Roma Pass

Is it?

A bit more detail on your trip would help give some perspective and a better answer.

It all depends on what attractions you wish to see. That pass doesn't cover the Vatican Museums (and Easter is a complication there that needs to be planned around), but you need to be more specific about your other sightseeing to know if it's worthwhile.

The usual recommendation for a 72-hour pass is to use it for the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine (counts as a single attraction) and Galleria Borghese for the choice of two "free" museums. You still have to make reservations for the Borghese, however, and must do that by phone or by email: see the Roma Pass website:

http://www.romapass.it/en/museums/

If using it for the Colosseum/Palatine/Forum, you have to visit the Forum and Palatine together at one time; you can't split them up as they're connected to each other inside the security barriers.

If I'm going to be in Rome for a few days I normally buy a B.T.I. (3 day) pass, which has to be validated prior to first use. I often use a combination of Metro and Bus, so that approach works out well. As some of the others have mentioned many of the historic sights are walkable, however I have some foot/leg issues (which I discovered on one of my visits to Rome) so can't walk as far as others.

One point to mention if using the #64 (and to a lesser extent) the #40 Buses, they tend to have a bit of a reputation for pickpockets so vigilance is a good idea.

Note that Ken is talking about buying a transit pass. If you're just looking at the Roma Pass for its transit, he's right that a separate transit pass is much cheaper. They come in 1 day, 3 day, and 7 day versions, as well as the option of buying individual tickets if you're not taking too many buses. How much transit people use in Rome varies depending on where your hotel is, what your itinerary is, whether you have any mobility impairment, and how much walking you want to do. I use a lot, but others don't. Also note that the Rome metro is much less useful than the metro in other cities - it goes only a few places of interest to tourists. The buses, however, go everywhere.

You have to do the math to see if the Roma Pass will pay off for you. Note that you only get free admission and skip-the-line privileges at the first two sights you use it for - hence the recommendation to use it for the Colosseum (always mobbed). For every other sight after the first two, you only get a discount, and have to wait in the ticket-buyer's line. Furthermore, once it is activated for either transit or museums, it's activated for both (you used to be able to split these parts up). If you don't need transit for one of the days it's active, you're still "paying" for the ability to use transit on that day.

So, while it can be a good deal for some, you really have to make sure the restrictions work for your plans rather than against them.

If you aren't getting a Roma Pass, be sure to book your Colosseum tickets in advance. And if you want to see the Borghese Gallery, you need advance tickets with or without the pass, since the numbers are very limited. I believe you have to call if you're using the Roma Pass; if you're not using the pass, you can book online.

Thank you for this helpful information. I am thinking it may be better to get the separate museum passes and then just use the bus when needed.