Is the Roma Pass Worth It? An Honest Verdict and How to Get the Most Out of It
Is it worth it?
- Worth itYes if you'll ride the metro and buses and use the free entries on pricey sights, like the Colosseum and Galleria Borghese.
- Skip itNo for the Vatican. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel aren't included.
- Skip itNo if you'll walk everywhere. Much of the value is in the transport.
- €38 (48h) / €62.90 (72h)
- Public transport
- 1-2 free entries
What is The Roma Pass?
The Roma Pass is Rome's official city card. The 48-hour card gives one free entry and the 72-hour card two, plus unlimited metro, buses and trams and discounts at the other sites on its circuit.
In Rome the big win is the Colosseum (€18) as a free entry, plus three days of metro and buses across a city that's tiring on foot.
Rome's sights are cheap, so the saving comes mainly from transport and using free entries on the priciest sites.
- Price
- €38 / €62.90
- Free entries
- 1 (48h) or 2 (72h)
- Transport
- Metro, buses, trams
- Vatican
- Not included
How to get the most value out of The Roma Pass
You get only one or two free entries, so the order you visit in decides how much the pass is worth.
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Turn up at the Colosseum without booking | The Colosseum needs a reservation even with the Roma Pass. Book your slot before you go. |
| Use the free entry on a cheap museum | Free entries go to the first sites you visit. Visit the Colosseum (€18) or Galleria Borghese first. |
| Expect it to cover the airport train | Transport covers metro, buses and trams in the city, not the airport trains. |
| Visit a small museum first | Your first one or two sites are free. Make the first the Colosseum or Galleria Borghese. |
| Walk from the Colosseum to the Vatican | It's over an hour on foot. Take the metro (Line B to Termini, then Line A to Ottaviano). |
| Head to the Colosseum without checking how busy it is | Check the Colosseum's live crowd level on beatthecrowd.co first. If it's busy, do another Rome sight on your pass and come back later. |
Before you set off for the Colosseum, check how busy it is right now on beatthecrowd.co. An hour in a queue is an hour of your pass gone.
Check live crowds in Rome →Who The Roma Pass is for
Good fit
- 2-3 day visitors using the metro and buses
- Your list starts with the Colosseum or Galleria Borghese
- You'll visit more sites at a discount
Skip it if
- The Vatican is your main sight
- You'll walk everywhere
- You only want one museum
- €38 (48h) / €62.90 (72h)
- Public transport
- 1-2 free entries
What the pass covers
The card covers 45+ museums and sites: free entry at the first one (48h) or two (72h), then discounts at the rest, plus public transport.
- Use the free entries on the priciest sights first, like the Colosseum (€18) and Galleria Borghese.
- The Vatican isn't part of the Roma Pass. It's a separate state.
The big sights
- Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine HillBook a slot€18 on its own; reservation required.
- Galleria BorgheseBook a slotReservation required.
- Capitoline MuseumsIncluded
- Castel Sant'AngeloIncludedOn the circuit with no booking needed: Roma Pass holders get a dedicated line.
- Vatican Museums and Sistine ChapelNot included€20-25 separately.
- St Peter's BasilicaNot includedFree to enter anyway.
- €38 (48h) / €62.90 (72h)
- Public transport
- 1-2 free entries
Pass vs individual tickets
The 72-hour card is €62.90. The Colosseum (€18) and a second big site, plus three days of metro and bus rides, usually come close; the discounts on other sites tip it over.
What the big Rome sights cost on their own
| Attraction | Adult ticket bought separately |
|---|---|
| Colosseum, Forum & Palatine (24h ticket) | €18 |
| Colosseum Full Experience (underground or attic) | €24 |
| Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel | €20 at the desk, €25 online |
| Roma Pass, 48 hours | €38 (1 free entry + transport) |
| Roma Pass, 72 hours | €62.90 (2 free entries + transport) |
- €38 (48h) / €62.90 (72h)
- Public transport
- 1-2 free entries
Fine print
- Activation
- Starts at first use.
- Validity
- Ends at midnight on the second (48h) or third (72h) day.
- Transport
- Metro, buses and trams. Not airport trains.
- Reservations
- Colosseum and Galleria Borghese need booking.
- Refunds
- No refunds once bought, including for closed sites, strikes or bad weather, and a card left unused for 6 months is lost.
Is it safe? Where people lose money
- Reassuring: The Roma Pass is Rome's official city card, from the city's tourist board.
- Reassuring: Refunds: No refunds once bought, including for closed sites, strikes or bad weather, and a card left unused for 6 months is lost.
- Watch out: The Colosseum and Galleria Borghese need reservations even with the card.
- Watch out: Airport trains aren't covered.
Where people lose money
| Don't | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Buy the 72-hour pass for a 2-day stay | The 48-hour card (€38) gives one free entry; only take 72 hours if you'll use the second free entry. |
| Plan the Vatican into the pass | It isn't included. Budget €20-25 separately. |
| Queue at the Colosseum at peak time | Check beatthecrowd.co for the Colosseum's quiet hours before you go. |
Queuing is the easiest way to lose value in Rome. Check which sights are quiet right now on beatthecrowd.co, starting with the Colosseum.
Check live crowds in Rome →- €38 (48h) / €62.90 (72h)
- Public transport
- 1-2 free entries
Alternatives
Planning your order and avoiding queues is the simplest way to get full value: see how busy Rome’s attractions are right now →
- €38 (48h) / €62.90 (72h)
- Public transport
- 1-2 free entries
FAQs
Is the Roma Pass worth it?
+
Yes if you'll use the free entries on big sights like the Colosseum and ride public transport. If you'll walk everywhere or mainly want the Vatican, it isn't.
How much is the Roma Pass?
+
€38 for 48 hours and €62.90 for 72 hours, per Rome's tourist board.
Does the Roma Pass include the Vatican?
+
No. The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel aren't included.
Do I need to book the Colosseum with a Roma Pass?
+
Yes, a reservation is required.
Does it cover the airport?
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No, transport covers metro, buses and trams in the city.