Rome what to book in advance

[Sunse]

We are going to Rome in October half term. Could people who have been there please tell me what sites/tourist attractions do we need to book in advance?

I would be grateful for any advice reg visiting Rome too.

Thank you

Not quite on message but I really really recommend Ostia - the Roman port city of Rome (just outside Rome - next to the airport). You can get there very very easily on public transport and it is empty. It really gives you a feel of a Roman town. Also an escape from the mad city for half a day

Pre book the Vatican and the coliseum.
We didn't use the bus tours ... just walked EVERYWHERE and found it the best way to see the city.
Will you be there in a Wednesday? For the papal audience? If so I'd recommend it. You can only get tickets from the Swiss guards a day or two before. It was a lovely experience.

Don't eat too close to the main attractions as it's more expensive... we found the wee back street places to be the best.

I'm so jealous. Rome is beautiful at that time of year. Not too hot either. Enjoy x

Re: the Pantheon- it's free to go in but booking your entry is obligatory on most days due to crowds.
cultura.gov.it/luogo/pantheon?page=3#:~:text=Orario%20di%20visita%3A%20tutti%20i,non%20%C3%A8%20necessario%20alcun%20biglietto.
(Scroll down for English info)
You can pay in advance for an audio guide, but you won't get fast track entry or anything so not sure it's worth it. (unless of course you want the audio guide)

As others have said, definitely pre-book the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum through the official websites.

You don't need to book St. Peter's (also free)

If you're thinking of areas to stay, I'd also recommend the area near the Vatican. We were just outside the museum walls and it was perfect. Great cheap restaurants nearby (Trastevere in walking distance etc)

Re: The Pantheon; we had pre-booked the audio guide - it's quite interesting and definitely helps get a better understanding of what you're looking at - but just to get in nobody was stopping anyone to check if they had any kind of booking, they just controlled the queue so let a handful in each time a handful came out, and they were strict at checking that people had something to cover uncovered shoulders.

Once you're inside you then go to a desk inside on the left hand side to pick up the audio guide (they ask for ID and they keep hold of it until you return the ipod). We were about half an hour earlier than our booked time for that but nobody seemed to care.

This was in July, not sure how busy or quiet it was compared to any other time of year.

The Scavi tour, under St Peters is brilliant. As are Segway tours with Italy Segway.

Aah; having looked at the PP's link, they ask for booking on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday. We went on a Wednesday afternoon and walked right in.

I went in January the first time and did t pre book anything!

Give the Vatican museum a miss though. Your feet will thank you.

If taking kids make sure you take ID to prove their ages, eg. Passport. We had to buy an adult ticket for DD12 even though under 18's were cheaper. No ID, then adult price! They do check when you go in

I'd agree with this TBH, after shuffling through a very crowded set of brightly ornate galleries to reach the dingy in comparison Sistine chapel, which I found somewhat underwhelming.

Honestly book everything in advance The colloseum lines were so long

The tour of Nero’s golden palace excavations is well worth it (you can only book).

We went in November and didn't pre book anything 👀

Just thinking this was pre covid though so ignore me

We've just been! Pre booked the Vatican, didn't queue for St Peter's basilica as the line was massive and it was boiling but loved sitting in the square. Booked the colosseum a couple of days before, 17 year old DS was free and didn't need any ID. Had to get him a free ticket when we got there which was a faff. Then we wen to the forum the next day.
everything else we just happened upon as we walked. We walked miles but it was fab. We also had a day trip to Pompeii and Vesuvius- quite a long trip but a great day.

You can get from the Vatican Museum directly into St Peters from a door in the Sistine Chapel - it's what the tour groups do.

You jump the whole queue for St Peters!

While you are in the chapel have a look, if you have your back to the Last Judgement the door is in the far right corner. Just confidently attach yourself to a tour group going through the door, you don't get challenged.

We were advised to do this by our tour guide who took us for early morning Sistine Chapel and it worked brilliantly.

Can I ask which website you booked with? There's seems to be so many.

Book only via the official Vatican website: m.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani-mobile/en.html unless you want to pay someone a nice commission/ mark up

I really recommend the light shows at the forum - they run through the peak tourist season and project the histories onto the buildings in the dark and narrate via earphones. Again use only the official site: www.viaggioneifori.it/en/