I have booked the early skip-the-lines tour at the Vatican, a tour at the Borghese, and will book the underground coliseum tour via phone when we arrive. Are there other places that typically have long lines and what can I do to avoid them? We will be in Rome May 24-June 3. I plan to get a Romapass.
Posted by
Toledo
653 posts
Janet, I've read from other posters here that the Roma Pass isn't the value it used to be. Check the Ron in Rome web page - tons of up to date information.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Janet, I would not wait until getting to Rome before making a reservation for the underground tour. It's very popular and will probably be sold out by then. The only sites that usually have long lines are the colosseum, the Vatican museums, St. Peter's basilica. The line at St. Peter's is just a security line and moves very quickly. As for the romapass, if you plan to visit another site covered by the pass or will use public transport then it will save you money. Just be aware that there are price increases coming for a lot of sites. This is probably why the romapass price was increased. Donna
Posted by
Virginia, Virginia, USA
41 posts
I just visited the Vatican on Saturday. The line to get into the Vatican musuem was easy for me since I bought my ticket ahead of time. There was a longggggg line, just mobbed with people without advanced tickets......most of them were biggggg tour groups. My ticket entry time was for 1030am but the folks working the counter to give me my real ticket in exchange for my online voucher didnt care about my entry time and gave me my tickets at 930am. When I left the Vatican musuem in the mid afternoon, there was no line for folks without reservations. The security line to get into the Basilica only took about 20 to 25 minutes. It looked like a long line at first but it moves quickly as the other person said. I didn't have tickets for the Colosseum today and the line was long but it took only about 35 to 40 minutes from when I entered the line to getting my ticket. The scam artists who sit outside and try to sucker you into buying a "quick" entry ticket for double the price, kept telling me it would take 2 hours to get in. I didn't do the underground tour of the Colosseum.
Posted by
Honolulu/Seattle, HI/WA, USA
2787 posts
In the last 10 years of going to Europe, the best way I have found to avoid long lines is in taking a RS tour. I have taken 9 of them and have yet to wait in a line.
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
You don't need to take ANY tours in Rome in order to bypass the lines. You can purchase entry tickets for both the colosseum and the Vatican museums which allow you to bypass any lines outside. Only take a tour if you wish to, if you are only interested in bypassing the lines then just book tickets online. Donna