Skip the Line Tours in Rome

I think it is better to buy in advance. Ticket lines can be very long. You have to buy Borghese tickets in advance.

we bought tickets for the Borghese Gallery over the phone which was easy, and there are so many people selling tickets in the street too but I think its best to buy online

Hi blue,

If you already know what days and dates you are interested in visiting Rome's attractions, best to secure them now.

The Vatican Museums -- timed entry -- https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking

(If you are with an official tour guide/group, after you visit The Sistine Chapel, you will be escorted around to the terrace of St. Peter's. The guide usually leaves you there unless St. Peter's is part of your tour.)

St. Peter's Basilica is free to enter with or without a tour. Your Vatican museum ticket "includes" the St. Peter's which means you won't have to wait in line to get in. You can walk right through the doors. Also, if your timing is right, you can see the "changing of the Swiss Guards."

Also, if you are interested/planning to visit Castel Sant'Angelo, it is best to do so on the same day as you visit The Vatican and St. Peter's since it is in close proximity to both.

The Borghese Gallery -- timed entry -- http://galleriaborghese.beniculturali.it/en/visita/visit-the-galleria-borghese

The Colosseum -- timed entry -- https://www.coopculture.it/en/it/colosseo-e-shop.cfm

The three main attractions above can sell out quickly depending on day and season.

Always best to purchase from the direct website/attraction or with an official tour company. Also, no need to purchase "skip the line" tickets from walking vendors near attractions.

In case you will visit The Pantheon -- it is an active Church with free entry. If a Mass is being officiated, you cannot 'tour it,' but are welcome to join the Mass and tour later. The surprise is the Dome.

St. Paul's Within The Walls -- it is an active Church. They hold special tenor and mini opera concerts. Great acoustics. Reasonable prices.

It is very important you check each attractions website for information regarding security, bag checks, photo allowances

No bags of any size allowed in The Borghese Gallery, so plan accordingly.

No large bags, bulky backpacks or large umbrellas allowed in The Vatican, St. Peter's or The Colosseum. From my experiences, bags of about 14"-15" were okay'd by guards.

Interested in an actual tour? Listed below are some very good tour companies.

The Roman Guy -- https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/rome

You can also watch their videos about Rome. Videos are fun, down-to-Earth, easy to understand, geared more toward the newer traveler to Rome (Florence) -- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCobaqk2JEYLiBJAhJZG0Oiw

Walks Of Italy -- https://www.walksofitaly.com/

Dark Rome -- https://darkrome.com/rome-tours

Angel Tours -- https://angeltours.eu/destination/rome/

Through Eternity Tours -- https://www.througheternity.com/en/rome-tours/

Just to clarify....

A ticket to the Vatican Museums doesn't "include" St Peter's or automatically allow you to skip the security line outside as entry to the church is free to all. If you purchase a guided tour of the museums or the museums+basilica, then you are allowed time-saving access to an inside passage directly into the basilica from the Sistine Chapel. It is guarded and is supposed to be reserved for tour groups, although some tourists visiting the museums on their own have reported the guards allowing them though. You just can't count 100% on being able to do that. It is a 15-20 minute walk outside between the museums and basilica, and there are separate security queues for each. With advance, timed-entry tickets to the museums, you'll get through that line quickly. The other queue for the basilica can be quite lengthy but moves along slowly but steadily.

That aside, you absolutely should purchase advance, timed-entry tickets or a tour to the Vatican Museums ASAP. Same for the Colosseum and Galleria Borghese as you're very unlikely to get in if you wait until you get to Rome.

Inexpensive tours of the museums are available though the Vatican's own website (provided above) and the same for the Colosseum through the coopculture website (also provided above) although those can be more difficult to obtain than through private companies due to the huge demand. Anyway, if wanting a tour and if budget is a factor, then try to book though those resources. Buying just regular-entry tickets + loading Rick's free audioguides to your own devices is another money-saving strategy.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours

For the Vatican Museums, there can be a benefit to spending extra for early-entrance tours - offered mostly though private companies like Walks of Italy, Roman Guy, etc. provided above - that get you into the Sistine and some other parts of the museums before they are completely mobbed.

Thank you, Girasole for the helpful info. We’re planning a few days in Rome for next Mar and appreciate the insight.

rozebudzz,

You are welcome :)

Enjoy! Happy planning.

Thank you all for the great advice. All the info has been very helpful