Doctors & Clinics in Vatican City
View Climate Information by City
Vatican City – located within the city of Rome, Italy – is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population. Officially owned by the Catholic Church and home to the Pope, it hosts upwards of five million tourists every year.
As the world’s smallest country, and given the unique status of Vatican City, there is no healthcare system, medical centres, or hospitals. All patients must access clinics and hospitals in Rome for care. Please see Travel Health Information for Italy for additional details.
In the event of a medical emergency, contact your travel health insurance company immediately. Hospitals and private practitioners in Italy typically require upfront payment, regardless if you have travel health insurance. Ensure that you have accessible funds to cover upfront fees and adequate travel health insurance. Before you depart, check with your insurer about the extent of their coverage in Italy.
Vatican City has a single pharmacy that services all of its residents as well as tourists. Additional pharmacies are widely available in Rome.
If you are travelling with medication, check with Italy’s embassy, consulate, or Ministry of Health for details on medication allowances and restrictions. If your medication is a psychotropic or narcotic, you can review Italy’s regulations on the International Narcotics Control Board. Note that these sources may provide incomplete or out-of-date information.
Roads in Vatican City are well developed and maintained. However, travellers are not permitted to drive within the Vatican without a permit. Only those visiting for official business may drive within Vatican City.