We will tell you
- Why there are so many different tickets for sights in Rome and how you can keep them organized.
- What the regular admission prices for Rome attractions and museums are and where to get these tickets.
- How you can still secure tickets for sightseeing in Rome, even if the official ticket offices are sold out.
- What to pay attention to when buying tickets to make sure your visit goes smoothly.
Tickets for Sights in Rome: What You Need to Know
It sounds simple enough: You pick the sights in Rome you want to visit, buy your ticket on site or online, and enjoy the experience.
But in reality…
Why it’s tricky
Visiting Rome’s attractions is a bit more complicated than in other cities. Many popular sights are so busy that you might face long lines for tickets.
That wouldn’t be a problem — you could just buy tickets online.
But Rome has a few quirks you need to know.
Official websites do sell tickets online, but they’re often sold out weeks in advance.
Many attractions reserve large ticket blocks for third-party providers, which is where these services come in.
If the official tickets are sold out but you don’t want to spend hours in line, you’ll need to turn to these providers.
They sell tickets through online platforms like GetYourGuide or Tiqets, usually at a higher price than the official tickets.
If you want tickets at short notice or are visiting during peak season, you may have to accept the higher cost.
It can be frustrating because the market is confusing and not very transparent.
That’s why we wrote this guide. We’ll show you where to find the best prices—links to official ticket stores and the top deals if the tickets are sold out—so your Rome city trip goes smoothly.
Tickets for the Colosseum
The Colosseum is the most complex attraction, with a wide range of ticket options.
Note: Below are two tables showing all ticket types. Don’t worry, we’ll explain exactly what to do next.
Official prices for the Colosseum and tickets
| What's Included? | Official Ticket Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Ticket Access to the spectator stands of the Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill (valid for 24 hours) | €18 | Get Ticket |
| Arena Ticket Everything from the Standard Ticket + access to the Arena floor + admission to the SUPER-Sites* (valid for 48 hours) | €24 | Get Ticket |
| Underground Ticket Everything from the Arena Ticket + access to the underground area of the Colosseum (48 hours) | €24 | Get Ticket |
| Upper Tier Ticket Everything from the Standard Ticket + access to the upper levels of the spectator stands + admission to the SUPER-Sites* (valid for 48 hours) | €24 | Get Ticket |
| Arena Only Ticket Access to the Arena floor, but not to the spectator stands of the Colosseum + Roman Forum + Palatine Hill + admission to the SUPER-Sites* (valid for 24 hours) | €18 | Get Ticket |
| Reduced Admission All EU citizens aged 18 to 25 get reduced admission for the tickets listed above. | €2 | |
| Free Admission For everyone under 18 years old for the tickets listed above. | Free | |
| *The SUPER-Sites are 5 special locations all within the Roman Forum: the Church of Santa Maria Antiqua, parts of the Domus Tiberiana palace, Palatine Museum, Aula Isiaca and Loggia Mattei, House of Augustus | ||
Prices and tickets for the Colosseum from third-party providers
| What? | Ticket Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Ticket | from €25 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
| Ticket at Tiqets | ||
| Arena Ticket | from €37 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
| Guided Tours | from €50 | English-speaking tours at Getyourguide |
How to buy Colosseum tickets
For your Rome city trip, start by checking the official website to see if tickets are available. Outside peak season, availability is usually good.
If official tickets are sold out, you’ll need to go through third-party providers.
With many providers selling Colosseum tickets, prices and offers vary widely.
We’ve linked the best options in the table. We’ve booked tickets from all these providers ourselves and recommend them confidently.
For detailed info on different areas and ticket types, see our full article on tickets for the Colosseum.
Ticket recommendation from our Italy expert Rebecca
Book the guided tour in English. Why?
With this Colosseum ticket, you get access to the entire archaeological park, including the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill.
In the Forum and on Palatine Hill, it’s easy to just stare at ancient ruins without much context.
A guide will explain exactly what you’re seeing.
You also save time: the tour lasts about 3 hours, whereas exploring alone could take a whole day.
