Assuming I am reading this website correctly it appears that the Vatican Museum is sold out weeks or possibly months in advance.
https://tickets.museivaticani.va/home/visit/2/1658980800000/1/3
Is this true of most attractions in Rome? What can one see without advance booking?
I have not been to Rome since Covid but the following were open without precooked tickets but you need to check on their websites as Covid changed everything.
Capitoline Museum and National Museum of Rome
Walk through the Jewish Ghetto and stop by Athens Theatre of Marcello, the remains of a Colosseum-style theatre with apartments built into the upper tier in the 1600’s. They are still occupied and are no doubt ver expensive
Churches, so many! St Clemente, descend through time as you head to the basement and pass through layers of Rome until you are walking along a street of Ancient Rome.with buildings on either side. The Church has some stunning mosaics.
Walk through the Trastevere and visiting the ancient churches of Santa Cecilia and Santa Maria with mosaics dating from the 1200’s.
St. Peter’s Basilica is free but there is security to go through and it is always super busy unless you go when it first opens or just before it closes.
Same for the Pantheon go early when it first opens.
Ostia Antica aRoman city between Rome and the coast. It was abandoned when the River Tiber silted up and ships could no longer sail up thr river to unload. Doesn’t have the tragic background og Pompeii but still a good way to see how the ordinary Romans lived. Easily reached by train.
Rick’s guide book will prove more information on these and other sites, though is probably outdated in terms of ticketing so do check the websites.
There are many places in Rome that you can see without advanced bookings. You will absolutely need them for the Borghese museum since they limit visits to around 250 people at a time and for a couple of hours. Check with their website to see if you can get tickets now since they sell out well in advance. It is one of my favorite places in Rome. Other places like the Colosseum, vatican, etc. offer skip the line reservations that are well worth the money since otherwise you will be standing in line a long time.
Thank you pollocktoni, can you suggest a reputable company for the skip the line reservations? I have seen a few with very mixed reviews.
thanks so much
Thank you lanlubber for those suggestions!
can you suggest a reputable company for the skip the line reservations?
why not the official sites? I mean, why paying more? All tickets purchased in advance will let you skip the line to purchase tickets on the day
so i am kind of confused because when i went to the vatican museum site everything affordable was sold out
What dates are you looking for, how many tickets, and how much are you able to pay? For instance, if the general entry tickets are sold out on the Vatican's websites for your dates, can you swing their € 34.00 tour if available? You will not find any tickets for less $ than what the Vatican itself offers.
The Colosseum also requires advance reservations, even for a same-day visit (if even available), and only via phone or online. This is the page for their general-entry ticket (main areas only, no underground or arena floor, and you'll pay the standard € 18.00 price for an adult ticket unless you are a European citizen between 18 and 25 years old; that is pretty standard for Italian museums which offer student discounts.
https://www.coopculture.it/en/products/ticket-colosseum-roman-forum-palatine_24h/
As mentioned, the Borghese has always required advance reservations and they fill quickly.
But to echo what can be visited without reservations or even a fee are practically ALL of Rome's churches. Many can be considered museums for the priceless artistic treasures they contain. Also free is a walk on the Appia Antica; some of the attractions along the way have entry fees but they are very reasonable, even those which require a tour, such as the catacombs. San Sebastiano doesn't require a pre-booking for their tour, just join the next one in English when you get there. \Website links below; on the Appia Antica site, hit the orange "Translate" tab on the bottom left to choose English.
https://www.parcoappiaantica.it
http://www.catacombe.org/uk_index.html
so i am kind of confused because when i went to the vatican museum site everything affordable was sold out
You mean tours? Or entrance tickets?
Because there are entrance tickets available for tomorrow on the official site and you don't seem to be interested in Tours, only in not making the tickets line.
Did I get it wrong?
n the Vatican's websites for your dates
How do you know their dates? It's not written in any message.
Dario, I said, "... if the general entry tickets are sold out on the Vatican's websites for your dates...." because you're right, we don't have the OP's dates so can't double check what's available. And who knows, maybe some cancellations can make a few more tickets become available that weren't.
