Everyone advises to purchase the combination tickets at the Palatino in order to avoid the lines at the Colosseum and it seems like a great idea. Is it possible to purchase the ticket and visit the sites on different days, or do you have to visit both the same day?

The ticket is good for 24 hours. The lines at the Colloseum are long, but move quickly. To be honest, we opted out of the Palatino and were happy to. The Colloseum and Forum were enough for the day and the guide books didn't say too much at the Palatino.

Hi as csabia said the ticket for Palantine/colosseum is good for 24hours as far as i know you only have to Q for security at the Colosseum it is long but quicker than queing for tickets ! depending on what guide book you read Palentine hill is well woth a visit we did this the Forum and the colosseum in one day ...very tiring but WELL worth it ! infact we are returning next year and will be back at Palentine and the Forum to finish off all we missed ! if you use your search engine to look up Palentine Hill you'll find lot's of info and see it is worth the time taken to visit ..Hope this helps you
XxEm

I wouldn't suggest skipping Palantine Hill if you don't have to. We missed it on our first trip to Rome so we made sure to check it out on our second trip. There is a lot to see, including several grand bath houses and a small museum, and the views alone are worth the effort. We quite enjoyed our time up there, and its sad that so many skip it. You could certainly combine Palantine hill with the Forum and the Colliseum in one day. Sure, it makes for a long day, but a great one as well.

Definitely buy the ticket at Palantine if you can. There is hardly ever a line. When you enter the Forum from the Colliseum, you will see the stairs and the little ticket booth for Palantine hill on your left.

Tracy

You will get better results if you google with the right name: Palatine.

Eloise, you are very right and I apologize for my misspelling!

Tracy

We visited the Colosseum first, and bought a combo-ticket from a guide we found there. It was inexpensive and easy. We toured the C first, only about one hour. Then we walked over to the Palatine hill and all around that area. Our guide was so interesting telling us about how they lived back then, the gluttonous parties, the vomitorium, etc. It was fascinating. We spend about 1.5 hours doing that, then we were sent on our way to investigate the Forum on our own. But the guide had pointed it out to us, and told us all about it standing above it on the hill. I thought it was a good way to tour all. But I suspect it depends on how good your tour guide is. Ours was a young man, a history graduate student, who clearly loved the subject matter. So check out your guide before your sign up.

Is it now valid for 24hrs?

I know it was once only good for both sites on the same day unless it was bought after a certain time (~1-2PM) and then it was valid the next day also.
Regards, Walter

Good advise to purchase the ticket at Palatine Hill, bad advice to skip Palatine Hill. We were there in June and thought it was amazing.

My advice...get a guide for all 3 sights. They can steer you to the most interesting parts and relay fascinating stories and info. Yes, it is a long day but well worth it.

We took an Icon tour of the Forum and Colosseum that started at about 4 in the afternoon. When we got to the Colosseum, it was about 6 pm and our guide bought our tickets. She noted that the tickets included the Palatino and that they were good until noon the next day....That's obviously not 24 hours, but they could be used the next day.

I thought that if you buy the tickets after 1:30pm, they are good the next day also.

I am planning to buy the RomaPass which includes admission to 2 sites (e.g. one could be Colossuem/Palatine Hill and the 2nd could be Galleria Borghese). If I have understood the guide correctly, the Colossuem & Palatine count as 1 site. Can anyone confirm this?

Going to Rome for 1st time on 3rd Sept. Will definately take everyones advice about buying combination tickets at Palatine. We hope to buy it on the Sunday afternoon we arrive and then use it the next day, is this possible? Also we dont speak a word of Italian (apart from please, thank you etc)is this a problem in restaurants for reading menus and ordering?

Sharone, I really don't think it's worth your time and trouble to go and buy tickets a day in advance. They aren't that hard to get, and not a long line if you follow advice above to go to the Palatine hill first. And you will be able to get by without speaking Italian, if you keep a sense of humor and a polite attitude. Many waiters speak enough English to at least explain the menu. Have fun in Rome! I recently posted a trip report with recommendations for some restaurants we enjoyed there. You can click on my name above to find it.

Thanks for that. One other thing, is it just St Peters you cant wear shorts or have bare shoulders?

It's not "just St. Peter's" but all churches in Rome and the rest of Italy where you are expected to dress properly. This is a sign of respect towards the Catholics' faith that tourists should accept.

Sharone here's some info http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34606583

Also click-on my user name ParadiseLost and scroll thru my posts, I've written a few things that might be of interest. Like the Palatine Hill's cryptporticus that recently opened and Commodus' assassination and tunnel in the Colosseum, etc. Regards, Walter

I enjoyed the Palatine Hill because no one else was there to bother the atmosphere and from the belvedere there is a great view over the Circus Maximus far below. Quite an uphill trek however from the Forum.

Thanks Walter for directing me to your other information, loved the catacombes directions, will certainly use them if we have the time to go see them. I'm a bit of a novice with computers, can you tell me what it means when people reply just saying bookmarked?

Palatine Hill was great it is empty, my kids loved it, they were able to climb and play around. Most definetly buy your tickets there, will save you an hour of lines.

Nice views up on the hill also.