Updated: 2022
In Rome, ticket lines can be long and buying tickets for individual sites and attractions can be costly. By buying combo passes, you won’t have to wait in ticket lines or carry around cash and you’ll often save money too.
When planning your sight-seeing and which pass to buy, keep in mind that most museums are closed on Mondays, January 1, May 1, and December 25. National Museums and archaeological sites have free admission the first Sunday of the month.
Rome Combination Tickets and Passes
Colosseum and Roman Forum Pass and Tours
Colosseum and Roman Forum Pass is one of the top Rome tickets you should buy in advance. Colosseum tickets with a specific entrance time must be purchased in advance (you will still need to go through security before entering). This ticket includes the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and is currently good for 24 hours.
Or get through security more quickly with a small group guided tour.- VIP Colosseum Underground Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- Skip the Line: Premium Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
- Rome In A Day Tour with Vatican, Colosseum & Historic Center – for those who want to see it all in just one day
Roma Pass
Roma Pass is good for 48 or 72 hours and includes public transportation in Rome, free admission to 1 or 2 museums or archaeological sites, and discounts for other sites and exhibitions. The kit also includes a map with opening times of sites, a guide, and a downloadable app. With the Roma Pass you still need to reserve an entrance time for the Colosseum.
Buy a Roma Pass in advance. You can also buy a pass at tourist offices in Rome and the airport or on the Roma Pass web site. Note: This pass does not include the Vatican Museums.
Rome Tourist Card
The Rome Tourist Card includes skip-the-line tickets for the Colosseum, Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel and a guided tour of Saint Peter’s Basilica.
Vatican and Rome Card
Omnia Vatcian and Rome Card gives you priority access to Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (no waiting in ticket line), an audio guide for Saint Peter’s Basilica, and transportation on the Open Bus Roma Cristiana (hop-on, hop-off sight-seeing bus) for 24 hours. Cards for 3-days have additions that include 2 free entrances to sites in Rome, priority entrance to main heritage sites, and Rome bus transportation.
Buy a 24 or 72 hour Omnia Vatican and Rome Card in advance for pick up at one of the offices. Cards can also be bought at several places including the airport, Termini train station, Saint Peter’s Square, and Basilica of Saint John Lateran.
Vatican City Pass
Get skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, a guided tour of Saint Peter’s Basilica, and a Rome City audio guide with the Vatican City Pass.
Rome Archaeology Card
Rome Archaeologia Card is good for a single entrance to each of the several archaeological sites and the 4 national museums (Palazzo Altemps, Palazzo Massimo, Crypta Balbi, and Terme di Diocleziano). Buy a card at the ticket office of any of the sites (so it’s probably best to buy it somewhere else before going to the Colosseum). Cards are good for 7 days from the date of purchase. They do not include any transportation.
Rome Transportation Passes
Rome Transportation Passes can be used on all city buses and trams, the metro, and some local rail lines. It does not include airport transportation or hop-on hop-off sightseeing buses. You can buy a pass good for 24, 48, or 72 hours or 7 days. You can buy passes many places in Rome including tabacchi, news stands, vending machines, and some metro stations.
- Important: you must validate (stamp) your transit ticket or pass when you use it as there is no date already on the ticket. If your pass is not validated with a date stamp, you could be fined.
- Find out how to get around the city with our Rome Transportation Map
Rome Travel Planning
- Where to Stay:
JK Place, near the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon, is a top boutique hotel choice.
Singer Palace Hotel, on Via del Corso, a top shopping street, has a rooftop restaurant.
St. Regis Grand Hotel has been recently remodeled and is a luxurious choice.
See more Rome hotels.
Guidebooks:
Rick Steves Rome
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide
The Revealed Rome Handbook by Amanda Ruggeri
See more Recommended Books about Rome
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