Lotus, the Colosseum and Vatican Museums are the #1 and #2 top attractions in Rome so tickets can sell out in advance very quickly during high season.
i do see that one can get a ticket for tomorrow. though very few admission times are available, at least there is some chance to enter
but when i try for the end of July it appears to be all sold out
Question about public transportation in Rome
We will be there for 3 days. Is there a pass that will cover all public transport including from Termini train station to the airports?
I already looked at the Roma Pass and the Rome City Pass and they do not seem to include this. I mainly want a pass to avoid standing in lines to buy tickets for the buses and trains. I realize I could buy each one separately online nad keep a printout but I wondered if there was a way to get a pass that I could just show on any bus or train without picking the exact time in advance.
When I look at the italiarail site it looks very daunting to simply show up and buy a ticket.
If you buy your ticket online, keep a printout of your purchase to show on the train.
However, if you buy your ticket at a kiosk or ticket desk, you must validate your ticket at one of the machines on the train platform before you board! These ticket machines are small and easy to miss. If you don’t find one, ask a station employee or local to point it out to you.
Italiarail is a reseller
Use the official sites
https://www.trenitalia.com/content/tcom/en.html
https://www.italotreno.it/en
Both have easy to use apps
Trenitalia is fast trains and regional
ItaloTreno is just fast trains
It’s very easy to buy tix in station at kiosk and simple to validate
If you purchase in advance or on the app you do not need to validate
I don’t believe there is any sort of combo pass but we’ve never used bus in Rome, just walk or taxi as needed
Bus tickets can be bought at any Tabachi and you must validate when you board the bus
You are over thinking and assuming difficulty that just doesn’t exist
Maninseat61.com is a very informative site
....but when i try for the end of July it appears to be all sold out
Nope. I see some regular entry tickets available for Fri. night, July 29 at 7:30 and at 8:00 PM. Tickets for Sat. July 30th at 6:30, 7:00, 7:30 and 8:00 PM. No idea how many you're looking for; I just searched for 2. They are going very quickly, though. If these dates don't work, keep checking as some for whatever date you're looking for may pop up.
Absolutely do NOT buy a Roma Pass just for transport! It doesn't cover the airports anyway, and the best way to sightsee this particular city is on foot. If you're on a tight budget (sounds like you're on a student budget?) I'd use the express buses into Rome from Fiumicino: tickets are as little as 6 euro: see your options in the link below. If you'll want to catch the Rome metro or bus within the city, you can buy a few BIT tickets at a tabacchi (tobacco shop) and just tuck them away in your pocket for when you need them. Yes, you must validate them when you use them, and do not throw a validated ticket away until you've completely left a metro station or bus. Anyway, it's not difficult.
https://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en/pax-fco-bus
You still haven't told us how many of you are traveling? Depending on size of your group and where you're staying, a cab can be an economical choice.
https://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en/pax-fco-taxi
(edited some typos)
Oh, and there are some multi-ride or multi-day transport pass options. They do not cover Leonardo Express or express bus transport to/from Fiumicino.
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/cards
This is the info on a standard BIT 1-use (if taking the metro) ticket:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/bit
Here is a 10-ride pass:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/10-bit
72-hour pass:
https://www.atac.roma.it/en/tickets-and-passes/roma72h
thanks for all the detailed info Kathy
there are 2 of us
from airport to city center, would train be faster since a taxi would have to deal with road traffic?
how does one take a taxi in rome, within the city (not from airport)? just hail a taxi or does one need an app? i currently have no taxi app so would appreciate any recommendations.
what is the reason for not taking public transportation? is it too crowded? or one has to wait too long for a bus / train?
Leonardo Express takes 32 minutes, cost is 14 euros per person.
Taxi from airport to center is fixed rate 50 euros- no tip needed. It takes about 30-40 minutes.
