Italy

Practical Rome Tips: how to skip the lines and get the cheapest tickets

I have been to Rome so often I know exactly how to plan my trip. I don’t visit the must-sees each time I come heren, but some sights are still worth a visit a second, third or fourth time. I have some excellent pro tips for visiting these must-sees. Let me share my tips for Rome for skipping rows, avoiding the crowds and exploring the most beautiful places!

# 1 Many museums are closed on Mondays.

So make sure you check whether a museum is actually open if you plan your visit on a Monday. The Vatican museums are unlike other museums usually open on Mondays.

# 2 Buy your tickets for the Vatican museums online.

Tickets can easily be purchased online via the online ticket office of the Vatican. You do not have to stand in line for hours for your ticket.

Please note: it can be difficult to find exactly where you can buy tickets on the offical site of the Vatican, as it’s a bit hard to navigate. Do not fall into the trap of many tour companies that offer online tickets for a much higher price and also look official. This is the site where you need to be.

# 3 Admission to the Vatican Museums is free on the last Sunday of the month.

If your budget does not allow a ticket, then this is your moment. But do you want to avoid the crowds? Avoid this day for sure, as it will get extremely busy. Go to the museum the day before or after.

# 4 Use the group exit of the Vatican Museum to get directly to the St. Peter’s Basilica.

Shht, don’t tell anyone! This is one of my secret tips for Rome. If you take the group exit at the Sistine Chapel, you will arrive at the famous church within a blink. That saves you many hours of waiting in line for the church.

# 5 Take a closer look at the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica and climb the tower.

To the right of the basilica, you can buy tickets and find the stairs to climb the roof of St Peter’s. Your first stop? The famous dome of Bernini!

# 6 Buy your combination ticket for the Forum Romanum and Colosseum at the Forum.

At the Colosseum, there are often extremely long lines. But you can actually get your combo ticket at the two entrances to the Forum within ten minutes as well.

# 7 The combination ticket is valid for two days.

So you can choose not to visit the Forum and the Colosseum on the same day.

# 8 Book your tickets for the Galleria Borghese well in advance.

Do you want to visit the beautiful artworks of Rafael, Michelangelo and Bernini of this beautiful museum? Make sure you buy your tickets online for your desired time slot well in advance. It is hardly ever possible to get some tickets on the day itself.

# 9 Go to the Trevi Fountain earlier than early in the morning.

The famous fountain attracts many, many tourists. Everyone wants to throw a coin in the fountain. Everyone wants to be in the picture with the fountain. Do you want to have the fountain to yourself? Then go super early in the morning to this famous tourist attraction.

# 10 Study the metro map before you buy a day ticket. Then don’t.

With the large distances you will have to walk around Rome, a day ticket with the metro seems perfect. Unfortunately, the metro does not run past the well-known highlights in the historical center. There are metro stations at the Spanish Steps, the Colosseum and close to St. Peter’s.

What are your best tips for Rome? Let us know at hello@theorangebackpack.nl and we’ll make sure to update this post!