Tickets for the Vatican Museums
You don’t pay to enter Vatican City itself—you can just walk across the border.
But if you want to see anything inside, like the Sistine Chapel, you’ll need a ticket for the Vatican Museums.
Official prices for the Vatican Museums and tickets
| What's Included? | Official Admission Price |
|---|---|
| Online Tickets without Waiting in Line | Book at the Official Ticket Shop |
| Regular Price | €25 |
| Reduced (ages 7 to 18) | €13 |
| Children (up to 6 years old) | Free |
| Tickets on Site | |
| Regular Price | €20 |
| Reduced (ages 7 to 18) | €8 |
| Children (up to 6 years old) | Free |
Prices and tickets for the Vatican Museums from third-party providers
| What? | Ticket Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Skip-the-Line Ticket | €32 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
| Guided Tours | from €95 | Offers at Getyourguide |
| from €89 | Offers at Tiqets | |
| Private Tours | from €290 | Offers at Getyourguide |
Buying Vatican tickets: the best way to proceed
We suggest starting with the official ticket store to check availability for your travel dates. It’s the cheapest option, but the site can be confusing and tickets often sell out fast.
Tickets for the Vatican Museums are frequently sold out weeks in advance through third-party providers. Depending on demand, prices can be up to four times higher than the official rates.
You can still get tickets on site, but waiting times of more than 2 hours are common. Buying in advance online is the best way to save time and secure your visit.
Ticket recommendation from our Italy expert Rebecca
During peak season, book your Vatican Museums tickets on the official website at least two weeks ahead.
Consider adding an audio guide for 7 euros. The museums are packed with treasures, and the info panels aren’t very detailed. Audio guides can be reserved when you purchase your tickets.
Tickets for St. Peter's Basilica
Official prices for St. Peter’s Basilica and tickets
| What? | Official Admission Price |
|---|---|
| St. Peter's Basilica Admission | Free |
| Vatican Grottoes | Free |
| Dome with Stairs and partial Elevator | €22 |
| Dome via Stairs | €17 |
| Treasury | €17 |
Prices and tickets for St. Peter’s Basilica from third-party providers
| What? | Ticket Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Skip-the-Line Ticket | Not available, even if other sites claim otherwise | |
| Dome Ticket | €30 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
| Guided Tours | from €50 | Offers at Getyourguide |
Buying St. Peter’s Basilica tickets: the best way to proceed
Visiting St. Peter’s Basilica is free in general. Tickets are only required for the dome and treasury.
Queues are long, and waiting times can reach around 2 hours depending on the season.
We recommend arriving early in the morning, when most tourists are still at breakfast in their hotel in Rome.
Recommendation from our Italy expert Rebecca
Booking a ticket for the dome or a guided tour allows you to skip the long line. This is the quickest way to get inside.
Tickets for Castel Sant'Angelo
Prices and tickets
| What? | Official Admission Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Tickets on Site | ||
| Regular Price | €16 | |
| EU Citizens 18 to 25 | €2 | |
| Under 18 | Free | |
| Online Skip-the-Line Tickets | ||
| Official Website | Regular Price + €5 | Official Ticket Shop |
| Third-Party Provider | €28 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
Here’s the best way to do it
Finally, a Rome attraction with only one ticket type.
We recommend booking online. The queues are shorter than the top highlights but still exist.
The official website usually has good availability even at short notice. Alternatively, you can purchase tickets from GetYourGuide at a slightly higher price.
Tickets for the Pantheon
Prices and tickets
| What? | Official Admission Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Price | €5 | Official Ticket Shop |
| EU Citizens 18 to 25 | €2 | |
| Under 18 | Free | |
| Ticket from Third-Party Providers | €5 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
Here’s the best way to do it
There is also only one ticket type for the Pantheon. Buying on site is possible, but peak times are very busy.
We recommend purchasing from the official ticket store for 5 euros, with your ticket sent directly by email. This lets you skip the line.
