Everything you need to know about Go City’s Rome passes

Skip the queues, see the classics and still have money left over for gelato – here’s how to do Rome the easy way.

Tourists at the Colosseum

Planning a trip to the Italian capital? Expect Ancient Roman showstoppers, sprawling piazzas and a foodie scene that turns every stroll into a snack attack. But between must-see monuments, standout museums and memorable tours, ticket costs can add up fast. And that’s where Go City Rome comes in. With a flexible sightseeing pass that mixes classic sights with hands-on experiences, the Rome Explorer suits first-timers, families, culture lovers and history buffs alike. Here’s how it all works, what’s included and how Go City can help you conquer your Rome vacation…

The basics: what is the Go City Rome pass?

In short, it’s a sightseeing pass that unlocks entry to a curated lineup of Rome attractions and experiences for one upfront price. Just choose the number of attractions you want to visit, bag your pass, then scan and go at your pick of 35+ top Rome tours and attractions. 

Explorer Pass

  • Choose a pass loaded with entry to up to seven Rome attractions, tours and activities.
  • Your pass activates at first use; after that you get 30 days to tick off your chosen number of attractions.
  • Best for repeat visitors, and anyone who wants to mix big hitters with under-the-radar discoveries at an easy pace, with plenty of pizza, park and piazza downtime between paid attractions.
  • Solid savings versus individual tickets, plenty of variety, and the freedom to plan around your schedule.

Buying and activating your pass

  1. Buy online: Head to the official Go City site or app to bag your Rome Explorer. You’ll get instant confirmation and a link to your pass.
  2. Download the Go City app: Your pass lives in the app. It’s where you’ll find attraction details, opening hours, maps, booking links and your QR code for scanning at entry.
  3. Activate in your own time: Activation happens the moment your QR code is scanned at the first attraction. From then, you have 30 days to use up the rest of your choices.

Using your pass

What’s included?

St Peter's Basilica

With plenty on the list, you can build a plan that ticks off the big hitters and still leaves room for detours. Just check which experiences require booking before you set off.

Ancient Rome essentials

  • Stand in the Colosseum and imagine the roar of the crowd, then wander the Roman Forum and climb Palatine Hill for sweeping views of the birthplace of the city. Many pass options include hosted entry or guided visits, which helps you navigate time slots and security smoothly.
  • Explore the Capitoline Museums, packed with classical sculpture and Renaissance paintings, and enjoy that famous Michelangelo-designed piazza between the palaces.
  • Delve underground on a guided catacombs tour along the Appian Way. Frescoes, narrow tunnels and layered history make this a surprisingly atmospheric favorite.

Art, churches and soulful spaces

  • Take a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica to appreciate the details you’d otherwise miss, from Bernini’s bronze canopy to Michelangelo’s Pietà. Some tours offer access to viewpoints for gorgeous city panoramas.
  • Step inside the Pantheon with an audio guide. The oculus and the way daylight moves across the marble floor never get old, and learning its many lives – from temple to church – adds depth.
  • Visit Castel Sant’Angelo, the cylindrical fortress on the Tiber. Its ramparts, papal apartments and terrace views tie together 2,000 years of Roman stories.

City views and classic tours

  • Use a hop-on hop-off bus for an easy orientation day. Cruise past the big hitters, hop off near the Colosseum or the Trevi Fountain, and save your feet for cobblestone detours.
  • See Rome from the water on a Tiber River experience. Bridges, embankments and island views give a different perspective on the city’s layers.
  • Join a walking tour through the historic center or Trastevere. Guides pack routes with hidden details, film locations and tasty tips you’ll want to revisit later.

Foodie fun and hands-on experiences

  • Roll up your sleeves for a pasta or pizza-making class. Learn why Roman carbonara uses guanciale, master a silky sauce and sit down to enjoy your handiwork with a glass of wine.
  • Taste your way through neighborhoods with a food tour. Think supplì hot from the fryer, deli cheeses, porchetta sandwiches and a gelato stop to finish.
  • Try a wine or aperitivo experience and get a feel for Italian DOC regions without leaving the city. It’s a relaxed way to toast your day of sightseeing.

