All you need to know about the Vatican Dress code. A practical guide to help you decide what to wear to visit the Vatican to be appropriate in all seasons.
If you are reading this guide about what to wear to visit the Vatican, chances are you already know a Vatican dress code exists and need to figure out precisely what it entails.
The Vatican Dress code worries many and horror stories of people being refused entrance based on their clothing choices have probably scared you; however, respecting the Vatican dress code is not as hard as you may have come to believe.
While you need to abide by it, you won’t have to buy a new wardrobe to enter the Vatican nor wear your Sunday best. You also do not need to worry about the Vatican dress code unless you are visiting some parts of the Vatican State.
This is our no-nonsense guide to what to wear to visit the Vatican – I hope it will help you demystify the Vatican dress code conundrum!Â
Why a dress code for the Vatican
Before we get stuck in with clothing advice, it is good to put the Vatican Dress code in context.
Vatican City is an independent State and the seat of the Pope, the head of the Catholic Church. It is a religious state, with many scared environments, and the request for a dress code is their way to ask to show respect to the sacrality of the place.
The dress code applies to all indoor areas in Vatican city and this includes St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums: the reason for the dress code in the museum is that the Sistine Chapel is inside them.
If you are sticking to outdoor areas such as St Peter’s square, then no dress code applies. That said, it is essential to be aware of the people around you. While many will be curious tourists, many visitors to Vatican City come here for religious reasons, so modest attire is to be preferred.
Do I need to abide?
YES. You need to abide the Vatican dress code on a couple of accounts:
1- Respect for their sacred place. The Vatican is a place of worship first and a place of tourism next. Like many religious places in the world, they demand a certain attire to enter and abiding is the respectful thing to do, just like in other places is respectful and expected to cover hair, take off shoes or even not enter at all. No matter what each person can think of this rule, this is a ‘their house, their rule’ situation so I encourage to approach it with an open mind and flexibility.
2- Practicality. The rule exists and they will enforce it. If they do and you are refused entrance, there is no recourse: the responsibility is you to both inform yourself and abide and the museums and tour operators will not reimburse you based on this mistake. So, to avoid costly disappointment, it is best not to run the risk. And yes, sometime you can see people slipping in with inappropriate clothing but it is never worth it: the fact that they got away with it bears no guarantees that you will.
Does the Vatican provide cover ups?
The Vatican does NOT provide cover-ups. The inform you of what dress code is expected and the responsibility stands with the individual. Recently, I noticed a stall selling coverups just outside the basilica and do stop you and make you buy one if you are not dressed as expected: you are literally stopped as you walk into the basilica and made walk back to purchase, so don’t be surprised if you are yelled at and stopped. I have not seen the same sellers outside of the Vatican Museums: considering the cost of the ticket to the Vatican Museum, being refused entry here can be a real problem, as you have no recourse if they refuse you based on attire. So knowing what to wear at the Vatican is crucial for a stress free visit
What is the Vatican Dress code – what you cannot wear at the Vatican
The dress code of Vatican city calls for modest clothing, in particular (this is for men and women):
No strapless tops, spaghetti straps, tank tops, sleeveless tops that reveal shoulders and armpits. Showing arms is no problem: shoulders, armpits, b**bs are.
No mini-skirts (not even with tights) and no shorts: your knees need to be covered. I know people tend to hung up on this and try figure out is the exact centimetre more or less will make a difference but it is really not down to exact length, it is about the spirit of the rule. A skirt that mostly cover the knees is usually ok; a mini skit that doesn’t is not.
No see through clothing – they defeat the purpose of the rule so they are a NO
No revealing necklines or barebacks – same, the spirit of the rule is modesty, it goes without saying a plunging neckline or bare belly etc are a no
No offensive slogans on clothing or tattoos – please note that this is bases on what the Vatican deems offensive and this may be different from personal perception.
No shape revealing outfits such as tight jumpsuits – same as above, thing of the spirit of the rule and the idea of modesty and the reasoning behind this becomes clear
What you can wear at the Vatican
The above list of no-nos leaves a lot of room for things you CAN wear at the Vatican:
Below the knee skirts – they don’d to get to the ankles, any skirt below the knees is ok
Longer shorts – again, shorts that show the calf but not the knee are ok. A clever thing many use is pants with zip off legs: you wear the shorts during the day and zip up the bottom as you are about to enter
Long pants/ trousers – in summer, linen trousers are perfect as they keep you cool yet covered up. Good to know: you do not need fancy trousers: athletic wear is perfectly ok
T-shirts – anything that covers shoulders and armpits is ok
A shawl to cover a spaghetti straps top – not an issue
Sandals (see below our note about flip-flops)
What shoes to wear at the Vatican
There are no special rules about shoes at the Vatican and you can wear closed shoes or sandals.
While there is no specific rule about wearing flip flops at the Vatican, it is good practice not to, on practical grounds, not religious ones. With the immense number of visitors at the Vatican, the risk of being stomped over is very high and the significant amount of walking required in the museums or to climb the dome calls for more protective shoes.
Top tip: we have a handy guide about the best shoes to pack for Rome here. It includes info about wearing flip-flops in Rome and recommended alternatives.
How strict is the Vatican Dress Code: is the Vatican dress code enforced?
When it comes to enforcing the Vatican dress code, it is helpful to look at it from a couple of different perspectives:
- What the code says.
- What you can get away with.
- What is the most respectful thing to do.
In terms of the rules outlines above yes, the Vatican Dress code is enforced and people regularly get turned away because they are wearing code-breaking outfits and are not appropriately dressed.
This doesn’t mean that you can never get away with a pair of shorts: I have seen girls entering St Peter’s Basilica with super short shorts and a sweater around their waist to partially cover their legs however, the fact that you can possibly get away with it doesn’t mean you should chance it.
As well as running a risk of being turned away, revealing clothing can be offensive to the people who are in Vatican City for religious reasons so dressing appropriately is a way to show respect to them and to the spirit of the place.
Is there a dress code for kids?
The Vatican dress code applies to all genders and ages but it is very lax for kids.
You wouldn’t want your kids in a swimsuit to visit the Vatican in summer but a tasteful summer dress of shorts on a toddler will pose no issues. Older tweens and teenagers should follow the rules set out for adults.
Examples of appropriate kids’ attire for the Vatican:
T-shirts – perfectly appropriate, as they cover shoulders and armpits. Make sure they don’t have slogans that the Church may find offensive
Longer shorts below the knee – no problem
Pant, like tracksuit bottoms, joggers etc. Please remember: the Vatican does not requite to be dressed up – nice tailored shorts are still shorts and do not match the rule, while tracksuits are not an issue as they keep legs covered.
Additional useful resources to visit the Vatican
If you are planning a visit to the Vatican and Rome in general, I recommend you also read the following free guides:
What to pack for Rome in summer – a handy guide on how to be comfortable, appropriate and stylish in Rome’s heat
How to visit the Vatican – our complete guide to planning a day at the Vatican recommended tickets, tours, need to know, etc.
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