If you're planning to visit the Vatican at Christmas, you're in for more than just ordinary sightseeing - this is a journey into the heart of the Catholic faith, combined with architectural and spiritual magic.
In this practical guide you'll discover the most important events and liturgies, clothing tips, opening hours, when to book tickets, and which rituals and sights not to miss – from the papal blessing Urbi et Orbi to the lights on the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square.
Due to the popularity of this site, you'll need to buy tickets well in advance and plan around special events that affect opening hours and access to different areas.
The Vatican at Christmas: Important Dates
The Christmas season at the Vatican runs from December 8th through January 6th.
1. December 8th - Immaculate Conception. On this day the Catholic Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception - the Marian dogma according to which Mary was conceived free from original sin. The day is a church holiday and also a national holiday in Italy. This affects your ability to visit certain parts of the Vatican.
Important to know: on December 8th the Vatican Museums are closed.
2. December 10, 2021 - on this day the Vatican lights its stunning Christmas tree. The tree stands tall in St. Peter's Square; access is free, but crowds are usually large.
3. December 24th - on Christmas Eve the Vatican celebrates the upcoming birth of Jesus with the so-called "Midnight Mass," led by the Pope. Christmas Mass at the Vatican is held in St. Peter's Basilica in the evening (not necessarily at midnight, see below).
On this day the Vatican Museums are only open until 1:00 PM.
4. December 25th - on Christmas Day the Pope gives his Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro). The blessing takes place at noon and usually attracts large crowds who gather in the square where they can see the Pope in person. On this day the Vatican Museums are closed.
5. December 26th: St. Stephen's Day. On this day the Vatican Museums are closed.
6. December 31st: On this day the Pope celebrates Vespers and Te Deum. On this day the Vatican Museums are only open until 1:00 PM.
7. January 1st: On the first day of the year, the Pope celebrates the Angelus prayer, which usually attracts large crowds to St. Peter's Square.
8. January 6th: Epiphany. On this day the Vatican celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men at the manger. The day is marked with a liturgy in the basilica.
What to Do at the Vatican at Christmas
Depending on what you like and who you're with, you can choose to stroll and admire beautiful St. Peter's Square, visit the Basilica, climb St. Peter's dome, explore the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. You can also see the Pope (see below).
1. If you want to get acquainted with the Vatican, you can book a FREE walking tour. This is a great way to get to know the area if you want to visit the Basilica without entering the museums.
2. Another thing you can do is visit St. Peter's Square and see the Nativity scene and the impressive tree. St. Peter's Square (in Italian: Piazza San Pietro) is one of the most beautiful squares in Rome and a special place to visit at Christmas.
Designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the square is a marvel of architectural mastery, and at Christmas the Vatican displays its Christmas tree and places the Nativity scene there.
3. The Vatican Christmas tree is the most impressive in Rome. Very tall and beautifully decorated, you can usually see it from early December; however, the tree lighting ceremony happens in mid-month.
4. The Vatican crib is always beautiful and moving. Located in the center of the square, it's different every year and always has special significance, reminding us of world events such as war zones and the refugee tragedy.
Access to the square is always free, but can be difficult at certain times such as during papal speeches and blessings.
You can read my guide on how to visit St. Peter's Square here.
5. You can also attend Christmas Midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica. For this you must book tickets in advance from the "Prefettura della Casa Pontificia," the office responsible for public access to ceremonies and events in the Pope's presence: tickets are free and you can book them here.
Important to know: like all group events, Mass at the Vatican may be subject to various health-related regulations. Ask for details specific to the current year when booking tickets.
6. Another thing you can do during your stay in Rome at Christmas is attend the papal Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day in St. Peter's Square.
On this day, believers from around the world gather in St. Peter's Square to see and hear the Pope in person.
7. Visit the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel at Christmas. The Vatican Museums are among the best and most significant art museums in the world. Large and magnificent, they house exceptional paintings, some of the most significant sculptures in Rome and the world, tapestries, maps, treasures, and are also where the world-famous Sistine Chapel is located - one of the crown jewels of the Vatican.
During the holiday season the Vatican Museums are very busy and advance booking of tours and tickets is mandatory.
Important to know: during the Christmas holidays the Vatican Museums have shorter hours on December 24th and 31st. They are closed on December 8th, 25th, and 26th, and on January 1st.
