Vatican City State in Rome, Italy, is the world’s smallest sovereign state with a total area of less than a fifth of a square mile. It is situated on the Vatican Hill on the west banks of the Tiber River. It is home to the Pope and is the capital of the Roman Catholic world.

It is one of Rome’s most popular areas to visit and you will almost certainly have to queue to enter the Vatican Museum and the St Peter’s Basilica. Here you can also see the impressive Vatican Palace and admire the work of Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

It is also possible to explore the excavations, ancient narrow alley ways and a pre-Christian necropolis beneath St Peters Basilica but with only 120 places available each day, you will need to email the Excavations Office at the Vatican to secure a booking as far in advance as possible.

There is no hotel accommodation within the Vatican City itself but plenty of accommodation to suit all budgets can be found within the vicinity of Rome. Expect to pay a lot for a mid-range hotel in central Rome but cheaper options exist near the main rail station.

There are direct flights to Rome Ciampino Airport (CIA) and Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) from most major airports worldwide. It is also possible to take a train from Paris, Munich and Vienna or arrive overland by car or bus. Once in Rome, the best ways to get to the Vatican is either by taxi or take metro line A to Ottaviano-San Pietro or use buses 40 and 64, which operate out of the Stazione Termini.