We prefer to just grab our bags, walk outside to taxi line and be on our way. Have your destination address on a piece of paper hand that and 50 euros to driver. Sit back and enjoy door to door service.
ONLY go to official taxi line, do not go with anyone along the way offering you a taxi.
If your hotel is close to train station- Termini- then Leonardo Express makes sense.
If you still need to get from Termini to your lodgings and need a taxi then taxi from airport might make more sense.
If you stay in historic center you can walk most anywhere in Rome, which is why we have never had need of bus or metro there. We did take a taxi to our early am Vatican tour and to/from train station when we had luggage- never more than about 10-12 euros.
Rome is very walkable, mostly flat and compact, and IMO walking is the best way to experience the city.
You cannot hail a taxi on the street, must get at an official taxi rank- which are located at every major site, train station, etc. Pretty easy or have your hotel call for one. Uber as we know it here does not exist in Rome- it is Uber Black- which is more expensive, more like a limo service.
Leonardo Express
https://leonardo-express.com/en/en-leonardo-express-tickets/
Taxis in Rome
https://www.romewise.com/taxi-in-rome.html
(Some info on this page is out of date- the fixed rate has increased- but in general it is helpful info)
what is the reason for not taking public transportation? is it too
crowded? or one has to wait too long for a bus / train?
Not taking it where? For sightseeing in Rome? My personal take on it is because it's a city best experienced on foot; you see and experience more, and can use narrow backstreets, stairs and some other places public transport can't go. Just a heads up, their metro system covers a limited area, and I'm not really a fan of buses with the exception of those inexpensive but comfortable coaches between the airport and Termini + some other stops in Rome.
Over several trips, we've only felt the need to use public transport a couple of times; when distances were just long enough to warrant it.
Christine H said
You cannot hail a taxi on the street, must get at an official taxi
rank- which are located at every major site, train station, etc.
Pretty easy or have your hotel call for one. Uber as we know it here
does not exist in Rome- it is Uber Black- which is more expensive,
more like a limo service.
So if i cannot hail a taxi, how does one find a taxi at a major site?
for example if I needed to get from St Peter's Basilica to the Colosseum I could easily find a taxi outside the Basilica and just give my destination as Colosseum and pay by meter?
One more thing? It's already been mentioned not to use the ItaliaRail site for trains but you may also be confusing Rome city transit with longer-distance rail. For bus/metro/tram travel within the city of Rome, you want the ATAC site I'd linked the ticket/pass info to above. I'd also linked Fiumicino page for transport options into Rome from the airport.
If you will be using the trains to visit other parts of Italy, then you want the Trenitalia or Italo websites, with the exception of a few commuter trains, like the Circumvesuviana in the Naples/Sorrento area.
One further exception would be the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino Aeroporto to Roma Termini: that is pre-bookable on the Trenitalia site but I wouldn't do that in case your flight is delayed.
Taxi stuff: pretty sure it's current:
https://www.romewise.com/taxi-in-rome.html
So to get a taxi, you go to a taxi stand. You don't hail one.
Lotus Traveller-
Please read thru the info at the link that both Kathy and I posted:
https://www.romewise.com/taxi-in-rome.html
Scroll down a bit on that first page and there are specific instructions for finding a taxi at St Peter's- in the Blue Box titled:
IMPORTANT TIP! How to Find a Taxi at the Vatican
A google search for "taxi ranks in Rome" will bring up a lot of info
here is just one
https://www.livitaly.com/find-taxi-stands-rome/
The Pantheon now requires reservations on weekends.
Oops, Christine, I see that I duplicated your taxi link.
At least we agree that it's a good source, eh? :O)
thanks for the info on getting a taxi esp near St Peter's Basilica.
Right now I am considering not pre-booking the St Peter's Basilica tour so that there is the possibility of doing it on the day we land. I don't want to book it in case the flight is later but in case we are on time we could still get there, albeit in the afternoon.
Question 1 - Any idea how long of a line we should expect and if it would be possible to climb the dome if we get there in the afternoon?
