Roma Pass
Apr 23rd, 2010, 08:19 PM
#1
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Roma Pass
We will be in Rome for 5 days from August 9th - Friday August 13th, 2010.
We are staying at the Arco del Lauro (B&B) in Trastevere. I am trying to put together an itinerary to get the best out of our short visit to Rome.
Arco del Lauro is approx. 20mins walking distance to Trevi Fountain, Panthenon etc.
A couple of questions:
Is it worthwhile purchasing a Roma Pass and if so, what benefits do I get from having the pass?
We wish to visit St Peter's and the Vatican........is it best to purchase tickets online before getting there?...........and is it better to have a guided tour?
I believe there is a free open tour bus that travels around Rome.....what is the name of it and where do your board?
Any other tips/advice are always welome.
We are staying at the Arco del Lauro (B&B) in Trastevere. I am trying to put together an itinerary to get the best out of our short visit to Rome.
Arco del Lauro is approx. 20mins walking distance to Trevi Fountain, Panthenon etc.
A couple of questions:
Is it worthwhile purchasing a Roma Pass and if so, what benefits do I get from having the pass?
We wish to visit St Peter's and the Vatican........is it best to purchase tickets online before getting there?...........and is it better to have a guided tour?
I believe there is a free open tour bus that travels around Rome.....what is the name of it and where do your board?
Any other tips/advice are always welome.
Apr 23rd, 2010, 08:50 PM
#2
The Roma Pass is for 3 days and the cost is 25€. You get free admission to your first two sites, discounts after that (usually 50%) and a three day transport pass. Best value for the free admission is the Borghese (reservations required even with the pass - you have to call or use their online call service - http://www.ticketeria.it/ticketeria/...mento-eng.asp#) and the Colosseum/Forum/Palantine Hill (12€)which counts as one entrance.
http://www.romapass.it/p.aspx?l=en&tid=2
>>>I believe there is a free open tour bus that travels around Rome.....what is the name of it and where do your board?<<<
No, there isn't a free bus. If you have a Roma Pass, you will have a three day transport pass good for buses/trams/metro/local trains. There is a little electric bus that runs through Trastevere. I think it's #115, but for some reason isn't shown on the electric bus map. You'll have to double check the bus #.
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9
There's also a tram in Trasetevere (#8).
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5
To avoid lines at the Vatican Museums, you can book either entrance tickets or a tour on the Vatican website.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
You would need to plan your sightseeing around the using the Roma Pass on consecutive days if you buy it. Keep in mind that quite a few things close on Monday (Borghese, Castel Sant'Angelo, etc.).
http://www.romapass.it/p.aspx?l=en&tid=2
>>>I believe there is a free open tour bus that travels around Rome.....what is the name of it and where do your board?<<<
No, there isn't a free bus. If you have a Roma Pass, you will have a three day transport pass good for buses/trams/metro/local trains. There is a little electric bus that runs through Trastevere. I think it's #115, but for some reason isn't shown on the electric bus map. You'll have to double check the bus #.
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9
There's also a tram in Trasetevere (#8).
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5
To avoid lines at the Vatican Museums, you can book either entrance tickets or a tour on the Vatican website.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
You would need to plan your sightseeing around the using the Roma Pass on consecutive days if you buy it. Keep in mind that quite a few things close on Monday (Borghese, Castel Sant'Angelo, etc.).
Apr 24th, 2010, 12:50 AM
#3
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<<< We wish to visit St Peter's and the Vatican........is it best to purchase tickets online before getting there?...........and is it better to have a guided tour? >>>
St Peter's is free and given the queues for the Vatican it's a VERY good idea to prebook. I'd be tempted to take a guided tour but when you enter the Sistine Chapel NOT to the take the exit to St Peters but loop back and spend a few more hours wandering around
St Peter's is free and given the queues for the Vatican it's a VERY good idea to prebook. I'd be tempted to take a guided tour but when you enter the Sistine Chapel NOT to the take the exit to St Peters but loop back and spend a few more hours wandering around
Apr 24th, 2010, 06:34 AM
#6
>>I don't understand alanRow's advice over the last sentence, can someone please explain ?<<
There is a door at the back of the Sistine Chapel that is only supposed to be used by tour groups. It puts you at St. Peter's bypassing the security line.People that aren't part of tour groups try to use this exit to bypass security and avoid the long walk to St. Peter's if you use the exit you are supposed to use from the museum (about 1/2 mile). There is another door in the Sistine Chapel that takes you into a courtyard of the museum and you can visit other parts of the museum.
