Italy: kids discounts

Only EU citizens are guaranteed the discount. It really depends on the person working at the ticket counter. You are not entitled to a discount but the person at the counter may let young children in for the discounted rate. Being 10 you should pay the full price for the tickets or buy the romapass. If the kids were very young I would say that they would probably be given the discount but for a 10 year old they will more than likely be charged. I paid for my daughter when she was 10. The child will get the reduced rate at the vatican museums. Donna

The child should be free on the metro, bus and trams as long as you travel together. Donna

We travelled through Italy for 3 weeks visiting quite a variety of sites. Only at one place could the kids get in at a reduced rate without showing their passport. Everywhere else I had to show proof of European citizenship. Rates for public transport are different and discounts are usually given to all children regardless of citizenship.

The only place they wouldn't give us a discount was in Agrigento. Every other museum/site/attraction we've been to they have gotten one if it was available. It really does depend on the person working the counter.

I always ask for a "reduction" for our kids. Some places in Italy were the only ones adamant about not giving our kids a discount - in fact it was the only place I received snotty responses from ticket booths. I still think you should ask but be prepared to be turned down.

Ron, do your kids have European citizenship? Do you speak Italian when you purchase tickets? I know that my German friends get never asked about their kids' passports when purchasing discount tickets in Italy - usually speaking German or English with heavy German accent. But I was asked again and again since it was quite obvious that my family was speaking English with a Canadian accent and less obvious that the kids do have dual citizenship.

Hey Beatrix, No, we're American citizens. I guess we've been lucky as far as this as most everyone has just given us the discounts. Sometimes without even asking the kids ages. We actually could have gotten the discount in Agrigento if we had had our Permesso's with us but we had left them in the room.

Another comment that it depends on the person at the ticket counter. When we took our 10yo daughter to Italy last year, they enforced the EU citizen rule in the biggest museums, such as the Uffizi. The smaller locations or museums were more likely to give a discount, or let her in free. I do remember specifically that we were given a discount at the Accademia in Venice.