Roma Tourist Card, City Pass and Discount Cards, discover the pros and cons and how to save time and money.
Contents
Recommended for Rome:
Recommended for the Vatican:
What are the Rome Tourist Cards?
There are several tourist passes available for Rome. Prices and services vary widely, so it is important to choose the right card for the right sights.
In addition to the different services they offer, the Rome Passes also differ in whether they are issued online or have to be collected in Rome. With the Roma Pass, public transport tickets are included in the price, while with other tourist passes they are optional. However, public transport tickets must be collected in Rome.
What are the Rome City Passes good for?
The oldest is the Roma Pass, which serves as a discount card and you must reserve the museums yourself. Tickets for the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums are often sold out well in advance. The added value of most of the modern passes is that you don’t have to worry about reservations and you have a competent contact person 24 hours a day if you have any questions or problems.
How do I choose the right Rome Sightseeing Pass?
To help you decide which Rome Sightseeing Pass is best for you, please consider the following points:
Rome Tourist Card: The practical Online Pass for the Colosseum, Pantheon or Castel Sant’Angelo and the Vatican Museums
With the Rome Tourist Card you can easily book admission to the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) or a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pantheon or Castel Sant’Angelo. All reservations are included in the price and will be sent to you by e-mail. A shuttle service to and from Ciampino and Fiumicino airports and a 72-hour ticket for public transport, to be issued by the bus staff, can be booked as an option.
Omnia Card 24: the powerful online pass for the Vatican Museums, San Giovanni, Catacombs and Hop-on Hop-off Buses
The Omnia Card 24 is designed for visitors who want to see as much of Rome as possible in 24 hours. It includes admission to the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel), an audio guide to the Basilica of San Giovanni with access to the cloister, a tour of the Mamertine Dungeon and a guided tour of the Catacombs. Within the 24-hour period, you can use the Vatican & Rome, Big Bus and City Sightseeing hop-on, hop-off buses.
Vatican City Pass: The Online Pass for the Vatican Museums or Castel Sant’Angelo and St. Peter’s Basilica
The Vatican City Pass is an easy way to get tickets to the Vatican Museums, including the Sistine Chapel, even on short notice. The pass also includes a guided tour or audio guide for St. Peter’s Basilica and the Dome.
Rome City Pass – Turbopass: the flexible online pass for 1-7 days
The Rome City Pass – Turbopass is very flexible and offers the most comprehensive package. The tickets for the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel), the Hop-on Hop-off Bus and the optional Shuttle Bus are usually sent by email, while the other tickets included in the pass can be booked and collected on site.
Roma Pass: for public transport and visits to city and national museums
The Roma Pass is the discount card of the City of Rome. It consists of a 48- or 72-hour ticket for public transport and one or two free admissions to participating city and national museums. Reservations are not included. The price of admission is reduced for additional museum visits. There are also discounts at some partner businesses and free use of public toilets at p.Stop. You can order the card online and collect it at tourist information offices.
Omnia Card 72: the combination for pilgrims with the Vatican, Basilicas and Roma Pass
The Omnia Card 72 is a very comprehensive card, valid for 72 hours. It can be picked up at Piazza Pio XII No. 9 (right in front of St. Peter’s Square). The Omnia Card 72 includes the Roma Pass 72 and offers the following additional services Vatican Museums including the Sistine Chapel, Cloister of San Giovanni with Audio Guide, Mamertine Dungeon (Carcer Tullianum) with Audio Guide, St. Peter’s Basilica with Audio Guide, 72 hours of unlimited travel on the Vatican & Rome Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Lines, Big Bus and City Sightseeing, Basilica di Santa Maria in Via Lata (via del Corso).
Online Travel Card: Private pick-up from the airport
The Online Travel Card is a good complement to the other passes. It allows you to be picked up at Fiumicino or Ciampino airport and taken to Rome. As an option, you can book the 72-hour public transport pass, which will be issued by the driver.
Practical information and tips to save money
48/72 hour public transport pass: Some city passes offer a multi-day ticket for public transport. This sounds good, but in Rome you can now pay contactless on the metro, bus, tram and local train to Ostia, and the trasport pass is only worthwhile if you make more than 8 journeys in 48 hours or more than 12 journeys in 72 hours. You also have to collect the card somewhere in Rome, which makes things even more complicated. Only with the Rome Tourist Card is it not necessary to collect the transport card. For more information, see our information on the Metrebus system in Rome.
Is the Rome Tourist Card worth it?
The Rome Tourist Card is a great way to save time and money. The available tickets and guided tours are clearly listed and can be booked with just a few clicks. Everything is delivered by e-mail without having to pick it up in Rome. You can also order a 72-hour ticket for public transport, which will be issued directly on the airport bus.
Is the Omnia Card 24 worth it?
The Omnia Card 24 is our absolute favorite for the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, as you can still get tickets when they are sold out through other channels. Combined with the 24-hour Hop-on Hop-off Bus, the guided tour of the Catacombs and the entrance to the Cloister of the Basilica of San Giovanni, the Omnia Card 24 is a great value.
Is the Turbo Pass worth it?
The more sights you want to visit, the better the Turbo Pass. It offers a very wide range of museums and attractions and the booking process is clear and time-saving. Tickets for the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, as well as tickets for the Hop-On Hop-Off buses, are sent by e-mail. Additional tickets can be picked up in Rome.
Is the Roma Pass worth it?
The Roma Pass costs the same as buying a multi-day ticket for public transportation and the included tickets to the most expensive museums separately. Since the Colosseum reservation is not included, the added value of the Roma Pass is not immediately apparent. Discounts are available for visits to other museums and purchases from partners.
Is the Omnia Card 72 worth it?
The Omnia Card 72 offers the Roma Pass plus the Vatican Museums and other services. The package is so comprehensive that it is only worthwhile if you plan to do nothing else in Rome but visit museums and churches.