Vatican Museums

The Vatican Museums trace their beginnings to 1506, when Pope Julius II placed the newly unearthed Laocoön group on display in the Belvedere courtyard. Over five centuries the papal collections grew into one of the largest museum complexes in the world, spread through palaces and galleries that cover classical sculpture, Egyptian and Etruscan antiquities, Renaissance painting, maps, tapestries and modern religious art. The visit ends in the Sistine Chapel, with Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes and his Last Judgement on the altar wall.

Trying to see everything is a mistake, so choose a route. The Pio-Clementino courts hold the Laocoön and the Apollo Belvedere; the long Gallery of Maps shows the regions of Italy painted in the 16th century; and the Raphael Rooms, decorated by Raphael and his workshop for Julius II, include The School of Athens. The Pinacoteca, the picture gallery, is often quieter and holds works by Raphael, Leonardo and Caravaggio. In the Sistine Chapel, photography is not allowed and visitors are asked to keep silent.

The museums open Monday to Saturday from 8:00 to 20:00, with final entry at 18:00. On the last Sunday of each month entry is free from 9:00 to 14:00, with last entry at 12:30, but queues are long on those days. Book timed tickets in advance on the official site, tickets.museivaticani.va; the museums warn that lookalike sites use similar addresses and charge much more. Closures follow the Vatican calendar, so check the published dates before you travel. Shoulders and knees should be covered, as the route passes through consecrated spaces.

Allow at least three hours, and longer if you are interested in a particular collection. Early slots and late afternoons tend to be less crowded than mid-morning. A guided tour helps first-time visitors make sense of the sequence, and families with older children can follow the highlights at their own pace. Wear comfortable shoes, as the route is long and involves stairs.

The entrance is on Viale Vaticano, about ten minutes' walk from Ottaviano and Cipro stations on Metro Line A. St Peter's Basilica is reached separately via St Peter's Square. Pizzarium, Gabriele Bonci's pizza-by-the-slice shop near Cipro station, is a convenient stop for lunch before or after the visit.