Road network

Vatican City has no public roads open to regular traffic. Vehicle access inside the enclave is restricted to authorised personnel only. For any visitor arriving by car, the journey ends in Rome, and the final approach to St. Peter's Square is made on foot.

Drivers should plan their route using Italy's motorway network and Rome's ring road, the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA), which provides access from all directions. Italian driving rules apply on approach: the blood alcohol limit is 0.05 percent, the minimum driving age is 18, and headlights are required outside urban areas during the day and in tunnels at all times. The emergency number is 112. Rome's ZTL restricted traffic zones are camera-enforced, and driving into one without authorisation results in an automatic fine. The area around the Vatican sits near the edge of several ZTL zones, so drivers should verify current boundaries before approaching. The closest car park is the underground Parcheggio Terminal Gianicolo on Via Urbano VIII, though parking at an outer metro station and taking Line A to Ottaviano-San Pietro is more practical. There are no tolls, vignettes, or road fees specific to Vatican City.

The detail that catches many drivers off guard is the finality of it: after a long drive across Italy, the destination itself cannot be entered by car at all.