Question 2
We are interested in Villa Medici. Might not have time for the guided tour but would at least like to see the exhibits.
I am thinking this is not one of the top attractions that would likely sell out, is this correct? Wondering if we need advance booking for this or not. Mainly because the website to book the ticket has a lot of fine print.
So for the Leonardo Express when I visit the TrenItalia site I get this info but no option to click and buy the ticket.
Is it easy to buy this int he airport? Anything I can do in advance, I am trying to do. But I don't want to get hte ticket for a specific time in case the flight is late.
https://www.trenitalia.com/en/services/fiumicino_airport.html
You can purchase the Leonardo Express tickets when you land, either at a kiosk or on the app or on website
You want
Fiumicino to Roma Termini
Unless you must have a guided tour of St. Peter’s there is no booking in advance, it is free to enter
Nobody skips the security line
Be sure your shoulders and knees are covered—men, women and kids
RS audio guide is sufficient for a lot of folks
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours
If you mean the Borghese Gallery when you say
“Villa Medici”
Then Yes you absolutely must book in advance and they absolutely do sell out
Your ticket allows you a timed entry 2 hour visit
Here is the official site
https://www.tosc.it/en/city/roma-216/venue/galleria-borghese-17529/
If you don’t already have a good guide book I’d suggest you get one
The Rick Steves Italy or Rome guide book would answer most of your questions
Both are available in kindle version or can be purchased with fast shipping on Amazon
I have booked Borghese gallery
I am talkign about https://villamedici.vivaticket.it/en/event/villa-medici-historical-tour/182660?idt=2685
Interesting choice for a first-timer with so little time in Rome. Let's just say it wouldn't be an attraction I'd opt for in your situation. Why did you choose it?
actually my daughter chose it because it appears to be a working art studio exhibiting current artists.
i haven't looked too much into the website myself.
So for the Leonardo Express when I visit the TrenItalia site I get this info but no option to click and buy the ticket.
On trenitalia's home Page put Fiumicino Aeroporto in the FROM Box and your final destination in the TO one. I guess it's Roma Termini for you.
Pick a day of travel before September 18, a time of departure and click search. On the next page you'll be given the option to get tickets clicking on a price.
The LE express costs 14 Euro per person, one way. The 8 Euro train is the FL1 that doesn't go to Termini but to Trastevere, Tiburtina and other secondary stations.
If you can't print out tickets use the official Trenitalia app and show conductors your phone. Same if stamping a ticket into a machine before gettin' on is daunting, e-ticket do not need and can't be stamped. ItaliaRail forgot to mention that validating a ticket takes 1 second, if you are slow. This way you are persuaded to get tickets on their site.
thanks for the detailed instructions!
I guess one can do this even if one is already in the airport? I am just hesitant to buy the ticket now since it is valid only for a specific train and what if our flight is late? I am surprised they don't just allow you to buy a ticket that would be valid for the day at least if not longer.
Please don't overthink this.
Just buy your Leonardo Express tickets (if that's the train you intend to use) when you arrive at the airport. People do it all the time. Here's some more info that might be useful:
https://www.rome-airport.info/leonardo-express.html
(Dario, please correct any info in that link that you don't think is current?)
But what I'm thinking? The train appears to be so stressful for you that I'd just take a taxi - which can take you from airport right to your hotel - or a shuttle bus (tickets easily purchased at the airport) to Termini or any of the other stops some of them make that might be closer to your accommodation (which is where?). So what if the buses or cabs take 20 minutes or so longer? I guess that has never bothered us. :O)
Will you have a cell phone?
If so download the Trenitalia app now, set up your account and familiarize yourself with it
It’s quite easy to use
Once you land, purchase your LE tix while waiting for bags if passport control
You don’t have to validate those tix, just show your phone to the conductor on board
Once your purchase or validate the ticket, it’s good for 90 minutes so take any train in that 90 minutes
Trains run about every 20 min, if you are nervous about time then just get your bags, make a pit stop and head to the LE tracks
It is VERY well marked then pull out your phone and buy tix for next train.
