How to Get to the Vatican Museums – Metro, Bus, Train, Taxi & Airport Routes

The easiest way to get to the Vatican Museums is Metro Line A to Ottaviano or Cipro station, both about a 10-minute walk from the entrance on Viale Vaticano. A single €1.50 BIT ticket covers the ride.

The Vatican Museums are located in Vatican City, the world’s smallest independent country, which sits inside Rome. Since the city has its own access rules and traffic regulations, it is important to know how to get to the Vatican Museums before your visit. Visitors have multiple transportation options, including metro, bus, tram, train, taxi, and airport transfers, making it easy to commute from different parts of Rome.

Whether you’re traveling from central Rome, Fiumicino Airport, or Ciampino Airport, choosing the right mode of transport can ensure a smoother journey and avoid travel constraints. In this article, we will discuss how to get to the Vatican Museums, fares for each mode of transport, and a few practical tips.

All The Ways To Get To The Vatican Museums

Here’s a quick snapshot of all the ways to get to the Vatican Museums, the travel time and the cost for each mode of transport.

Transport Option	Travel Time	Cost	Closest Station/Stop	Walk to Vatican Museums
By Metro LINE A (Orange Line)	15 to 20 minutes	€1.50 (BIT Ticket)	Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani or Cipro (Metro Line A)	About 10 minutes
By Bus Routes 49, 32, 81, 982, 492, 990	20 to 40 minutes	€1.50 (BIT Ticket)	Bus 49 (Viale Vaticano), Piazza del Risorgimento, Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni	1 to 5 minutes, depending on the bus stop
By Tram 19 (currently replaced by buses)	20 to 35 minutes	€1.50 (BIT Ticket)	Piazza del Risorgimento (Tram 19)	About 5 minutes
By Train	8 to 15 minutes (from Roma Termini)	€1.50 (BIT Ticket)	Roma San Pietro Railway Station	About 25 minutes (2 km) on foot, or a short taxi ride
By Private Taxi	15 to 20 minutes, subject to traffic	€30 to €50	Taxi rank in front of the Vatican Museums	1 minute
By Uber Taxi	15 to 20 minutes, subject to traffic	€17 to €22	Drop-off in front of the Vatican Museums	1 minute
By Metered Taxi	15 to 20 minutes, subject to traffic	€3 to €7 base fare + €1.10 to €1.60/km	Taxi rank in front of the Vatican Museums	1 minute

Option 1: How to get to the Vatican Museums by Metro

Taking the Ottaviano metro to the Vatican Museums is the best way to reach the museums.

Take Metro Line A (Orange Line) from Roma Termini, Spagna (Spanish Steps), Barberini (Trevi Fountain), Flaminio (Piazza del Popolo), and San Giovanni towards the direction of Battistini. Get off at Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani. From the station, follow the signs towards the Vatican Museums and walk for about 10 minutes to reach the museum’s main entrance on Viale Vaticano.

Alternatively, you can also get off at Cipro–Musei Vaticani, the next station on Metro Line A. It is also about a 10-minute walk from the entrance, and it is often less crowded than Ottaviano.

The metro to the Vatican Museums costs €1.50 for a single trip and is valid for 100 minutes across Rome’s public transport network. It covers one metro journey, including line changes, as long as you don’t exit through the turnstiles.

• Travelling Duration: 15 to 20 minutes from central Rome (depending on your boarding station)
• Walking Distance: About 10 minutes from either station
• Nearest Metro Stations: Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani and Cipro–Musei Vaticani (Metro Line A)
• Popular Boarding Stations: Roma Termini, Spagna, Barberini, Flaminio, Lepanto, and San Giovanni
• Most Recommended Station to Board: Roma Termini
• Metro to Vatican Museum Cost: €1.50 (BIT Ticket – valid for 100 minutes)
• Where to Buy Tickets: ATAC ticket machines, ATAC ticket offices, tobacconists (tabacchi), or Tap & Go using a contactless card
• Type of Transport: Highly recommended

Option 2: How to get to the Vatican Museums by Bus

If your stay is in areas which are not directly connected to stations with Metro Line A, then you can get to the Vatican Museums by bus. The best bus is route 49, which stops directly in the square in front of the museum entrance. From this place, it is hardly a minute’s walk to the museum. Another recommended route is to take bus 492 from Piazza Venezia and get off at Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni, about a 5-minute walk away.

