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Which Rome City Pass is Best?

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Updated: November 10, 2023

This post includes information on the four best Rome tourist attraction discount passes. We list prices, what's included, and if they are worth buying. 

Disclosure: While our recommendations are always unbiased, we may receive a small share of sales through some of the links below at no cost to you. See the full text.


Overview

There are several different types of tourist passes in the City of Rome, and they all offer discounts on popular activities or services in the ancient city.

Passes often include "skip-the-line" or "skip-the-queue" tickets which allow you to enter an attraction without waiting in the ticket queues, which sometimes can save you hours.  

Skip-the-line Colosseum

Most of these passes act as your transportation card as well, allowing free boarding on the subway, buses, and trams, saving you precious vacation time trying to figure out how to buy your transport tickets

Likewise, a few passes include a hop-on-hop-off bus service.

Big Bus Rome Reviews

Also, passes usually include free maps and informational booklets to further help you maximize your visit. 

If you are traveling with children, keep in mind that many of Rome’s top museums and sights offer free or reduced-cost entry to children under the age of 18. 

Here are some of the most notable locations and activities you can enjoy with one of these passes:

  • Vatican Museums
  • Sistine Chapel
  • The Colosseum
  • Roman Forum
  • Palatine Hill
  • Borghese Gallery
  • Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour
  • Castel Sant’Angelo
  • Baths of Caracalla

Although each of these attractions is included with most services, no one tourist pass is exactly alike, so it’s important to understand how each one works before deciding which one will work best for your needs.

Rome Discount Passes

Before You Buy

This section will provide details about each type of Rome tourist pass available, including how to use it and how it can save you money.


All-Inclusive Pass

There are currently a couple of passes available in Rome that offer an all-inclusive experience.

This type of Rome pass includes admission to dozens of popular attractions for a specific amount of time (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 7 days).

Although this type of pass offers some of the best opportunities to save money, you have to use it for a lot of different activities in order to enjoy the biggest possible discount.

All-inclusive passes usually include skip-the-line or skip-the-queue tickets to certain locations, allowing you to save both time and money.

You can also expect these services to include at least one bus tour and admission to popular sites like the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, and more.

These passes are best suited to people who plan on taking part in a lot of different activities while visiting Rome, as they’ll get the most out of it.

Depending on how the pass is used, you can save anywhere from 20% - 50% off general admission prices.


Pick Your Attractions Pass

This is similar to the all-inclusive option in that you pay one flat price, but rather than paying for a certain number of days that you can use the pass, you will pay for a specific number of activities.

You can choose between 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 attractions at a time, and these passes are also active for up to 60 days, which gives you plenty of time to enjoy each activity.

Although you won't always save as much with this type of pass, it does include certain attractions that aren't available on any other tourist pass.

This type of Rome pass is accessible via your smartphone, making it easy to use wherever you choose to go.

Much like other passes, this service also includes hop-on-hop-off bus tours, access to the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, and other popular things to do in Rome.


Prepackaged Pass

Unlike the all-inclusive option, these passes offer a few select attractions or services and provide a small discount on several additional activities.

This is a much more affordable Rome pass, because there aren’t as many attractions fully covered with the service.

Although they don’t offer admission to as many activities as their competitors, their additional discounts can come in quite handy.

Some of the services included with the extra discounts provided by prepackage passes aren’t available with any other tourist pass, making it one of the best ways to save money on those attractions.

Depending on which pass you choose, you may find that the cost of the pass essentially pays for the services which it covers, which means you won’t save any money on those activities.

That said, every additional discount you receive will be free, so it makes sense to purchase a prepackaged pass if you’re already planning to use some of the included services in the first place.

A majority of these passes include admission to at least one major attraction and either a hop-on-hop-off bus tour or a free public transport card valid for 48 hours or more.

Additional discounts provided on other activities are usually between 10% - 20% off. Discounted tickets for some attractions and tours must be purchased ahead of time in order to receive the deal.


Travel Card

If you’ve already paid for all the attractions and activities you want to enjoy during your trip to Rome, this pass might be an excellent alternative to the others.

A travel card typically includes access to almost every form of public transportation in the city, as well as other transport services such as airport transfers.