It is not difficult or complicated
There will be lots of folks doing the same thing, ask for help
You don’t need to speak Italian
Or for simplicity sake just go get in taxi line, hand driver your address and 50 euros
Door to door service
I have a tracfone which will not work in Europe.
Does anyone have any recommendation as to what phone & phone service I could get cheaply that would work in Europe? I will be in the UK prior to going to Rome and I am thinking if I could buy it there I could use it while in Rome.
thanks for this link
i am not planning to make phone calls while in Europe but if i want to check directions on the phone or even access downloaded tickets i will need data to do so. i plan to print out whatever i can but it would be helpful to be able to use the phone as well i think.
any suggestion on a good sim card that will just allow me to access
- tickets that require apps
- google maps
- the internet
- some messaging like signal or whatsapp? i can wait till i get back to share pictures and whatnot so i don't need a ton of data. though if it is there i would probably send a couple of pictures tbh
i have tentatively booked a guest house that appears to be centrally located. looking at google maps for restaurants nearby everything that shows up opens at noon or so.
where does one usually go for breakfast? it is not included in this guest house unfly. may try to find something else although in one of them the reviews said that the breakfast was only available after 8 and they usually left before that which might be the case with us so just wondering what options are feasible for breakfast. am inclined to take quick oats and use the tea kettle to cook them, in order to save some time and $$. Still curious what other tourists do.
Lotus, you are making this all much more difficult than it is. Really. :O)
Breakfast? If not offered through your accommodation, do what we do here in the US if in the same situation: buy granola bars, cheese, bread, fruit, etc. from a market and eat in your room. You may feel differently but we do not need a cooked breakfast to get going in the morning; probably our hiker's mentality. Where is your guesthouse (what is the address) and do you know what amenities it includes, such as a minifridge?
You are only in Rome for 3 days. Where else will you be in Europe?
(edited)
My breakfasts depend on what's commonly available in the county at hand. Italians typically have coffee and a cornetto (croissanr-like roll) for breakfast. You can get that for cheap at a bar, especially if you consume it standing up. I like some protein at breakfast, so I look for cheese and some sort of bread. If I don't have a refrigerator in my room, I might buy a single container of yogurt at a little super market. Bakeries will be open early and might have cheese or ham sandwiches prepared if your'e looking for breakfast later. (In Germany those sandwiches are out quite early.) Produce markets in tourist zones may have cups of cut-up, mixed fruit, which will make any picnic breakfast feel more special.
It's more common in France, but if you keep your eyes open, you might see little single-serving quiches for sale. They will probably be at room temperature.
am inclined to take quick oats and use the tea kettle to cook them, in
order to save some time and $$.
On my 2 recent trips, I took this bowl, a plastic spoon and some instant oats. I just use hot tap water and mix.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0136OTK3Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I prefer oats with no sugar, but this works great when traveling as it has added protein. You should be able to find a single box at your grocery store:
I have oatmeal at home every morning and love having it on vacation too. It’s quick and cheap. I’m usually up super early. So, I’ll eat the oatmeal before I leave and then a couple of hours later find a bakery for a morning snack.
I love to browse supermarkets in new places, so maybe see if there's a supermarket nearby and pickup something you can quickly eat in your room or on the go.
...am inclined to take quick oats and use the tea kettle to cook them,
in order to save some time and $$.
Don't assume your accommodation has a kettle. Most of ours in Italy have not, which is why we travel with our own for instant coffee in the morning. Still, breakfast isn't anything to stress over. Go to a market. Buy some provisions. Done deal.
Thanks for the tips.
I should let you know that I am incredibly nervous about this trip thinking of all the things I could mess up or could go wrong even without any mess-up on my part. This is even before factoring in the flight woes and diseases abounding.
Buying bread, fruit, nuts, yogurt, hummus from the store is what I do on most trips, I rarely eat out ever but I thought if I was going all the way to Rome maybe I should eat in the local eateries. DYI breakfast is simplest, I agree. I could make the same argument for DYI lunch (!). Am actually worried that all the restaurants could be full anyway.
