Is the Rome Pass worth it?

By Go City Expert

If you’re lucky enough to be holidaying in Rome this year then you’ll be planning some serious sightseeing. You’ve packed your camera, got your comfy shoes ready, but you’re missing that extra something to really make everything that bit easier... What will tick that final box on your trip to Rome? An OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass of course! The Rome Pass is a no-brainer when you’re visiting the Eternal City. But is it worth it? It’s the key into all of the top historic attractions, museums and landmarks that you cannot miss when you’re in town, so read on to see how you can take your Rome vacation to the next level with the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass. The Rome Pass package includes:

1. Free entry into the Vatican City sights, including Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel and St John in the Lateran; as well as a free audio guide at St Peter’s Basilica

2. Fast Track Entry at Vatican City sights meaning you won’t have to wait in line (which can be particularly long during the popular summer months)

3. Free entry into 2 more attractions, including the Coliseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill, Capitoline Museums and many more...

4. Free 3-day bus tour ticket to hop on and off at your leisure and take in the sights from the comfort of your own seat (plus commentary!)

5. Discounted entry to all the other museum in Rome with the Roma Pass

6. Free travel around Rome for three days with the Roma Pass to get between your attractions with ease

The beauty of the OMNIA Vatican & Rome Pass is that once you’ve got it, you can forget about everything else. It’s your all-inclusive ticket into top Rome attractions meaning you won’t have to worry about carrying around loose change for admission, and you can get from A to B with ease on the metro, trams and buses with your unlimited three day travelcard to make sure you've ticked off all the sights before you have to fly home. So if you're still asking if the Rome Pass is worth it, the answer is: yes!

Where to buy the Roma Pass

If you’re looking for where to buy the Rome Pass, it’s simple. Online! We’re the only place where you can buy this exclusive sightseeing package that takes care of all your needs whilst visiting the city. The Rome Pass is collection only, which means you don't have to worry about shipping or delivery costs, you just pre-order, download our free guidebook (in multiple languages) and start planning your holiday up to 12 months in advance. Then, when you arrive in Rome, simply head to one of the two central pick-up points to collect your sightseeing Rome Pass and you can begin your sightseeing adventure. It really couldn’t be easier. Discover Rome with the Roma Pass.
Go City Expert
Rome Travel Expert

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The Top 10 Spots for the Best Coffee in Rome

