The short answer
Many major churches and monasteries require covered shoulders and knees, and staff turn people away. At the Vatican, shoulders and knees must be covered in the Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's, and hats come off inside. Greek monasteries such as Meteora ask men and women to cover shoulders and women to wear skirts. Bring a light scarf and long pants or a skirt on port days that include church visits.
Vatican (Rome port: Civitavecchia)
- Shoulders and knees must be covered in the Vatican Museums, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica.
- Remove hats before entering sacred spaces.
Greek Orthodox monasteries (for example Meteora)
- Men and women should cover their shoulders.
- Women should wear skirts. Bringing a scarf to cover your head is welcomed.
Easy packing approach
- Pack a large light scarf or shawl that can cover shoulders or wrap as a skirt.
- On church days, wear long, light pants or a below-the-knee skirt.
- Southern Europe can be very hot in summer. Bring a hat for outdoors, water and sunscreen, and plan sightseeing early in the day.
Your checklist
Sources & what we could not confirm · 2 sources · checked 2026-11
- The Vatican Tickets (Headout, authorized partner, not an official Vatican site): dress code
- Visit Meteora: monastery visiting etiquette
Still being confirmed
- The official Vatican Museums and St. Peter's Basilica sites blocked automated reading. The dress code comes from an authorized ticket partner.
- St. Mark's Basilica in Venice: the official site could not be read, so its dress and bag rules are not listed. Modest dress (covered shoulders and knees) is widely reported but not confirmed here.
- Whether Greek monasteries lend wraps at the door was not confirmed.