Rome - so confused!

[LulaLandrysClutchbag]

Bear in mind I'm easily confused! 😂

DH and I going to Rome in late September, never been before - someone said we ought to book all tickets in advance for things we want to do/see. However I've read somewhere that even if you do have pre-booked tickets you still have to expect to queue for 2-3 hours to get in. Is this true??

We're also being befuddled on all the main attraction websites by the varying levels of tickets (ie. the Colosseum, there are 3 different kinds of tickets - we just want to go in and look around, argh!!)

Anyone who has been recently that can advise best ways to book/avoid queues for main things?

Can highly recommend musei vatican early access, reservation pinecone courtyard American breakfast (& coffee/tea); this allows 2 hours early access before general visitors; we targeted which pieces we wished to visit (Sistine chapel and school of Athens;) we were done by 11:30am and ready for Saint Peter’s Basilica.

Also, you can download a request form then scan email or fax to the Prefecture of the Papal Household, Vatican, for free tickets to the Papal General audience.

Palazzo Valentini (multimedia tour) Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini, besides Trajan’s Column. Highly recommend.

If you fancy taking a day trip then can recommend taking the train to Sperlonga (buy tickets at the tobacco store in the station) and the Archaeological Museum, Tiberius Villa & Grotto. Gigantic sculpture of Ulysses (nobody) blinding the cyclops Polyphemus (found originally in the grotto, intended for fire light, water’s reflection, live music, dance & epic story telling.) it’s on the beach too so decent sea food.

We booked the VIP colosseum underground & Ancient Rome small group tour (as this included the upper tiers too.) This allowed us to skip the queue too!

Booked into NH Collection Giustiniano Rome, which allowed us to walk Rome,
general route (take your time, stop for coffees and take lots of photos)
Pantheon
Piazza San Lorenzo in Lucina
Piazza di Pietra (Hadrian’s Temple)
Sant’Ignazio di Loyola
Piazza del Popolo
Galleria Borghese

Just beware of the heat. Currently 38 degrees in Rome....

www.doriapamphilj.it/en/rome/
We loved this exhibition - it's worth it for the headset tour alone - the poshest voice I've ever heard, hilarious!