Temples & religious sites
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is the pope's chapel inside the Apostolic Palace, and it is where papal conclaves are held. Visitors come to see the ceiling and wall frescoes painted by Renaissance artists including Michelangelo and Raphael. Michelangelo's ceiling, with its scenes from Genesis, is the main draw and the reason most people include the chapel in their visit, but the walls also carry significant fresco cycles worth looking at.
Getting there
From central Rome, the chapel is reached on foot from Saint Peter's Square or by entering through the Vatican Museums, since access to the chapel is via the museum route rather than a separate entrance. Public transit (bus or metro to the Ottaviano stop, then a short walk) takes roughly 20–30 minutes from most central neighborhoods.
Time to allow
Allow at least 30–45 minutes inside the chapel itself once you reach it, but budget several hours in total, since it comes at the end of the Vatican Museums route.
When to go
The chapel gets crowded, particularly by mid-morning and around midday, and the space is enclosed, so it can feel dense with people even outside peak season. Arriving as early as possible after opening tends to mean smaller crowds. It is also worth noting that silence is generally requested inside.
Nearby
- Vatican Museums (0.4km) — the chapel is accessed through this museum complex, so a visit naturally combines the two.
- St. Peter's Basilica (0.1km) — an easy walk after finishing at the chapel.
- Saint Peter's Square (0.2km) — the open square in front of the basilica.
- Apostolic Palace (0.2km) — the building housing the chapel and papal apartments.
Updated September 8, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
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