A response to another post on this forum referenced needing to reserve in advance to visit the Pantheon on weekends. I am beginning to plan an itinerary for a trip to Rome this fall, and am wondering if anyone who is there now or has been there recently has information on how far in advance tickets are available for various attractions? In addition to how far in advance I might be able to book a visit to the Pantheon on a weekend, I'm wondering whether the Borghese Gallery still books 8 weeks in advance (I'm not sure but I think this used to be the case). What about the Colosseum? I'd like to put reminders on my calendar as to when to try to obtain various tickets, so any information would be helpful. I realize everything is still in flux and may change between now and September, but since most travel guides are out of date, information from anyone who has traveled in the past few months would be super helpful. Thanks!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16793 posts
Ruth, your problem is that the situation between now and 6 or more months from now could be completely different. No one can tell you how far in advance any of the attractions you list will be booking. It's just too early to know as it's been such a fluid situation. It doesn't matter what anyone who has traveled within the last few months can tell you: your trip is too many months future to know how things could change between now and then.
Just keep an eye on the websites for the attractions you wish to see.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15799 posts
I'm going to Italy in 2 days. After reading a post about Vatican tickets, I took a look at the website and found that a month ahead, my chosen day was sold out, and there weren't any morning tickets for the previous day, so I'm going at noon and hoping 6 hours is enough (not my first time).
My only advice is to start looking at the booking sites well in advance - but not to stress about it now 😂
Posted by
OP
Ithaca, NY, USA
769 posts
Thanks, everyone -- good advice. tdw, we will be arriving on a Thursday and joining a RS Southern Italy tour that starts on Monday afternoon, so most of our free time is over the weekend.
We're doing a food tour on Friday morning to mid afternoon, and will be seeing a couple of sites with a private guide on Saturday. I'm trying not to schedule too many things on any one day. Our pre-tour hotel is very close to the Pantheon (we'll move to the tour hotel in Trastevere on Monday -- on our RS Eastern Europe tour we stayed in one part of Prague pre tour and moved across town to the tour hotel and loved getting to know two different parts of the city), so I was thinking we could try to go very early in the morning on Sunday or Monday, while we're so close. But I didn't know before yesterday that reservations were needed for weekends. I realize that might be the case with other attractions that didn't previously require them. That's why I asked. I'll keep checking websites, but always appreciate the updates provided on this forum, so decided to ask here as well.
Posted by
OP
Ithaca, NY, USA
769 posts
Chani, please report back with all the details when you return!! Have a great trip!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16793 posts
Ruth, I just saw that first half of April tickets for the Colosseum went on sale today. If they follow the same format, Sept, tickets would go on sale mid-August. However, I would NOT plan on that! In the past, Coopculture has changed ticket release dates for this most-visited of Rome's attractions more frequently than I change my socks (OK, an exaggeration but not by much, I swear) so keep a sharp eye on the site, especially if wanting to purchase tours.
Someone over on TripAdvisor said the tour they wanted for a date first 1/2 of April sold out within minutes today, and that has pretty much been the case for past high/shoulder seasons. I see there are still openings for some of the tours but many slots are available only for 1 person; not two or more. The individual who posted that info said they just happened to be on their computer/website so was lucky to nail their tickets when availability popped up. Near as I can see, Coopculture does not specify what TIME tickets go on sale, or not yet, anyway.
https://www.coopculture.it/en/article/notice-for-colosseum-archaeological-park/