Hello, we are going to Rome with three children aged
12-9-7. We were thinking of buying a Roma Pass to avoid lines etc. My question is, are there children passes ?or how do we go about it. ? We are going to Rome only for four /five days and were thinking of getting the 3 days Roma pass , or may be it is not worth it.
Also I would like to know if we buy ticket by ticket where is it easy to avoid lines to buy the combined ticket for the Foro Romano, Palatine Hill and Coliseum. Tks

The best way to get tickets to the Palatine and Colosseum used to be to go to the Palatine entrance on Vi DI San Gregorio. However I know I read on at least one thread this year that Rick Steves now recommends this and it has become more crowded. Definitely do not try the Colosseum for buying the ticket.

I suggest entering at Via dei Fiori Imperiali and Largo Della Salaria Vecchia. Here you can buy a ticket to the "tri-fecta" - Colosseum, Forum, and Palantine Hill and Museum. We were there in June and there was no line to speak of.

I think the kids and you will absolutely love the Leonardo Da Vinci inventions and machines exhibit in Piazza Popolo; entrance is just below the steps up to the Borghese Gardens.

All the machines and inventions are interactive, so everyone can touch, and play. See some video of the exhibit here:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=395

Another place to take your kids is the cat sanctuary at Largo di Torre Argentina. We (2 adults and a 16 year old) rented an apartment nearby and stopped several times a day to see how many cats we could count among the ruins.

If you go to the Leonardo exhibit mentioned in the last post you will be near the Pincio gardens with a wonderful panoramic view of Rome

We were in Rome this summer and purchased the Roma Pass. There is a 2 Euro discount for those under 26. If you are planning on visiting the Borghese Gallery and the Colosseum, the pass pays for itself just with those 2 admissions. We didn't use the Transit pass a lot - most things were within walking distance of our hotel, but it was handy to be able to hop on a bus when we were tired. You can purchase the pass at the museums included in the pass (although they are sometimes sold out) or at many Visitor Information Centers in the city (they are sold at FCO and at Termini if you are arriving at either of those).

We picked up our Roma passes at FCO. Because we stayed in Trastevere, and ventured to many corners of Rome, we were very happy with the transportation part of the pass.

We entered the Forum at via F. Imperiali, and there was a very small line. We bypassed the line at Ostia Antica.

So much great information , thank you all, thank you for the Da Vinci suggestion I agree that if the pass includes
transportation it might pay for itself. With the BOrguese Gallery reservaton should be made on the phone and then use the pass upon arrival
Fodorites are wonderful.