Entrance tickets to the Vatican Museum can be purchased from:
- The Vatican's official website - these are tickets sold by the Vatican Museums themselves. You can choose the day and time of your visit and have the option to change your reservation once if needed.
- Vatican Museum entrance tickets from GetYourGuide: These are entrance tickets to the Vatican Museums provided by GetYourGuide - one of my favorite ticket providers for Rome and Vatican attractions. Their easy-to-use website allows you to choose the day and time of your visit. Plus, the cancellation option gives you peace of mind if you suddenly need to change your plans.
8. Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel tour: this is a great opportunity for a guided tour of the three great museums. On the GetYourGuide website you can choose the date and time to visit the tour (they guarantee free cancellation with full refund up to 24 hours before the visit).
A guided tour is the best way to see the Vatican Museums if you don't have enough time or want additional information about this incredible collection and its most important masterpieces.
9. Family Vatican Museums tour with treasure hunt - if you're visiting the Vatican Museums with kids, I highly recommend choosing this family tour. Although the price is high, the tour allows you to properly enjoy the museum.
The tour I recommend is the one organized as a treasure hunt, which is very fun for kids.
10. Visit St. Peter's Basilica - St. Peter's Basilica is a must-see in Rome even for non-religious visitors. It's beautiful both inside and out. Built on the site of St. Peter's tomb, the basilica is one of the largest and most beautiful Catholic churches in Rome and the world.
Outside you'll admire its incredible facade and unique dome, built to Michelangelo's design and still one of Rome's most impressive monuments today. Inside are many precious masterpieces that make this basilica a museum in itself.
The most impressive and famous works here are Michelangelo's beautiful "Pietà" and Bernini's main altar baldachin, but the church is more than the sum of its parts and is worth visiting.
Here you can find my tips for visiting St. Peter's Basilica.
Important to know: access to St. Peter's Basilica is FREE. The dress code is strictly enforced (see below). During religious ceremonies the basilica is only accessible to worshippers with the appropriate ticket (see above paragraph on Vatican Mass at Christmas); tours and visits are suspended.
11. Climbing St. Peter's dome - if you're not afraid of heights or small spaces, you can consider a Christmas adventure by climbing to the top of St. Peter's dome! The climb is thrilling, and the view from the top is among the best views of Rome you could hope for. At Christmas, visiting it is especially fun, as from the top you can see not only the city but also the Vatican tree and Nativity scene!
Tickets for climbing the dome can be purchased here.
12. Meet the Pope in person by booking a papal audience. It's possible to meet the Pope at the Vatican at Christmas and throughout the year by booking a papal audience. Papal audiences are always free, but you need to plan ahead as you need a reservation and special ticket.
The office responsible for organizing papal audiences is the Prefettura Della Casa Pontificia: on this page you'll find the official application form for audience access and the fax number to send your request. If accepted, you'll need to pick up the actual audience ticket at the Vatican the day before the audience.
The papal audience is held in the morning, with arrival recommended at 8:45 AM.
13. Visiting the Vatican at Christmas with children - Christmas is a wonderful time to visit the Vatican with kids. For them, the most important moments of the visit are usually:
- The stunning Christmas tree and beautiful Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square - if you go early enough, you might see the machines lifting it - this is usually very exciting for the little ones!
- The Swiss Guard with their colorful costumes
- Climbing the dome (only for older children)
The Vatican Museums, if visited with a guide, can be quite fun for them.
>>> You can find my tips for visiting the Vatican Museums with kids here. And here's my guide on what to see at the Vatican with children besides the Vatican Museums. <
Dress Code for Visiting the Vatican at Christmas
The Vatican requires visitors to follow a strict dress code. We've written about what to wear to visit the Vatican here. At Christmas, following the dress code is quite easy due to the low temperatures.
For outdoor attractions (the square, the dome) you'll want to wear a warm coat, warm clothes, and good walking shoes. For indoors you should be dressed in long-sleeved clothes that aren't flashy and a wool sweater (for the temperature). Avoid mini skirts, shorts, revealing tops, and clothes with designer logos, as these can be grounds for denied entry.
I hope you enjoyed these tips for visiting the Vatican at Christmas and that they helped you plan your visit. Safe travels!