Third-party providers offer tickets at much higher prices, often three times the regular rate. If you choose one, make sure you know where to collect your ticket, as some locations are far from the Pantheon. In our table, we linked an option where you can pick up your ticket right next to the Pantheon.
Tickets for the Galleria Borghese
Prices and tickets
| What? | Official Admission Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Price | €15 | Official Ticket Shop |
| EU Citizens 18 to 25 | €4 | |
| Under 18 | €2 | |
| Ticket from Third-Party Providers | from €29 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
| Ticket with Guided Tour | from €50 | Ticket at Getyourguide |
Here’s the best way to do it
Ticket availability at the Galleria Borghese depends heavily on the season. Only 180 people are allowed inside at a time.
If official tickets are sold out, third-party providers are an option. You’ll receive a voucher, which you can exchange for a regular ticket directly at the museum. The provider’s staff is located right in front of the Galleria Borghese, so collecting your ticket is quick and easy.
Tickets for the Capitoline Museums
Prices and tickets
| What? | Official Admission Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Price | €19.50 | Official Ticket Shop |
| Ages 6 to 25 | €16 | |
| Under 6 | Free | |
| Ticket from Third-Party Providers | €22 | Ticket at Tiqets |
Here’s the best way to do it
Along with the Galleria Borghese, the Capitoline Museums are among the most popular museums in Rome. It’s therefore worth buying tickets in advance to avoid long lines.
For the Capitoline Museums, we don’t recommend using the official ticket store.
The official site is partly in English, and some steps in the booking process are only in Italian. You also need to register before buying, which makes it unnecessarily complicated.
On Tiqets, the ticket for the Capitoline Museums costs about 3.50 euros more, but it’s a good investment. You get the ticket immediately by email and can enter the museum directly.
Is a Citypass for Rome Worth it?
If you’ve looked into tickets for sightseeing in Rome, you’ve probably noticed the many offers for city passes.
A Citypass gives you access to multiple attractions without having to buy tickets individually.
While city passes can save money in some cities, there’s hardly any financial advantage in Rome.
Handling a Citypass in Rome is also more complicated than elsewhere. For many attractions, you still need to reserve your visit or pick up tickets in advance, even with a pass.
We therefore only recommend a Citypass for Rome in specific cases. For more details, see our full city pass comparison for Rome.
FAQ About Tickets for Rome Attractions
Can I buy tickets for the sights in Rome on site?
Yes, you can buy tickets for all the sights presented here on site at any time. You will then get them at the official prices.
The big disadvantage is that there are often very long queues at the ticket counters for the popular attractions. It is not uncommon for you to queue for 2 to 3 hours in high season, e.g. at the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums.
We therefore recommend that you book your tickets online in advance.
Can I also buy tickets online at short notice?
That depends. If you want to buy tickets at the official price in the official ticket stores, you should book as early as possible. However, it’s also worth at least having a look at short notice, as sometimes there are still some remaining contingents.
Otherwise, you always have the option of buying your tickets from third-party providers. You can usually still get tickets to the most popular attractions at very short notice, albeit for significantly higher prices.
In the absolute high season, e.g. in April or for a trip in October, you may not be able to get tickets for the Colosseum or the Vatican Museums at short notice, even from third-party providers. We therefore recommend that you don’t wait until the very last day.
What happens if I do not pay attention to the time specified on my ticket?
For most attractions, you book your ticket for a fixed time.
We strongly advise you to stick to this time. If you don’t, you will probably be turned away at the entrance. The booking confirmations always state exactly when you should arrive at the attraction.
Do I need a pass to visit the sights?
Most tickets are personal, i.e. your name is printed on the ticket. This is also checked at some sights, which is why you should always have your ID with you.
If you have bought discounted tickets, you should also always have your ID with you.
Where can I get discounted tickets?
EU citizens aged 18 to 25 only pay a very low entrance fee for many sights in Rome and sometimes even nothing at all. These discounted tickets are only available on the official websites or directly on site. Third-party providers almost always only offer tickets at full price.