Gardens of Vatican City

Behind St Peter’s, the Vatican Gardens occupy about half of Vatican City, enclosed by the old Leonine walls. First laid out as a papal viridarium in the thirteenth century, they were reshaped in the Renaissance and Baroque periods and today combine Italian, French and English-style sectors with woodland, fountains and shrines. The pope uses the gardens for walks and prayer, and Marian images from many countries, including the Lourdes Grotto, make them a concentrated devotional route. At the same time, key utilities sit here: the Governor’s Palace, media buildings, heliport and water infrastructure. Access is by paid guided tour, so the gardens function as both a working core of the microstate and a tightly managed heritage experience.

What a real gem to experience. I booked a guided tour of the Sistine Chapel/Museums which first included access to these gardens. I would definitely recommend it because they only do a select few tours a day inside the gardens so it’s a nice break from the crowds inside the Vatican Museums! Our guide spent nearly 1.5 hours walking us around - we thoroughly enjoyed it, plenty of places to fill up water bottles as well which is really needed on hot days!

The Vatican gardens are extremely beautiful. It’s possible to book an open bus tour (~45min) and then see the rest of the Vatican museum. I have been to the museum many times and always loved the views of the gardens from windows so I was thrilled to get to see more of them. For me, the 45 min tour felt like 3 min, it’s so captivating. I went in December and I’d imagine it’s a beautiful tour anytime of year. This is a very special additional tour.

A peaceful and unforgettable part of our Jubilee pilgrimage ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ We visited Rome for the Holy Year and chose June for its warm but bearable weather – the perfect time to enjoy the Vatican Gardens. The open bus tour was a highlight of our trip: peaceful, enriching, and visually stunning. The lush greenery, fountains, and sacred architecture created a deeply moving atmosphere. The audio guide provided insightful commentary without being overwhelming – it truly enhanced the experience. We loved every moment. After the gardens, we entered the Sistine Chapel directly, skipping the museum galleries as we had visited them before. The chapel was very crowded, but still worth it – a sacred space that never loses its impact. We booked the garden visit about 2–3 weeks in advance, and it included the museum ticket. Absolutely recommended – especially during the Jubilee year.

Away from the hustle, massively overcrowded corridors, people shoving each other around to get a selfie in front of some painting or statue inside the Vatican Museums, the Gardens of Vatican City provide a much needed reprieve, a much appreciated green space, and just downright peaceful and serene environment. Highly underrated, but oh-so-pleasant and beautiful gardens can only be visited as part of a two-hour guided tour, which requires a separate ticket (which are generally offered in the morning). The tickets must be purchased well ahead of time as they are limited. There are no crowds, just you and your guide in a small group setting. You will see what most people don’t get to see, and you will have a very pleasant time doing so. Note that the gardens ticket includes the Vatican museums, and the guide leaves you off at the Sistine Chapel. Do yourself a favor and get the gardens ticket instead of the regular admission - the gardens will likely be your most memorable experience of your visit to the Vatican City.

The Vatican Gardens are 23-hectare private gardens within Vatican City, located behind St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Established by Pope Nicholas III in 1279, they now comprise over half the country's area and feature a mix of Italian, French, and English garden styles, along with fountains, statues, and historical buildings. Rino Siconolfi Instagram rino_siconolfi

Absolutely beautiful. Stunning. Would do it all over again. I booked the tour with the bus on the website of the Vatikan Museums (Im not sure you can walk there because I didn’t see any people there). Would do it all over again.

What a beautiful place! This gardens are something that you need to see once in your life time... Or more... Beautiful gardens like the ones you see in the movies with lots of places to rest or enjoy your day, your time. It's the perfect place to relax and spend the day. I highly recommend it to go!