These services may also sometimes include additional goodies such as audio guides that you can use to enjoy a self-guided tour around the city.

Since travel cards don’t typically include much, they are usually the cheapest type of tourist pass available. That said, you may be able to save more money by using a prepackaged pass.

Make sure to compare and contrast what each pass offers before making a decision about which one to purchase.


All-Inclusive Rome Passes

The following section will cover the highlights of each of the all-inclusive tourist passes available in Rome, providing details about how to use the pass, the attractions included, and how much money you can save.


OMNIA VATICAN AND ROME CARD

This is an excellent pass for visitors who want to see the top sights in a limited time, visitors who want to avoid long ticket queues, see the Vatican sights, and like taking hop-on-hop-off sightseeing buses.  

This may seem at first glance like a pricey pass, but if you have a limited amount of time in Rome and plan to visit the most famous attractions, this pass can save you lots of time and money. 

It has two components. One is the OMNIA Vatican and Rome Card for Vatican City sights & tours as well as unlimited use of the Roma Cristiana hop-on-hop-off bus.  

The other is the 3-day Travel Card, which means you have 3 days of free city transportation on the metro, trams, buses, and overground trains plus the other benefits.

If you're looking for a more affordable option, consider their 1-Day Pass instead.

Although it costs less, it's worth noting that with just 24 hours to use the pass, you won't have a lot of time to get as much value as possible out of it.

The 1-Day Pass also includes far fewer activities and attractions, so we only recommend it for visitors with a limited amount of time to spend in Rome.


Highlights included with the 1-Day Pass:

  • Free entry to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (with a free downloadable audio guide for St Peter's Basilica).
  • Guided tour of the Catacombs of Saint Calixtus.
  • Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.
  • Basilica and Cloister of Saint John in Lateran with audio-guide, Entrance to the Treasure Museum.
  • Carcer Tullianum.
  • Vox City Guide is an innovative app that will guide you around the city.

Highlights included with the 3-Day Pass: 

  • Free entry to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel (with a free downloadable audio guide for St Peter's Basilica).
  • Free entry to your choice of 2 out of 6 top Rome attractions including The Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Capitoline Museums, Borghese Gallery, and National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo.
  • Fast Track Entry to St Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel & The Colosseum.
  • Free, unlimited use of the Roma Cristiana hop-on-hop-off bus.
  • Free travel card for unlimited access to Rome's public transport system.
  • Discounted Entry to another 30-plus sights, attractions, and museums in Rome.
  • Free guidebook and detailed map.

1-Day Pass Prices

3-Day Pass Prices


Fine Print

  • The OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card is valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Once you activate it by visiting your first attraction.
  • This pass is available as a physical card. If you're not a big fan of using your smartphone, this might be preferable to other passes.
  • The 3-Day card runs for 72 consecutive hours.  If you activate your card on a Monday, that is your first day and thus Wednesday is your last day. (Note: if you start using your card in the late afternoon or evening that will still count as your first full day. So start your day early!)
  • The included travel card does not include travel to and from the city airports.
  • You can pick up your physical card at the following locations:
    • St. Peter's Basilica
    • Lateran Complex
    • Carcer Tullianum (open on Sunday)

Reviews

Guests loved the ability to see a large variety of attractions in three days. They also loved the convenience of the Roma Cristiana hop-on-hop-off bus.

Many reviewers commented that the price of the card was worth the skip-the-line passes alone.

The best part of this pass was that customers were able to use the Omnia Card as their metro card for three days—without the hassle of buying separate metro tickets.

Some guests were unhappy with the signage and wait times of the hop-on-hop-off buses (a common complaint with all hop-on-hop-off bus companies), but they were pleased to use the card on the metro.

See our post, Bus Tours of Rome, for a review of the Omnia Card’s hop-on, hop-off bus, the Roma Cristiana.


Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

If you’re planning to hit the Vatican Museums and two other attractions in three days, the Omnia Card is definitely worth the money; you can save up to €45.

Check out Omnia Card’s suggested itinerary to see the breakdown for yourself.


ROME CITY PASS - TURBO PASS

This Rome Pass is a good value for those who will visit religious sites, and archaeological sites, those who enjoy hop-on-hop-off bus riders, and travelers who prefer to move at their own pace.