Discover the comprehensive caffeine guide to the best coffee in Rome Forget Starbucks and Costa, you’re in Italy now. Discover what a real coffee is meant to taste like in Rome, where more often than not you’ll spot locals sipping espressos as the warm days roll on by. From legendary haunts to sleek modern hangouts, there’s a cafe and coffee shop for everybody in the capital to sate your caffeine cravings. View this post on Instagram espresso ☕️ #한모금먹었는데말도안대게맛있 A post shared by 주은경 (@5_13.c) on Aug 23, 2018 at 6:23am PDT Sant’Eustachio il Caffe Located just a stone’s throw from the Pantheon, the coffee is so good at this cafe that even locals will brave the tourist crowd for a pick-me-up. These purveyors of coffee have been grinding beans and whipping up macchiatos since 1938 and go by the motto, ‘Life is too short for bad coffee’ - a saying we can definitely get behind. Easily spotted by its bright yellow cups and the packed tables spilling out onto the street beside the entrance, those worried about the price of coffee in Italy can save a few cents by opting to stand at the indoor bar. View this post on Instagram black as hell strong as death and sweet as love cr. Turkish proverb #กาแฟเปิดกระโปรง #roma #romanholiday #makhanundha #crewlife #signaturecoffee #foodphotography #guy #asianmen #travelgram #romegallery #italystory A post shared by Marc Ch (@marcdebest) on Sep 6, 2018 at 1:19pm PDT Caffe Tazza d’Oro Step into another world at Tazza d’Oro, a cafe that still thrives with an old-world energy and serves a mean espresso. The entire establishment looks as though it never aged out of the 1940s and that adds to its charm, with a lovingly crafted sculptural trim running the length of the store and marble columns throwing back to Rome’s classical architecture. For a real sweet treat, grab a Granita di Caffe con Panna - frozen espresso finished off with a generous helping of whipped cream. View this post on Instagram No fancy latte art. Just a straight up single shot of Italian espresso with some dark chocolate 🇮🇹 #mandatorycoffeepost #italiancafe #espressoneat #caffeineoverload A post shared by Rida Saban (@ridasaban) on Jul 26, 2018 at 11:26am PDT Sciascia Caffe They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but legendary establishment Sciascia Caffe is out to prove everyone wrong. Beloved by the likes of Lonely Planet, AFAR and locals, it’s widely regarded as the best coffee in Rome and a must-visit for those serious about their beans. One of their signature offerings is the Espresso Chocolate, which combines luxurious dark chocolate with the best espresso in the capital. View this post on Instagram Idem. A post shared by Sofia Orifici (@itssofiaorifici) on Jun 30, 2018 at 4:15am PDT Necci Dal 1924 This charming cafe in the picturesque Pigneto district is where you’ll be able to rub elbows with Rome’s cool kids, many of whom start the day off right here with a freshly baked pastry and a frothy cappuccino. While it may have started off as a gelateria and becomes a bustling restaurant later in the day, it’s a gorgeous place to unwind on one of your lazier days - especially if you can get a spot on its unbeatable terrace. View this post on Instagram 💗☕️💗 A post shared by @ colleenshosler on May 30, 2016 at 7:17am PDT l’Arte del caffe Er Barretto If you’re more about style than substance, Er Barretto serves up a decent cup - but the real draw is its adorable customised cappuccino art. Their barristas go the extra mile and are masters with a coffee cup, whipping up floral, typography and animal designs in a matter of seconds that’ll have you sorted for the perfect Instagram. Located in Monti, it’s a small detour from sites such as the Roman Forum, Colosseum and Trevi Fountain. View this post on Instagram Buon Giorno !!! #tornatoinitalia #estate #macchiato 🇮🇹 A post shared by ernesto (@ticomadero) on Aug 25, 2018 at 3:44am PDT Caffe Ciampini There’s a reason why many of Rome’s most famous creative types made this place their favourite hangout. With gorgeous marble interiors and a blend of beans to die for, this family-run caffe not only makes a fantastic espresso but also offers amazing croissants and homemade cakes if you’re feeling peckish. And if you’re travelling with little ones, they’ll be sorted with a scoop of gelato while you get your fix. View this post on Instagram Phallic symbolism is alive and well in The Eternal City 🍆 A post shared by Ali Inglese (@rightupyour_ali) on Sep 13, 2018 at 7:18am PDT Antico Caffe Greco For one of the oldest coffee shops in Rome, head to Antico Caffe Greco which has been a stalwart on the scene since 1760. This atmospheric cafe has seen the best minds of Rome and modern thinkers pass through its doors and drink deeply from its coffee cups, retaining elements of the old-world with suited waiters and gorgeous Renaissance art lining its walls. (It also serves as a small gallery, with over 300 works on display.) View this post on Instagram Kafe v 🇮🇹 jsme nenechali náhodě a využili tipu od @europeancoffeetrip ☕️ Tahle kavárnička je jen pár metrů od hranic Vatikánu ✔️ #coffeetime #roma . . #dnescestujem #canon_photos #vscocam #vscocze #coffeetour #coffeetravel #italy #holiday A post shared by Skills of Art (@skillsofart) on Jul 30, 2018 at 3:12am PDT Pergamino Caffe This new kid on the block is one of the few shining culinary lights around the Vatican museums, serving both classic Italian coffees and more adventurous choices for those bored of their standard latte. This modern hipster spot serves everything from a stunning cappuccino to a cold brew Nitro for those hot summer days when a steaming cup of coffee just makes you want to melt. View this post on Instagram caffè ☕️ + dolci 🥐 = classic Italian breakfast 🥄🍶 A post shared by Lianna Xiaokui Nakashima | LXN (@liannashima) on Aug 4, 2017 at 2:57pm PDT Cafffe Camerino Do as the locals do and head to Cafffe Camerino, where the most discerning of Italians head for some of the best coffee around. Their cappuccinos have to be tried to be believed, but don’t outrage the Romans - stick to ordering it for breakfast as ordering a frothy, milky coffee anywhere is a no-no after lunch rolls around. Authentic and high quality, there’s a reason so many people return to this spot over and over again for their morning Joe. View this post on Instagram Starting a day with ☕️&☀️ A post shared by Raffaele Morera Palangio (@raffaelemorerapalangio) on Jan 23, 2018 at 12:14pm PST Castroni With several locations scattered throughout the city, the beverages at each Castroni location are top notch at this traditional coffee bar. With beans from Central America, Indonesia and Africa, nothing but the best coffee beans are enough for this popular spot which also hawks other authentic Italian produce: think wine, olive oil, desserts and more. Keep an eye out as you’re wandering around as many branches pop up around tourist hotspots and it’s well worth dipping in for a quick cup before you continue on your travels.
Megan Hills
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20 Fascinating Facts about the Sistine Chapel