Plan ahead

  • Group by neighborhood. Rome rewards a little prep. Start by shortlisting your musts: if the Colosseum, a basilica tour and a cooking class top your list, lock those in first, then fill the gaps with flexible picks like hop-on hop-off or museums that don’t require tight scheduling. Group sights by area to save time: Colosseum/Forum/Palatine sit together; the Capitoline Museums are a short walk away; the Vatican and Castel Sant’Angelo pair nicely; Trastevere works beautifully for an evening stroll and dinner.
  • Sightsee smarts. Start early to enjoy cooler temperatures and quieter sites, then take a mid-afternoon break like a local. Spread your picks across your stay, and weave in free pleasures: sunset along the river, people-watching on Piazza Navona, or a picnic plucked from the market stalls at Campo dei Fiori.
  • Book big hitters in advance. Timed entries are common at headline attractions and popular tours, especially on weekends and in peak months. Reserve as soon as your dates are set using links in the app. 
  • Stay on top of opening hours. Use the Go City app to check opening days – many museums close on Mondays, while churches often limit visiting during services. 
  • Travel right. Factor in security lines and cobblestone pace; the city is walkable but distances add up. Build in buffer time between reservations and leave space for serendipity: an unexpected piazza concert or a market stall that smells too good to pass by.

Reservations

Go City app

Some experiences require reservations, including major archaeological sites, guided basilica visits, catacombs and cooking classes. You’ll find booking links, instructions and time-slot availability in the app. Popular times can go quickly, so book a few days in advance where possible. For tours, check language options, meeting points and arrival windows; most ask you to arrive 10-15 minutes early with your pass and confirmation email. Hop-on hop-off services usually don’t require reservations—just show your pass at the redemption point for your day ticket. If plans change, use the provider’s instructions in the app to amend or cancel.

What are the main advantages of Go City Rome passes?

  • Flexibility: pick up to seven experiences and use them any time within 30 days.
  • Real savings compared with buying separate tickets for the same set of attractions.
  • Everything sits in one app: entry QR code, maps, opening hours and booking links.
  • Freedom to mix classics with quirky picks you might not otherwise consider.
  • Great variety: mix ancient sites, museums, tours and food experiences to suit your style.

Is buying a pass worth it?

Gelato on Piazza Navona

If you plan to see a handful of headline sights and add a couple of memorable experiences, yes. The Go City Rome Explorer pass helps you cover essentials like the Colosseum and catacombs, fold in a landmark church tour, and balance your days with a bus loop, museum stop or tasty pizza-making class, without paying full price for any of them. You’ll save money, skip ticketing headaches, and keep your options open as you wander between gelaterias and grand piazzas. In a city with this much to see, that mix of value and freedom makes all the difference.

Let’s say you go for a six-choice Explorer Pass and choose: 

  • Big Bus one-day hop-on hop-off tour (€36)
  • Pasta-making class (€58)
  • Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (€55)
  • Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (€45)
  • Trastevere food tour (€55)
  • Three -hour bike rental (€45)

That’s €294 worth of tickets on a €179 pass. That equals serious savings of €115 or around 40%!* 

*prices accurate as of January 2026

Seeking further inspiration for your Rome experience? Discover the city’s finest markets and find out how to unlock a gourmet bacchanalia with Go City’s Rome pass.

Step up your sightseeing with Go City®

We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets. 

See more, do more, and experience more with Go City® - just choose a pass to get started!

Powered by AI

This article was generated with the help of AI to provide accurate and up-to-date information. The Go City team has reviewed and curated the content to ensure it meets our quality standards for accuracy and relevance.