Rome Turbopass

It comes in increments of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 days.


Highlights included

Whichever number of days you choose, all passes come with the following (valid only for the number of days you purchase): 

  • Free luggage storage
  • Unlimited use of the City Sightseeing hop-on-hop-off bus
  • Free or discounted entry into 60+ museums and attractions
  • Fast track ('skip the line') entry for some museums and attractions

Here are just a few of the 60+ attractions  

  • The Sistine Chapel
  • Vatican Museums
  • Castel Sant'Angelo
  • Mausoleum of Cecilia Metella
  • Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine Hill

Prices

1-Day Pass

  • €79.90 for Adults
  • €44.90 for Teens (10-17 years)
  • €34.90 for Children (6-9 years)
  • Free for 5 years and under

2-Day Pass

  • €94.90 for Adults
  • €49.90 for Teens (10-17 years)
  • €39.90 for Children (6-9 years)
  • Free for 5 years and under

3-Day Pass

  • €107.90 for Adults
  • €54.90 for Teens (10-17 years)
  • €44.90 for Children (6-9 years)
  • Free for 5 years and under

4-Day Pass

  • €114.90 for Adults
  • €59.90 for Teens (10-17 years)
  • €49.90 for Children (6-9 years)
  • Free for 5 years and under

5-Day Pass

  • €124.90 for Adults
  • €64.90 for Teens (10-17 years)
  • €54.90 for Children (6-9 years)
  • Free for 5 years and under

7-Day Pass

  • €134.90 for Adults
  • €69.90 for Teens
  • €59.90 for Children (ages 6-9) 

For more information and to purchase tickets click here.

Fine Print

  • Days are consecutive.
  • Passes are non-transferable.
  • Passes can be presented via mobile phone.
  • You may cancel your purchase (without stating a reason) up to 1 day before your arrival. You will be reimbursed the entire purchase price, less a 40 € service charge.

Reviews of the Turbo Pass

Reviewers who wanted to see more sites with fewer time constraints and those who wanted to see more than two non-Vatican sites were extremely happy with the Turbo Pass. 

Most reviewers commented that the skip-the-line tickets were worth the price of the pass alone.   

This pass is slightly less expensive than the Omnia Card for the three-day pass, and guests loved that they saw more sites with fewer restrictions. 

The hop-on-hop-off bus service that they use is CityRoma, which is so poorly reviewed that we don't even include them on our bus comparison page.

If you buy this pass, don't buy it for this service.  


Bottom Line: Is It Worth It?

If you want to see more than two non-Vatican sites or want to spread your time sightseeing over more than three days, the Turbo Pass should be worth the price.

Depending on how many attractions you want to see, you could save well over €100. Just don't buy it for the hop-on-hop-off service.


PICK YOUR ATTRACTIONS PASS

This type of Rome pass allows you to pay one flat price for only as many attractions as you want to visit.

In this section, we'll explain exactly how this service works in greater detail.


GO CITY ROME EXPLORER PASS

This tourist pass provides access to 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 different attractions.

Depending on how you use the pass, you can save up to 47% off normal ticket prices.

There are over 30 different attractions and activities to choose from with the Go City Rome Explorer Pass, and they give you a total of 60 days to use the service.


Here are a few of the more notable activities included with this pass:

  • Vatican Museums
  • Colosseum + Roman Forum
  • Saint Peter's Basilica Tour
  • Capitoline Museum
  • Rome Catacombs Tour
  • Big Bus Hop-on Hop-off
  • Via Appia Bike Tour
  • Three Tenors Concert
  • And more!

Pass Prices

2 Choice Pass

  • €69/Adults
    • €34.50 per activity
  • €44/Children (5-15)
    • €22.00 per activity

3 Choice Pass

  • €89/Adults
    • €29.67 per activity
  • €59/Children
    • €19.67 per activity

4 Choice Pass

  • €109/Adults
    • €27.25 per activity
  • €69/Children
    • €17.25 per activity

5 Choice Pass

  • €129/Adults
    • €25.80 per activity
  • €79/Children
    • €15.80 per activity

6 Choice Pass

  • €149/Adults
    • €24.83 per activity
  • €94/Children
    • €15.67 per activity

7 Choice Pass

  • €169/Adults
    • €24.14 per activity
  • €104/Children
    • €14.86 per activity

Purchase the Go City Rome Explorer Pass or learn more.