You can also take Buses 32, 81, or 982, which stop at Piazza del Risorgimento, about a 5-minute walk, almost 500 metres from the Vatican Museums. Alternatively, Bus route 990 stops along Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni, also about 5 minutes on foot from the entrance.

Some popular bus boarding stations in Rome include Piazza Venezia, Piazza del Popolo, and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele / Largo Argentina area for bus 492. A one-way ticket would cost €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes across Rome’s public transport network.

• Travelling Duration: 20 to 40 minutes from central Rome (depending on traffic)
• Walking Distance: 1 to 5 minutes (depending on the bus stop)
• Most Recommended Bus Route: Bus 49 (stops in the square in front of the Vatican Museums)
• Other Bus Routes: 32, 81, 982, 492, and 990
• Nearest Bus Stops: Viale Vaticano (Bus 49), Piazza del Risorgimento, and Via Leone IV / Via degli Scipioni
• Bus to Vatican Museum Cost: €1.50 (BIT Ticket – valid for 100 minutes)
• Where to Buy Tickets: ATAC ticket machines, authorised retailers, or Tap & Go using a contactless bank card
• Type of Transport: Recommended

Option 3: How to get to the Vatican Museums by Tram

Before you plan on the tram, note that Tram 19 is not currently running into Prati because of tramway works. ATAC expects it to return to the Piazza del Risorgimento area in early 2027, and replacement buses cover parts of the route until then, so check ATAC before you travel.

When it runs, board Tram 19 from any of the stops on its route from Piazza dei Gerani. Get off at Piazza del Risorgimento, which is the nearest tram stop to the Vatican Museums. From Piazza del Risorgimento, the Vatican Museums are only about a 5-minute walk away. You’ll reach the museum’s main entrance on Viale Vaticano.

A one-way ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes across Rome’s public transport network, including trams. Trams generally run from about 5:30 AM to midnight.

• Travelling Duration: 20 to 35 minutes (depending on your boarding stop)
• Walking Distance: About 5 minutes (400 metres)
• Drop-off Stop: Piazza del Risorgimento (Tram 19)
• Most Recommended Tram: Tram 19
• Tram to Vatican Museum Time: 20 to 35 minutes from central Rome
• Tram to Vatican Museum Cost: €1.50 (BIT Ticket – valid for 100 minutes)
• Where to Buy Tickets: ATAC ticket machines, authorised retailers, or Tap & Go using a contactless card
• Type of Transport: Recommended once service resumes

Option 4: How to get to the Vatican Museums by Train

Some visitors take a train to Vatican City from Rome, especially when they are traveling from the outskirts of Rome. The cheapest train to the Vatican Museums is the Trenitalia regional train (FL5 line) from Roma Termini to Roma San Pietro station. The trains are direct and a standard €1.50 BIT ticket covers the journey. However, note that the Roma San Pietro station is just south of Vatican City, on the opposite side from the museum entrance. Once you get off the train, either walk to the museums or opt for a short taxi ride.

The distance from Roma San Pietro station is about 2 kilometres, and it takes about 25 minutes on foot to reach the Vatican Museums. No bus runs directly from the station to the museums, so a taxi is the alternative if you’d rather not walk.

• Travelling Duration: 8 to 15 minutes from Roma Termini
• Walking Distance: About 25 minutes (2 km)
• Drop-off Station: Roma San Pietro Railway Station
• Popular Boarding Stations: Roma Termini, Roma Tiburtina, Roma Ostiense, and Roma Trastevere
• Most Recommended Station to Board: Roma Termini
• From Roma San Pietro to Vatican Museum: Walk or taxi
• Train to the Vatican Museum Cost: €1.50 (BIT Ticket)
• Where to Buy Tickets: Trenitalia website, Trenitalia app, station ticket machines, railway ticket offices, and anywhere that sells ATAC BIT tickets
• Type of Transport: Recommended for visitors

Option 5: Reaching the Vatican Museums by Taxi / Self-driving Cars / Private Transfers

The most flexible mode of transport is reaching the Vatican Museums by taxi or private transfers. A one-way journey from Rome’s city centre to the Vatican Museum would cost €30 to €50. The taxi will drop you off at the square in front of the Vatican Museum.

You can also opt for an Uber ride from Rome to the Vatican Museum that costs roughly €17 to €22 per journey. Visitors also have the option to take a metered taxi. It has a base flag-down fee of €3.00 to €7.00, depending on the time and day, and the distance rates of about €1.10 to €1.60 per kilometer. Metered taxis are the cheapest option to the Vatican Museums. Note that on Sundays and holidays, the base fare reaches €4.50 to €5.00, and during the nighttime it is as high as €6.50 to €7.00.

