments are applied on a layer of wet plaster. This allows the colors to penetrate the plaster as it dries, resulting in a durable and resistant painting. These frescoes were painted by renowned artists of the Renaissance, such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Perugino. The importance of the Sistine Chapel lies in its historical and artistic value. It is a sacred place for the Catholic Church and has been the setting for important events throughout history, including papal conclaves, where a new Pope is elected. As someone who took a virtual tour, I can say that each stroke is impressive. Every piece of art found there makes you want to appreciate it for a long time, and the truth is that it's worth it, as it is something wonderful. During the Renaissance, the Sistine Chapel was a place frequented by the cultural and religious elite of the time. Artists, intellectuals, and religious leaders, as for those who lived near the Sistine Chapel at that time, were mainly the clergy and employees of the Vatican. In conclusion, what I want to say is that the Sistine Chapel was a place made to be appreciated and admired. It is a jewel of art, and each fresco seems to be telling a different story. I personally loved it, and I would really like to be able to visit it myself someday.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 March 2024
  • Jaqueline Monse... R
    Mexico City, Mexico1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sistine Chapel Review
    The Sistine Chapel stands as an unparalleled masterpiece of Renaissance artistry and spiritual significance. Its awe-inspiring ceiling, adorned with Michelangelo's iconic frescoes, captivates visitors with its intricate detail and profound narrative. From the creation of Adam to the Last Judgment, each panel is a testament to the genius of its creator and the enduring power of human creativity. The chapel's architectural grandeur and historical importance make it a must-visit destination for art enthusiasts and pilgrims alike, offering an immersive experience that transcends time and space.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled on business
    Written 5 March 2024
  • Abigail G
    Mexico City, Mexico1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Sight
    Built in 1473, this is a masterpiece of Renaissance art that mainly consists of frescoes representing different scenes from the bible putting God at the center of it, including the iconic depiction of the creation of Adam, where God reaches out to touch Adam's hand, characterized by their vibrant colors, intricate details, and dramatic compositions. Today, the chapel continues to be a major tourist attraction, drawing millions of visitors each year who come to admire its magnificent art and architecture, altough back in 1512 when it was recently created often visited this chapel religious figures such as Popes, artists, nobility and some pilgrims. It's one of my favourite attractions because of the artistic and architecture work made by Sandro Botticelli and the main representative of the Renaissance : Michelangelo, the architecture attributed to Giovanni de Dolci, Baccio Pontelli. This beautiful sight never ceases to amaze me and each time I see it I discover new things, even if it’s in the ceiling, in the walls of in the columns or even in the floor aligned carefully to create a delicate pattern, it absolutely deserves to be appreciated by the whole world.
    Visited July 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 5 March 2024
  • Frigyes Balog
    Hungary26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Take the long way
    It is well worth the time to go through the museum first. Let me tell you why. The whole museum is like an interactive living bible walkthrough and when you get to Sistine Chapel (where you are not allowed to take photos, but I did) it’s like the top of the crown. You glimpse the creation of Adam. Mesmerizing. Magnificent. Epic.
    Visited August 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 8 March 2024
  • Lacobrigense
    Lagos, Portugal6,364 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It's the kind of place you should visit at least once in your life.
    Magnificent. An unmissable tour for anyone in Rome. We chose to pay for a guide who speaks Portuguese, from a tourist agency in the Vatican. In addition to the explanations of the artwork, it saved us time. It shortened the queues at the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. 55.00 euros well invested. If we hadn't paid the tab we would have spent 4 hours in both lines. It's the kind of place you should visit at least once in your life. The beauty of the frescoes, the surprise when identifying biblical passages among all the painted scenes. Contemplating a work of art in person is sensational. It's a shame I can't record the scenes with photos or films.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 9 March 2024
  • William Hutton ™️
    Lincoln, United Kingdom144 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    5* Review on the Sistine Chapel
