The Rome passes in detail

Six passes, four ideas of a visit

Rome has no single pass that covers the whole city. Six products compete, and they differ in three points: how validity is counted (consecutive days, hours, a number of picks or single time slots), whether the Vatican Museums are inside or outside, and who books the compulsory Colosseum time slot. Public transport is the fourth divide, and it separates the city's own product from the commercial ones (public transport page).

The two Turbopass passes: consecutive days

The Rome City Pass is the broad package. It runs for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7 consecutive days from the start date you choose, with no 6-day rate. Included are the Colosseum with the Roman Forum and the Palatine, the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel, the Pantheon, Castel Sant'Angelo, 48 hours of Big Bus with a Tiber boat, and Ostia Antica. The Colosseum and Vatican time slots are reserved when you book. ATAC transport is an add-on only, issued as a paper ticket at a pick-up point. Cancellation works only before any use and costs a fee. Children from 6 to 9 and teenagers from 10 to 17 have their own rates.

The Rome Essentials Pass is the shorter version, valid for 2, 3 or 4 consecutive days, with the Colosseum, the Vatican Museums, the Pantheon and a walking tour. There is no bus, no transport, no Castel Sant'Angelo and no St Peter's.

The Roma Pass: transport with a museum bonus

The Roma Pass is the city's own pass, issued by Zètema for Roma Capitale. The 48-hour version carries one free museum, the 72-hour version two, chosen from more than 45 museums and sites, with everything else reduced. ATAC transport is unlimited for the same period, the Ciampino bus included and Fiumicino excluded. The Vatican Museums are not in the circle, the Colosseum slot must still be booked online, and there is no refund. Only an adult rate exists, and visitors under 18 enter the state museums free anyway.

OMNIA, Explorer Pass and Tourist Card

The OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card puts the Vatican at the centre. Its 24-hour tier covers the Vatican Museums, the open bus, the Lateran, the Carcer Tullianum and a St Peter's audio guide. The 72-hour tier adds the Roma Pass part, two museums and 72 hours of transport, for adults only. That package is collected at an ORP desk from Monday to Saturday, cannot be cancelled, and the open bus stop at the Colosseo is suspended.

The Rome Explorer Pass works by choice: 2 to 7 attractions from 36, within 30 days of the first visit, with one Big Bus day as one of the picks and no transport. The Rome Tourist Card is a fixed package with the Colosseum, either the Sistine Chapel or the Pantheon, and an audio app at set time slots.

When no pass is worth it

If the Colosseum is your only goal, the single timed ticket is the shorter route. Entry is timed for everyone, tickets are named, visitors under 18 go free and EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay a reduced rate. The Vatican Museums sell their own online slot with a booking fee and open free on the last Sunday of the month.