Rome Tourist Passes Explained – What to Know Before You Buy

Wondering if the Rome Tourist Pass is worth it? Get a complete overview of what’s included, how much it costs, and whether it’s the best choice for your itinerary.

If you plan to travel to Rome you will probably hear the recommendation: “You really need the Roma Pass!” and when you hear that, you nod in agreement and quickly change the subject. The various Rome tourist passes are cards for tourists to use that gives you access to reduced prices for major attractions and unlimited use of public transportation. It is good for different lengths of time, depending on the option that you choose.

Are There Different Types Of Rome Tourist Passes?

There are three popular tourist passes that you should consider when you are planning a trip to Rome. There are different benefits for each card and the intended uses are different, so understanding how you plan to visit Rome will help determine which card is best for you.

It can not be overstated that it is highly recommended to check the hours of operation of these attractions and book your tickets ahead of time, especially if you are traveling during peak season. For the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill and the Borghese Gallery you should, even on weekdays, book at least 10 days in advance.

1. The Omnia Card

There used to only be the Roma Pass, but today there are others to consider and one of them is the Omnia Card. This is a bit more expensive than the Roma Pass but includes much more. There is a 24-hour version (OMNIA 24H) that costs €69, a card valid for 12 months (ONMIA SMART) for €99 and a 72-hour card (OMNIA 72H) that costs €149. These have more of a Vatican City and Roman Catholic church focus with audio guides, bus tours and the ability to skip the line at the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel.

I don’t think these are truly competing cards because they offer different experiences. In fact, the 72-Hour Omnia card includes the Roma Pass, so I think the only question is if you want to see the Vatican City sites in addition to the Roma pass. My initial reaction is that the 24 Hour version of the card might not be worth the cost since it doesn’t include the transportation options that the Roma Pass does. 

2. Go City Pass

The Go City Pass is a different type of pass that you can consider when coming to Rome. In this case, you can choose the number of attractions that you are looking to visit. The tickets range from 2 sites to 7 sites and you can choose which ones are of interest to you.

This seems, to me, to be more appropriate for someone who has either been to Rome before, or is only able to tour the city for a shorter than typical period of time. My choosing the two or three sites you want to pay for, you could use this pass to only pay for the one or two places you missed the first time you visited.

There are also activities that go beyond sightseeing. You can take a cooking class, go on a bike rental tour around the city, experience some of the neighborhoods through a food tour and even head out to the Cinecittà World amusement park (not the studio).

These passes are valid for 30-days, but you will have to book the activities you are interested in doing. The costs range from €99 for an adult seeing 2 attractions (€54 for children) up to €224 for an adult seeing 7 attractions (€139 for children). There are promotions available that can lower the price a little bit.

3. The Roma Pass

The two options available today are:

• The Roma Pass 72 Hours, which costs €62.90. This includes access to two museums or archaeological sites.

• The Roma Pass 48 Hours costs €38. This only includes entrance to one museum or site.

These do not include connections to and from Fiumicino Airport and since the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel are in a different country, they are not included with the Roma Pass.

What Sites Are Included With The Roma Pass?

The list of sites and attractions available is pretty extensive but it does include what you would expect, like the Colosseum, The Forum, The Baths of Caracalla, the Capitoline Museum and the Borghese Gallery. For the complete list you should go to the Roma Pass website for more details.

So, Which Rome Tourist Pass Is Worth It?

The value of whichever pass you choose is entirely dependent on how you plan to travel. Do you prefer self-guided exploring and will you take public transportation? Then the answer is “The Roma Pass”. The entrance tickets to the Colosseum and to the Capitoline Museums alone are worth the price of the card, not to mention the time savings by skipping the line.

If your focus is more religious, then the OMNIA Card would probably be the way to go. The 72H card includes the Roma Pass, so you can get it all at a reasonable price.

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