ID for entry into Rome attractions

I went to the Vatican Museum last year and was not asked for an ID.

only the passport is legal ID in Italy for international visitors, not a drivers license. But if they wanted ID to enter Colosseum and the Vatican Museums they might accept it. I have never been asked for ID anywhere in Vatican City or Rome except when checking in at my hotels, where only a passport will do.

Can’t remember which Paris museum (or was it London?) wanted ID a couple years ago. I used my Global Entry card, government issued so they accepted it. Since they held the ID until I returned the audio guide, if they lost it I wouldn't
stuck.

Bob, the rules have recently changed at the Vatican Museums. Tickets are now nominative, and the website states that they can/will be checked.

"Specific attention will be paid to combating the secondary ticketing phenomenon and the automated process of purchasing tickets (BOT), with appropriate IT measures and through the introduction of the nominative ticket, accompanied by thorough checks of the holder’s identity."

https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/eventi-e-novita/notizie/2024/nuove-norme-ingresso-musei-vaticani.html

Same with the Colosseum:
https://colosseo.it/en/opening-times-and-tickets/

"Also as of the 18th October 2023, the obligation of nominative tickets will be extended to all types of tickets available on the sales website, at the call centre and at the physical ticket offices. Your proof of identity must be kept on hand at the Park entrances together with the purchased ticket."

In both cases it's an effort to eliminate/reduce scalping and buying up by bots, thus reducing the amount of tickets available to individual visitors. Having their ID checked was the experience of frequent forum poster Bets. (Disregard the parts about change in online ticket vendor as the Feb. 1 date was missed so it's still Coopculture.)

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/colosseum-tix-aba1a204-d25b-487b-94a6-1f9fa956dfac

When we picked up our PARCO cards at the Colosseum we were asked to show our passports for id.

Your passport should be kept on your person at all times anyway
It’s your only form of legal ID and the most important thing you have when traveling

We visited the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum earlier this month (Feb 2024) and we were asked for ID at both. We used our passports. I don’t know if other ID would be acceptable.

It comes down to that you know your passport will always work, some might provide that they used their drivers license and it worked, but maybe it was them being lucky that day, or the attendant not really caring, maybe they would have accepted your Official Howdy Doodie Fan Club Card. So it comes down to how lucky you're feeling, and if being turned away will be a problem.

I would at least have my passport deep in my money belt or secure storage, just in case. This way, you can have your drivers license accessible, if they take that, great, if not, you have back-up.