We are first-timers in Rome but well-traveled in Paris. WE know the answer to all our questions in Paris. Which is better 3-day metro/tram pass or an individual contact-less pass? A hop on/hop off bus with no-line waiting for entry? Is that possible? We need entry to the Top 10 sites, so which reservation works best for people who don't know when they will be close to the museum/entry?
TIA, PA
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7345 posts
You need to do a whole lot of research
All the top sites in Rome require prebooked timed entry tickets
When is your trip?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
March 28-Apri 1 when the cruise begins.
Our hotel is close to Termini. We plan to get a hop on/hop off on March 28.
March 29, we want to walk/enter the Colosseum, the Forum, Musei Capitolini, the Pantheon
Should I get tickets for the Colosseum at 8:30? 2 hours later - the Forum, 2 hours later, Musei Capitolini; 2 hours later - the Pantheon?
Are there tickets that allow flexibility?????
Do we need a guided tour? If so, which tour company would you recommend?
March 30, the Borghese Villa, Museum and gardens, Spanish steps, Trevi Fountain
We are NOT interested in the Vatican, yet I would love to see the Sistine Chapel.
Thanks!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34321 posts
We are NOT interested in the Vatican, yet I would love to see the Sistine Chapel.
you can't do one without the other. The Sistine Chapel is in the Vatican Museums, at the most distant point from the entry and exit, and the Vatican Museums are in Vatican City.
You have to go into Vatican City, then into the Vatican Museums and then go with the herd to the Sistine Chapel. Then back to the exit next to the entrance.
Posted by
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
1953 posts
I think it's better to see the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill with a guide. There are lots of good tours available. https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/roman-colosseum-tours/ is recommended by many.
You don't need advance tickets to the Capitoline Museum. It's normally not crowded. I went on free museum Sunday, and there was a line to get in, but inside it didn't feel too crowded. Other days you can buy your ticket and walk right in.
Technically, Nigel is correct, that you can't visit the Sistine Chapel without visiting the Vatican, but the entrance to the Vatican Museums is at the north edge of Vatican City, not very close to Saint Peter's Square. You won't enter Saint Peter's Square to get to the Vatican Museums.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
Pasigmond, welcome to the forum -
Short answer: there are NO advance tickets that allow flexibility to the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums. Tickets to both will be timed-entry for a specific day and time. These are THE top two attractions in Rome so there's not a lot of flexibility at all where ticketing for these two attractions is involved due to the amount of people who want to see them. You should be able to get walk-up tickets to the Capitolini and Pantheon. And no:,you can't see the Sistine without passing through a significant part of the Vatican Museums.
Do you need a guided tour? How much do you want to learn about the history/attributes of each?
We plan to get a hop on/hop off on March 28
Hop on/Hop off buses are usually not recommended for this city as there are too many places they can't go. Other complaints are many so best to walk or take another form of public transit.
Villa Borghese:
You need advance, timed-entry tickets; NO flexibility.
https://www.tosc.it/en/artist/galleria-borghese/
You don't need a ticket or tour for the Spanish Steps or Trevi Fountain. Do them later in the day after the entrances to other attractions are closed.
Transport Passes:
What to buy depends on how much you'll use public transit. This is the 72-hour metro pass:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/roma72h
Note that it doesn't work for transport to/from the airports or for the hoho buses, and you need to validate it the first time you use it.
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2632 posts
You don’t need a transit pass. Contactless ‘tickets’ keep track of your daily cost. I think the maximum it can be is that of 4 rides
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16742 posts
Might be worth noting that some of our posters have had issues with Tap-and-pay etickets. For instance, read the posts by my Twin Cities neighbor, Nancys8, in these threads.
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-public-transportation
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/rome-contactless-public-transport
It's a you-do-you situation - not wrong unless it's wrong for you - but I'd personally feel better about a 1-day or multi-day paper pass that only has to be validated the first time it's used.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1260 posts
We also found that tap-to-pay was a bit hit or miss, with the devices being inoperative in some cases, or else the device was at the other end of the bus, with a mob in between.
So I believe the multi-day pass is the way to go. Now that they offer purchase via apps, that would be my choice. As others have said, hop on/off is impractical in Rome. And you will need Google Maps, Citymapper or another navigation app to assist with both walking and bus/Metro routes.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12112 posts
We need entry to the Top 10 sites
What sites made YOUR "top 10" list?