Discount Passes, Cards, & Tickets in Rome

In a previous post we discussed the most popular “discount” card for sightseeing in Rome, the Roma Pass. Let’s look at what other options are available to you. Perhaps the greatest advantage of buying a “pass” is to save some money. Yet you can also use these passes to skip some of the longer lines and save you some time!

Roma Pass

As discussed in our previous posting, the Roma Pass, includes free transportation for three days and free admission for two museums or sites. After the first two visits to sites, the Roma Pass provides discounts of varying degrees at the other participating museums and sites, exhibitions, and events. See the previous post for more details and information.

Archeologia Card – Archeology Card

One of the most popular cars is the Archeologia Card, or archeology card. If you’re planning an extensive visit to Ancient Rome, then this is the card for you! It is good for seven consecutive days from the first usage. Like the Roma Pass, it includes admission to the Colosseo, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill… But then it gives you more FREE sites. Using the Archeologia Card, you also get FREE admission to the Roman National Museum sites (4), the Baths of Caracalla, the Villa of the Quintili, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella on the ancient Appian Way.

You can purchase an Archeologia Card at the entrance to all of these sites except the last two. You can also pick one up at the Rome Visitor Center (APT) at Via Parigi, 5. (The sign over the visitor center will read: AZIENDA DI PROMOZIONE TURISTICA DI ROM. Via Parigi is located about 2 blocks northwest of Piazza Republica and is a one-way side street just to the left of the Museo Nazionale Romano building with “Planetario” carved in stone over the door ).

Like the Roma Pass, you can only use this pass ONE TIME at each site. Unlike the Roma Pass, the Archeologia Card does NOT include a transportation option.

• Current prices for the Archeologia Card are:
  €27.50 – Regular Price
  €17.50 – EU citizens between 18 and 25, and for EU teachers

The card allows the entrance to the following sights:
Colosseum
Piazza del Colosseo
Closed 25 December, 1 January

Palatino and Palatino Museum – then enter the Forum
Piazza Santa Maria Nova 53 and Via di San Gregorio 30
Closed 25 December, 1 January

National Roman Museums
Palazzo Altemps – Palazzo Massimo – Crypta Balbi – Terme di Diocleziano
Viale Enrico De Nicola, 78
Closed on Mondays & 25 December, 1 January

Baths of Caracalla
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 52
Reduced hours on Mondays – Closed 25 December, 1 January

Cecilia Metella
Via Appia Antica 161
Closed on Mondays & 25 December, 1 January

Villa Dei Quintili
Via Appia Nuova 1092
Closed on Mondays & 25 December, 1 January

Appia Antica Card

The Appia Antica Card, or ancient Appian Way Card, is also good for seven consecutive days. It is good at three sites along the Appian Way. You get one admission the Baths of Caracalla, the Villa of the Quintili, and the Tomb of Cecilia Metella.

• Current prices for the Appia Antica Card are:
  €7.50 – Regular Price
  €4.50 – EU citizens between 18 and 25, and for EU teachers

A great website is the Appian Way Park – Click here! This card also has NO transportation functions, just admission to these sites:

Terme di Caracalla (Baths of Caracalla)
Via delle Terme di Caracalla 52
Reduced hours on Mondays – Closed 25 December, 1 January

Cecilia Metella
Via Appia Antica 161
Closed on Mondays & 25 December, 1 January

Villa Dei Quintili
Via Appia Nuova 1092
Closed on Mondays & 25 December, 1 January

Biglietto 4 Musei – Four Museum Combination Ticket

The Biglietto 4 Musei Ticket, like the Appia Antica Card above, is a “smaller” version of the Archeologia Card. Here you get FREE admission to the four museums/sites that make up the National Museum of Rome. These four sites are closed on Mondays so schedule accordingly. This pass is ONLY good for three consecutive days and can be purchased at any of the four sites. It is also good for one admission to each site.

For an overview, click here: National Museums of Rome

• Current prices for the Biglietto 4 Musei Ticket are:
  €6.50 – Regular Price
  €4.00 – EU citizens between 18 and 25, and for EU teachers

Palazzo Altemps
Piazza Sant’ Apollinare 48
Closed 25 December, 1 January

Palazzo Massimo
Largo di Villa Peretti 1
Closed 25 December, 1 January

Terme di Diocleziano
Via E. De Nicola 78
Closed 25 December, 1 January

Cripta Balbi
Via delle Botteghe Oscure 31
Closed 25 December, 1 January

Capitolini Card

The Capitoline Museums house many of the most famous of Rome’s treasures. It is one of the oldest museums in Europe, being conceived in 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV donated a group of bronze statues value to the People of Rome. It is a beautiful set of museums and well worth the price of admission. The costs for the Capitolini Card seem to change often as there are always “Special Exhibitions” which are added to the price of the entry. Whatever you pay, it’s well worth it. On a rainy day, it’s certainly the place to go. Closed on Mondays, so do plan ahead. The card is good for seven consecutive days and allows entrance to the two Museum sites.

