Vatican Museums reopen after lockdown on June 1

Vatican City: The Vatican Museums will reopen to the public on June 1 after a closure of almost three-months due to the covid-19 emergency, however the museums will be accessible strictly by reservation.

Visitors will be obliged to wear masks, in compliance with safety guidelines outlined by Italian and Vatican health authorities, as museums in Italy begin to reopen as part of the Phase Two plan in the coronavirus emergency.

Museum authorities are taking precautions to ensure the health of the public, including the installation of thermo-scanners to check the temperature of visitors.

During this emergency period, the Vatican has waived the €4 online booking fee and suspended the usual free entry on the last Sunday of each month.

There are also modified opening hours: Mon-Thurs 10.00-20.00 (last entry at 18.00) and Fri-Sat 10.00-22.00 (last entry 20.00).

The Vatican Museums have been closed since March 9 due to the coronavirus pandemic which saw the closure of all museums and archaeological sites in Italy.

In addition to entry by reservation only – to manage the numbers obliged by social distancing – the Vatican Museums will not admit large groups at this time.

The Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo – the pope’s summer residence overlooking Lake Albano – will reopen to the public from 6 June. The visits will be held on Sat-Sun 10.00-18.00, last entry 17.00, with visitors obliged to wear masks.

There is also a new open-bus panoramic tour of the Vatican Gardens, with reservations exclusively online.