Continue reading

The Trevi Fountain in Rome, illuminated at dusk
Blog

5 Days in Rome

Packed to bursting with more household-name attractions than you could shake a very large scepter at, Rome is one big open-air museum. Think the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Roman Forum, the Baths of Caracalla, the Circus Maximus and St Peter’s Basilica. And that’s just for starters. There are also lush green parks to relax in, hills to climb for sigh-inducing city views and, of course, all the authentic wood-fired pizza and creamy gelato you can eat. Spend five days in Rome and you’ll just about scratch the surface of this endlessly fascinating city, experiencing just enough of its atmospheric cobbled lanes, charming piazzas and ancient monuments to whet the appetite for a second visit. The sheer number of things to see and do around the city is staggering, making it difficult to know where to even start. Fear not though: our suggested 5-day Rome itinerary is here to help guide and inspire you. Day 1: Ancient Rome Bucket List Bonanza There’s no point beating about the bush: you came to Rome to snap a selfie in front of the Colosseum. Everything else is just gravy, right? So let’s dive straight in with a day one itinerary that takes in not just one, but four of Ancient Rome’s biggest hitters. First stop on your self-guided walking tour is – you’ll be pleased to hear – the Colosseum. Grab that much-anticipated snap then step inside to experience the largest and best-preserved ancient amphitheater ever built. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to imagine the roar of the crowd baying for gladiator blood in one of the deadly battles that were staged here on an almost daily basis nearly 2,000 years ago. Suitably roused, it’s onwards to the Roman Forum, the city’s ruined former heart, which contained markets, temples, brothels and more, then up Palatine Hill where, legend has it, Rome’s mythical twin founders Romulus and Remus were raised by a she-wolf. Wildflowers grow among the ancient ruins atop this verdant oasis and there are excellent views of the Forum and Aventine Hill from one side, and the Circus Maximus, Colosseum and Capitoline Hill from the other. Not ready to throw in the towel just yet? Continue your walk to the ancient Baths of Caracalla, a spa complex that would have accommodated up to 1,300 bathers at a time back in the day. If you still have energy after that, you’re not a million miles from Aventine Hill, atop which stars of the show include the legendary Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità) and a keyhole through which you can view the dome of St Peter’s Basilica framed by perfectly manicured cypress trees. After all that, your first large glass of chilled pinot grigio will be richly deserved. Pro-tip: Go City’s Rome Explorer Pass includes an audio tour that covers part of this itinerary, taking in the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill. Day 2: Villa Borghese Footsore and hungover, you’ll be looking for something a little less taxing on day two of your 5-day Rome itinerary. Step forward Villa Borghese, Rome’s great green lung, packed with beautiful villas, gardens and monuments. Grab a picnic from the morning market on Campo dei Fiori – some salami, pecorino and fresh focaccia ought to fit the bill – and find a shady spot among the park’s towering plane and pine trees to stretch out, savor your lunch and enjoy some blissful Rome relaxation. Afterwards, pop by the Galleria Borghese, home of landmark works by Italian masters, including Raphael’s Deposition, Caravaggio’s Saint Jerome, and Bernini’s dramatic Apollo and Daphne sculpture in smooth Carrara marble. There’s also a temple, a slew of grand villas, several fountains and gardens, a lake and a puppet theater to explore in and around the park. The ever-popular Spanish Steps are tantalizingly close by, too, should you wish to tick off another of the city’s top attractions before returning to your hotel. Day 3: Trastevere For the third of your five days in Rome, head for the laidback Trastevere neighborhood. Just downriver from the Vatican, it feels a long way from the honking car horns of the city center, with oodles of atmospheric alleys, pretty piazzas and Instagrammable ocher-colored houses with painted shutters, vines that wrap around wrought-iron balconies and window boxes that burst with joyful blooms. Take time to visit the duo of stunning churches here. One of Rome’s oldest, the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere has sections that date from the 4th Century, as well as a Romanesque 12th-century bell tower and incredible mosaics by artist Pietro Cavallini. Cavallini’s masterpiece, a huge fresco depicting the Last Judgment, can be seen at the nearby Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, alongside several other fine medieval artworks. Climb Janiculum Hill for sweeping views along the Tiber to the dome of St Peter’s Basilica and beyond, find your inner zen in the Japanese garden at the Botanical Gardens, and take in a little more art at the Palazzo Corsini where the collection includes fine pieces by Caravaggio, van Dyck, Rubens and more. Reward yourself with an authentic artisan gelato – flavors in these parts range from traditional stracciatella to a somewhat more challenging artichoke sorbet – and stick around for evening, when Trastevere’s piazzas burst into life as locals come together for fine wine, delicious local craft ales and the best thin and crispy pizza this side of Naples. Day 4: Vatican City and Castel Sant’Angelo There aren’t many cities you can visit where you get two countries for the price of one, but this is one of them, and a visit to the Vatican City should be considered an essential part of any 5-day Rome itinerary worth its salt. You’ve spent the last three days snapping St Peter’s Basilica from various other vantage points around the city. Now’s your chance to get inside and see Michelangelo’s iconic dome up close, with its biblical scenes by Botticelli, Perugino and Michelangelo himself. The basilica also contains dozens of other works of fine art and sculpture, including Michelangelo’s Pieta and Bernini's vast bronze Baldacchino, as well as relics such as St Peter’s chair and tomb. And of course no visit to Rome would be complete without visiting the planet’s most famous fresco on the planet. You can get a combi ticket for access to the Sistine Chapel as well as several other Vatican museums, including impressive collections of classical sculpture, modern art and more. Sure, there’s a lot to take in here, but if you arrived early enough it’s worth making time to pop over to Castel Sant’Angelo for a quick mooch around. This imposing cylindrical fortress was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian as a family mausoleum 2,000 years ago. It’s now a fantastic museum chock-full of frescoes, sculptures, paintings and military weaponry, all topped off with far-reaching views across the Eternal City from the lofty castle terrace. Day 5: A Spot of Souvenir Shopping Now’s the time to mop up any of those must-see attractions that you just didn’t have time to visit. Whaddya mean you haven’t thrown a coin into the Trevi Fountain yet? Or enjoyed the uniquely mesmerizing experience of watching rain cascade through the Pantheon’s oculus during a downpour? Make time to grab some gifts for loved ones and a few souvenirs for yourself. We’re talking fruity Lazio region wines and olive oils, tangy pecorino cheeses and – naturally – armfuls of Colosseum keyrings, Forum fridge magnets, Vatican votives and Trevi Fountain t-shirts. Finish up with an atmospheric evening stroll through baroque Piazza Navona, pausing for a romantic selfie at Bernini’s Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers), before settling in at one of the local trattoria for wood-fired pizza and a few local craft ales. Save on things to do in Rome Save on admission to Rome attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Rome's Castel Sant'Angelo viewed from Ponte Sant'Angelo
Blog

