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Roma Pass/Transportation/Sightseeing Questions

Posted by (Madison, WI) on

Hi! I have a few questions about Rome sightseeing. My husband and I will be in Rome for 3.5 days in April. While I'm still finalizing the list of things to do, we're definitely considering the Vatican, Colosseum, Roman Forum and Trastevere. Maybe Appian Way and some catacombs. I'm considering a Roma Pass but am not 100% sure.

Transportation questions:
We'll be staying at the Holiday Inn Express San Giovanni, which is not really in the heart of the city. My husband has IHG points and got us a free room there. He was unable to book a room at other Rome-area IHG hotels.

Considering our hotel location, do you think the Roma Pass sounds like a good option for us to use the Metro or buses to get to where we want to go?

Private tour company questions:
I know the Roma Pass could get us into the Colosseum and Forum. I'm not clear, though, with using a private tour company (like Walks of Italy) vs. the Roma Pass for seeing sites in Rome. Does the Roma Pass guarantee a guided tour? If we use the Roma Pass to get into the Colosseum, for example, do we just get inside and walk around on our own?

Also, to see The Vatican, do I book with WOI so I can have a tour guide? Or if I buy a ticket in advance from the Vatican Museum's website, does that guarantee a tour guide?

Sorry for all the questions! I'm not clear on the transportation/tour situation for Rome! Thanks.

Posted by
11613 posts

The RomaPass is for admission and transportation only, no guided tours. Those would need to be booked separately. So yes, once inside the Colosseum you would walk around on your own, or join an English-language group with a licensed guide, for a fee (but not nearly as much as a private or other group guide).

Same for the Vatican. You can book entry tickets without a guide, pay more for a licensed guide onsite, or (my favorite option) go with a small tour group that has early entry through a private company (Walks of Italy and Dark Rome get good reviews here).

I don't know where your hotel is, but if it near a metro or bus stop, the free transportation included in the RomaPass might make it worthwhile.

Posted by
16895 posts

For visiting sites on your own, consider supplementing your guidebook with Rick's free Audio Tours which you can store on a smart phone (like a book or a song).

Posted by
362 posts

Yes, absolutely download Rick's Audio Europe app on your phone and take your bluetooth. It will be as good or better than most guides you'd pay a lot for - to see the Closseum and many others among Italy's major sights. Listen to it a few times before you leave home to familiarize yourself with what you'll be looking at (there's a map and photos on the app as well). It's like having your own private tour guide - for free. And since it's on your phone it doesn't need internet and doesn't use up data. I love this app!!

Posted by
105 posts

Thanks for the suggestions about the RS audio tours. We actually could do that — I know we will both have phones and earbuds with us.

A cousin of mine who went to Italy last year told me that we should use Walks of Italy for all the tours we want to take. She went on a WOI tour and loved it. But since we're thinking about the Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican, and maybe also catacombs and/or Appian Way, that turns into a lot of guided tours! I'd like to save money somewhere and still enjoy these sites, so the RS audio might be the way to go!

Thanks again. :-)

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