bettypatterson

We have advance tickets for the Sistine Chapel in September 2009 and plan to go out the back door to the tower elevator from there and then into St. Peter's. Do we have to check backpacks as we enter the Vatican Museums? We don't plan to go back to the entrance as we have downloaded the free MP3 tours by Rick Steves of both the Chapel and St. Peters.

quokka

No museum in the world will allow you in with a huge backpack.

Alec

I think you can bring in normal daypack-size backpack. Only large backpacker-style one needs to be checked.

adrienne

You can bring a day pack into the museums and church but as the museums and church are very crowded I would suggest wearing it in front of you so you do not hit others with it.

Jean

Backpacks larger than 40 x 35 x 15 cm (15 x 13 x 6 in.) must be checked. Backpacks that, when worn on the shoulders, extend 15 cm (6 in.) from the body at its highest point must be checked. Backpacks that are "cumbersome" must be checked. (That last one allows the Vatican maximum disgression in this, so I'd probably assume every backpack must be checked. Why not leave it at the hotel that day?)

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/z-In..._Consigli.html

bettypatterson

Thanks for the 4 replies. I knew I had seen the Vatican official rules, but somehow missed them when searching again. Thanks Jean for giving me that link.