Districts · Vatican
Vatican by district
Four areas, all within about 25 minutes on foot. The Museums are on the north wall, the basilica and square on the east, Borgo runs from the square to the Tiber at Castel Sant'Angelo, and Prati is the calm grid of streets north of the river where most visitors sleep.
About these names
Vatican City has no hotels for visitors. You sleep in Rome, in Prati or Borgo, and walk or take a short taxi in.
- Vatican Museums (north wall)seeSuits: Art visitors, the first slot of the morningOwn entrance on Viale Vaticano; the one-way route ends in the Sistine Chapel.2 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- St Peter's Square and BasilicaseeSuits: Everyone; early morning or after 16:00Free entry with a security check; closes for papal events.4 sights · 1 eatsDistrict guide →
- Borgo and Via della ConciliazioneseeeatSuits: Lunch, an evening walk, Castel Sant'AngeloFlat, walkable, restaurants off the main avenue are cheaper.1 sights · 1 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- PratisleepeatSuits: First-timers, families, a quiet baseWide streets, Ottaviano metro and the everyday Roman shops and bars.3 eats · 1 sleep areaDistrict guide →
- Trastevere and the historic centreseeskip as a baseSuits: A separate half-day, not part of the Vatican morningAcross the river; covered by the Rome line.Short entry only: too little in this guide for a full page yet.
Hover, tap or tab to an area to see what it is like. Pins are sleep areas; arrows at the edge point to the airport.
Off the map: Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA) (40–65 min by the usual route); Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) (50–80 min by the usual route).
Not drawn yet (no coordinates in this guide): Trastevere and the historic centre. See the table above.
Where’s what, as a list:
- Vatican Museums (north wall): Own entrance on Viale Vaticano; the one-way route ends in the Sistine Chapel. Suits: Art visitors, the first slot of the morning.
- St Peter's Square and Basilica: Free entry with a security check; closes for papal events. Suits: Everyone; early morning or after 16:00.
- Borgo and Via della Conciliazione: Flat, walkable, restaurants off the main avenue are cheaper. Suits: Lunch, an evening walk, Castel Sant'Angelo. Price band $$$.
- Prati: Wide streets, Ottaviano metro and the everyday Roman shops and bars. Suits: First-timers, families, a quiet base. Price band $$$.
- Trastevere and the historic centre: Across the river; covered by the Rome line. Suits: A separate half-day, not part of the Vatican morning.
- Sleep area Borgo: suits Lunch, an evening walk, Castel Sant'Angelo, price band $$$.
- Sleep area Prati: suits First-timers, families, a quiet base, price band $$$.
- Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA), 40–65 min by the usual route.
- Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), 50–80 min by the usual route.