We will arrive in Rome late afternoon 12/23, leaving 12/28. Trying to decide whether to get the Roma Pass. Does it make any consideration for everything being closed for Christmas (i.e., do you get an extra day)? We were planning to do the Colosseum/Forum on 12/24, RS walking tours on 12/25, Borghese Gallery & Pantheon on 12/26, Ostia Antica on 12/27 and St. Peter's early on 12/28 before our 6 pm flight. We'll fill in the gaps with Trajan's Forum, Victor Emmanuel Monument view, Piazza del Popolo creches, Piazza Navona Christmas market, San Clemente church and other RS walks as time and inclination allow. We are three mobile adults and our apartment will be in Monti. Thanks!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15800 posts
Does it make any consideration for everything being closed for
Christmas (i.e., do you get an extra day)?
Kathy, according to the Roma Pass FAQ page, validity of the card cannot be extended in the case of a holiday. See entry 2.7 under "Use".
http://www.romapass.it/en/FAQ/
We were planning to do the....Borghese Gallery & Pantheon on 12/26
The Borghese requires a pre-reservation even if using the Roma Pass. See entry 7.1 under the same FAQ link under "Reservations". Whether you'll be able to visit the museum - and use the pass for it - depends on if there are still any time slots open at this late date. You have to call or email them to reserve your spots.
If you can still get into the Borghese, you could use a 72-hour pass for free entry to both that one and the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine, As it only allows free entry to the first two attractions you use the pass for, whether you could get the discount for Ostia Antica entry depends on whether you can get down there and get in before the 72-hour life of the pass expires. Still, as tickets to that one are very reasonable to begin with, the reduction wouldn't be enough to make a big difference. You would not be able to use the pass for public transport down and/or back to central Rome if it expires before or during your visit.
The pass does not apply to any of the other attractions on your list except Mercati e Foro di Traiano. The tall and short of the value question sometimes comes down to how much you intend to use the public transit piece + discounts on additional attractions when applicable. It doesn't cover transport to/from Fiumicino although it does cover Roma-Lido urban train to Ostia during validity period.
Posted by
OP
Mission Viejo, CA
29 posts
Thank you, Kathy!
We will skip the pass, as we don’t plan on using transportation much.
BTW, we did get reservations to the Borghese Gallery.
All packed and ready to go!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15800 posts
Excellent! You have yourself a simply wonderful time, ya hear?! :O)
Editing to add... you are going to want to get advance tickets for the Colosseum as ticket lines are usually very long. If you can't do it before you leave, then go to the ticket offices at the Forum or Palatine and get them there. Lines should be shorter at either, although I'd be there at the opening hour. Do the Forum and Palatine first: you must do them both at the same time as they count as a single attraction, and you pass from one to the other inside the security barriers. Take a break and then do the Colosseum.