The Vatican owns Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace (also known as Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo) since 1596.
For centuries, Papal Palace has been the pope’s summer home and getaway destination.
In 2014, the beautiful gardens were opened for public viewing, and later in 2016, the palace was open to visitors.
You can explore the papal residences, which are lavishly decorated and furnished, browse the papal portrait collection, and see several pontifical artifacts.
This article shares everything you need to know before booking Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo tickets.
Table of contents
- What to expect at Palace of Castel Gandolfouse?
- Where to buy Palace of Castel Gandolfouse tickets
- How online ticket works
- Cost of Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo tickets
- Castel Gandolfo Palace ticket and Gardens Minibus Tour
- Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo Walking Tour
- Tour of Papal Gardens by minibus
- Castel Gandolfo Kayak and Swimming Lake Tour
- Pope’s Summer Residence Tour with Lunch
- How to reach Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
- Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo timings
- How long does Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo take
- Best time to visit Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
What to expect at Palace of Castel Gandolfouse?
There are many things to explore in the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
Depending on the tour you book, you can explore the beautiful palace, mesmerizing gardens, artwork, furnishings, uniforms, and artifacts.
Plan a picnic in the beautiful garden of Papal Palace or explore the Papal Apartment.
Learn about the history of the Pope’s summer residence.
Where to buy Palace of Castel Gandolfouse tickets
You can purchase tickets for the Palace of Castel Gandolfouse tickets online.
It is better to buy your ticket online as it can quickly y get sold out, and this way, you can avoid last-minute disappointments.
Also, online tickets save time and money.
When booking the tickets online, you can choose your preferred time of the visit and plan your trip accordingly!
How online ticket works
When you book tickets for Palace of Castel Gandolfouse, on the booking page, select your preferred date, timeslot, and the number of tickets and buy them right away!
Following the purchase, the tickets will be sent to your registered email.
Show the ticket at the starting point and enter the castle!
Cost of Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo tickets
The cost of tickets for the Palace of Castel Gandolfouse depends on the type of tour you book.
You can purchase tickets for a minibus tour of the palace, a swimming lake tour offering a pristine view of Castel Gandolfo from Kayak lake, or a palace tour with exotic lunch.
The Castel Gandolfo Palace Ticket and Gardens Minibus Tour are priced at €33 for all visitors aged 19 years and above.
Children aged 6 to 18 years get €8 discount and pay just €25 for entry.
Kids below the age of 5 years get free admission.
The Pope’s Summer Residence Tour with Lunch costs €62 for guests above the age of 19 years.
While the Castel Gandolfo Kayak and Swimming Lake Tour tickets are priced at €45 for visitors aged 14 years and above.
Tickets for children aged 8 to 13 years cost €35 with a saving of €10.
Castel Gandolfo Palace ticket and Gardens Minibus Tour
Explore the Castel Gandolfo Papal Palace at your speed with the help of a multilingual audio tour (Italian, English, Spanish, German, French, and Russian).
When booking tickets, you can also select the 45-minute minibus tour option and take an added detour to the Barberini Gardens.
The garden is also a good spot for picnics during your tour and is the ideal way to round off a visit to the Castle.
Learn about the history, the significance of the Second Vatican, and numerous collections of art, relics, and more.
The tour usually starts at 8.30 am while the minibus tours around 9 am.
Ticket Price
Castel Gandolfo: Palace ticket and Gardens Minibus Tour
Adult Ticket (19+ years): €33
Youth Ticket (6 to 18 years): €25
Child Ticket (up to 5 years): Free
Papal Palace Entrance ticket with audioguide
Adult Ticket (19+ years): €15
Youth Ticket (6 to 18 years): €8
Child Ticket (up to 5 years): Free
Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo Walking Tour
Visit 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 and enjoy a vegetarian or porchetta sandwich with bottled water, beer or wine, and traditional wine biscuits.
The tour takes about 90 minutes and is a must-visit on your trip to Rome.
Ticket Price
Adult Ticket (18+ years): €25
Child Ticket (6 to 17 years): €13
Infant Ticket (up to 5 years): Free
Tour of Papal Gardens by minibus
Get ready to discover the Papal palace gardens in Castel Gandolfo in a minibus that adds comfort to your tour.