• Current prices for the Capitolini Card are:
  €9.00 – Regular Price
  €7.50 – EU citizens between 18 and 25, and for EU teachers
  €1.50 – EU citizens under 18 and over 65

For the website of the Capitoline Museums, Click Here!

Musei Capitolini
Piazza del Campidoglio 1
Closed Mondays – 25 December, 1 January, 1 May

Centrale Montemartini
Via Ostiense 106
Closed Mondays – 25 December, 1 January, 1 May

Colosseo, Palatine Hill, and Forum Ticket

When you purchase your ticket for the Colosseo, Palatine Hill, or Forum, buy the “combo” ticket. This will allow you one admission to each of the three sites over a two day period. More importantly, you can buy your tickets at either the Forum Entrance – on Via dei Fiori Imperiali… or the Palatine Hill Entrance at Via di San Gregorio,30. The lines at either of these entrances are MUCH shorter than the lines at the Colosseo ticket counter.

Usually, the Palatine Hill ticket office, at Via di San Gregorio, 30 has the smallest line as it’s off the beaten path a little. To get to the Palatine entrance you can take the B Line Metro to the Colosseo stop. Walk past the Colosseo SOUTH and the Palatine entrance will be about 350 yards on your right. Or, to avoid the crowds, take the B Line Metro one more stop to Circo Massimo, get off there and walk NORTH towards the Colosseo. The Palatine Hill entrance will be on your left. The following buses stop on same side of the road as the Palatine entrance: 175, 271, 75, 81, 87, and C3. These are primarily coming FROM the direction of the Colosseo first. Going the other way, TOWARDS the Colosseo from Circo Massimo, thus Palatine would be across the street on your left, the buses are currently 175, 271, 673, 75, 81, 85, 87, and C3.

Your ticket will be good at all three entrances for two days, but only for one admission at each. So if you enter through the Palatine Hill on Monday, you will not be able to come through this gate on Tuesday… but you can still go to the Colosseo or Forum on Tuesday!

The great thing about buying your tickets at the remote locations is you can GO DIRECTLY to the turnstiles once you have a ticket. At ANY entrance, this will save you time. The Palatine Hill “turnstile” is to the FAR RIGHT as you walk into the Palatine Hill entrance. The Forum entrance is straight in… but perhaps move to your right to go around the folks waiting in line to buy tickets.

The Colosseo is a little more difficult. In June 2009, they removed the X-Ray machines at the entrance so this DOES expedite the process! Now you can just WALK IN… Once through the entry way… move to the LEFT! If there’s a LINE to the right DO NOT get in it. These folks are waiting for tickets. Get your “Combo” ticket out and hold it in your hand. STAY FAR LEFT and keep walking until you reach a series of line dividers… There will be three – You want to go right down the CENTER Aisle. This center aisle is reserved for folks like you who already have your ticket. Usually, there’s a Colosseo employee standing at the start of the dividers and you have to show him you have a ticket… which is why you have it in your hand BEFORE you get there! Once in the Center Aisle (The left aisle is for Groups and the right is for folks waiting in line for tickets), then go STRAIGHT to the turnstiles… put your ticket in, ENTER, and you’re past ALL the lines!

Undoubtedly, having a pre-bought Roma Pass, Combo ticket, or an Archeologia Card is the best way to get into the Colosseo without having to deal with the lines!

For more information on the Forum Area and history of Rome, Click Here!

• Current prices for the Combo Ticket are:
  €9.00 + €3 fee for any ongoing exhibition – Regular Price
  €4.50 + €3 fee for any ongoing exhibition – EU citizens between 18 and 25, and for EU teachers

Transportation Passes

There are various forms of Transportation passes available – good for unlimited rides on buses and the metro within Rome, are available for one-day, three-days, seven days, and one month. We’ve discussed this in detail in a previous post… Click Here to get more information on how you can save money with these passes.

All prices and schedules are current as of April 15, 2011.

These travel guides can offer you support befire and after you get your discounts! A good guidebook can be an incredible resource in your planning and preparation. And once in Italy, it can help you know what your looking at! Click now on any of these popular guidebook images. For USA guests, see more guidebooks and travel accessories at our Travel Store, or look in amazon.com.   Non-USA Guests can search for guidebooks at amazon.co.uk

Let Me Coach You, if you’re looking for travel assistance or some help creating an iitinerary! If you want to build your own vacation, please feel free use the information in the articles of the Ron-in-Rome website to help plan your next trip. If you need consulting, head to the Coaching page; For a list of all articles on this website, head to the Postings page. Or use the SEARCH Box, on the top right of each page!

---