Castel Sant'Angelo at a glance
Castel Sant'Angelo began as the mausoleum of Emperor Hadrian, completed in 139 AD under his successor Antoninus Pius. Over the following centuries it was built into the city walls, turned into a fortress and became the refuge of the popes, connected to the Vatican by a fortified corridor, the Passetto di Borgo. It later served as a prison, and since 1925 it has been a national museum.
Its name comes from a legend: in 590, Pope Gregory the Great is said to have seen the Archangel Michael above the mausoleum, sheathing his sword as a sign that a plague was over. A bronze angel has stood on top of the castle since the 18th century.
What to see inside
The route climbs through almost 2,000 years of history, from the Roman core to the rooftop.
The Roman ramp
A spiral ramp from Hadrian's time leads up through the core of the mausoleum to the Hall of the Urns, where the imperial ashes were once placed.
The papal apartments
Renaissance rooms with frescoes, above all the Sala Paolina, and the small painted bathroom of Pope Clement VII.
Ramparts and courtyards
Walk the bastions, see the old cannonballs and the courtyards where the castle's military past is still visible.
Terrace of the Angel
The highlight: a panoramic terrace beneath the bronze angel, with a view straight down Via della Conciliazione to St. Peter's dome. Opera fans know it as the setting of the last act of Puccini's Tosca.
Our picks: Castel Sant'Angelo tickets and tours
A ticket with audio guide, a guided tour and the Passetto di Borgo corridor.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Castel Sant'Angelo guided tour
The castle's story from Hadrian's tomb to papal fortress, told by a guide on the way up.
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Passetto di Borgo tour and Castel Sant'Angelo ticket
A guided walk along the Passetto di Borgo, the popes' escape corridor, with entry to the castle included.
Check availability →Castel Sant'Angelo ticket with digital audio guide
Entry with a digital audio guide on your phone, at about the official €18 price.
Check availability →Castel Sant'Angelo tickets and tours
Timed entry with audio guide, guided tours and Passetto visits, with live prices and availability.
Castel Sant'Angelo tickets and opening hours
Castel Sant'Angelo is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm, with last entry at 6:30 pm. It is closed on Mondays, on 1 January and on 25 December. In 2026 it also opens on the first Monday of each month from 2:00 to 8:00 pm, with a special €5 ticket.
Since 1 July 2026, a full ticket costs €18. Under-18s enter free, and reductions apply to young EU citizens under Italian state museum rules. The ticket also gives you free entry to two small house museums in Rome, the Casa Museo Boncompagni Ludovisi and the Hendrik Christian Andersen museum, on the same day and the two days after.
On the first Sunday of every month, entry is free for everyone. There is no booking on those days, so expect a long queue. On weekends from spring to autumn, the security line can take a while in the middle of the day. Arrive at opening time or in the late afternoon.
The Passetto di Borgo: the popes' escape route
The Passetto di Borgo is a fortified corridor on top of a wall that runs from the Vatican to Castel Sant'Angelo. Its most famous moment came in 1527, during the Sack of Rome, when Pope Clement VII fled along it from the Vatican to the safety of the castle.
You can walk the Passetto only on a guided visit run by the museum, booked on the Musei Italiani platform or app:
- Daytime: Friday to Sunday, 9:00 am to 1:00 pm, with entry to Castel Sant'Angelo included. Not on the first Sunday of the month.
- Evening: Saturdays from 7:00 to 11:00 pm, combined with a walk along the castle's bastions after closing.
- Step-free: on the second and fourth Sunday of the month, accessible visits start at the Torre del Mascherino near St. Peter's Square, without the castle itself.
Combining Castel Sant'Angelo with the Vatican
The castle is the natural end point of a day at St. Peter's.
The walk
From St. Peter's Square, walk straight down Via della Conciliazione. After about ten minutes you reach the castle on the bank of the Tiber.
Getting around the Vatican →Ponte Sant'Angelo
The bridge in front of the castle is lined with ten angels designed by Bernini. Cross it and you are in the historic centre, near Piazza Navona.
Best time
Visit in the late afternoon after the Vatican Museums or the basilica, when the light on St. Peter's from the terrace is at its best.
Castel Sant'Angelo: frequently asked questions
How much is a Castel Sant'Angelo ticket?
A full ticket costs €18 since 1 July 2026. Under-18s enter free, and entry is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month.
Is Castel Sant'Angelo open on Mondays?
Usually not. In 2026 it opens on the first Monday of each month from 2:00 to 8:00 pm with a €5 ticket. On all other Mondays it is closed.
Can you walk from Castel Sant'Angelo to the Vatican through the Passetto?
Only on a guided Passetto visit booked through the museum. Regular tickets do not include the corridor.
Is Castel Sant'Angelo part of Vatican City?
No. The castle belongs to the Italian state and is run as a national museum. The Passetto links it to the Vatican.
Is Castel Sant'Angelo worth visiting?
Yes, especially for the terrace. It is one of the best views of St. Peter's and the Tiber, and the castle itself spans almost 2,000 years of Roman history.