Vatican Gardens Walking Tour • Vatican By Train Vatican Full Day PLUS
Vatican City Railway Station is situated in the Vatican Gardens. To get there, the Vatican By Train tour includes a short walking tour of the Vatican Gardens. However, this was just a one-way direct walk to the Vatican City Railway Station which touches on just a few sites along the way, and not a complete Vatican Gardens tour like the actual Vatican Gardens walking tour sold separately.
Vatican By Train • Vatican Full Day PLUS Itinerary
Click on each timing to view the experience in each post.
8.00 am: Tour of the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with an audio guide
10.00am: Walking tour of the Vatican Gardens with an audio guide
11.00am: Departure from Vatican City Railway Station by electric train to Castel Gandolfo and transfer by shuttle
12.30pm: Visit to the Museum of the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo with audio guide
3.30pm: Tour of the Gardens of the Pontifical Villas (Villa Barberini) by eco friendly transport with an audio guide
5.18pm: Departure from Albano Laziale Railway Station by electric train to Roma San Pietro Railway Station
Vatican by Train Meeting Point
The Vatican By Train Vatican Full Day PLUS tour includes an early visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel before opening time. Following the visit, passengers on the tour must gather at the meeting point outside Padiglione delle Carrozze by 10am.
Vatican Museum staff are on hand to proceed with the tour in batches.
During my visit in 2022, FFP2 masks were still required on public transport in Italy. The Vatican Museums have masks on hand for any passenger who does not have an FFP2 mask on hand.
Vatican Gardens
Once groups have been formed, the walking tour proceeds out of a small gate to the Vatican Gardens.
The tour leader opens the gate for entry.
The gate leads to a car park, with a path at the end to the Vatican Gardens.
Looking back down at Giardino Quadrato.
A distance is regulated between each tour group.
At various landmarks, the tour leader will say a number and then everyone presses it into the audio guide.
Continuing behind the group ahead.
Unfortunately I couldn’t remember all the landmarks that was in the audio guide as there was no map to refer to.
Much of the tour was following the leader and pressing numbers on the audio guide.
Making a brief stop at Fontana dell’Aquilone.
The dome of St. Peter’s Basilica from the back, as seen from the Vatican Gardens.
Following behind the group ahead.
The statue of St. Peter looking out to St. Peter’s Basilica.
Passing by Vatican Radio, the tallest building in Vatican City located on a mound.
Passing by the Governor’s Palace.
Taking the fork on the left direct to Vatican City Railway Station.
Passing by Pontifical Ethiopian College.
It’s a downhill road here, passing under a small road bridge.
Vatican City Railway Station
And finally, the highlight of the Vatican By Train tour can be seen just ahead.
Looking down at Vatican City Railway Station from above the tunnel portal.
Vatican City Railway Station with St. Peter’s Basilica on the left.
This picture pretty much sums up the entire railway network in Vatican City, consisting of 1 main line, 1 loop line, and 1 siding.
As the Vatican does not own any rolling stock, the Fiat New Holland Agriculture tractor donated to Pope Benedict XVI is used as a shunter in place of a proper locomotive.
The headshunt at the end of the line, leading to KM0.00 at the end of the tunnel and the end of the Vatican railway network, goes under the Vatican Gardens.
The tour groups stops short of Vatican City Railway Station before gathering everyone for train boarding.
Conclusion
The main function of this Vatican By Train Vatican Gardens walking tour is to get passengers from the meeting point in the Vatican Museums to Vatican City Railway Station, stopping at some convenient sights along the way. For a more comprehensive tour of the Vatican Gardens, book the actual Vatican Gardens walking tour or the Vatican Gardens open bus tour.