The Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel

One of the world's most iconic collections

Noteworthy for: The Vatican began collecting over 500 years ago, and has amassed what is one of the highest concentration of the world's most important works.
Word to the wise: Try to get a seat by the wall inside the Sistine Chapel, so you can enjoy Michelangelo without getting swept up in the throng of people moving through.

There's just too much to see. The Vatican Museums - so large its referred to in plural - is like the world's history in a not-so-small microcosm. Mosaics, tapestries, classical paintings and ceramics from every culture and every corner of the planet fill what is collectively known as the Palazzo Apostolico Vaticano.
See art by Caravaggio and Leonardo da Vinci, artefacts such as the red marble papal throne or early Christian sarcophagi, or go to the Raphael Rooms for work by Raphael and his students. Made up of two palaces joined by two long galleries in a 5.5 hectare complex, it pays to be selective about what you cover.

Of course, everyone wants to see the Sistine Chapel, housing the most famous painting in the world, ‘The Creation of Adam’ by Michelangelo. To do so, you'll have to shuffle along a corridor amidst crowds for nearly two hours. There are more enjoyable experiences here, but it's certainly a big tick on life's to-do list.