Vatican City
Vatican City has had no criminal laws against consensual same-sex relations since 1890 (inherited from the Italian Zanardelli Code), but neither does any LGBTQI+ recognition or protection framework exist. The Holy See reserves the right to dismiss employees who publicly identify as gay. It is a microstate with limited tourist access (museums, basilica), not a conventional destination with its own scene.
Legal framework · Vatican City
LGBT
identity
Not criminalized · no protection
No criminal laws since 1890 (Italian Zanardelli Code of 1889) · but the Holy See can dismiss employees who publicly identify as gay
Partnership
recognition
Not recognized · official opposition
No same-sex marriage or civil union · historic opposition to civil recognition and adoption
Official sources
check before traveling to Vatican City
Foreign affairs ministries publish updated travel advisories. For destinations with restrictive legal frameworks we recommend consulting several official sources before planning.