{"id":2052,"date":"2020-01-29T06:46:59","date_gmt":"2020-01-29T06:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vaticantour.com\/blog\/?p=2052"},"modified":"2020-03-16T10:11:53","modified_gmt":"2020-03-16T10:11:53","slug":"what-to-pack-for-the-vatican-dress-code-tips-and-suggestions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vaticantour.com\/blog\/what-to-pack-for-the-vatican-dress-code-tips-and-suggestions","title":{"rendered":"What to Pack for the Vatican: Dress Code, Tips and Suggestions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cEntry to the Vatican Museums, the Sistine\nChapel, St. Peter\u2019s Basilica and the Vatican Gardens is permitted only to appropriately dressed <\/strong>visitors,\u201d says\nthe Vatican official statement.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vatican City follows a rigid dress code. Like\nany other religious sites in the world, the Vatican authorities expect its\nvisitors to respect its system of rules and regulations. The Vatican is the\nofficial seat of the Roman Catholic Church. Thereby, we recommend adhering to\nthe ancient institution\u2019s stipulations when visiting or touring the Vatican.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Appropriately Dressed\u2019: Decoding the Term<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sleeveless clothing, low-cut dresses, miniskirts, shorts above the knees and hats (on men) are not allowed within the \u2018holy and sacred\u2019 areas of the Vatican City.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether you are heading to the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter\u2019s Basilica or any of the other small churches or chapels in the Holy See you need to follow the dress code. The key is to cover your shoulders, balls of the knees and stomachs, and this applies to both men and women.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to Wear?<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sleeved Blouses and T-Shirts<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Vest tops, tank tops, spaghetti-strapped tops or any revealing garments are an absolute no-no when visiting the Holy See.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what to wear during the summer months?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without exposing your cleavage or shoulders,\nyou can try T-shirts, shirts and sleeved blouses. You can even opt for sheer\nblouses; they keep you cool while being covered.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wise word is \u2018dress modestly\u2019, especially\nwhen you are wearing translucent materials.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many women (and sometimes men) will bring a\nshawl to throw over their shoulders when entering the Sistine Chapel and St.\nPeter\u2019s Basilica. A shawl will allow visitors to wear non-sleeved tops where\npossible, yet have the ability to cover up quickly when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Vatican<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In winter, you naturally tend to cover\nyourself up, hence no worries.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Linen or Cotton Skirts and Trousers<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Fret not; though there are restrictions on\nclothing, you can still stay cool and savour the religious masterpieces of the\nVatican. For that, during the summer months we suggest lightweight trousers or\n\u00be pants made of cotton or linen. This will allow air to flow through your\nclothing in the often crowded and hot Vatican Museums.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeans are allowed in the Vatican but they are\nnot recommended in the summer months as the heavy material can make you sweat\nand feel uncomfortable. Therefore, skirts are a good idea but stay away from\nminiskirts or anything that ends above the knees.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you do choose to wear shorts, it is very important\nthat the cloth falls below the ball of the knees. In recent years we have seen\nvisitors bringing zip on pants which can easily be attached when entering holy\nplaces within the Vatican.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you arrive to the Vatican without the\nappropriate clothing not to worry as the many local vendors surrounding the\nVatican walls do sell shawls, t-shirts and even light-weight painters pants to\nhelp you cover up before entering.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shoes for Vatican City Tours<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shoe types are not explicitly mentioned in the\nVatican dress code however you do need shoes to enter the Vatican. Open toed\nshoes or sandals are allowed but we stress that your footwear should be\ncomfortable as you will be on your feet the majority of the time when visiting\nthe Vatican. Due to lack of support we suggest staying away from flip-flops and\nheels. Don\u2019t try to be fashionable, leave your stilettos at the hotel and wear\nsneakers,your feet will thank you for it at the end of the day. Flat shoes are\nhighly recommended for tours of the\nVatican<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips and Suggestions<\/span><\/p><\/h3>\n\n\n\n