Okay, here’s my sharing about how I got a Vatican ID card, just like a normal dude would tell it.
So, I was planning this trip to the Vatican, right? Always wanted to see St. Peter’s Basilica, the whole deal. And I thought, wouldn’t it be cool to get one of those Vatican ID cards, just for the heck of it? Like a souvenir, you know?
First, I just looked around online. I mean, where else do you start these days? I saw some sites talking about religious stuff and souvenirs from the Vatican. Things like holy water bottles, prayer cards, you name it. They had all sorts of things, but nothing about ID cards.

Then I figured, maybe it’s something you can only get there, in person. It wouldn’t be the first time something was not sold online. So, I flew to Rome, went to St. Peter’s Square. There were a bunch of gift shops right outside. I went into a few, looked at their stuff—rosaries, keychains, all that. I asked a lady at one of the stores about the ID card. She’s never heard of that before. I got a little confused, I was sure that was a thing before.
I didn’t give up, though. I went up to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica, paid my 10 euros for the elevator. The view was awesome, by the way. There was a small souvenir shop up there, too. Again, lots of cool stuff, but still no ID cards. I asked the guy there, and he just shrugged. Said maybe it was a special thing, not for tourists. I said I was just looking for it as a souvenir. He suggested trying some religious stores around the area.
So, I went around to a couple of those religious stores. Beautiful stuff, seriously. Handcrafted items, Italian brands, the works. They had books, vestments, jewelry. But still, no ID card. I was starting to think maybe this wasn’t a real thing you could just buy. Maybe it’s only for, like, actual Vatican citizens or something.
Finally, I went into this one store, a pretty big one near the Square. They had, like, 22,000 items, it was crazy. I saw those Vatican publications and posters, even accessories. I spent a good hour there, just looking around. I asked again, just in case. The guy there, an older gentleman, he smiled and said they used to sell those, like, replicas, you know? But not anymore. Apparently, it caused some confusion, so they stopped. The closest he had were these special edition coins, with the Pope’s face and everything. They were pretty neat, but not what I was looking for.
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First attempt: Online Search
I tried to find it online, but no luck. The websites had religious items and souvenirs, but no ID cards.
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Second attempt: Gift Shops in St. Peter’s Square
I visited several gift shops near the square, but they didn’t have any ID cards. They had a lot of rosaries and keychains.
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Third attempt: St. Peter’s Basilica Souvenir Shop
I took the elevator to the top of the basilica and checked the souvenir shop there. Still no ID cards. The view was great, though!
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Fourth attempt: Religious Stores
I explored a few religious stores around the Vatican. They had beautiful handcrafted items, but no ID cards.
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Final attempt: Large Store Near the Square
I visited a large store with a vast collection. The gentleman there told me they used to sell replica ID cards, but they stopped due to some confusion.
So, yeah, that was my little adventure trying to find a Vatican ID card. I didn’t get one in the end, but I guess it makes for a good story. I learned that they used to sell them but stopped. So, if you’re planning a trip to the Vatican, don’t get your hopes up about getting an ID card. Enjoy the rest of the amazing stuff they have, though! It’s totally worth the visit.