Fine Print

  • Passes that have not been used are valid for up to 2 years.
  • Passes can be canceled within 90 days of purchase if necessary.
  • You can use this pass digitally on your smartphone.
  • Child passes are only valid for ages 2-6. Anyone older must get an adult pass.

Things to Consider

If you get the 7-choice pass, you'll be paying as little as €24.14 per activity, and many of the services included are usually €35 - €40 per ticket.

That said, there are a few attractions included that are regularly less than €23, so we recommend not using the pass for those choices.

This pass is available exclusively through the Go City app.

All you have to do is download the app onto your smartphone and use it to access any attraction included with the service.

One of the nice things about the Go City Rome Explorer Pass is that it includes a lot of activities you won't typically get with other passes, such as the Three Tenors Concert and the Gelato Making Class.

Although you might be able to save more with other passes, the advantage of the Go City Rome Explorer Pass is that you have plenty of time to enjoy all of your attractions, with 60 days to enjoy up to 7 activities.

This pass is definitely worth the price if you're looking to save 30-40% off a variety of different services, many of which are unique to this company.


Prepackaged Passes

This section will provide details about all of the prepackaged passes available in Rome, including information about how each pass works, activities you can enjoy, and how to save money with these services.


ROMA PASS

The Roma Pass is the “official” sightseeing pass for Rome and it is offered by the city itself.

This card is best for those on a budget as well as for museum lovers. 

They can be purchased in advance, or at any official tourist office, or at the Termini Railway Station.

This pass is sold as either a 2-day card with 1 free attraction or a 3-day card with 2 free attractions.

You also get reduced entry at 45+ museums and attractions. Prices are discounted between 15% and 50% on regular prices.

(See the list of sites here along with your reduced price.)

One significant aspect of this pass is that it does not include the Vatican, Vatican Museums, and St Peter's Basilica.

The Roma Pass acts as your travel card for unlimited travel within the main parts of the city. 


Prices

2-Day + 1 free attraction 

  • €33 per person | Children ages 5 and under FREE

3-Day + 2 free attractions

  • €53 per person | Children ages 5 and under FREE

For more information and to purchase tickets click here.


TIP: Choose the most expensive attraction(s) you want to see as your first attraction(s) to see. 

Good choices to use as your freebie(s) are the Capitoline Museums, Galleria Borghese, and the Colosseum/Roman Forum.  

Note: Be sure to visit the Colosseum and the Roman Forum on the same day to make sure it is counted as one attraction. 


Before you buy: 

Before buying a pass, find out if you might already be entitled to a reduced price based on age or status.

There are several museum networks in Rome and they have different concessions policies and you may find that buying the pass isn’t worth it.

But more likely than not, relying on museum-reduced prices will not save you nearly as much as the pass will.

If you are traveling with young children, you should check to see which museums and attractions offer free admission based on age.  

Fine Print:

  • You can only buy up to four Roma Passes online.
  • You must wait 24 hours after you purchase your card to pick it up.
  • Valid for consecutive days only.
  • Roma Pass will not refund the price of the card due to museum closures.
  • Airport transfers are not included in the public transportation portion of the card. 

Reviews of the Roma Pass

Reviewers who didn’t care to see the Vatican Museums loved this less-expensive option.

The Roma Pass gives you fast-track tickets to the Colosseum, which reviewers found extremely helpful during peak travel seasons.

If you’re not interested in using a hop-on-hop-off bus, this is definitely the pass for you. You don’t pay for services you won’t use.

Plus, if you change your mind and decide you want to ride one loop on the CitySights bus, you can get 20% off the price of your ticket. 


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

If you’ve come to Rome for archaeological sites and non-religious museums, this pass can be perfect.

You save around €10 if you just visit the Colosseum, and one other museum, and use the metro for three days.

If you want to take advantage of additional discounts, you can save even more money.


ROME TOURIST CARD 

Unlike the other passes above, this pass does not limit you to a set number of days.

This feature alone may make one of these passes right for you.

The Rome Tourist Card includes admission to a few specific attractions and services while providing an additional 10% off dozens of other popular activities.