Know that private tourist vehicles and self-driving rental cars are not permitted inside Vatican City. Only authorized vehicles with official Vatican permission, including Vatican personnel and vehicles on official Vatican business, are allowed to enter through the Vatican gates. General public vehicles and tourist transport cannot drive past the gates; entry requires special clearance or SCV plates.

However, if you want to rent a self-driving car, you can park it outside Vatican City. Several public parking facilities are available near Via della Conciliazione and areas outside the city. After parking, you can easily walk to the Vatican Museums or other Vatican attractions.

Some of the nearest parking stations are Parking Trionfale Market, which is only 230 meters from the Vatican Museum, Parking Roma San Pietro, which is 400 meters from the museums, and Garage Vespasiano, which is just 300 metres away. Rates for Parking Trionfale Market start around €1.50 per hour up to €20.00 per day. Similarly, other parking garages also follow a standard rate of €2.50 to €6.00 per hour, with daily maximum rates averaging €22 to €30. Distances and rates are approximate, so check the garage’s own website before you go.

• Drop-off Point: Taxi rank in the square in front of the Vatican Museums
• Private Taxi Cost: €30 to €50 from central Rome
• Metered Taxi Cost: Base fare of €3 to €7, plus approximately €1.10–€1.60 per km (higher base fares apply at night, on Sundays, and public holidays)
• Uber Cost: €17 to €22 (subject to demand and surge pricing)
• Self-driving Cars: Private tourist vehicles are not permitted inside Vatican City. Park outside the Vatican walls and continue on foot.
• Nearest Parking Areas: Parking Trionfale Market (230 m), Garage Vespasiano (300 m), and Parking Roma San Pietro (400 m)
• Parking Charges: €1.50 to €6 per hour, with daily rates averaging €20 to €30
• Type of Transport: Most comfortable and flexible

Traveling from Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

The Vatican Museums are about 30 kilometres by road from the Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and can be reached in multiple ways.

How to get to the Vatican Museums by Train + Metro from Fiumicino Airport

Take the Leonardo Express from Fiumicino Airport Railway Station to Roma Termini. It departs approximately every 15 minutes, takes 32 minutes, and costs €14 per person. Then transfer to Metro Line A (Orange Line) towards Battistini and get off at Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani. From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the Vatican Museums entrance.

How to get to the Vatican Museums by bus from Fiumicino Airport

The SIT Bus Shuttle is the most convenient option for visitors heading to the Vatican, as it stops at Via Crescenzio, just a short walk from the Vatican Museums. You can also take a shuttle bus to Roma Termini and transfer to Metro Line A (Orange Line) towards Battistini, getting off at Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani.

Airport shuttle bus tickets typically cost €6 to €8 one way, and the journey takes about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic.

How to get to the Vatican Museums by taxi from Fiumicino Airport

A taxi is the most convenient way to travel directly from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the Vatican Museums, especially if you’re traveling with luggage or in a group. The journey takes around 35 to 45 minutes. Official city taxis have a fixed rate of €55 from Fiumicino Airport to destinations within the Aurelian Walls. The Vatican sits just outside the walls, so confirm the fixed fare with the driver before you set off.

An Uber ride costs roughly €59 to €89, depending on the car you book. The taxis will drop you off at the museum, and from there you can directly enter the premises.

Traveling from Ciampino Airport (CIA)

The Vatican Museum is about 20 kilometres by road from the Ciampino Airport and can be reached within 45 minutes via multiple modes of transport.

How to get to the Vatican Museums by Bus + Metro from Ciampino Airport?

There is no direct metro station at Ciampino Airport (CIA). Reaching the Vatican Museums from the airport would require two modes of transportation. First, take the SIT shuttle bus or Terravision bus from the airport to Roma Termini. The journey takes about 40 minutes and costs around €6 to €8.

Walk into Termini Metro Station and take the Metro Line A towards the Battistini direction. Get off at Ottaviano and walk for about 10 minutes to reach the museum entrance.

How to get to the Vatican Museums by taxi from Ciampino Airport

Getting to the Vatican Museums by taxi from Ciampino Airport is the fastest option. The journey takes around 30 to 45 minutes. Official city taxis have a fixed rate of €40 from Ciampino Airport to destinations within the Aurelian Walls, and the same check applies to the Vatican. You can also book an Uber, which costs roughly €44 to €79, depending on the car you book.

