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What to book before going to Rome

The Rome base has 15 stops. Booking ahead is required at 2 of them and advised at 5. The rest you can walk up to.

Data checked on October 4, 2026

Book these before you travel

  • Colosseum

    Book ahead

    Entry is by timed ticket. Book online on the official ticket site as soon as your dates open, usually about a month ahead, and earlier in busy months.

    Open 8:30 am–6:30 pm · last entry 5:30 pm

    Open daily from 8:30. Closing is 18:30 until 24 October 2026 and 16:30 from 25 October to the end of February, with last entry one hour before. Closed 25 December and 1 January.

    See the guided visit

    Source: Turismo Roma, checked October 4, 2026

Booking saves you the queue

  • Roman Forum and Palatine Hill

    Booking advised

    Usually sold on a combined ticket with the Colosseum. Book the Colosseum slot first and fit the Forum around it.

    Open 9:00 am–6:30 pm · last entry 5:30 pm

    Open daily from 9:00. Closing is 18:30 until 24 October 2026 and 16:30 from 25 October to the end of February, with last entry one hour before. Closed 25 December and 1 January.

    See the guided visit

    Source: Turismo Roma, checked October 4, 2026

  • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

    Booking advisedClosed Sun

    Booking is not compulsory, but walk-up queues can be very long. Reserve a timed ticket on the official site, or a skip-the-line product, a few days ahead and earlier in high season.

    Open 8:00 am–8:00 pm · last entry 6:00 pm

    Closed on Sundays, except the last Sunday of the month (9:00 to 14:00, free entry, very long queues). Also closed on public holidays such as 1 November and 8 December.

    See tickets

    Source: Musei Vaticani, checked October 4, 2026

  • St Peter's Basilica

    Booking advisedFree

    Entry is free, but the security queue in the square can be long. A paid reserved slot on the official site shortens the wait.

    Open 7:00 am–8:00 pm

    Hours can change for religious celebrations and papal events. The dome has shorter hours in winter and is ticketed separately.

    See the guided visit

    Source: Basilica di San Pietro, checked October 4, 2026

  • Pantheon

    Booking advised

    A ticket is compulsory. Buy it online ahead to avoid the queue at the door.

    Open 9:00 am–7:00 pm · last entry 6:45 pm

    Closed on 1 January, 15 August and 25 December.

    See tickets

    Source: Pantheon, checked October 4, 2026

  • Castel Sant'Angelo

    Booking advisedClosed Mon

    Tickets can be bought online. Booking ahead avoids the ticket queue in busy months.

    Open 9:00 am–7:30 pm · last entry 6:30 pm

    Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 19:30, with last entry at 18:30. Closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January. Some Mondays have a special afternoon opening.

    See tickets

    Source: Turismo Roma, checked October 4, 2026

No booking needed

Turn up when it suits the day.

  • Trevi FountainFree
  • Piazza NavonaFree
  • Capitoline Museums
  • Spanish StepsFree
  • TrastevereFree
  • Janiculum HillFree
  • Villa BorgheseFree
  • Campo de' FioriFree

Other ways to plan Rome