We are travelling to Rome with 2 kids and will be there over Easter. Someone suggested getting a 3 day Roma pass as this gets us into two monuments free and lasts 3 days and allows us to use public transport. 36 euros per person
Has anyone used this ? Is this a good deal and worth it?
When I go to Rome, I always get a Roma Pass. You can actually get into 3 sites with the pass
(Colosseum, Palatine Hills, and Forum) , I also like the convenience of the pass or public transportation.
There is a 2 day version and a three day version. kid's 10 and under don't need it. Young kids ride public transportation free and get kid rates or free rates at attractions with their parents. Use Romapass for the most expensive attractions first. Do not expect to use it for Borghese Art Gallery. We tried and failed. You really just need to reserve tickets in advance for Borghese. Borghese books up fast during tourist season. I don't know about slow season. Public transportation is cheaper to buy as needed rather than Romapass. However, Romapass is convenient to use for transportation. Kids 10 and under ride free in public transportation regardless of whether or not you have a Romapass. You need to look at Romapass website to see which attractions are included. Vatican is a separate nation and NOT included in Romapass.
The colosseum, forum and palatine hill are a combo site and only count as a single entry for the romapass. You'd still get to enter another site for free. The Borghese gallery IS included in the romapass. You need to call to book the reservation if using the pass, it cannot be done online, but it is covered and is one of the sites most people choose when using the pass.
The only way to determine if the pass is a good idea for you is to do the math. Determine the sites you'll see and add up the costs. It usually takes visiting at least three sites and using public transportation several times for the romapass to be of benefit to people. If you are seeing a lot of sites then the pass may be of benefit to you. If you are just looking to bypass the lines you can buy entry tickets online that allow you to do that.
If your kids are under 18 they will get into state run sites for free so they won't need a pass.
Donna
And you CAN use the RomaPass for the Borghese Gallery, but you must have a reservation (need to call, can't do it online) First two sites are free, then others are discounted so plan your touring to use the pass for the expensive ones first. Don't forget that the pass does not include Vatican museum.
You really have to pack in a lot in the 3 days to make it economical. We did not have one and when we crunched the numbers, we saved money by not buying one.
Regarding the Borghese Gallery, please book at least one month in advance to avoid disappointment. I tried to book about 10 days ahead last May and could not get a reservation. On our last day in Rome, we bussed over first thing in the morning and luckily bought cancelled reservation tickets for 2 pm that afternoon. This is a very enjoyable museum. Great Bernini sculptures obviously. It is quite intimate and is not very tiring. And they really restrict the number of people in the alloted time slots so you can enjoy the exhibits without any truly unbearable crowds.
As the others have said, it's a matter of doing the math and considering not just which attractions you can fit in but how often you'll be taking public transit. Also be aware that while the card allows for ticket-line skipping, it doesn't eliminate queues for security checks.
DO make advance reservations for the Vatican Museums: the Easter season is a very busy time for that one!! I'd consider booking one of the three-hour museum/basilica combo tours offered on the website? Tours can access the basilica DIRECTLY from an inside stairway at the back of the Sistine (in the museums) so it eliminates standing in another security queue. At the end of your tour, you're free to wander about church at your leisure.
Depending on the ages of your children, 3 hours straight of art/artifacts/architecture may be the limit of their tolerance anyway? You can reserve a tour slot here:
http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking&codiceTipoVisita=74&step=2
It's only possible to book 2 months ahead of the current date, and I'd expect Good Friday mass to restrict visiting hours to the basilica on that day.
