Castel Sant'Angelo National Museum (Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant'Angelo)

The basics

Castel Sant’Angelo is located just outside the walls of Vatican City, and many visitors combine a St. Peter’s Basilica tour with a museum visit and a stroll across the picturesque Sant’Angelo Bridge (Ponte Sant'Angelo) into central Rome. There can be a wait to enter if you don’t book skip-the-line Castel Sant'Angelo tickets in advance, especially in the summer. Castel Sant’Angelo and the Colosseum are two of Rome’s most stunning sights to visit after sunset, so consider a Rome night tour to see both the castle and amphitheater beautifully illuminated.

Things to know before you go

• The five floors inside Castel Sant'Angelo are a maze of rooms and corridors, so wear comfortable shoes.

• The large terrace, where Puccini's heroine jumped to her death in his opera Tosca, has spectacular views over the Eternal City.

• Kids enjoy the large collection of historic weapons and armor displayed in the museum.

• The sumptuous Pope Paul III Papal Apartments are decorated with perfectly preserved Renaissance frescoes, a highlight for art aficionados.

• There is an elevator to the fifth floor, but most of the museum is not accessible to wheelchairs.

How to get there

Castel Sant’Angelo is located along the banks of the Tiber River (Fiume Tevere), a short walk from St. Peter’s Square in Rome, Italy. The Ottaviano station on Line A of the metro is about a 5-minute walk away, or you can reach the museum on foot from the sights in the Historic Center of Rome (Centro Storico di Roma) by crossing Ponte Sant’Angelo.

When to get there

Like all of Rome’s most famous historic sites, Castel Sant’Angelo is most crowded during the middle of the day and in the summer. To avoid crowds, visit in the off-season, shortly after opening, or before closing. The best time to enjoy the panoramic view from the rooftop terrace is right before sunset.

Sant’Angelo and the plague

This former Roman mausoleum has a rich history, but its name does not date back to ancient times. The name Castel Sant’Angelo is from AD 590, when the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared on top of the fortress to mark the end of the plague that had ripped through Rome. Since then, the structure has been known as the “Saint Angel Castle”. It was also the fortified refuge where Pope Clement VII retreated during the 16th-century Sack of Rome, further solidifying its role in the city’s history and lore.

Ways to explore

Castel Sant’Angelo is located just outside the walls of Vatican City, so many visitors combine a St. Peter’s Basilica tour with a museum visit and a stroll across the picturesque Sant’Angelo Bridge (Ponte Sant’Angelo) into central Rome. There can be a wait to enter Castel Sant’Angelo if you don’t book skip-the-line tickets in advance, especially in the summer. The fortress is particularly pretty after sunset, so consider a Rome night tour to see it (and other monuments) beautifully illuminated.

Accessibility

Castel Sant’Angelo is only partially wheelchair accessible, with a ramp entrance and elevator offering access to select parts of the museum.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Only bring essentials you can carry, as there’s no cloakroom.

What to wear

Choose comfortable walking shoes—the multi-level museum is maze-like and has some uneven surfaces.

Not allowed

Pets, drones, speakers

Amenities

Restrooms, café, bookshop

Address

Castel Sant’Angelo is located along the Tiber River, with Vatican City to the west and the connecting Sant’Angelo Bridge leading southeast toward central Rome. It’s within easy walking distance of top attractions such as St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona, and Campo de’ Fiori, but you can also get there by car or public transportation.

Driving

If possible, avoid driving in Rome, where heavy traffic and crowded parking structures make it difficult for visitors to navigate. Instead, get to Castel Sant’Angelo by taxi or rideshare.

Public transportation

While the closest metro stations, Ottaviano and Lepanto, are about a 20-minute walk away, bus lines 23, 280, 40, and more make stops just outside of Castel Sant’Angelo.

Best times to visit

Visit Castel Sant’Angelo around opening or closing, when you can sit at the café to enjoy city views in the soft morning or golden afternoon light.

Best days to visit

Save money by visiting on the first Sunday of the month, when admission is free, or stop by from Tuesday–Thursday for fewer crowds.

Best months to visit

Castel Sant’Angelo is a year-round attraction, but you’ll enjoy the best weather on the scenic terrace from March–May and September–October.

Special events

Castel Sant’Angelo is between Vatican City and the Sant’Angelo Bridge, two major stops for religious pilgrims. Expect crowds on Easter weekend and the 2025 Rome Jubilee.