The Vatican has owned Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace (also known as Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo) since 1596.
The Palace has been the pope’s summer home and getaway destination for centuries.
It is approximately 15 miles (24 km) southeast of Rome and overlooks Lake Albano.
The beautiful gardens were opened for public viewing in 2014, and the palace was opened to visitors in 2016.
You can explore the papal residences, which are lavishly decorated and furnished, browse the papal portrait collection, and see several pontifical artifacts.
This article covers everything you must know before booking Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo tickets.
Table of contents
| Tour | Cost |
|---|---|
| Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo Walking Tour | €25 |
| Castel Gandolfo Kayak and Swimming Lake Tour | €36 |
| Castel Gandolfo: Kayak Food and Wine Tour | €65 |
Things to know before booking tickets
You can book tickets to the Palace of Castel Gandolfo online or at the attraction.
If you arrive at the venue to buy tickets, you must line up at the counter. During peak times, these lines can get long, and you will waste your time.
Online tickets for the Castel Gandolfo Palace are usually cheaper than those sold at the venue.
You also get your preferred time slot when you book online and in advance.
Online tickets also help you avoid last-minute disappointments when tickets get sold out.
To book tickets, visit the ticket booking page and select your preferred date, time, and number of tickets.
After the purchase, you will receive the tickets in your email. You don’t need to take any printouts.
On the day of your visit, show the e-ticket on your smartphone and walk into the attraction.
Show the e-ticket on your smartphone at the meeting point and enter the Palace to collect your audio guide and start your tour.
Palace of Castel Gandolfo tickets
There are different ways to explore the attraction.
You can purchase tickets for a walking tour, a swimming lake tour offering a pristine view of Castel Gandolfo from a Kayak, or a Kayak Food and Wine Tour.
Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo Walking Tour
Visit the charming village of Castel Gandolfo, which has grown around the Pope’s Summer Palace and is positioned atop Lake Albano’s turquoise waters.
On this tour, a member of the Vatican staff will lead you on a walking tour of the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo’s “green heart,” the infamous gardens of Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace.
Enjoy your stroll around the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo’s botanical and architectural treasures and view the beautiful vineyards and orchards.
You can explore and enhance your trip by adding two attractions on your stroll:
– Pope’s Summer Residence
Adding this to your trip lets you explore the Papal Apartment and learn about the history of the Pope’s beloved summer residence.
Get a chance to wander between the studio and the library or from the bedroom to the private chapel.
Look at the balcony where the Popes lead the Angelus every Sunday in the summer.
– Picnic in the Papal Gardens
Have a fun lunch in the garden picnic area. Enjoy a vegetarian or porchetta sandwich with bottled water, beer or wine, and traditional wine biscuits.
The tour takes about 90 to 150 minutes (depending on the option selected) and is a must-visit on your trip to Rome.
Cost of tickets
The Papal Apartments and Secret Garden walking tour tickets are available at €22 for visitors aged 18 and above.
Children aged six to 17 get a €13 discount and pay just €9 for entry.
Kids below the age of five years get free admission.
Adult (18+ years): €22
Child (6 to 17 years): €9
Infant (up to 5 years): Free
Castel Gandolfo Kayak and Swimming Lake Tour
Take a kayak tour with many educational stops in a tranquil lake near Rome.
Once you reach the meeting point, you will get a brief paddling, navigation, and communication tutorial.
Look at the Roman port of the Villa of Domitian, the Trampoline of the Pope, and a stunning beach only accessible by kayak.
You can swim in the lake if the weather is cooperative.
After this, you will pass the Popes’ vacation home along the journey, perched atop the Castel Gandolfo mountain and surrounded by unspoiled wilderness.
Hearing the sound of the ocean lapping and the wildlife in the area is a singular and unforgettable experience.
Throughout the tour, your guide will aid you technically and provide tales and anecdotes about the lake.
You can shower when you return to the starting location before returning to the capital.
The tour lasts for about 3 hours and starts at 10.30 am and 3.30 pm.
The crew will provide a kayak, paddle, life jacket, waterproof bag, and bottled water.
You will also get transportation from Rome.
Cost of tickets
The Castel Gandolfo Kayak and Swimming Lake Tour tickets are priced at €36 for visitors aged 14 and above.
Tickets for children aged eight to 13 years cost €28 with a saving of €8.
Adult (14+ years): €36
Child (8 to 13 years): €28
Kayak Food and Wine Tour
Your tour will begin with you being helped with all the safety devices and the techniques for paddling and using the kayak.
Your first break will be at the village of the millstones, which consists of submerged stilt houses that you will see from your kayak.
