All Rome Tourist Passes Compared: Which One Should You Buy?
Rome's two biggest sights are cheap on their own: the Colosseum is €18 and the Vatican €20-25. That makes most passes a convenience, not a saving. Here's when each one makes sense.
Types of tourist pass
Metro-and-ruins card
Ride Rome's metro, buses and trams for 48 or 72 hours; the first one or two sites you enter (Colosseum, Borghese) are free.
In Rome: Roma Pass
Vatican-plus-Rome card
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel plus the Roma Pass side: free sites and Rome transport for 72 hours.
In Rome: OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card
Booked-for-you Rome pass
Choose 2 to 7 from 30+ Rome sights and tours; Go City helps book the timed Colosseum and Vatican entries.
In Rome: Rome Go City Explorer Pass
Which pass for your trip?
Roma Pass
- Forum, Colosseum and Borghese over 2-3 days, riding the metro. Free first entries plus the metro and buses for €38-62.90.
OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card
- Sistine Chapel and Colosseum, one card in your pocket. Vatican, Roma Pass sites and transport together for €149.
Rome Go City Explorer Pass
- A week in Trastevere with tours booked for you. Reserved Vatican entry and help with timed slots.
No pass needed
- Sistine Chapel and Colosseum, spending as little as possible. A €25 online Vatican ticket plus a 72-hour Roma Pass: about €88.
- Trevi, Pantheon square, Piazza Navona and St Peter's. Those cost nothing to see; St Peter's charges only for the dome.
The passes compared
Roma Pass
- Attractions
- 45+ Roman sites
- Price
- €38 (48h)
- Time to use
- 48 or 72 hours
- Best for
- Ancient Rome by metro, Vatican bought separately
- Lowest price of the three
- Colosseum slot without a separate ticket
- Vatican City is outside it
- Airport trains not covered
OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card
- Attractions
- Vatican + Roma Pass sites
- Price
- €149
- Time to use
- 72 hours
- Best for
- Sistine Chapel and the Forum on one card
- Vatican and Colosseum on one card
- Metro and buses included
- A €25 Vatican ticket plus a €62.90 Roma Pass is about €88
Rome Go City Explorer Pass
- Attractions
- Pick 2-7 of 30+
- Price
- From €89
- Time to use
- 30 days
- Best for
- A slow Rome week with guided extras
- Reserved Vatican entry and Colosseum audio tour
- No metro or bus rides
- €38-43 buys the big two directly
Which big sights are on which pass?
| Sight | Roma Pass | OMNIA | Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colosseum | Included, book a slot | Not confirmed | Included |
| Vatican Museums | Not included | Included, book a slot | Included, book a slot |
| Galleria Borghese | Included, book a slot | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| St Peter's Basilica | Not included | Included | Not confirmed |
| Public transport | Included | Included | Not included |
Worth knowing before you buy
Rome's big two are cheap
The Colosseum is €18 and the Vatican €20-25. Passes save little on these; their value is transport and convenience.
OMNIA vs buying the parts
A Vatican ticket plus a 72-hour Roma Pass is about €88. OMNIA is €149.
Book the Colosseum and Vatican
Both need a reservation even with a pass, and slots sell out.
St Peter's is free
Only the dome climb costs money (€10-15 at the door).
Many top sights are free
The Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona cost nothing.
Whichever pass you pick, queues at the Colosseum and Vatican eat into your day. Check how busy each attraction is right now on beatthecrowd.co, and go where it's quiet first.
Check live crowds in Rome →How pass companies make money
Roma Pass, OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card and Rome Go City Explorer Pass all make money the same way. Knowing how helps you get your money's worth in Rome.
Sellers buy entry to places like Colosseum at a discount and resell it as a bundle.
Every Rome pass day or slot left unused is profit for the seller.
Bigger versions of Roma Pass look cheaper per attraction than they really are.
Other ways to save
- Rome City Pass (GetYourGuide)
A bundle of the Colosseum, Vatican and transport sold on GetYourGuide. Check exactly what the version you buy includes.
FAQs
Which Rome pass is best?
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Without the Vatican, the Roma Pass. With the Vatican, the cheapest way is a Vatican ticket plus a Roma Pass; OMNIA puts it on one card for more.
Which Rome pass includes the Vatican?
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The OMNIA Card and the Rome Explorer Pass. The Roma Pass doesn't.
Do I still need to book the Colosseum?
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Yes, a reservation is required even with a pass.
Is a Rome pass worth it?
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Mostly for transport and convenience: the Colosseum (€18) and Vatican (€20-25) are cheap on their own.