    It was the best chapel I have ever visited in my entire life, it was very interesting but was incredibly busy, sadly it is illegal to take photographs inside the chapel. You have to book tickets in advance to get into the Sistine Chapel. I would definitely recommend booking tickets to see the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 21 March 2024
  • Massimiliano P
    Novara, Italy47,191 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    So much beauty and so many people
    Evoking the sacredness and artistic beauty of a place like the Sistine Chapel would be almost superfluous and therefore in this review I will limit myself to providing some practical information regarding the visit. The Chapel is located halfway along the tour of the Vatican museums and is the place where the largest public gatherings inevitably take place. Visitors are admitted inside very slowly but once inside they are invited to immediately reach the center of the room and only from that point is it possible to observe the splendid frescoes that cover it. In theory there would be an invitation to remain silent and not take photographs, in practice a bit of everything happens and in the presence of so many people it is not really possible to fully enjoy the visit. The advice is to try to visit half an hour before the museums closing time, at that time there should be a little less crowd but then you will have to hurry to reach the exit in time as it is not really close. Beyond the difficulties linked to the large influx of visitors, it remains one of those places that must be seen at least once in a lifetime.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 21 March 2024
  • Davide G
    Pontedera, Italy68 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Full of masterpieces, but too many too many too many too many people
    As written for the Vatican Museums, the room itself is something magnificent, but unfortunately it is not possible to enjoy it as it deserves. It has now become out of control: they let too many people in to the point that they can't move. This results in a lot of noise and zero time to enjoy all the various details etc. If they were more serious and attentive to the public, they should do it on a limited schedule, as many other world-class museums do. Too bad the god money always comes first...
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 25 March 2024
  • Jer G
    Delta, Canada31 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Cursed at Sistine Chapel
    Busy but breathtaking. You have to expect big crowds, breathe to yourself and stay calm and reflective. The ceiling and his later period wall are otherworldly, really.... I was with 15 high school kids who were great. An older fellow and his wife wanted to push his way past a female teacher and me. He was tall and pushing aggressively. I explained to him that I was sticking with my students. That seemed to offend him. He yelled from 15 meters to me that I was a di$%head. I was a bit surprised by his language in such a holy place and suggested as such. Funny story... I would imagine that he will feel pretty silly afterwards, but maybe he was suffering in some way that made him so volatile. I felt sorry for him, and wish him calm....
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 27 March 2024
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4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles20,385 reviews
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doug y
2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Family
Although we are not religious we were very impressed with the beauty of all the art work…sculptures, tapestries, paintings, etc. It was worth the $ going on a tour to get in the museum quicker and being shown the highlights. The museum only allows so many people from the non-tour line every 15 minutes. We arrived at the museum at 7 am and there was a pretty long line already forming.
Written 28 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jay S
Oslo, Norway238 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Family
If you would like to spend hours admiring beautiful and impressive artworks, then here is the right place. You can access the Sistine chapel and the Dome via the Museum. The tickets of 20 Eur are worth it. If you want to access the Dome, you need to pay extra for the Dome. The museum has lots to offer of paintings, sculptures and exhibitions from other continents as well, which I didn’t expect. If you’re traveling with small children, then I have some useful tips. With small children, you can skip the queue. Walk right to the entrance of the museum. It went smoothly for us until we discovered the lack of lifts (more correctly, the willingness to let us use them), as the guards had to leave their posts to accompany us up and down the lifts. To access several areas, we had to carry the pram through crowded stairs. It was tiring. I would recommend light and small prams or no pram at all.

