Okay So the Vatican Is A Lot (But Here's Why You Should Go Anyway)

It's its own country. An actual country, inside Rome. And it's the center of one of the largest religions in the world. So obviously I had to go ‘cause like how do you skip that?

Short answer: you don't. But let me tell you what I wish someone had told me first..

I went in full tourist mode, ready to soak in the history, the art, the architecture. And all of that is absolutely there. But what I didn't expect was realizing pretty quickly that most of the people around me weren't there for that at all.

For a lot of visitors, this isn't a landmark. It's a pilgrimage. People weren't snapping photos in the Sistine Chapel, they were praying. And honestly? That hit different. I'm not religious myself, but there was something quietly powerful about being in a space that means that much to that many people. Both ways of experiencing it felt totally fine - it just wasn't what I walked in expecting, and I think knowing that ahead of time would've helped me be more present.

The Gold Though… 

I'm going to say what I believe a lot of people are thinking and not saying: the opulence is A LOT. Like, every surface. Every ceiling. Gold on gold on more gold. It's a level of wealth on display that I genuinely didn't have a reference point for before walking in there.

The artistry is incredible, and I'm not trying to take that away from it at all. But if you catch yourself having a complicated feeling about it, that's valid too. You can hold both things at once (my therapist would be so proud).

My Real Take

I'm glad I went. I really am. It's one of those places that just exists in your understanding of the world differently once you've actually stood in it. But would I go back? Probably not. It felt like a checkbox, and I mean that in the most respectful way possible. I stood in one of the most significant places in human history, took it all in, and felt complete. 

It's a should-see-once, not a must-return-to. And that's okay.

What I Wish I'd Known (Please Read This Part)

The lines are INSANE 😅 Like… Disneyland-on-Christmas-Day insane. Hours long. Do not show up without a plan, I am begging you.

Book a tour guide. Non-negotiable. ✅ This is genuinely the move. You'll skip the worst of the lines, you'll actually understand what you're looking at, and you won't spend three hours wandering around lost because the place is massive. A good guide makes the difference between a frustrating day and a genuinely memorable one.

Skip Wednesdays 🚫 The Pope does a general audience address and the crowds hit a whole other level. Unless that's specifically on your list, just pick a different day and thank me later.

Bottom Line

Go. Plan ahead. Book the tour. Cover your shoulders and knees or they won't let you in. And don't do it on a Wednesday.

It's worth it, just go in with your eyes open and your expectations set. You'll leave glad you did. 💛