After your break, you will engage in another stretch of paddling and admire the Pope’s summer residence on the Castel Gandolfo mountain.
You will then take a second break at the Roman port of the Villa of Domitian.
Your third stop will be the Pope’s Trampoline, where you can admire the old structure on the lake shore with the ancient papal coat of arms.
Later, you will dock on an uncontaminated beach reachable only by kayak, where, if the season allows, you will also dive and swim.
Ticket Price: €65 (per person)
Buy a Roma Pass and visit one or two of Rome’s top attractions with access to public transport. Choose either a 48-hour or a 72-hour pass and get direct entry into the city’s famous gems.
Frequently asked questions about tickets
Here are some questions tourists ask before purchasing their tickets for Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace in Rome.
Yes, entry to the attraction is free for children aged five years and younger.
Yes, tickets are available at the venue’s ticket office. However, the popular timeslots may sell out due to high demand, so getting them online in advance is better.
Visitors can present their tickets on mobile devices, but printed tickets are also accepted at the Papal Palace.
When you book the attraction’s tickets, you must select a preferred time of visit. Keeping the security check in mind, you must arrive at least 15 minutes before your chosen time slot.
Entry to the attraction within one hour of closing time will not be allowed under any circumstances.
Yes, the attraction offers discounted tickets to children between six and 18 years, individual students up to 25 years, individual priests, men and women religious seminarians and novices, and groups from seminaries and religious colleges collectible at the ticket office upon presentation of relevant documents.
Yes, the attraction offers a dedicated student discount on their admission tickets. Students aged up to 25 years get discounted admission.
The attraction does not offer a military discount on its admission tickets.
The Roma Pass has not yet included the attraction in its go-to sightseeing list.
This attraction of Rome has a flexible cancellation policy. You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before your visit for a full refund.
The attraction does not allow you to change the date and time of your visit under any circumstances.
The attraction is an all-weather experience, so all tickets are final.
There might not be strict age limits, but certain parts of the palace or estate might not be suitable for very young children or individuals with mobility issues due to staircases or uneven terrain.
Different ticket options are available for visiting the Palace, such as the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo Walking Tour, Castel Gandolfo Kayak and Swimming Lake Tour, and more.
Timings
Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace is open from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm.
The last entry to the palace is at 4 pm.
The castle is closed on Sundays, except on every last Sunday of the month, when it is open from 9 am to 2 pm, with the last entry at 12.30 pm.
Other holidays are 1 and 6 January, 11 February, 10 April, 1 May, 29 June, 15 and 16 August, 1 November, 8 December, 25 December, 26 December, and 31 December.
How long does the tour take
The Palace of Castel Gandolfo tour takes about 2 hours if you rush through the castle.
Depending on the tour you choose, the time taken can vary.
It can take longer than 2 hours if you plan to cover the palace at your own pace.
Some people take a whole day to explore this magnificent castle.
Best time to visit
The best time to visit the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo is as soon as it opens at 9 am.
Morning is one of the best times to visit the palace, as the crowd has not yet reached the palace, and you can explore the place at your own pace.
Get Instagram-worthy pictures as you stroll in the corridors of Pope’s summer residence.
What to expect
There are many things to explore in the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
The Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo tour includes access to some of the palace’s interior rooms. Visitors might see rooms where popes have stayed, such as bedrooms, sitting rooms, and private chapels.
Depending on the tour you book, you can explore the beautiful palace, mesmerizing gardens, artwork, furnishings, uniforms, and artifacts.
You can stroll through the meticulously maintained gardens while enjoying the scenic views of Lake Albano and the surrounding countryside.
Plan a picnic in the beautiful garden or explore the Papal Apartment.
Learn about the history of the Pope’s summer residence.
How to reach
The Papal Palace is located in Castel Gandolfo, a small town 25 km (15 miles) southeast of Rome.
Address: Piazza della Libertà, 00073 Castel Gandolfo RM, Italy. Get Directions
You can reach the location either by public transport or by car.
By Bus
If you’re taking the Frascati – Ardea # CN924A, Frascati – Genzano di Roma # VL71A, Frascati – Pomezia # SG023A, Frascati – Pomezia # SG23A, etc., get off at Castel Gandolfo | Palazzo Apostolico.
From there, take a 2-minute walk to the Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
By Train
If taking the REG red train, get off at Castel Gandolfo.
From there, it is an 11-minute walk.
By Car
You can take your car or rent a cab.
Put on Google Maps and get started!
There are many parking lots around the attraction.
Sources
# Romesite.com
# Thevaticantickets.com
# Barcelo.com
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