Museums/Sites - Advance Reservations, Tickets & Booking

All of the sites in Rome that I know of allow you to book online via their official website. There are only a few where this is necessary to avoid the long lines and a few where it's necessary because of capacity control issues. You should have no problems booking tickets or tours online for Rome sites. Which sites were you interested in visiting?

Donna

One of these websites may allow you to book the Vasari Corridor:

http://www.visitflorence.com/florence-museums/the-vasari-corridor.html

http://www.viator.com/Florence-attractions/Vasari-Corridor/d519-a4646

As for Rome, I booked the Vatican Museums online at Vatican.va. If you want entrance into the Basilica through the museum, then you will have to book an actual tour instead of an admission ticket. That way you won't have to wait in the long line :)

I also booked my Colosseum/Roman Forum tickets as well as my Colosseum Underground tour tickets online at "coopculture.it", this is the official website

Thank you Donna & Jenna! Relieved to know I can book online and also that I can book the Vasari corridor separately - just got to figure out the time aspect. As for sites in Rome - where do I even begin, there's so many! I would love to check out as many of the ancient sites as I can fit in between the gelato breaks - and of course it will include the Colosseum and hopefully a whole lot more. Do feel free to share your ideas - it will be our first trip there and we'd appreciate your insights.

Here's Rick's page on avoiding crowds. Scroll down on the right, and you'll see his list of some of the sights in Italy that you should reserve in advance; follow the links for each one to see how: http://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/sightseeing/avoiding-lines

A few years ago, several of the reservations worked better by phone than online. That seems to have improved, but if you have trouble doing it online, it's definitely worth calling. For some sights, you have to call if you are using a Roma Pass, as the pass includes the admission fee but not the reservation, and online you can only buy a reservation as part of an admission ticket (this is true of some Colosseum admissions as well as the Borghese Gallery).

If there are any sights you are interested in that are not on his list, ask here if they need reservations: most likely, they don't, but it never hurts to check.

Does there happen to be any kind of "list" that Rick Steves' has for where to buy these tickets? I have to admit, I'm having one hell of a time keeping track of where to buy, and when they release tickets.

edit
Looks like Harold and I posted at the same time! That's a good start; thanks.

Thanks Harold, that helps! Also looking into package tours for Rome - problem is, they seem to charge the same for kids & that ends up getting pretty expensive.

Stephenkirsh - Rick's list is simply the Italy guidebooks, updated annually, with museum reservation info toward the start of each chapter. But museums (and other facets of Italy) change their policies and their practices (two different things) frequently, so one can rarely predict the date when tickets become available.

Laura, thank you!! It's great knowing that because we practically base everything per his suggestions & recommendations. Also, is there anyway I can share an image on this forum? i'm creating a document and would like to share it here for more ideas.