The Vatican Gardens are one of Rome’s best-kept secrets. While millions of visitors make their way through the museum corridors each year, only a fraction discovers the expansive green landscape that covers more than half of Vatican City. Extending over approximately 22 hectares, the Gardens combine centuries of horticultural history with architectural monuments, sculptures, and fountains — a calm contrast to the busy streets outside.
Unlike the Vatican Museums, the Gardens are not open for independent visits. Access is only possible through a booked guided tour, either by panoramic minibus or on foot with a Vatican-accredited guide.
Tour Options and What’s Included
There are two main ways to visit the Vatican Gardens, bookable through GetYourGuide:
Panoramic Minibus Tour An open minibus takes visitors on a panoramic ride through the Gardens, with a multilingual audio guide. This option is not suitable for children under 7 years or for visitors with mobility impairments.
Guided Walking Tour The walking tour is led by a Vatican-accredited guide and includes radio headsets. It allows for closer access to the Garden’s monuments and paths. This option also involves extended periods of standing and is not recommended for visitors with limited mobility.
This walking tour includes a guided visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel on the same day.
Tickets and Prices
Vatican Gardens tours can be booked through platforms such as GetYourGuide and Tiqets. This is also the most practical option: tours on the official Vatican Museums website are almost always sold out well in advance and include only standard entry to the Vatican Museums without a guide.
Tours booked through GetYourGuide or Tiqets typically start from around €80 per person. Availability on these platforms is generally better, and most options offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the visit.
Important: Vatican Gardens tours cannot be purchased at the on-site ticket counter. Advance booking is mandatory regardless of the platform you choose.
How Far in Advance Should You Book?
Given the limited availability of guided Vatican Gardens tours, booking as early as possible is strongly recommended — ideally 60 to 90 days before your planned visit. Popular time slots, especially in summer and during public holidays, fill quickly.
Opening Hours
Tour times for the Vatican Gardens vary and are subject to change. Always check your booking confirmation carefully for the exact scheduled time and adhere strictly to it — late arrivals may not be admitted, as tours depart on schedule.
Monuments and Highlights in the Vatican Gardens
The Vatican Gardens are home to a remarkable collection of monuments, architectural landmarks, and sacred works accumulated over centuries of papal patronage.
Casina of Pius IV Construction of the Casina began in 1558 under Pope Paul IV and was completed during the pontificate of Pius IV. The renowned architect Pirro Ligorio was commissioned to design a villa with loggia and vestibules surrounding an oval courtyard. The refined façade, enriched with sculptures, frescoes, and fine plasterwork, evokes ancient Roman culture in a Renaissance interpretation. The interior was frescoed by prominent artists including Federico Barocci, Santi di Tito, and the Zuccari brothers. Today the Casina serves as the seat of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.
Italian Garden and Fountains Pope Paul V commissioned the Acqua Paola aqueduct in 1605, built along the route of the ancient Trajan’s aqueduct, to supply Trastevere and Vatican City with fresh water. Its completion made it possible to create the Gardens’ many historic fountains — among them the Eagle Fountain, the Triton Fountain, the Fountain of the Galley, and the Fountain of the Little Tower — each associated with a specific pontificate and still active today.
Following the Lateran Treaty of 1929, architect Giuseppe Momo redesigned large parts of the Gardens together with botanist Giovanni Nicolini, creating the formal Italian Garden as it exists today: rigorously ordered flowerbeds, geometrically pruned hedges, and colour compositions inspired by the Renaissance and Baroque traditions. This phase also gave rise to the Shell Garden with a fountain by Gaetano Roscioli near the railway station, a terraced flower garden near the Governorate building, and the Rose Garden at the highest point of the hill.
