Destination
Vatican
Europe · Vatican City
Entry details
Visa required
- Source's ruleVisa required
- Passport validity3 months longer than the duration of stay
Practical details for a short tourist stay — conditions change; always verify with an official source.
From the guidebook
Although the Vatican City is an independent country, it does not issue visas or residency permits to visitors; it has open borders with Italy. Since Italy is a part of the Schengen area, its common visa policy applies. By foot There are three road entrances to Vatican City: from Via della Stazione Vaticana, Via Paolo VI and Borgo Pio. The entrance from Borgo Pio leads to the Vatican Museum, and the other two entrances lead to St. Peter's Basilica. There are several bus stations near the Vatican City. For the St. Peter's Basilica and Square, the #64 bus goes from central Rome right to the southern end of the Vatican, but it is filled with pickpockets so guard your valuables! From western Rome, the #46 bus also goes to St. Peter's Basilica and Square. For the Vatican Museums, the #49 bus goes from western Rome to the northern end of Vatican City
…When to go
Seasonal calendar — from climate data and curated definitions.
Public holidays
National holidays — closures and days off.
All Saints Day
Tutti i Santi, Ognissanti
November 1, 2026
Sun · in 33d
Immaculate Conception
Immacolata Concezione
December 8, 2026
Tue · in 70d
Christmas Day
Natale
December 25, 2026
Fri · in 87d
St. Stephen's Day
Santo Stefano
December 26, 2026
Sat · in 88d
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Maria Santissima Madre di Dio
January 1, 2027
Fri · in 94d
Epiphany
Epifania del Signore
January 6, 2027
Wed · in 99d
Anniversary of the foundation of Vatican City
Anniversario della istituzione dello Stato della Città del Vaticano
February 11, 2027
Thu · in 135d
Anniversary of the election of Pope Francis
Anniversario dell'Elezione del Santo Padre
March 13, 2027
Sat · in 165d
UNESCO sites
2UNESCO World Heritage sites in this country.
- Vatican City1984Cultural
©
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, often shortened as the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe. Ruled by the pope, it is an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy, and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law, which maintains its temporal power, governance, diplomacy, and spiritual independence. Vatican is also used as a metonym for the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and the Roman Curia. The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, which spoke of it as a creation, not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756–1870), which had previ
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA) - Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura1980Cultural
©
The Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran, commonly known as the Lateran Basilica or Saint John Lateran, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome in the city of Rome, Italy. It serves as the seat of the bishop of Rome and head of the worldwide Catholic Church: the pope. The only "archbasilica" in the world, it lies outside of Vatican City proper, which is located approximately four kilometres northwest. Nevertheless, as properties of the Holy See, the archbasilica and its adjoining edifices enjoy an extraterritorial status from Italy, pursuant to the terms of the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Dedicated to Christ the Saviour, in honor of John the Baptist and John the Evangelist, the place name – Laterano (Lateran) – comes from an ancient Roman family (gens), whose palace (domus) grounds occupied the site. The adjacent Lateran Palace was the primary residence of the pope until the Middle Ag
Text: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Car rental & driving
Whether your licence is recognized, and which side traffic drives on — per the UN road-traffic conventions.
Vienna Convention: national licences (Latin script) are accepted; an IDP is not required.
Local norms
Culture & etiquette
Many tips in the Christianity article will come in handy when visiting. Respect the Catholic Church, its practices and its doctrine. You don't have to praise the Pope or the Catholic Church; as long as you are polite and refrain from discussing controversial subjects (e.g. birth control and contraceptives), you will be fine. While everyone is welcome to attend Mass in the Vatican – as in any Catholic church around the world – if you are not a baptized and confirmed Catholic, you should not receive Holy Communion. It is a serious matter for practising Catholics. Depending on the church, you may be able to receive a blessing from the priest instead. Dress appropriately — no sleeveless shirts, shorts, flip-flops, trainers, or skirts that do not cover the knee — or else you will be refused entry to various places around the Vatican
…Safety
You should not assume that the Vatican only attracts the honest. Since the Vatican receives so many people from around the world, there are also those who try to deprive people of their personal property. Keep an eye on your belongings at all times. The Vatican City has its own laws and the Vatican legal system is based on canon law, which means you can expect to be treated with a degree of leniency in the unlikely event you are arrested. In October 2012, the Pope's former butler was arrested and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, but was pardoned by the pope two months later. Do not let the highly forgiving nature of Vatican law fool you; Vatican authorities regularly collaborate with Italian authorities and you can also expect to be prosecuted under Italian laws. The Vatican can get overcrowded at times. If you're travelling with family members or with a friend, stick together
…Frequently asked questions
Vatican: do Armenia citizens need a visa?
Yes, Armenia citizens need a visa arranged in advance via a consulate or visa centre.
What do you need to enter?
Passport must be valid 3 months longer than the duration of stay. Rules change — check the official source before you travel.
Similar visa-free destinations
Similar climate, sea and prices — no visa needed in advance.
If something goes wrong
Lost passport, detention, emergencies — where to turn.
MFA emergency line:+374 60 620-111MFA hotline (WhatsApp/Viber: +374 55 620 111)About the country
- Capital
- Vatican City
- Continent
- Europe
- Population
- 921
- Area
- 0.44 km²
- Currency
- Euro · EUR
- Time zone
- 19:04UTC+2
- Emergency
- 113police118ambulance115fire112universal
- Calling code
- +379
- Languages
- Latin, Italian, French
- Borders
- 🇮🇹 Italy
−2h vs. your time