Sistine Chapel opening hours follow the Vatican Museums schedule, because the chapel is visited as part of the museum route (it isn’t a separate, standalone entry). On Monday to Saturday, the Vatican Museums are open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with final entry at 6:00 p.m. Keep in mind that visitors are required to leave the galleries 30 minutes before closing, so the day effectively starts winding down before 8:00 p.m.
If you visit on the last Sunday of the month, the Vatican Museums open from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with final entry at 12:30 p.m., and it’s listed as free entry (as long as it doesn’t coincide with certain major feast days). On most other Sundays, the museums are closed, and the Vatican also publishes a holiday closure list plus occasional “extraordinary closures,” including notices that can affect the Sistine Chapel itself on specific dates.
Closed days
The Sistine Chapel is visited as part of the Vatican Museums route, so its closed days follow the Vatican Museums closure calendar. In general, the museums (and therefore the Sistine Chapel) are closed on Sundays, except for the last Sunday of each month, as long as that Sunday does not coincide with the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29.
For 2026 specifically, the Vatican Museums list these full closure dates: January 1 and 6, February 11, March 19, April 6, May 1, June 29, August 14 and 15, November 1, and December 8, 25, and 26, in addition to the usual Sunday closures.
One practical note for travelers: because the Sistine Chapel is also a working religious space, it can close temporarily for major Vatican events (for example, it has been closed in the past for conclave preparations), sometimes even when other museum areas remain open.
Lastentry
The Sistine Chapel doesn’t have a separate “last entry,” because you reach it as part of the Vatican Museums route. In normal operations, the Vatican Museums’ final entry is 6:00 p.m. (Monday–Saturday), even though the museums close at 8:00 p.m.—and visitors are asked to leave the galleries 30 minutes before closing, so the experience winds down before 8:00.
On the last Sunday of the month (the special free-opening day), the museums run 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with final entry at 12:30 p.m.
One important reality for planning: the Sistine Chapel is near the end of a long, one-way museum flow, so entering at the final entry time doesn’t guarantee you’ll reach it at a comfortable pace.
Also, the Vatican Museums sometimes publish temporary/extraordinary closures that can change the Sistine Chapel’s access or last entrance on specific dates, so it’s worth checking that notice if your visit date is fixed.
https://www.thesistinechapel.org/
Sistine Chapel packing
When you plan Sistine Chapel packing, the best approach is to pack like you’re visiting a sacred place inside a major museum, with strict rules and airport-style security.
The single most important “item” is clothing that will pass the Vatican’s dress standards without a debate at the entrance. The Vatican Museums state that entry to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel is allowed only for appropriately dressed visitors, and that sleeveless or low-cut tops, shorts above the knee, miniskirts, and hats are not permitted.
A light scarf or thin overshirt is an easy fix if you’re visiting Rome in warm weather and want to stay comfortable outside while still being correctly dressed once you’re inside.
Next, keep your bag small and simple. Big luggage and bulky backpacks slow you down and may be refused or sent to the cloakroom. The Vatican Museums’ cloakroom regulations say items larger than 40 × 35 × 15 cm must be stowed, and even rucksacks may need to be checked unless they’re small enough to meet the stated conditions.
The official visitor guidance also notes that staff may judge items unsuitable due to size or nature, and the cloakroom service is free, so “travel light” is the stress-free strategy.
Pack with security screening in mind. The Museums advise visitors to remove inadmissible items before the metal detector checks.
Medium or large umbrellas, tripods and stands, and video cameras must be left in the cloakroom, and the Museums also require knives, scissors, and metal tools to be stored there.
Food and drink are another common surprise: alcohol is not permitted inside the Museums, eating and drinking are not allowed in exhibition halls, and the Museums explain that food and drinks can be stored in the cloakroom during your visit.
Finally, pack for the experience inside the chapel itself, because the rules are part of what makes the Sistine Chapel feel different. The Vatican Museums explicitly state that photography is allowed in most areas but not in the Sistine Chapel, and that in the chapel it is forbidden to take photos or films with any type of electronic equipment.
They also ask visitors to observe absolute silence in the Sistine Chapel, and they note that mobile phone use is forbidden there.
If you go in expecting a “quiet, no-phone, no-camera” moment rather than a typical museum gallery, you’ll enjoy it more—and you won’t spend the visit worrying about what you can’t do.