This pass currently includes:

  • skip-the-line tickets to Colosseum
  • skip-the-line tickets to St Peter's Basilica with an audio guide
  • skip-the-line tickets to Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • Audio Tour of Rome City Center and The Pantheon
  • A unique code to receive a 10% discount on many other attractions, museums, excursions
  • No set number of days in which to visit the included attractions
  • “Paperless” pass -  use your smartphone as your pass or print it up - your choice!

NEW FEATURES

As of August 2023, this tourist pass now gives visitors the option to choose which type of tickets they want for each attraction.

What this means is that you can choose to get either the ticket alone or admission with an additional guided tour or activity.

This allows you to either save as much money as possible, or essentially add on extra activities at a discounted rate when purchasing the pass.

The Fine Print:

The Rome Tourist Card does not include public transportation in the city, but you can buy it with a 10% discount on their website. Passes are non-refundable after purchase.


Prices

  • Adult €97
  • Youth (4-17) €67
  • Infant (0-3) Free

More information or to purchase.


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

First, it seems that none of the Rome Tourist Card options is worth buying for anyone 17 and under.

Rome museums and attractions are very generous with discounted prices for youth. Some attractions are even free for teens and toddlers.

When you add up the regular ticket prices of the attractions included in this pass, you see the difference is just a few euros.

The pass has one benefit that easily makes up for those few extra euros: the 10% discount on certain museums and attractions can save you money.

For example, if you go to the Galleria Borghese, you will save €4 and you have broken even.  


Roma Super Pass

Although it sounds like an extension of the Roma Pass, this is actually a completely different service that provides access to specific attractions.

If anything, this pass has more in common with the Rome Tourist Card, as it includes many of the same activities.

The main difference of note between this and other prepackaged passes is that it does not include 10% off other attractions.

Another important detail is that the Roma Super Pass is only valid for 3 days.

This pass currently offers the following:

  • Entrance to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • Entrance to St. Peter's Basilica & Audio Guide
  • Entrance to the Colosseum, Roman Forum, & Palatine Hill
  • Ancient Rome Multimedia Video at FORO ROMANO
  • 72-Hour Public Transport Ticket (ATAC)

Prices

  • €95/Adults
  • €85/Children (6-17)
  • Children 5 and under are free

Purchase the Roma Super Pass or learn more.


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

At only €7 more than the Rome Tourist Card, this service includes both a ticket to see the Piazza Navona Underground and a 72-hour ticket for public transport.

The one activity not included here is an audio guide for the Pantheon, which is free to visit on weekdays.

While you won't save a lot of money over general admission prices, this pass will cover the cost of several popular activities all at once, which means you won't have to worry about buying individual tickets at each location.

If you're trying to save time, this is an excellent option. That said, there are probably much better options when it comes to saving money.


The Vatican City Pass

If you're planning to visit Vatican City, this pass is a great way to save some time and take care of several tickets all at once.

Although the attractions included are limited, this service should take care of almost everything you'll need while in the area.

In addition to the activities you can enjoy with this tourist pass, you'll also receive an additional 10% off other attractions in Rome.

The Vatican City Pass includes the following:

  • Skip-the-Line Entrance to the Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel
  • St. Peter's Basilica Guided Tour
  • Rome City Audio Guide
  • 10% off other attractions

Prices

  • €60/Adults
  • €41/Youth (7-17)

Purchase the Vatican City Pass or learn more.


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

When you factor in the cost of all three included activities, you'll be saving close to €9 overall.

That said, it should be noted that it's free to visit St. Peter's Basilica and you might be able to get a better deal on a tour elsewhere.

We also offer free walking tours of Rome that you can use to save money on the audio guide.

Furthermore, the Vatican Museums offer free admission on the last Sunday of every month.

If you really wanted to save even more money than you can with this pass, it is entirely possible.

Of course, if you can't manage to visit on the last Sunday of the month and you want to avoid long lines, it will almost certainly be worth it to consider a pass like this, even though you aren't saving a whole lot of money.


Pompeii & Vesuvius Pass

Although neither of these historic sites are in or around Rome, they are both a short journey from the ancient city.

Pompeii is actually one of the most popular day trips to take from Rome, so this pass could be quite useful for some travelers.

