Southern Europe · UN member
Vatican City: Travel Guide & Requirements
Vatican City State · Stato della Città del Vaticano · Status Civitatis Vaticanæ
The Vatican City is a country in Southern Europe with its capital in Vatican City. It covers 0 km². The official languages are Italian and Latin. The currency is the Euro (EUR, €).
Where is the Vatican City? Map of the Vatican City
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy).
- Region
- Southern Europe
- Coordinates
- 41.9° N, 12.45° E
- Neighbours
- 1 — see list
- Coastline
- Landlocked
- Vatican City
- Neighbours
- Capital
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to the Vatican City
- Passport
The U.S.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see The Vatican City entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
No official requirement. The Schengen Borders Code says Annex I contains a non-exhaustive list of supporting documents a border guard may request from a third-country national, and that list includes a return or round-trip ticket.
- Proof of funds
Under the Schengen Borders Code, third-country nationals entering the Schengen Area must have sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return to their country of origin or …
- Travel insurance
Under the EU Visa Code, applicants for a Schengen visa must prove that they hold adequate and valid travel medical insurance, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.
- Arrival card
The EU's Entry/Exit System website says that when you arrive at a border crossing point for the first time since the EES started, passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints.
- Customs allowance
The EU says that if you plan to enter or leave the EU with €10,000 in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies), you must declare it to the customs authorities in the EU country you are entering or leaving.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
7 things to know before you travel to the Vatican City
- Best time to go: May to June and September — when daytime highs in Vatican City are around 23–28°C.
- Money: the Euro (EUR) — 1 US dollar is about 0.8911 EUR.
- Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: Italian and Latin are official.
- Driving: on the right.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Vatican City.
- Capital: Vatican City.
Key facts
Vatican City at a glance
Languages spoken: Italian, Latin, French, various other languages
Geography & history
About the Vatican City
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when the newly established Kingdom of Italy seized many of the Papal States. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between Italy and a series of "prisoner" popes were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified some of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of…
Read the full history
Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid-19th century, when the newly established Kingdom of Italy seized many of the Papal States. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between Italy and a series of "prisoner" popes were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified some of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, threats against minority Christian communities in Africa and the Middle East, the plight of refugees and migrants, climate change and the environment, conflict and war, nuclear weapons, artificial intelligence, sexual misconduct by clergy, humanitarian issues, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1.3 billion people worldwide profess Catholicism, the world's largest Christian faith.
Location
Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)
Climate
temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)
Terrain
urban; low hill
Highest point
Vatican Gardens (Vatican Hill) 78 m
Natural resources
none
Natural hazards
occasional earthquakes
National symbols
crossed keys under a papal tiara
Weather
Best time to visit the Vatican City
The best time to visit the Vatican City is May to June and September, when daytime highs in Vatican City are around 23–28°C. April, July to August and October are also a good time to go. August is the warmest month (32°C by day), January the coldest (3°C at night), and November the wettest with about 114 mm of rain.
- Jan11°C3°C
- Feb12°C3°C
- Mar15°C6°C
- Apr19°C9°C
- May23°C13°C
- Jun28°C17°C
- Jul32°C20°C
- Aug32°C20°C
- Sep27°C16°C
- Oct22°C12°C
- Nov16°C9°C
- Dec12°C4°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in the Vatican City
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Currency · 26 October 2026
Euro exchange rates today
The Vatican City uses the Euro (EUR, €). One US dollar buys 0.8911 EUR; over the last 30 days the EUR has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in EUR
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where the Vatican City ranks
How the Vatican City compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in the Vatican City
1 airports and airfields — 0 large, 0 medium and 0 small, plus 1 heliports. 0 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
The Vatican City borders 1 country along 3 km of land borders. It is landlocked.
People
Population & society
Largest cities: Vatican City (1,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; mosaics, staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to the Vatican City
Next public holiday
All Saints Day — Sunday, 1 November 2026. Then Immaculate Conception (8 Dec).
Vatican passport
Ranked #61: 95 countries visa-free, 34 with visa on arrival, 7 with an eTA and 28 with an eVisa.
Vatican passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for the Vatican City's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling the Vatican City
Dial +379 before the local number. Internet domain .va.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting the Vatican City: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about the Vatican City
India's Passport Ranking Improves: Visa-Free Destinations List Released
India has climbed to 84th place in the Henley Passport Index 2026, gaining access to 55 visa-free destinations. This marks a slight improvement from …
Vatican City Citizens Exempt from EU Biometric Border Registration
Citizens of Vatican City, along with three other micro-states, are exempt from biometric registration at EU borders, under the new Entry/Exit System.
Italy travel advice updated as Mount Etna alert level rises
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office updated its Italy travel advice on 28 September 2026 after Italian authorities raised the alert l…
Frequently asked questions about the Vatican City
What do I need to travel to the Vatican City?
How long must my passport be valid for the Vatican City?
Where is the Vatican City?
What is the capital of the Vatican City?
What language is spoken in the Vatican City?
What currency does the Vatican City use?
What is the calling code of the Vatican City?
Which countries border the Vatican City?
How strong is the Vatican passport?
When is the best time to visit the Vatican City?
How many airports does the Vatican City have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.