Business Class Flights to Vatican City

With just under 500 people calling this city-state their home, Vatican City is the smallest state in the world in both size and population. Despite its size, over 5 million tourists on average book flights to Vatican City annually, hoping to tour its historic sites and see the symbolic center of the Roman Catholic Church.

Vatican City was officially declared a sovereign state in 1929, granting exclusive dominion and rights of the city to the Holy See, despite the city being located within the city limits of Rome, Italy. This jurisdiction over The Vatican falls under the Pope’s governance, who leads the Holy See.

Because of its small size, many tourists intent on booking flights to The Vatican find that they cannot travel there directly. All plane tickets to Vatican City have to fly to either of the two main airports in Rome. The Rome–Fiumicino International Airport (FCO), also known as the “Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport,” is the closest international airport to Vatican City at just under 13 miles.

Many who book flights to Vatican City travel there to see the heart of the Roman Catholic Church and visit its plentiful historical sites that are rich in beauty, power, and spirituality. Of the sites to visit, St. Peter’s Basilica is a frequent top pick by tourists. Built between the 16th and 18th centuries, St. Peter’s Basilica is the heart of The Vatican. Here, tourists will find the tomb of St. Peter, the first Pope; the Chapel of the Sacrament; Michelangelo’s dome; as well as his sculpture, Pietà, which depicts the Virgin Mary holding the body of her son, and other noteworthy areas to explore.

In front of St. Peter’s Basilica is the Piazza San Pietro (St. Peter’s Square), which is a semicircular enclosure that features 140 statues of saints along its sides and an Egyptian obelisk as its grand centerpiece. Beyond its grand history and design, the Piazza San Pietro offers a fantastic view of St. Peter’s Basilica behind it, making for an excellent photo opportunity.

Of course, the Sistine Chapel is another popular destination for tourists who book flights to The Vatican. Completed in 1484, the Sistine Chapel is most famous for its frescoes painted by Michelangelo. Often considered some of the best paintings in the world, these frescoes depict different scenes from the Old Testament and New Testament, covering Genesis to the Last Judgment.

The Apostolic Palace, also known as the Vatican Palace, is another popular destination for tourists. Visitors can explore the Barberini Gardens; the Appartamento Borgia, home to Pope Alexander VI and the Borgias; the Pope’s private chapel; the Raphael Rooms, which were painted by Raphael and students; and more.

Known as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, many aspiring horticulturists book cheap flights to Vatican City to catch a glimpse of The Vatican Gardens. Though touring The Vatican Gardens must be arranged beforehand, visitors can see the many sculptures, architectural designs, plants, and trees from a guided walking tour or bus tour.

In the middle of The Vatican, tourists will find Cortile della Pigna, known in English as the Court of the Pinecone. This courtyard is named so because of the four-meter-tall, bronze pinecone that has rested here since 1608. The courtyard is a great resting spot between visits to museums in the area, one of which is an Egyptian museum that offers nine rooms of Egyptian art from 6000 to 3000 BCE.

Those who have purchased plane tickets to Vatican City will be glad to know that while there are a few cafes and small restaurants within The Vatican, there are many popular eats just outside. For those who know of world-renown pizza chef, Gabriele Bonci, they’ll be pleased to learn that Pizzarium sits just outside of Vatican City. Pizzarium offers a variety of flavorful and unique twists on pizza.

Other popular food destinations nearby include La Zanzara for breakfasts; Lemongrass and Pompi for gelato and world-class desserts; The Trionfale Food Market, which is the largest food market in Rome; Franchi Gastronomia for pasta and seafood dishes; La Tradizione for their variety of over 500 cheese; and plenty of other locations for pizza, pasta, coffee, and other global favorites.