There is a door at the back of the Sistine Chapel that is only supposed to be used by tour groups. It puts you at St. Peter's bypassing the security line.People that aren't part of tour groups try to use this exit to bypass security and avoid the long walk to St. Peter's if you use the exit you are supposed to use from the museum (about 1/2 mile). There is another door in the Sistine Chapel that takes you into a courtyard of the museum and you can visit other parts of the museum.
Jun 23rd, 2010, 09:17 AM
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The Vatican Musuem is open Friday evenings (starting at 7PM with entry times every 30 minutes) during the summer called night at the musuems. These tickets are puchased online, not sure if can be purchased in person. I booked this and we were able to see the Vatican Museum nicely without a huge herd of people. We spent about 30 minutes in the Sistine Chapel. Amazing! We went to St. Peter's before going to the museum (about 5pm) and had no problems with lines. The Basilica is open until 7 pm in the summer. It is best to see the the major sites either first thing or later in the day when lines tend to not be bad. The Roma Pass does not give entry or discount to the Vatican Museum. However it gives you unlimited use of the metro and buses. If you plan on going to two of the museums and using the metro or buses a lot then it is worth it. The Capitoline museum provides a free audio tour with admission. Have fun we just returned from Italy and I am planning my next trip back!
Jun 23rd, 2010, 09:26 AM
#9
kaztez, Below is my trip report on my website about our eight days in Rome. I got my second Roma Pass at a kiosk on Viale Trastevere. However, if you read Chapter Three, immediately afterward my life turned upside down. If you have any questions or comments about Rome, there is a place to do that on my website. Have a great time!
http://web.me.com/tomfielding1/Tom_%...Rome_2009.html
http://web.me.com/tomfielding1/Tom_%...Rome_2009.html
Jun 24th, 2010, 11:24 AM
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Is it worthwhile purchasing a Roma Pass and if so, what benefits do I get from having the pass?
I always get it and sometimes get the PIU as well. We have used it in at Tivoli (including transportation)
We wish to visit St Peter's and the Vatican........is it best to purchase tickets online before getting there?...........and is it better to have a guided tour?
First, I highly recommend the Scavi tour below St. Peter's. The lines for the Vatican Museums are the real problem (St. Peter's move well). Enter the museums after 1pm, very short lines. The audio tours there are good and allow flexibility.
You can get excellent "free" (donations allowed) tours of St. Peter outside the entrance.
I believe there is a free open tour bus that travels around Rome.....what is the name of it and where do your board?
There are two that one ticket covers. IMHO, way too expensive (about $30).
I'm glad you are spending at least five days. It's my favorite city in the world.
I always get it and sometimes get the PIU as well. We have used it in at Tivoli (including transportation)
We wish to visit St Peter's and the Vatican........is it best to purchase tickets online before getting there?...........and is it better to have a guided tour?
First, I highly recommend the Scavi tour below St. Peter's. The lines for the Vatican Museums are the real problem (St. Peter's move well). Enter the museums after 1pm, very short lines. The audio tours there are good and allow flexibility.
You can get excellent "free" (donations allowed) tours of St. Peter outside the entrance.
I believe there is a free open tour bus that travels around Rome.....what is the name of it and where do your board?
There are two that one ticket covers. IMHO, way too expensive (about $30).
I'm glad you are spending at least five days. It's my favorite city in the world.
Jun 28th, 2010, 05:01 AM
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We(4 of us) were in Rome for 4 days and were glad that we did not buy ROMA pass. We did visit Galleria Borghese and Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill. To avoid the long wait, we had hotel make reservation at Borghese and bought tickets at the entrance of Forum/Palantine Hill(no crowds at all). As for the bus pass, we found easier to ride in taxi which was quite inexpensive and convenient in Rome. Of course, for 4 people, I think taxi is more practical and economical than buying the pass.
Jun 28th, 2010, 05:20 AM
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We just got back from Rome yesterday. We were there 6 days and used the Roma Pass for the first three days.
If you plan ahead, the Pass is really great! We did the Colosseum - Forum the first day(saved time in line - there's a separate entrance where you just stamp the pass), the Galleria Borghese the second in the morning. Since all transportation is free with the pass, by the time we finished at the Galleria, the pass had more than paid for itself. We went to other places where we got discounted tickets and extensively used the transporation system.
Since you are in Travestere, you will always need a bus/tram to get to other places. If you have the Roma Pass, you can jump on and off buses/trams to make connections. We also went to Ostia Antica which included a train and it was all included in the Roma Pass.
The last two days we bought all day transportation tickets.
