The Vatican Gardens at a glance
The Vatican Gardens cover about 22 hectares, around half of the entire territory of Vatican City. Their history goes back to Pope Nicholas III in the late 13th century, and over the centuries popes added Renaissance fountains, formal Italian and French gardens, wooded hillsides and a string of shrines.
The gardens are not open for free wandering. You visit them on an official tour organised by the Vatican Museums, either on foot with a guide or on an open bus with an audio guide. The tours are usually combined with entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.
What you see in the Vatican Gardens
Routes vary by tour, but these are the classic stops.
The view of the dome
From the gardens you see Michelangelo's dome from behind, rising over the trees, a view few visitors to Rome ever get.
Fountains and the Casina of Pius IV
Renaissance and Baroque fountains, and the elegant 16th-century Casina of Pius IV, today home to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Shrines to the Virgin Mary
A faithful copy of the Grotto of Lourdes and monuments to Our Lady of Fatima, Guadalupe and Good Counsel line the paths.
The working Vatican
The Governorate Palace, the Vatican Radio tower, the tiny Vatican railway station, sections of the medieval Leonine Wall and the monastery where Benedict XVI lived after he resigned.
Our picks: Vatican Gardens tours
Gardens tours always go with the Vatican Museums. By minibus or on foot, with or without much walking.
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.
Sistine Chapel and Vatican Gardens tour
The Sistine Chapel and the gardens in about two and a half hours. Still few reviews.
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Vatican Gardens, Museums and Sistine Chapel guided tour
A guided walk through the gardens, followed by the museums and the Sistine Chapel.
Check availability →Vatican Gardens by minibus, Museums and Sistine Chapel
The gardens from an open minibus with an audio guide, then the museums and the Sistine Chapel.
Check availability →Vatican Gardens tours
Guided walks and minibus tours of the Vatican Gardens, combined with the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, with live prices and availability.
How to book a Vatican Gardens tour
The official tours are sold on the Vatican Museums' ticket site, tickets.museivaticani.va, under the Vatican Gardens. There are two main formats:
- Guided walking tour: about two hours on foot with an official guide, in small groups, with entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel afterwards.
- Open bus tour: a ride through the gardens on an eco-friendly open bus with an audio guide, easier for families and anyone who prefers not to walk on the hilly paths.
Places are limited and tours run on set days, so book as early as you can. Special themed tours also run at certain times of year, for example a Marian route in May. Booking platforms sell further combinations, often with free cancellation, which the official tickets do not offer.
All other options for the museums are in our Vatican Museums tickets guide.
Tips for your visit
The gardens feel like a park, but Vatican rules still apply.
Dress code
The Vatican Museums' dress code covers the gardens too: no sleeveless or low-cut tops, no shorts above the knee, no miniskirts.
Vatican dress code →Shoes and sun
The paths go up and down the Vatican Hill. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water and sun protection in summer.
Best season
Spring and early autumn, when the gardens are green and the temperatures pleasant. In midsummer, choose a morning slot.
Children
The walking tours suit children from about six. With younger children, the open bus is the easier choice.
Vatican Gardens: frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Vatican Gardens without a tour?
No. The gardens can only be visited on an official guided tour or open bus tour booked through the Vatican Museums, or on a tour that includes it.
Is the Vatican Gardens tour worth it?
Yes, if you want a calm, green side of the Vatican and a rare view of the dome from behind. It works well before a visit to the museums.
Does the Vatican Gardens tour include the Vatican Museums?
The official tours are usually combined with entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Check the details of the ticket you book.
How big are the Vatican Gardens?
About 22 hectares, roughly half the area of Vatican City.