Tourist Office
We always recommend stopping by a tourist office as soon as possible. Rome's main tourist office is located off Piazza della Repubblica at Via Parigi 5, behind the Baths of Diocletian. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. Another tourist office is located inside Fiumicino Airport, in the International Arrivals terminal. It is open daily from 8:15 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. There is also a small tourist office located in Roma Termini, the main train station. It is open daily from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. Information kiosks are located throughout Rome and are tucked in around popular piazzas. Expect these information kiosks to be open daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Always be sure to ask the staff at your hotel for information and tips about things to see and do in Rome.
Museum Prices and Passes
Admission prices to popular museums and sites in Rome:
The Colosseum: €9. (adults); €4.50 (adult EU citizens); free (EU citizens over 65 and under 18); Add €2 to any ticket cost to include entrance to the Palatino
The Roman Forum: about €10 (see Museum passes below).
Borghese Museum & Gallery: €13.50 (adults); €10.25 (adult EU citizens); free (EU citizens over 65 and under 18); Note: reservations are mandatory and a €2 for each reservation, including those who qualify for free admission
Vatican Museums: €18 (adults); €12 (students under 26 and those under 14); free (children under 6 and on the last Sunday of each month)
Capitoline Museum: €6.50 (adults); €4.50 (EU citizens between 18 and 25); free (EU citizens under 18 and over 65)
Museum passes (special tickets allowing for discounted or free admission to many museums) are not as well organized in Rome as they are in other cities. Be sure to check in with a tourist office to see if there are any new deals. Be sure to study which museums are included before making a purchase. For example, the Archaeologia Card provides admission to the Colosseum, Palatinum and Palatinum Museum, National Roman Museum, Terme Di Caracalla, Cecilia Metella, and Villa dei Quintili. It costs €27.50 for adults. For EU citizens between 18 and 25 years of age, the Archaeologia Card costs just €17.50. The Archaeologia Card is a great deal for history-crazed visitors to Rome. There may be a surcharge of €2 during exhibitions. A two-day ticket for the Roman Forum (€11 and €6.50 reduced)also includes admission to the Colosseum and the Palatine. Tickets can be purchased at the Arco di Tito, at the entrance to the Forum.
Free Sights
Many of the main tourist sights in Rome are right out in the open and completely free of charge. Pharaoh's 3200-year-old Obelisk, and the Spanish Steps are both free to check out. Rome's architecture can keep frugal tourists busy for weeks.
When in Rome, don't underestimate the ancient art of walking! Cicero and Ovid wrote of the philosophical and romantic significance of walking. Pick a neighborhood and set off for an afternoon of strolling. You won't be sorry.
Visiting the Vatican's St. Peter's Basilica is free of charge. The Pilgrim Tourist Information Center, located on St. Peter's Basilica between the rounded colonnade and the basilica, offers multi-lingual help and free brochures.
Senior Discounts
Senior travelers will find some discounts in Rome, but not as many as in other cities and countries. For the most part, seniors must be EU citizens in order to receive discounts. Members of the AARP get discounts on hotels, airfares and car rentals. They can be reached in the United States at 1-800-424-3410 and via the AARP website.
Student Discounts
The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is the most widely accepted form of student ID and provides discounts on sights, accommodations, food and transportation. Many museums in Italy offer admission discounts of 20-50% to ISIC members. Applicants must be working toward a degree at a secondary or post-secondary school and must be at least 12 years of age. The card costs US$22 and is valid until the end of the year issued. All cardholders have access to a 24-hour emergency helpline. In the United States call 1-800-223-7986 or click onto the ISIC site.
For non-students 25 years and younger, the International Youth Travel Card, IYTC, also offers many of the same benefits as the ISIC. The card costs US$22 and is valid for one year from the date of issue.
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