It was nice to travel during low season, with no one rushing us out of the room. We spent too much time in each room, ended up with limited of time to admire the most important paintings, the Michelangelo’s paintings in the Sistine chapel and we missed the Dome. By the way, this famous painting of creation of Adam («E-T phone home» with God) is right in the middle of the ceiling. It was so difficult to spot, because there’re so many paintings to look at and that room was the most crowded. I simply had to google it up afterwards. 😅

My total review, the service could be better for people with disabilities and prams with access to the lifts, and more signs to guide us. It was hard to know where to begin and were to end up. Otherwise I would have given five star.
Written 19 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Fortunato
Milan, Italy29,049 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2024 • Couples
We visited the Sistine Chapel on the occasion of the visit of the Vatican Museums, as it is included in the itinerary itself. You stop for half an hour in front of an interactive panel where the history and relative details are explained which will then be seen in the Chapel. There you can't take pictures or talk, so you go in and stop to look at the frescoes and that's it. It's really exciting, especially the various details of the Last Judgment! Exciting and moving!
Automatically translated
Written 25 December 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

GuybrushThreepwood
London, UK46 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
Well, the place is just amazing and the art….crazy I can tell you that. The level of art that you can find inside can’t be described. From the paintings collection to the sculptures, Egyptian section, etc and of course: the Sistine chapel in the Vatican museum. However not everything that shines is gold. The price? They tried to scam us 100 times. We went with a small baby and guess what…. You can skip the line (5 hours of line!!!) and it’s 20 euros ticket… the people outside are trying to scam you they asked us for 125-150 euros per person! And it’s 20…. (With a baby you don’t do the line, confirmed, plus it’s 20 euros. General admission is 20 euros but you need to do the line…so in this case better be up early) Be careful. The bad thing is that these scammers are around all Vatican offering you tours for 100 euros, 150…. Guided ones… My friends I don’t need a guided tour, a SIM card is 30 euros and I get access to infinite information. In any case, going with a stroller and a small baby? Don’t go I wouldn’t recommend the opposite seriously we almost got crazy. Another point: ladies and gentlemen from the Vatican Museum Management, I get you need to make money but you can not over sell tickets and allow thousands of people or some day someone will die of anxiety there I swear to God.
In any case, the art: amazing, incredible I was wowed and I’m as I love art and story but the whole experience? No. Paying 20 euros for this? I would say “ok” but paying 50 or 150 as they ask you outside to “skip the line”? No, thanks.
One last note: why cannot someone take pictures there? What’s the problem? There are millions of pictures online…. It’s a pity that internet is killing everything seeing this overcrowded as this is something to admire… in any case, worth the visit if you come in a day where you don’t have 1 million of people around and you can do things as breathe or walk.
Written 30 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gina G
Waterlooville, UK80 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
This was one of the most underwhelming places I’ve visited. The big build up to the Sistine ‘Chapel’ which in effect is a big hall crammed full of people with no airflow. The paintings were no better than any other paintings in the other rooms of the Vatican and actually preferred looking at the painting of Italy in one of the walkways on the way to the ‘chapel’. Honestly there are nicer chapels which are free to visit in Rome so I’d recommend saving your money and time and going anywhere else.
Written 2 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Faedah
Cape Town, South Africa343 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2025 • Family
I concur with most of the reviews that this place is overly crowded. But this is normal for all important places of worship that I’ve been to such as Mecca, Hindu temples etc.

If you would like to spend extra time here then try and grab a seat on the bench against the wall. There are constant announcements asking people to remain quiet, however it will be difficult to control huge crowds.

The crowds were overwhelmingly, the chapel is at the end of a very long visit so I found this chapel to be average.

If you come here for a pilgrimage and to improve your experience, I recommend that you skip the museum and go directly to the chapel. I saw some people being allowed directly into the chapel. You can always go to the museum at a later stage.
Written 4 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bluexandee
United Kingdom345 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
June 2024 • Family
Very very crowded. If you have mobility issues there is a lift but it takes you to the opposite end to where to the start of the visit meaning you are fighting against loads of people. Also the staff question you about why you are going the ‘wrong way’ to everyone else. There are endless souvenir desks. The Sistine Chapel itself is stunning but it’s so crowded and the staff herd you along. Also you can no longer take photos in order to preserve the artwork, including Michelangelo's famous ceiling frescoes, from potential damage caused by camera flashes and the cumulative effects of many visitors taking photos. There is a suggestion as well that during the 1980s the Sistine Chapel underwent a massive renovation project. The Japanese television network Nippon TV offered to fund the renovation in exchange for exclusive photography rights of the chapel art. So apart from the kudos of saying you’ve actually seen it with your own eyes if your budget is tight don’t bother.
Written 1 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RajapakseNOT
Colombo, Sri Lanka3 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Family
Absolutely dreadful. Even with skip-the line tickets you are packed into the Vatican Museum like sardines and shuffle though in the heat, endlessly, impeded at countless bottlenecks by innumerable tour parties. You finely get to the Sistine Chapel itself is, which is crammed with people staring at the ceiling and taking pictures on their phones slyly (it''s not allowed but thousands of course do). There's not enough room to swing an ant, let alone a cat. Cheapest way to get tickets is from the Vatican website itself, everyone else overcharges and the swarms of touts outside who tarnish the experience from the outset are the worst of all and you'll pay double. Go to Saint Peters Basilica and enjoy something majestic, but only go to this place to tick it off your bucket list or if you want to be put off religion big-time. I was left thinking that there must be a place in Purgatory consisting of an endless, utterly crowded museum from which there seems no escape - just like this one.
Written 12 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

aulis
Lombardy, Italy1,845 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2024 • Solo
Access to the Sistine Chapel is included in the ticket for the Vatican Museums.
I believe it is superfluous to illustrate its artistic value, which is universally known, to the point of making it one of the icons of world culture.
More useful to give some practical information.
The Chapel is accessed right at the end of the visit to the Museums.
For those in a hurry, from a certain point onwards there are indications for a quick route, which skips some rooms and leads directly to the final destination.
The Chapel is very crowded, the custodians regulate the influx of people and try to avoid gatherings from forming which hinder the flow.
The average stay time is 10-20 minutes.
For those who want to admire it more calmly, there are benches arranged along the perimeter of the floor.
Taking photographs and making videos is strictly prohibited.
Google
Written 20 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CazzaWestMids
The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, UK701 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
I was really looking forward to this part of our Vatican experience. This part meant a lot to me and my family and it was chaos. Staff basically order you to stand in a particular area which is cramped and uncomfortable and talk to you in quite an aggressive unfriendly attitude. Then they are constantly talking and allowing other visitors to talk. It was so loud in there and disrespectful. People should be warned that they are not allowed to talk before they go in and be removed if they can't be respectful.
Written 5 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

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