Plizio Visual Lab

Vatican Gas Station

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Landmark

Weather…

The Vatican Gas Station, located near the Santa Marta guest house, is a vital part of the city-state's internal economy and logistics. Established to serve the vehicles of the Holy See and the Governorate, it provides fuel at duty-free prices, making it significantly cheaper than stations in the surrounding city of Rome. Access is strictly controlled and reserved for residents of Vatican City, employees with a special permit, and diplomats accredited to the Holy See. This facility operates under the Directorate of Telecommunications and Economy and is one of the few places in the world where fuel is sold without national taxes applied. The station also provides basic automotive services and lubricants tailored to the needs of the small but active papal fleet. Its presence underscores the sovereign nature of the Vatican, which manages its own essential services independently from the Italian state infrastructure.

Location: Vatican
Top sights: Vatican Hill · St Mary's Church · Lourdes Grotto

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Sep.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	7	8	10	14	18	23	26	26	21	17	12	8
Rain mm	73	77	69	56	57	34	26	26	70	82	114	92

📋 Practical info

🚪

Visiting

The Vatican gas station is not a public facility - it serves only official vehicles. You can see the area from outside but cannot enter.

🕒

Typical hours

There are no visitor hours, as the station is not open to the public. It typically operates during Vatican working hours.

📷

Photography

Exterior photos are possible, but avoid photographing vehicles or personnel without permission. Respect any barriers.

⏱️

Time needed

A quick glance from outside takes about 5 minutes. Since there is no tour, a brief stop suffices.

➕

Combine with

Combine this brief stop with nearby St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Gardens. The area is packed with sights within minutes.

🧭

Getting there

The station is located inside Vatican City, behind St. Peter's Basilica. It can be reached on foot through the Vatican Gardens, but only with special permission.

💡

Insider tip

Look out for the special Vatican license plates - they bear the SCV abbreviation. A quick photo is possible if there is no restriction.

Geography

Coordinates

41.90290, 12.45020

Facts

The station provides fuel without Italian VAT or national excise duties.
Access is restricted to holders of the Vatican identity card known as Tessera.
It is located in the southwestern part of the Vatican near the Porta Perugino gate.
Fuel sales are a significant source of revenue for the Vatican City State budget.
There are separate pumps for gasoline and diesel to serve official and private cars.
Prices are adjusted periodically based on the international market while remaining tax-free.