In addition to covering the cost of both reserved entrance to Pompeii and skip-the-line entry to Mount Vesuvius, this digital pass also includes an audio guide for each attractions.

One of the best things about this discount pass is that it allows you to pick the specific dates and timeslots you want for each attraction.

In other words, if you're planning to stay in the area overnight, you could easily plan out a full day at Pompeii and then schedule your time at Vesuvius for the day after.

If you prefer to have complete control over your itinerary, this pass is an excellent option.


Prices

  • €44/Adults (25+)
  • €41/Youth (18-25)
  • €16/Children (6-17)
  • €3/Children (0-5)
  • €19/EU Citizen (18-24)

Purchase the Pompeii & Vesuvius Pass.

TIP: If you want a pass that also includes roundtrip transport from Pompeii to Vesuvius, this company also offers that for just €58!


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

As with every discount pass, that depends on whether or not you're interested in visiting these attractions and how much you want to save.

It's worth noting that few (if any) Rome tourist passes include admission to either of these attractions, so this is one of the only ways to save money on tickets to Pompeii or Vesuvius.

The fact that you can also pick and choose the dates and time slots you want is also a nice benefit that shouldn't be ignored.

That said, the discount provided with this digital pass is typically only 5% - 10% off, so you won't be saving a lot of money.

Keep in mind that tickets to both attractions do not sell out very frequently, so getting skip-the-line or reserved entry is not that big of a deal.

For more details, please check our post covering Pompeii tickets and discounts.


Travel Card

The following section will cover several important details about each Rome travel card, how you can use them, what services are included, and other information.


Rome Airport Taxi & Transport Card

Whether you have already planned out all your activities, you have all the attraction tickets you want, or you’re just looking for a way to get around the city, this is an excellent alternative to other Rome tourist passes.

The Rome Airport Taxi & Transport Card will take care of pretty much all your transportation needs while in the city.

This card includes the following services:

  • 72-Hour Public Transportation Pass
    • Valid on Metro, Bus, Train, and Tram
  • Private Airport Transfer (Fiumicino or Ciampino) to Rome (one-way)

The Rome Airport Taxi & Transport Card is also one of the most affordable tourist passes available in this city at a price of just €62 for taxi plus €20 per person for transport card.

This is a great way to make sure that you can get to the city from either Ciampino Airport or Fiumicino Airport with ease, and the Public Transportation Pass includes access to buses, metro, trains, and trams in the urban area of Rome for a full 3 days.

Purchase the Rome Public Transport Pass.


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

The 72-hour travel pass is worth €18 and the private airport transfer will set you back an extra €35-€45, so it is a pretty decent deal.

That said, the Rome Airport Taxi & Transport Card does take all the guesswork out of traveling, as it includes almost every type of transportation you could possibly need to get around the ancient city.

If you’ve already taken care of the other activities/attractions you want to see while you’re in Rome, this pass will help you avoid the hassle of paying various fares for each individual ride you take on a bus, tram, train, or metro.

The Rome Airport Taxi & Transport Card is similar to the Roma Pass in that they both provide access to public transportation for a specific amount of time.

Even so, it’s worth noting that one discount service has a lot more to offer.

Not only is the Roma Pass around the same price as this service, but it also includes at least one free attraction as well as discounted admission to other popular activities. 

While the 48-Hour Roma Pass doesn’t last as long as the Rome Airport Taxi & Transport Card, it does provide admission to one attraction and it actually costs less.

On the other hand, the 72-Hour Roma Pass is roughly €9 more than a travel pass alone, and it includes 2 free attractions.

Depending on how you use either Roma Pass, it is definitely possible to save more money with that service than the Rome Public Transport Pass.


Rome Metro Card

If you don't need an airport transfer and you're just looking for transportation around the city, this is a more affordable option you may want to consider.

The Rome Metro Card is valid for either 1 or 3 days at a time, and it includes the following services: 

  • Public Transportation Pass
    • Valid on Metro, Bus, Train, and Tram
  • Hop on Hop off Bus Tour

Card Prices:

  • 1-Day Card: €29/Adults
  • 3-Day Card: €39/Adults
  • Free for kids 9 and under.