Once you reach the meeting point, you will be welcomed aboard the eco-friendly minibus to discover the Castel Gandolfo gardens.
View the beautiful Lake Albanoas as you stroll down avenues lined with trees and see the flowers, fountains, and statues.
There are three tours included in this ticket: Minibus Tour, Minibus Tour with entry to the Papal Apartments, and Minibus Tour with Lunch in the Papal Gardens.
You could tour the Papal Apartment or have lunch in the Papal Gardens if you selected the option.
Bring your food and drinks; you can get lunch only if you selected the option when booking the tour.
Things to Remember
– The tour is unsuitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users.
– Bring along valid IDs for your tour.
– Wear appropriate clothing, and avoid shorts and clothes above the knee.
– Avoid bringing luggage or large bags.
– You must report to collect your entry ticket according to your selected option at the meeting point.
Ticket Price
Minibus Tour
Adult Ticket (18+ years): €38
Child Ticket (6 to 17 years): €28
Infant Ticket ( up to 5 years): Free
Minibus Tour with Entry to the Papal Apartments
Adult Ticket (18+ years): €48
Child Ticket (6 to 17 years): €38
Infant Ticket ( up to 5 years): Free
Minibus Tour with Lunch in the Papal Gardens
Adult Ticket (18+ years): €60
Child Ticket (6 to 17 years): €50
Infant Ticket ( 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.
It is a singular and unforgettable experience to hear the sound of the ocean lapping and the wildlife in the area.
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 three hours and starts at 10.30 am.
The crew will provide a kayak, paddle, life jacket, waterproof bag, and bottled water.
You will also get transportation from Rome.
Ticket Price
Adult Ticket (14+ years): €45
Child Ticket (8 to 13 years): €35
Pope’s Summer Residence Tour with Lunch
On this tour, explore the beautiful Palace of Castel Gandolfouse and the surrounding gardens.
You can see the views over the beautiful Lake Albano, which you can admire from the grounds of the Apostolic Palace.
With an audio guide in English, you can discover the previously undiscovered treasures of this magnificent private property on this trip.
Get a chance to explore the Barberini Gardens and the spectacular ruins of Emperor Domitian’s residence.
From there, you’ll move on to a tasty lunch made with fresh ingredients from the royal farm.
You can add a tour of the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica to your trip, in which case you will be dropped off just outside the Vatican on your return to Rome.
The tour begins at 9.30 am and takes about three and a half hours. It is a great option for people who wants to explore the Castle on a private tour.
You’ll be given an ecological golf car for the Papal gardens and an audio guide in your selected language.
This tour is for small groups, with limited seating of 20 people.
Get transportation from the meeting point and back and have an amazing lunch in the gardens of Papa Palace Rome.
Ticket Price
Adult Ticket (19+ years): €62
Child Ticket (6 to 18 years): €52
Infant Ticket (up to 5 years): Free
Buy Roma Pass and visit one or two of Rome’s top attractions with access to public transport. Pick either a 48-hour pass or a 72-hour pass and get direct entry into the famous gems of Rome.
How to reach Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
The Papal Palace is located in Castel Gandolfo, a small town 25 km southeast of Rome.
Address: Piazza della Libertà, 00073 Castel Gandolfo RM, Italy. Get Directions
You can reach the location either by public transport or your 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 Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo.
By Train
If you’re 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 to the Palace.
Put on google maps and get started!
Car Parking
There are many parking lots around the Papal Palace.
Click here to find out!
Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo 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.
The Castle is closed on – 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 Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo take
The tour of the Palace of Castel Gandolfouse takes about two hours if you rush through the castle.
Depending on the tour you choose, the time taken can vary.
If you’re planning on covering the palace at your own pace, it can easily take a lot longer than two hours.
Some people take a whole day to explore this magnificent castle.
Best time to visit Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
The best time to visit 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.
Sources
# Romesite.com
# Thevaticantickets.com
# Barcelo.com
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