Lourdes Grotto In 1902, the Bishop of Tarbes donated to Pope Leo XIII a life-size replica of the grotto in Lourdes, where the Virgin appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Designed by architect Costantino Sneider and realised through an international fundraising effort by the Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception, the grotto contains a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes and the original marble altar from the French grotto, donated to Pope John XXIII on the centenary of the first apparition. Nestled at the end of a path lined with plants symbolically connected to biblical texts, the grotto remains a secluded place for prayer and contemplation.
Our Lady of the Watch (Madonna della Guardia) Near the wooded area of the Gardens stands the shrine of Our Lady of the Watch, donated to Pope Benedict XV in 1917 by his hometown of Genoa. The work, signed by sculptor Antonio Canepa, reproduces the famous sanctuary of the same name that overlooks the port of Genoa, and commemorates the miraculous apparition of Mary to the shepherd Benedetto Pareto on Mount Figogna in the late fifteenth century.
Bronze Statue of Saint Peter Located near the centre of Vatican City, a bronze statue of Saint Peter stands on a high pedestal surrounded by palms and greenery. Originally part of a commemorative monument dedicated to the First Vatican Council (1869–1870), the sculpture was installed in the Courtyard of the Pinecone before being dismantled around 1935 and relocated to its current position in the Gardens.
Jubilee 2000 Bell Among the more recent additions to the Gardens is the colossal bronze bell cast for the Jubilee Year 2000 by the Marinelli papal foundry in Agnone. Placed in St. Peter’s Square to mark the opening and closing of the Jubilee, the bell is engraved with the papal coat of arms and a depiction of the opening of the Holy Door. It now rests along the garden paths, alongside another notable historical relic: a fragment of the Berlin Wall.
From within the Gardens, visitors also enjoy one of the most distinctive views in all of Vatican City — an unobstructed perspective of the rear of Michelangelo’s dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, not visible from any other standard ticket.
Note that the specific highlights included in your tour may vary depending on the tour format and date of your visit.
Practical Tips
Dress Code Entry to the Vatican Gardens is permitted only to appropriately dressed visitors. Sleeveless or low-cut garments, shorts above the knee, miniskirts, and hats are not permitted. Visitors who do not comply may be denied entry even with a valid ticket.
Luggage and Bags Before entering, visitors are required to leave all luggage, suitcases, rucksacks, and oversized packages in the cloakroom. The cloakroom service is free of charge.
Photography Photography for personal use is permitted throughout the Vatican Museums and Gardens. Flash photography is strictly forbidden, and the use of tripods, drones, or professional equipment is not allowed without prior authorisation from the Directorate.
Smoking The Vatican Museums and Gardens are a no-smoking area. Smoking is strictly forbidden throughout, including the use of electronic cigarettes.
Pets Animals are not permitted in the Vatican Gardens, with the exception of guide dogs for blind or partially-sighted visitors, provided they are equipped with a muzzle and lead. The visit must be communicated at least one day in advance by email at [email protected].
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you visit the Vatican Gardens without a tour?
No. The Gardens are only accessible through a booked guided tour — either on foot or by minibus. Independent entry is not permitted.
Are the Vatican Gardens included in the standard Vatican Museums ticket?
No. The Vatican Gardens require a separate, dedicated tour ticket. The standard Vatican Museums ticket does not include access to the Gardens.
Is the minibus tour suitable for children?
The minibus tour is available for children aged 7 and over. Children under 7 are not permitted on the bus for safety reasons.
How long does a Vatican Gardens tour take?
The minibus tour lasts approximately 45 minutes. Combined with the Vatican Museums visit, plan for a total of around 4 to 5 hours.
Where do I meet for the tour?
The meeting point is at the Vatican Museums entrance on Viale Vaticano. Check your booking confirmation for the exact instructions.
Conclusion
The Vatican Gardens offer one of the most unique and least-visited experiences in Vatican City — a place where centuries of papal history, sacred art, and living nature come together in a setting unlike any other. With capacity strictly limited and advance booking essential, securing your spot early is the best way to ensure this unforgettable experience is part of your visit to the heart of the Catholic world.
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