Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world. It is located completely inside the city of Rome. This place is the center of the Roman Catholic Church and the home of the Pope. Millions of people visit it every year for its deep religious meaning, beautiful buildings, and rich culture. If you are carrying bags or luggage, you can leave them at the Vatican storage point before entering the Vatican Museums or St. Peter’s Basilica. Storage costs €4.39 per item per day, and luggage is protected by insurance coverage of €1,000.
The Vatican has some of the most famous sights in the world. You can see the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo’s painted ceiling. You can also look at Raphael’s art and explore the long galleries of the Vatican Museums. St. Peter’s Basilica is a must-see. It has a huge dome, amazing art, and the Vatican Grottoes beneath the basilica. Every part of the Vatican shows its strong faith and love for art through the ages.
Vatican Bag Policy
Types of Bags Allowed
At the Vatican Museums, smaller bags and backpacks may be carried inside as long as staff consider them suitable in size and nature. According to the official cloakroom regulations, bags, packages, and containers larger than 40 x 35 x 15 cm must be left in the cloakroom. Backpacks may also have to be stored unless they are small enough that, when worn, they do not extend more than 15 cm beyond the widest point of the body. All items are subject to security checks at the entrance.
At St. Peter’s Basilica, visitors are advised to travel light and bring only small personal bags. Large bags and backpacks are not permitted, and there is currently no luggage storage facility inside the Basilica.
Types of Bags Not Allowed
At the Vatican Museums, suitcases, luggage, large backpacks, packages, and containers that staff consider unsuitable because of their size or nature must be deposited in the cloakroom before entering the exhibition spaces. Bags, packages, and containers larger than 40 x 35 x 15 cm must be stored there.
Visitors continuing from the Vatican Museums to St. Peter’s Basilica should not leave their belongings in the Museums’ cloakroom, because they must return to the Museums to collect them. St. Peter’s Basilica does not provide a luggage storage facility, so visitors with large bags or travel luggage should arrange alternative storage before their visit.
Vatican Lockers
The Vatican Museums provide a free staffed cloakroom after the security checkpoint. Visitors are required to leave unsuitable luggage, suitcases, large bags, certain backpacks, packages, and containers there. Medium and large umbrellas, tripods, stands, video cameras, certain metal tools, banners, and other restricted items must also be deposited in the cloakroom.
The situation is different at St. Peter’s Basilica. There is currently no cloakroom or luggage storage facility inside the Basilica, so visitors are advised not to arrive with excessively large bags. If you plan to visit both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, remember that the Museums specifically advise visitors not to leave baggage in their cloakroom while continuing to the Basilica.
Vatican Transportation
It’s easy to reach the Vatican using Rome’s public transport. One of the most convenient options is Metro Line A. Get off at Ottaviano for access to the Vatican area. From there, you can walk toward St. Peter’s Square or the Vatican Museums.
You can also take a bus from central Rome to the Vatican area. Several routes serve the neighborhoods around Vatican City, but routes and temporary service changes can vary, so it is best to check current public transport information before travelling.
If you come by train, Roma San Pietro Station is another useful option for reaching the area around St. Peter’s Basilica. You can also take a taxi or a ride-hailing service. Walking from central Rome is also a convenient choice if you’re staying nearby.
Vatican Camera Policy
Photography is generally allowed inside the Vatican Museums for personal and domestic use. However, flash photography is strictly prohibited. Tripods, stands, drones, professional equipment, and telescopic selfie sticks are not allowed unless specifically authorized by the Directorate of the Museums and Cultural Heritage.
The Sistine Chapel is an exception. No photography or filming is allowed inside with any type of electronic equipment. Visitors are also asked to observe absolute silence in the chapel.
At St. Peter’s Basilica, photography without flash is permitted, provided visitors respect liturgical celebrations and other people inside. Video recording and bulky photographic equipment may be restricted, so visitors should follow current on-site rules.
Vatican Food Policy
At the Vatican Museums, it is forbidden to consume food and drinks inside the exhibition halls. Visitors who have food or beverages with them can leave them in the Museums’ cloakroom free of charge and collect them before closing time. Alcoholic beverages and spirits cannot be brought into the Museums and must be left in the cloakroom.
Along the Vatican Museums route, there are vending machines and refreshment areas, including cafeteria, self-service, and pizzeria facilities.
Inside St. Peter’s Basilica, consuming food or drinks is not permitted. Visitors should therefore finish or store food and beverages before entering the Basilica.
Other Vatican Rules & Information
The Vatican has a strict dress code that applies to visitors to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica, and the Vatican Gardens. Shoulders must be covered, and shorts above the knee, miniskirts, sleeveless or low-cut clothing, and hats are not permitted. Visitors who do not meet the dress requirements may be refused entry.
Silence and respectful behavior are expected in sacred areas, particularly the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica. In the Sistine Chapel, visitors are specifically asked to observe absolute silence. Inside the Basilica, visitors should speak only when necessary, keep their voices low, and keep phones on silent.
Pets are not allowed in the Vatican Museums, including small animals. Exceptions apply to guide dogs for blind or partially sighted visitors and animals used for certified pet therapy, subject to the Museums’ requirements and advance notification. Pets are also not permitted inside St. Peter’s Basilica.
Security rules vary between Vatican sites, so visitors should follow the instructions of staff and current on-site signage. Weapons and dangerous materials are prohibited in the Vatican Museums, and some items that cannot be carried through the galleries must be deposited in the cloakroom.
Tips for Visitors
It’s a good idea to check the official Vatican website before your visit. For practical visitor rules, opening information, tickets, and current restrictions, also check the official Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica websites. Access and opening arrangements may change during religious celebrations and other special events.
To enter more easily, travel light and bring only a small personal bag. The Vatican Museums require larger bags and other unsuitable items to be left in their free cloakroom, while St. Peter’s Basilica does not currently provide luggage storage. Bringing fewer belongings can make security screening and moving through crowded areas easier.
If you’re traveling with large luggage or travel backpacks, it is best to store them at an alternative luggage storage point before arrival. This is particularly useful if you plan to visit both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica, since the Basilica has no luggage storage and the Museums advise visitors not to leave baggage in their cloakroom while continuing to the Basilica.
