How can visitors use public transport to reach Vatican City?

Visitors use Rome's Metrebus network, especially Metro line A to Ottaviano or Cipro, buses serving the Vatican Museums and Piazza del Risorgimento, tram 19, or taxis. They then continue on foot because Vatican City has no independent public transport network for visitors.

Which Rome transport tickets can visitors use when travelling to Vatican City?

The listed Metrebus fares are €1.50 for a 100-minute BIT ticket, €8.50 for ROMA24, €15 for ROMA48, €22 for ROMA72 and €29 for CIS for seven days. Contactless Tap & Go and the ATAC Roma App are also available, subject to the current Rome fare system.

Can visitors drive and park a private car inside Vatican City?

No general visitor entry or parking arrangement for private cars is established. Internal vehicles are controlled through the Registro Veicoli Vaticani, and access depends on authorization, security and the function of the area.

What accessible transport arrangements are available at the Vatican Museums in Vatican City?

The Vatican Museums offer free wheelchair loans against an identity document, generally allow mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs, and provide barrier-free visit options. Some areas and standard guided tours are unsuitable for wheelchairs, and certified visitors with at least 67% disability must present proof on site for the relevant free admission arrangement.

Does Vatican City have regular railway, cycling or long-distance transport for visitors?

The Vatican railway station exists but has no currently established regular public passenger service, and Vatican City has no documented public cycling network, civilian airport, port or long-distance bus terminal. Visitors use Rome for these connections, while the 2025 Giro d'Italia passage was a one-time special event rather than everyday cycling infrastructure.

Transport in Vatican City

Transport in Vatican City is fragmented rather than a self-contained public transport system. Visitors mainly walk inside the 0.44-square-kilometre state and reach it through Rome's Metro, bus, tram and taxi network. Private vehicle access, internal roads and entrances are controlled, while rail, cycling and long-distance transport have only limited or event-specific functions. Accessibility services are available at the Vatican Museums, but security and area-specific conditions affect access.

Tip

Plan a Vatican City visit around Rome's transport network and a walking segment, not around an internal bus, visitor parking or a public shuttle. Choose the Rome connection according to your entrance, visit duration and mobility needs, then check access conditions because security measures can temporarily change entry. If wheelchair access matters, use the barrier-free museum options and prepare the required documents for on-site arrangements.

byMaria&Marco

Vatican City has five state entrances and about 30 covered streets. Piazza San Pietro is normally accessible to the public, although authorities can close it temporarily for special functions or security reasons. The Governatorato maintains roads and infrastructure, the Direzione Sicurezza e Protezione Civile manages related services, the Corpo della Gendarmeria controls internal order, borders and traffic, and the Guardia Svizzera Pontificia serves at state entrances. Access therefore depends on security and the function of a particular area. Vatican City has no independently operated public transport network for visitors and no publicly identified shuttle or bus line inside the state. The practical connections use Rome's network. Metro line A serves Ottaviano and Cipro. Buses 49, 32, 81, 982, 492 and 990 stop near the Vatican Museums, Piazza del Risorgimento or the surrounding streets, and tram 19 serves Piazza del Risorgimento. A taxi rank is located in front of the Vatican Museums. Visitors normally continue on foot through the relevant entrance areas; the museums are accessed from Viale Vaticano. These journeys use Rome's Metrebus system rather than a Vatican City fare. The listed tickets are BIT at €1.50 for 100 minutes, ROMA24 at €8.50 for 24 hours, ROMA48 at €15 for 48 hours, ROMA72 at €22 for 72 hours and CIS at €29 for seven days. Tickets can also be bought through contactless Tap & Go or the ATAC Roma App. Fares and network arrangements should be checked for the planned travel date. The Vatican Museums provide free wheelchair loans against an identity document as a deposit. Mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs are generally permitted, although some areas are excluded. Much of the museum complex is accessible, and the museums provide a recommended barrier-free visit as well as the Giardini Vaticani senza barriere option. Standard guided tours are not suitable for wheelchairs. Visitors with certified disability of at least 67% may receive free admission and, where applicable, one companion; the supporting proof must be shown on site because this arrangement cannot be booked online. The Stazione Ferroviaria della Città del Vaticano exists within the state, but current Trenitalia information does not establish regular public passenger service from the Vatican station. A current visitor offer combines a train to Castel Gandolfo with a bus to the Pontifical Villas from Monday to Saturday, with the bus portion priced at €1. The Vatican railway therefore has a limited, event-related or excursion function rather than a normal daily transport function. Private vehicle access is not a general visitor service. The Registro Veicoli Vaticani manages vehicle registration, licences and vehicle taxes. SCV identifies vehicles belonging to the state or Holy See bodies, while CV identifies vehicles of citizens or non-citizens authorized because of their role. The Vatican driving licence is limited to citizens and residents, and eligible drivers take theoretical and practical tests. Use in Italy or abroad additionally requires an International Driving Permit valid for two years. No general visitor parking or private-car entry arrangement is established by the available information. There is no regular public cycling service, public cycling network or bicycle rental system documented for Vatican City. A roughly three-kilometre passage through the Vatican Gardens during the 2025 Giro d'Italia was a special non-competitive event and does not represent everyday cycling infrastructure. Vatican City also has no separately identified civilian airport, port or long-distance bus terminal. Long-distance journeys therefore use Rome's transport connections before the final walk, taxi or local connection to Vatican City. The Governatorato's Ecological Conversion 2030 programme aims for a zero-emission vehicle fleet by the end of the decade. The fleet included almost 40 Volkswagen ID electric vehicles in 2024, received additional service vehicles in 2025 and was expanded in 2026 with an all-electric eVito and EQV fleet. The Petriano car park has 20 fast-charging points on 10 charging units and two ultra-fast points, but access requires a service badge, prior registration or a contract. The charging facilities are not established as a public visitor service, and vehicles may remain there only while charging.