Everyone says that you can walk to everywhere in Rome. There's so much walking at the museums and sites - why not take a bus for 2/3 stops each time and save your strength?
If you plan ahead, the Pass is really great! We did the Colosseum - Forum the first day(saved time in line - there's a separate entrance where you just stamp the pass), the Galleria Borghese the second in the morning. Since all transportation is free with the pass, by the time we finished at the Galleria, the pass had more than paid for itself. We went to other places where we got discounted tickets and extensively used the transporation system.
Since you are in Travestere, you will always need a bus/tram to get to other places. If you have the Roma Pass, you can jump on and off buses/trams to make connections. We also went to Ostia Antica which included a train and it was all included in the Roma Pass.
The last two days we bought all day transportation tickets.
Everyone says that you can walk to everywhere in Rome. There's so much walking at the museums and sites - why not take a bus for 2/3 stops each time and save your strength?
Jun 28th, 2010, 08:49 AM
#14
>>>>thefengs on Jun 28, 10 at 9:01am
We(4 of us) were in Rome for 4 days and were glad that we did not buy ROMA pass. We did visit Galleria Borghese and Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill. To avoid the long wait, we had hotel make reservation at Borghese and bought tickets at the entrance of Forum/Palantine Hill(no crowds at all). As for the bus pass, we found easier to ride in taxi which was quite inexpensive and convenient in Rome. Of course, for 4 people, I think taxi is more practical and economical than buying the pass.<<<
There's no way a taxi plus entrance tickets would be cheaper than the pass. Entrance to the Colosseum is 12€ and the Borghese is 8.50€+ a 2€ reservation. That's 22.50 already without any transportation and the Roma Pass is only 25€. Plus you have three days free transport (it's not just bus - includes metros/trams/trains) and half off at most other sites/museums.
We(4 of us) were in Rome for 4 days and were glad that we did not buy ROMA pass. We did visit Galleria Borghese and Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill. To avoid the long wait, we had hotel make reservation at Borghese and bought tickets at the entrance of Forum/Palantine Hill(no crowds at all). As for the bus pass, we found easier to ride in taxi which was quite inexpensive and convenient in Rome. Of course, for 4 people, I think taxi is more practical and economical than buying the pass.<<<
There's no way a taxi plus entrance tickets would be cheaper than the pass. Entrance to the Colosseum is 12€ and the Borghese is 8.50€+ a 2€ reservation. That's 22.50 already without any transportation and the Roma Pass is only 25€. Plus you have three days free transport (it's not just bus - includes metros/trams/trains) and half off at most other sites/museums.
Jun 29th, 2010, 06:47 AM
#16
No, the Roma Pass is not good for either the Leonardo Express or the FM1 train to the airport. Where are you staying?
Here's a chart of the entrance fees with the Roma Pass after using your two free entrances.
http://www.romapass.it/doc/sitiAdere...lietti_eng.pdf
Here's a chart of the entrance fees with the Roma Pass after using your two free entrances.
http://www.romapass.it/doc/sitiAdere...lietti_eng.pdf
Jul 6th, 2010, 06:57 AM
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Which way would you go. My husband and I will be in Rome from Friday morning (arriving from NY)to Wednesday morning, and we certainly will buy the Roma Pass. Since Monday seems to be a limited access day to museums and sights, any suggestions which three days to choose? (Either Sat,Sun,Mon or Sun,Mon,Tue)I don't think it matters much, but if there is wisdom out there that knows one choice is better than the other, I'd appreciate some help. Also, is the Vatican "open" on Mondays for touring? thanks, Sharon
Jul 6th, 2010, 01:00 PM
#19
The Forum/Colosseum/Palantine are still open on Monday, but the Borghese is closed. If you do S/M/T you could do the Borghese Sunday, Forum/Colosseum Monday for your first two entrances on the pass and then add whatever else you might want to visit on Tuesday. Visit the Vatican on Saturday or it could also be visited on the same day as the Borghese since that is a 2 hour time limit.
The Vatican Museum is closed Sundays except for the last Sunday of the month when it is free and very crowded. They are doing a Friday night visit until October from 7-11pm. Reservations required.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
The Vatican Museum is closed Sundays except for the last Sunday of the month when it is free and very crowded. They are doing a Friday night visit until October from 7-11pm. Reservations required.
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
Jul 19th, 2010, 06:26 AM
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Tried, but couldn't get reservations for the Friday night we will be in Rome. Do you think it would be too much to do Forum/Colosseum in the morning and then Vatican in the afternoon on Monday? We've already booked Monday, 3pm tickets for the Vatican.
