Vatican City: Smallest Country, Endless Wonder

Vatican City might be the smallest country in the world, but it packs more history, art, and sheer wonder into its 121 acres than almost anywhere else on earth. Tucked within the city of Rome, this independent city-state is home to fewer than a thousand residents, yet it draws millions of visitors every year who come to see its museums, its basilica, and the seat of the Catholic Church. I have been lucky enough to visit twice now, and I can tell you with confidence that even two trips are not enough time to take it all in.

The Vatican Museums alone could keep you occupied for days. Spanning miles of galleries, they house one of the greatest art collections on the planet, including the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps, and of course the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling and his Last Judgment on the altar wall. You will also find ancient Egyptian artifacts and tapestries so detailed they almost look like paintings. It is genuinely overwhelming in the best way, and no matter how much time you plan for it, you will wish you had more.

My first visit was with Adventures by Disney, and it remains one of the most memorable travel experiences of my life. We took an after hours tour of the Vatican Museums, which meant we had the galleries almost entirely to ourselves. When we reached the Sistine Chapel, our small group was able to sit down right on the benches, alone, and simply look up. No crowds, no noise, just that ceiling and the quiet. It was stunning and surreal, and honestly hard to put into words.

My second visit was during regular opening hours, and it was a completely different experience. The art was just as breathtaking, but the crowds were much heavier, and the Sistine Chapel in particular was very crowded with visitors and a fairly constant hum of guards asking for silence. Both visits were amazing in their own way, but I will never forget how different it felt to have that space to ourselves versus sharing it with hundreds of other people at once. If an after hours, or even first-opening tour, is ever an option for you, I cannot recommend it enough.

No visit to Vatican City is complete without stepping into St. Peter's Basilica, and nothing quite prepares you for its scale. Built over the traditional burial site of Saint Peter, the current basilica took over a century to construct, with contributions from some of the greatest architects and artists in history, including Michelangelo, who designed its massive dome. Once you are inside, the size and opulence are almost hard to process. The ceilings soar and the details on the columns, floors, and altars are so intricate that you could spend an hour studying a single section.

A few must see items inside the basilica include Michelangelo's Pietà, a beautiful sculpture of Mary holding Jesus, protected behind glass since the 1970s. Bernini's bronze baldachin rises nearly 100 feet over the papal altar, and the dome itself, which you can climb for sweeping views over Rome and Vatican City, is an engineering marvel that still amazes visitors centuries later. The sheer scale of the place makes it easy to understand why it took so long to build and why it remains one of the largest churches in the world.

A few tips if you are planning your own visit: Dress code is strictly enforced at both the Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica, so make sure shoulders and knees are covered or you may be turned away at the door. Lines can be incredibly long, especially at the basilica, so booking tickets in advance for the museums is well worth it, and going first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon tends to mean smaller crowds than midday. Wear comfortable shoes, because between the museums and the basilica you will be on your feet and walking for hours. If you want to see the Sistine Chapel with any kind of breathing room, consider looking into an early entry or after hours tour, since a regular daytime visit means a lot of company. And give yourself more time than you think you need. This is a destination that shouldn't be combined with other tours in the same day.

No trip to Rome is complete without a little hop over to this country within a country. Vatican City may be tiny on the map, but the history, art, and architecture packed inside its walls are enough to leave anyone in awe, no matter how many times they visit.

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