Last Updated on 5th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau
If you’re wondering what to wear to the Vatican then don’t worry because I have you covered (literally! ha). This is a pretty common Rome question and is one I recently had myself before visiting the Eternal City. After all, no one wants to be rejected from visiting one of the greatest sites in Europe just because of what they’re wearing!
if you’re planning to visit the Vatican during your time in Rome and want to see the Vatican Museums (which encompass the Sistine Chapel), then one of the most important things to note is that the tickets to visit the museums often sell out at least several days in advance.
Therefore, opt to book your Vatican: Museums & Sistine Chapel Entrance Ticket in advance to avoid disappointment. Check prices and availability here.
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Does Vatican City have a dress code?
Vatican City is the smallest city state in the world, and while you’ll be able to wander the square directly in front of St Peter’s Basilica at your own leisure, entering any of the complex itself is entirely up to the guards on duty.
The Vatican is considered to be one of the most holy places in Roman Catholicism and so it’s expected that visitors will dress modestly, just like with many other religious sites around the world. As a general rule of thumb, knees and shoulders should be covered at all times.
In addition to this, you’ll want to avoid ripped/ distressed clothing that shows the aforementioned areas of the body, as well as tattoos, jewellery, and other clothing that could be considered offensive or disrespectful.
Caps/ hats, etc must be removed when entering inside the buildings. To cut a long story short, the Vatican guards have the right to refuse anyone they think is dressed inappropriately and so you want to try and avoid this situation as best you can!
Dressing for the Vatican for women
The basics for dressing for the Vatican are pretty simple: your shoulders and knees must be covered, as should your tummy (so if you wear a crop top make sure to bring a sweater to wear over it or alternatively wear high enough skirt/ trousers that your midriff is not exposed).
To be on the safe side, I would probably opt to stay away from dresses and skirts with slits in them. You should also note that low cut tops showing cleavage are a no-no but if you are wearing one then you can bring a scarf/ pashmina to cover your chest area during your visit (which is usually what I do while it’s warm in the sumer).
If you’re wearing a skirt, you’ll want to make sure it covers your knees, and the same goes for trousers. I personally wore a lightweight linen maxi dress to visit and covered my shoulders by using a t-shirt I had in my backpack. If you’re wearing a sleeveless dress in Italy, I recommend always bringing along a T-shirt so that you can enter religious buildings as you’re exploring!
Dressing for the Vatican for men
The dress code for men is pretty similar to that of women, in that you shouldn’t have your shoulders or knees exposed. To be on the safe side, my husband opted to wear long trousers that day and paired it with a regular plain white T-shirt.
You can also opt to wear a shirt or polo shirt if you would prefer to dress more formally. While on the subject of trousers, while plain jeans and trousers are acceptable, tracksuits are generally frowned upon and so should be avoided.
Dressing for the Vatican for children
There is no specific dress code for dressing for the Vatican for children, though they are typically expected to follow the same rules as adults. Just make sure that shorts/ skirts aren’t too short and that their shoulders are not visible.
What shoes should you wear to visit the Vatican?
There are no specific rules but it’s frowned upon to wear flip flops in the Vatican and you may be refused entry. You’ll want to avoid heels because the cobblestones of Italy can be pretty difficult to navigate, and besides you should be prepared to walk a fair amount when exploring Vatican City.
I personally opt to wear some smart white trainers/ sneakers when out and about exploring Italy. Sometimes I’ll wear smart sandals, but only on the days where I won’t be walking too much.
Not only do smart sneakers pair together with the majority of my summer dresses, but I can easily clock up over 30,000 steps when exploring the streets of Rome and so they’re comfortable too!
What if you’re dressed inappropriately to visit the Vatican?
If you are wearing short shorts, a mini skirt, spaghetti straps etc, then fear not as all is not lost. On site, it’s possible to buy a poncho to cover up in order to visit the Vatican.
You may look a little silly and it’s not the most comfortable attire, but at least you’ll get to visit one of the best attractions that Italy has to offer!
Are bags allowed in the Vatican?
Small backpacks and handbags are allowed inside the Vatican. However, larger backpacks and suitcases are not allowed due to security issues/ the risk of damaging artwork.
Therefore you should arrange ahead of time to store your bags somewhere safely such as at your accommodation or using a dedicated service (I personally use Luggage Hero). Another option is to use the cloakroom at the Vatican Museums which are free of charge but are pretty far away from the exit of the museums.
Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.