I haven't been abroad since I was in college which was all pre-internet and sans credit card or phone card and while I was fine and carefree then, I am worried that everything will be different now. I tend to be a bit behind the times and while I have booked the flights and the room and a couple of skip the line tickets to see things I am still worried and can barely believe the plan I have on paper will actually materialize in reality.
I hear you! I'm sort of technically challenged and will probably need to make expanded use of my phone (we haven't owned, or even wanted to own, smart phones as long as many have) the next rodeo abroad. Ugh. So figure if I can manage train tickets and finding my way around, phone or no phone, ANYONE can.
But the advice given above to get yourself an RS guide for Rome (or Italy) was sound. It should help you over some of the humps.
Oh, and we skip sit-down lunches too and only do the restaurant thing for dinner.
So the daughter going with you; have you tasked her with helping sort some of the details?
Lotus Traveller, I totally understand. I'm about to go to Europe for the first time in 10 years and I am nervous about all the things that have changed. It'll be my husband's first trip to EU and he feels apprehensive too. Just keep asking questions - that's what this forum is for.
One thing that helps me feel more organized is to write out a detailed step by step plan for each day. When I read over it I feel a bit calmer because I can visually see what each day will mostly entail. Instead of "day 2, Monday, go to Vatican" it's more like "day 2, Monday, 8am, leave hotel, take bus #xxx from xx bustop to xx stop (approx. 20 minutes), walk to xxx" etc. It might be going overboard but it helps me, so no harm done.
Oh, another thing: Rome has a lot of bakeries that would be great for lunch! Lots of places to walk in and grab a focaccia or sandwich to go. For dinners, if you want to try some restaurants, have a look on google maps at restaurants that interest you near where you'll be that day (or start a new topic asking for recommendations for specific areas/neighborhoods). For example, if you're going to spend the afternoon at the Colosseum you could find a restaurant that interests you in that area and make a reservation. Then you don't have to worry about it on the day because you already know where you'll be going.
Thanks for those tips roubrat
I don't think we have an overly hectic schedule and yet i am worried that trying to eat in a restaurant could prove difficult partly because I have so little experience doing so. For example I found this website for a restaurant that has rave reviews but I cannot figure out where one actually makes a reservation.
http://rifugioromano.com
I am imagining long lines / no vacancies. Booking in advance is an option but then what if we don't get there in time? I was hoping for a little room for spontaneity as well and not having everything reserved in advance.
Anyway I am all ears if you know of a good low/medium priced restaurant near the colosseum, the Borghese, or near the US Embassy.
Here's the link to book https://forms.pienissimo.com/registration
Anyway I am all ears if you know of a good low/medium priced restaurant near the colosseum, the Borghese, or near the US Embassy.
I won't be in Rome until Dec. but I suggest starting a new topic asking for recommendations. In my experience people here give good suggestions.
Booking in advance is an option but then what if we don't get there in
time?
Why wouldn't you get there in time? If you want to make sure to have seats for a place during high season that appeals to you, then make a reservation and give yourself plenty of wiggle room to get there, just as you would at home. While spontaneity is nice, it can narrow your options during a very busy season in a very popular tourist city.
Thanks, I filled out the form.
Why would I not get there in time? Good question! This is just me thinking that I won't be able to make things go according to plan once I am so far outside my usual stomping grounds. Let me try, anyway! Like so many other things in life, I have to remind myself, if so many other people can do it, so can I. And if I am worried all the restaurants will be full, that means that other people are managing to get seats there right?? I too could be one of those people. I know all of this I just have to believe it.
I don't think that gettin' a seat in Rome's restaurants in late July will be a big problem. Many locals will be departing for their summer holidays, so the best places could be less crowded than usual.
Most of what you're feeling is anticipatory anxiety, and I think once you get there you'll feel better. Remember, Rick says in one of his books "don't be a creative worrier."
