That is a shame. In terms of tickets I have found that the Roma pass is a great way to save money and time. The pass covers transportation in the city for 3 days and your first two sights are free with the rest discounted. When you show up at the colosseum with this nifty little pass you'll see a specific line just for pass holders with hardly any to no wait. The free entry alone that the pass grants pays for itself.

Posted By Christopher Cook on March 5, 2008, 4:35 PM

I think everyone who enters Italy should pay a surcharge on their ticket that would be used to find, excavate and keep up ancient sites. Then these sites could be visited for free by all.

Posted By James Thompson on March 6, 2008, 12:15 PM

If the fee goes to preservation, and not to bureaucracy, it'll be worth it. Another way to avoid the Colosseum lines is to rent an audio tour. Swing left of the massive admission line, go past that box office, and there's one window selling the audio tours. It's cheap, not the greatest audio tour, and you have to be sure the headset works before you leave the window area. But for a couple bucks extra, it's worth it to skip an hour standing in line.

Posted By Tex on March 6, 2008, 1:33 PM

On the bright side, one won't have to on alert for the pickpockets as they only frequent sites that are free to the public. I agree with others, that if fee is for preservation and further excavation, that it is worth it.

Posted By Sarah on March 6, 2008, 2:48 PM

9euros that's steep!

If you're single ok but when you travel with a family that adds up fast.

Is there a family or children rate?

Posted By Frederic on March 6, 2008, 3:11 PM

To: Christopher Cook, Where do we get the Roma pass? We leave March 16 for Rome. We didn't use a Roma pass the last time we were there, but sounds like a good idea.

Posted By Lynn on March 6, 2008, 5:58 PM

Hi, there,
romapass.it, sold at all participating museums, Termini station, and major subway stops, about 26 dollars.

Posted By Blog Editor on March 6, 2008, 6:53 PM

How sad to have this fee imposed. While visiting there on a warm, sunny Nov afternoon a few years ago, we noticed a woman, obviously a local, who had brought her own lunch, as well as lunch for some of the many stray cats that populate the area, to the site. She sat reading a book, with the cats gathered around her napping in the sun--such a peaceful sight. Probably won't happen again.

Posted By Mary on March 7, 2008, 3:29 PM

Just returned from a one week family trip to Rome.

For travelers, the addition of the Forum to the Coliseum ticket will probably have little impact, as most would want to see the Coliseum anyway (the Roma Pass, for multiple entries in three days, is definitely worth it).

In late February, as the weather was warm, we saw many Roman families, high school and college age students enjoying the Forum. These folks will be limited by the new fee.

Otherwise, unexpectedly, we found Rome to be much more reasonably priced for Americans, despite the $ to € exchange rate. For food, one just has to get a couple of blocks away from the well worn tourist path, avoid the tourist and highest priced restaurants, to eat quite well.

Follow the young adult Romans (not to the overpriced, tourist area bars!) and you find many reasonably priced places to eat.

The only dilemma is not staying in the middle of the Centro Historico. Inexpensive places to stay there are in very short supply, even in low season.

Perry

Posted By PerryB on March 8, 2008, 7:56 PM

BOO!!! I was just in Rome, and one of the best things about it was visiting the Forum for free, especially considering so many other attractions-including churches-charge admission. Talk about ruining the ability to explore history. It's not a wonder people are less interested in travelling for culture and history than they are for convenience and flash. I agree with James, just charge a "country admission fee" and leave these important monuments and works of art available to the public.

Posted By rjr on March 10, 2008, 10:33 AM

We were in Rome during the week of May 13 and all the museums including the Coliseum and Palantine Hill were free. It was some special week. I don't know if this happens every year or not.

Richard

Posted By Richard Stanish on March 12, 2008, 12:07 PM

How many days is the Forum pass good for? How does one purchase a pass in advance?

Posted By Frederick A Board on March 31, 2008, 6:05 PM

Dear Mr. Board,
Pass is valid for two days. As we noted in our post, go to http://www.pierreci.it to purchase in advance. (Click on "Museums & Monuments" in the left hand column. Then click on "Foro Romano" in the middle column. Then click on "Tickets and Costing." Then click on "Buy". Some credit cards will not be accepted; it depends on the agreements that your bank has set up with Italian banks. If one card doesn't work, try another.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Sean
Blog editor

Posted By Blog Editor on March 31, 2008, 6:46 PM

Even worse! The cost of the ticket to the Forum/Coliseum/Palatine Hill is almost always 11 euros per person, due to special shows being hosted in the Coliseum on the upper level. These exhibitions are fortunately quite interesting so don't forget to check them out if you have time. Past exhibitions have been on 'eros', 'gladiators' and 'greek and roman theater'.
Unfortunately the price is quite high- there is no discount for American youth or elderly- and not only for tourists but for us who live in Rome, both Romans and foreigners alike, the loss of the free forum is a tragedy. We walked through it on a regular basis and enjoyed this free archeological park as a way to cut across town.
At one time the free status was justified because it is the Roman Forum. No longer!

Posted By Sienna Reid on April 22, 2008, 12:46 PM

My husband and I are traveling to rome from a cruise ship the first week of June and will only be in port for 12 hours. I was wondering if the Roma pass would still be a good deal if we are only going for 1 day instead of 3. The colluseum is high on our priority list then probably the sisten chapel. I would appreciate whatever help i can get. Thank you!

Andrea Francis

Posted By Andrea Francis on May 7, 2008, 7:07 PM

Note for Andrea Francis - The Colluseum which includes Palatine Hill and now the Forum could possibly take up most of your day. Although you are in Rome for 12 hours the port I believe is quite a long way out and so you may not get the 12 hours you anticipate. Lots of things in Rome are free ie Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps to name but a few. I believe the the cistern chapel is probably a day in its self too (although not been there yet). Hope this helps.

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