We've collated the most fascinating facts about the Sistine Chapel within the Vatican Museums in Rome to test your trivia. Learn about the painstaking ways the ceiling was painted, and the hidden meanings behind some of the most allegorical figures...
Go City Expert
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The Shame of Art Vandalism in Rome

Rome is a city of great history, art and culture and any visit should include the stunning attractions, museums and monuments to witness great masterpieces like The Last Judgement at the Sistine Chapel, Bernini’s Alter at St Peter’s Basilica and the She Wolf at the Capitoline Museums. Despite this, there are some who think otherwise and would rather vandalise and deface these historic sites rather than appreciate them. We decided to look at why vandalism is such an issue in Rome and to champion Rome’s edifying heritage and its preservation so that its legacy will live on. Did you know the world Vandal actually stems from the sacking of ancient Rome in 455, when the Vandal Kingdom descended on Rome, ransacking the city and damaging the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus by removing the bronze roof tiles? So you’ll see, vandalism in Rome is, unfortunately, not a 21st century thing. Since the sack of Rome over 1,500 years ago, clearly the issue has been around for centuries – but that doesn’t make it any more acceptable. The mistreatment and disrespect of ancient monuments, landmarks and art around the city proves a continuous battle between the authorities and the criminals. It’s not just the aftermath and clean up which is the difficulty, but the catching them red handed despite best efforts. These vandals are stealthy and secretive and seem to work right under your nose, but strike when you’re not looking. There is a prevalent case of vandalism across the city of Rome. So much so that the Italian Carabinieri, or policemen, have a targeted anti-vandalism patrol to try to control the problem. Unfortunately, it seems that it is unmanageable. Pincio park, the viewpoint in Villa Borghese overlooking Piazza del Popolo, is one of the hot spots for art-crime in the city, where marble statues of famous Italians are defaced with grafitti, or suffer brutal attacks with their noses and other body parts knocked off with hammers. Despite a six-men-strong patrol squads, who were the go 24/7, tens of thousands of euros worth of damage were inflicted on statues and busts across this peaceful pocket of green in over the summer last year alone. It’s not only the Pincio that suffers at the hands of the vandals, the Trevi Fountain has experienced its fair share of damage, being a victim of red dye thrown into its clear waters. Another serious offence was a direct anti-Pope assault vandalising the Holy steps, Scala Sancta – one of the most significant places of pilgrimage in the world. Another violent act of vandalism occured in 2011 when a man attacked one of the 19th century Moor statues in Piazza Navona with a rock causing huge damage. Thankfully the pieces were recovered and it was later repared. If you’re wondering how anyone gets away with this under the recent efforts to crack-down-on-vandalism, increasing surveilance and CCTV; well, they don’t. Anyone caught vandalising will pay for it. Literally. In 2014 a Russian tourist was caught engraving his initial, ‘K’, into one of the Coliseum’s ancient walls, which at over 2000 years old, is undeniably a punishable offence. The tourist in question used a stone to carve a ‘K’ that measuerd 25cm in total, leading to his arrest and a hefty €20,000 fine! Another notorious vandal was Laszlo Toth who gained international recognition for the wrong reasons in 1972. A man of questionable mental stability, Toth was failed geologist who moved to Rome to become known as none other than Jesus Christ himself. He took his new calling so seriously that on the 21st May he visited St Peter’s Basilica and, weilding a hammer, struck Michelangelo’s Pietà with fifteen blows. Thankfully he was wrestled to the ground before he could cause any more damage after breaking Mary’s arm, knocking a chunk off her nose and chipping one of her eyelids. It’s ironic to think that while Rome has such a problem with grafitti now, once it was considered a thing of art. Interestingly a lot of the art that’s now preserved and considered historic art heritage, such as the engravings and paintings at the Coliseum, were actually hand-painted scenes of gladiator fights by the spectators themselves. But while it might have been acceptable over two thousand years ago, times have changed and the law enforcers are on the look out. We must protect all we can of the historic monuments, art works, statues and architecture around the city otherwise who knows what might be left if noone cared. From the second sacking of the city in 455 it’s sad to think not much has changed in terms of hitting Rome where it hurts the hardest. Leave Rome’s beautiful urban landscape and art history alone – everyone will thank them for it in the long run.
Go City Expert

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