This is an excellent option for anyone who wants to explore and learn about the city because the hop-on-hop-off bus service includes a tour of Rome.

Although you can use the bus tour to get around the city and see most of the notable landmarks, the public transport card will ensure you can reach any other location you might want to visit.

Purchase the Rome Metro Card.

NOTE: Not currently available as of April 2023.


Bottom Line: Is it worth it?

As we previously mentioned, a 72-hour travel pass costs €18 on its own.

In addition, it typically costs about €20-€30 for 1-day hop on hop off bus tour or €30-€45 for a 3-day ticket.

When you use a Rome Metro Card, you'll save about €10-€15 on both services.

While this isn't the biggest discount out there, it's a savings of about 25% - 30% off.

If you're only looking for a cheaper transportation option while visiting Rome, this is a great way to save a few euros without worrying about paying for additional activities or attractions.

As with the Rome Public Transport Pass, the Rome Metro Card should be compared with the Roma Pass – which also covers the costs of public transportation.

While the Roma Pass includes admission to several popular museums and attractions, the Rome Metro Card focuses on transportation and a tour of the city.

Ultimately, prices for both of these passes are very similar, so we recommend picking the service that best fits your needs.

If you've already taken care of tickets for attractions and activities, a Rome Metro Card is probably the best choice for transportation.

However, if you want to save some money on admission to popular museums and landmarks and you also need a way to get around the city, a Roma Pass would be the superior option.


PRICE COMPARISON EXAMPLE

If you already know where you are planning to go and which museums and sites are on your list, you may want to get out that calculator and see if the savings are worth buying a pass.  

Sometimes passes cost more than if you paid for everything individually.

But passes can also make life easier and that has a value of its own.

If you visit these attractions, this is what you would pay based on regular prices for one adult.  

Remember: these prices do not include a fast-track entry so you may be spending valuable time just waiting to get in. As they say, “Time is money.”

  • Colosseum/Roman Forum/Palatine Hill (one-day)  €16
  • Sistine Chapel/Vatican Museums  €17
  • Capitoline Museums  €15
  • St. Peter’s Basilica - Free entry, but with a useful audio guide €15
  • Galleria Borghese €18
  • 2-day hop-on, hop-off bus tour (in lieu of public 3-day transportation card and more fun) €33

The above itinerary without a pass would cost you €114.  

But with a 3-Day OMNIA Vatican and Rome Card at €129, you have almost broken even and you will get fast-track entry for some sites and also discounted admission at 30 more sites.

As you can see, spending some time in advance planning what you want to see and checking out prices can help you make the right decision about getting a pass or not. 


PRICES OF ATTRACTIONS AND TRANSPORT WITHOUT A PASS (as of Apri 2023)

Rome Metro Tickets - Regular Prices

  • Single-Ride Ticket €1.50  Valid: 75 minutes
  • One-Day Ticket €7 Valid: 1 day on any public bus, metro, or tram. Expires at midnight on the day of validation
  • Two-Day Ticket €12.50 Valid: 2 consecutive days on any public bus, metro, or tram.
  • Three-Day Ticket €18 Valid: Three consecutive days on any public bus, metro, or tram.
  • One-Week Ticket €24 Valid: 7 consecutive days; good for only one rider
  • Children free if 10 and under accompanied by a paying adult

Top 3 Rome Museums and Attractions - Regular prices 

Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill (valid for 2 days)  

  • Adults € 22
  • Children 17 and under € 1.50
  • Reduced Fee for EU citizens ages 18-25 and EU teachers € 6
  • Add € 2 for online purchases. Highly recommended as lines are very long).

Gallery Borghese (Ticket reservations are required)

  • Adults € 13 plus € 2 mandatory reservation fee
  • Children 17 and under FREE plus € 2 mandatory reservation fee
  • Reduced Fee for EU citizens ages 18-25  € 2 plus € 2 mandatory reservation fee

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (grounds are an additional fee) 

  • Adults € 17 
  • Children between the ages of 6 and 18 years € 8.00 with a valid ID
  • Children below the age of 6 FREE
  • Reduced Fee for EU citizens ages 18-25 and EU teachers € 8
  • Add € 4 for online purchases. Highly recommended as lines are very long).

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