I picked up Rick Steves' Best of Italy book, and read the Florence and Rome itineraries (2 and 3 days, respectively). I plan on following those itineraries.
I will be in Rome and Florence for 3 days each.
Is it recommended that I purchase the Roma Pass and Firenze Card since I plan to visit all the sites on Rick's itinerary?
I am buying both for two reasons - 1. you won't have to buy tickets at each attraction and (most of the time) will be able to bypass that line (therefore saving time). 2. Both include transit costs. So for the time I'm in Rome and Florence I can hop on any tram, bus, or train when I want. To me, it's more about saving time and stress than money.
I have been to Italy twice. First time, we used Romapasses and Firenze Cards. Second time, we didn't. I'm going to try to keep my response brief. Feel free to ask specific questions. Firenze card - forget about public transportation in Florence. Florence is a walking place. I used the RS list and wrote up an itinerary bAsed on when attractions were open and location. My family and I then attacked that list. In Florence, the only lines were Duomo climb, Uffizi, and Accademia. With the Firenze card - you get in the reserved ticket line. There is a two day and 3 day Romapass. Unlimited public transportation. I believe 1st two sites are free, then there are some discounts. Romapass is not as good a deal. We found it much cheaper to go to a newsstand and buy transportation tickets on an as needed basis. Romapass does NOT include Vatican. Many Rome sites are free. I could write an essay on these passes.
Just to add:
The regular Firenzecard no longer covers transport; you have to purchase the Firenzecard+ additionally for that.
http://www.firenzecard.it/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&view=productdetails&virtuemart_category_id=13&virtuemart_product_id=128&lang=en
As Sun-Baked noted, though, Florence is pretty compact so we just walked everywhere.
Even with the cards you still have to make advance reservations for some attractions, such as the Borghese in Rome and to climb the Duomo's dome in Florence.
The passes do not cover getting to/from the airports
Breaking even on the 72-euro Firenzecard can mean cramming too much too quickly into its 72-hour lifespan. Increased tickets prices for temporary exhibits can make a difference, though. For instance, tickets for both the Uffizi and Accademia are currently running 4.50 euro more apiece than normal because of special exhibits through September and April, respectively.
The transport piece of the Roma Pass wasn't a big enough benefit for us as, while Rome is larger than Florence, it's a city that begs to be seen on foot if at all possible. It was less expensive for us to purchase individual tickets for the very few times we chose to use the metro/urban train (we've never used the buses) to cover longer distances more quickly. If you do intend to use transport more often, then the pass may make economical sense.
In short, you have to do the math? Make a list of the attractions you wish to see that have entry fees, add them up, include an estimate for how often you'll take transport, and then weigh that against the price of the pass. We'll often spend longer amounts of time in some attractions than many tourists might so we personally have to consider how much we can fit into a day.
Do the passes cover to/from the train stations?
In Rome, I am staying near Roma Termini. If I want to get to Vatican Museums, should I be taking public transportation? If so, is that covered by the Roma pass?
I also want to do the underground tour of the Colosseum. Not sure if the Roma pass affects that in any way?
Do the passes cover to/from the train stations?
Only on public transport - like buses/trams/metro - within the cities; not to/from the airports or from a different city. Termini in Rome is the crossing point for metro lines A and B so if you're close to a metro station anywhere in Rome, you can take the metro to Termini. There is a sizeable section of the center which is not served by metro (or not yet, anyway) so if you're not much of a walker, you'll need to use the buses. A map of Rome will show you where the metro stations are.
In Rome, I am staying near Roma Termini. If I want to get to Vatican
Museums, should I be taking public transportation? If so, is that
covered by the Roma pass?
We walked it but metro line A from Termini to Cipro metro station is your best public-transit option from there, or the way I would do it if not on foot, anyway. Yes, metro rides are covered by the pass.
I also want to do the underground tour of the Colosseum. Not sure if
the Roma pass affects that in any way?
No, the Roma Pass doesn't cover any guided tours at the Colosseum.
Thank you Kathy.
Regarding the guided tours, I believe I purchase the underground tour and colosseum tickets separately. I could use the Roma pass for the colosseum and then buy the underground tour separately? Or do the tour people usually make you buy both at the same time in a package?
Yes, you could use the Roma Pass for the Colloseum (and Forum/Palatine). These three sites count as a single use on your pass, although you must visit the Forum and Palatine together at the same time; you enter one directly from the other inside the security boundaries.
You don't have to purchase a separate entry ticket along with your Underground tour if using the pass as your entry ticket. I believe you can just show them your pass at the reservation desk when you arrive for your tour. What I don't believe you can do is visit the arena earlier in the day, leave, and then come BACK for your tour. It's only good for a single entry so you'd have to purchase a separate entry ticket if accessing the Colosseum more than once.
Kathy: ahhhh, that's why I asked. So what if I use Roma pass to gain entry. Do the tour on the entry provided by the Roma pass and then proceed to the forum and Palatine. That works right?
Yes, that is what we did.
We sent to Colosseum, then across the street and entered Palatine Hills, then exited that site and directly into the Forum. I usually do get the Roma Pass when in Rome. Use it a lot on public transportation.
Frances: did you also do the underground tour when using the Roma pass?
Francis had the answer! :O)
You understand that you DO have to pre-reserve/pre-purchase the tour though, right? Your pass only works as the entry ticket you'd otherwise have to purchase along with the tour. I'm not wanting to flog a dead horse here but it's a little detail that has escaped some folks!
Oh yes I think I understand that. However it seems for some of the tours that I found on google, the tour and entry ticket comes in the same package and there's no way to just purchase the tour?
Is there a specific website for booking just the tour?
Yes, on the official website for the Colosseum. Sorry, I thought that WAS the tour you were referring to!
As far as guided tours from private companies, you'd have to check with them individually to see whether entry tickets are included or not (my guess is that they are.) It's probable that you won't get any kind of discount for having the Roma Pass if the ticket is included in their tour prices. That doesn't matter, though, as you'd still use it for the Forum and Palatine.
The tours purchased through Coopculture book up very, very quickly because of their reasonable price so you need to be ready to jump the minute they become available for June (May 15th). Really, some RS posters have gotten up in the middle of the night for the 9:00 A.M. (Rome time) opening hour for bookings. You can do it over the phone as well:
http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm
Editing to add: where exactly is your accommodation? Address?
It is literally right next to Roma Termini.
Just checked out coopculture. It's about 12 Euros for the tour. The entry ticket is not included in the 12 Euros right?
Right; entry ticket is not included...but that's where your Roma Pass comes in, if you purchase one. If not, purchase your entry ticket at the reservation desk when you arrive for your tour or on the website at the same time you book it.
Editing to add: an adult entry ticket is 12 euro + 2 euro reservation fee if purchased online. The tour is 9 euro.