How to get to the Vatican Museums from the Colosseum?

The distance between the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum is about 4 to 5 kilometers by road. The fastest way to travel is to take the Rome Metro Line B from Colosseo station to Termini station. Colosseo station is just 180 meters away from the attraction.

Get off at Termini station and change to Metro Line A (Orange Line). Take the metro towards Battistini and get off at Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani.

The entire journey would take 30 to 35 minutes in total. A single €1.50 BIT ticket covers the whole trip, including the change at Termini, because you stay inside the metro network. You can also opt for a direct taxi ride from the Colosseum to the Vatican Museums. A basic Uber ride would cost between €23 and €26.

The ATAC Line 81 bus goes directly from the Colosseum area to Piazza del Risorgimento, which is about 500 metres away from the Vatican Museums.

• Fastest Route: Metro Line B from Colosseo to Termini, then Metro Line A towards Battistini to Ottaviano–San Pietro–Musei Vaticani
• Travel Time: 30 to 35 minutes for the entire journey
• Nearest Metro Station: Colosseo (180 m from the Colosseum)
• Walk to the Vatican Museums: About 10 minutes from Ottaviano Station
• Metro Fare: €1.50 (BIT Ticket – valid for 100 minutes, one metro journey including the change)
• Bus Route: ATAC Bus 81 to Piazza del Risorgimento, followed by a short walk to the Vatican Museums
• Bus Fare: €1.50 (BIT Ticket – valid for 100 minutes)
• Uber/Taxi Fare: Approximately €23 to €26
• Best Way to Travel: Metro

How to get to the Vatican Museums from Castel Sant’Angelo?

The distance between Castel Sant’Angelo and the Vatican Museums is 1.6 kilometres if you take the route via Via Giovanni Vitelleschi. The most convenient way to reach it is by walking. It would take 15 to 20 minutes on foot to reach the Vatican Museums.

Another option is to take bus routes 23 or 982 from Piazza Pia or Traspontina stops, which are very close to the castle. The route later stops at Bastioni di Michelangelo, which is just 270 meters from the Vatican Museums, or Piazza del Risorgimento, which is 500 meters away.

A basic Uber ride from Castel Sant’Angelo to the Vatican Museums will be between €12 and €16 for a one-way journey.

• Walking Distance: 1.6 km (15 to 20 minutes)
• Recommended Walking Route: Via Giovanni Vitelleschi to the Vatican Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano
• Bus Routes: 23 and 982 from Piazza Pia or Traspontina
• Nearest Bus Stops: Bastioni di Michelangelo (270 m) or Piazza del Risorgimento (500 m)
• Bus Fare: €1.50 (BIT Ticket – valid for 100 minutes)
• Uber/Taxi Fare: Approximately €12 to €16
• Best Way to Travel: Walking

Best Way to Get to the Vatican Museums Based on Travel Style

Travel Style	Best Option
Families with Children	Taxi / Metro Line A
Budget Travelers	Metro Line A / Regional Train
First-Time Visitors	Metro Line A / Taxi
Large Groups	Metro Line A / Bus
Visitors with luggage	Taxis
Visitors with limited mobility	Taxis
Visitors directly visiting from the airport	From Fiumicino Airport: Leonardo Express + Metro Line A or a direct taxi. From Ciampino Airport: Airport shuttle bus + Metro Line A (most economical) or direct taxi.

First-Timer Tips

• If you’re renting a self-driving car, check Rome’s ZTL (Limited Traffic Zone) restrictions before driving to avoid fines. You’ll have to park outside Vatican City and continue on foot.
• Wear comfortable footwear, as you’ll walk a lot both to reach the Vatican Museums and while exploring the museum galleries.
• Check the timings of the Leonardo Express, airport shuttle buses, and Metro Line A in advance, especially if your journey involves transfers.
• Plan your transfers carefully, as a standard BIT ticket is valid for 100 minutes and covers only one metro journey, so complete your metro, bus, or tram journey within this time.
• Ottaviano and Cipro are both about a 10-minute walk from the entrance, and Cipro is often less crowded.
• Keep your itinerary flexible if you are visiting on Wednesday, as Papal Audience crowds can make public transport and roads around the Vatican busier than usual.

FAQs About How to Get to the Vatican Museums