Rome in October

As fall well and truly comes into its own, Rome steps back into its familiar low-season buzz. Though the city is still far from quiet, the busy hubbub of summertime holidaymakers is now replaced largely by those looking to discover a much more authentic side to Italy’s renowned culture, cuisine and historical sites. If you’re in the market for more of a serene experience of the city’s renowned attractions, complemented by its pleasant Mediterranean climate and a host of unique cultural events, a trip to Rome in October is beyond a doubt the one to beat. Visiting Rome in October Average Temperature: 54 - 73°F • Average Rainfall: 8 days/mth • Average Sunshine: 6 hours/day With summer now but a fond memory, Rome rapidly returns to a steady baseline flow of tourists. While the eternal city is never truly quiet, owing largely to its many evergreen attractions, you can expect significantly smaller crowds from this point onward. With that, you’re also likely to notice a drop in airfare and hotel prices, often making for quite a substantial discount on high-season prices. Almost in parallel with the city’s tourism rates, the climate in Rome begins to dip significantly in October as fall comes into full swing. Temperatures flirt between pleasantly mild and warm throughout the month, a welcome respite from the summertime heat, and sunshine remains relatively regular and consistent. Though most of the month tends to be very pleasant across the board, be sure to pack an umbrella, as you can likely expect at least one day of rainfall per week. Things to do in October Taking pride of place on the Rome tourist trail are naturally the city’s globally-revered UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The Colosseum, named one of the seven wonders of the world, stands as the largest standing amphitheater on the planet and, much like the impressive Pantheon temple, gives visitors a unique glimpse into everyday lifestyles and pastimes of ancient Romans. Second only to these renowned historical sites is Vatican City, permanent residence to the Pope and the symbolic heart of Roman Catholicism. While incredibly popular with devotees from around the world, the site draws in huge waves of tourists with the iconic St. Peter’s Square and awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, adorned with the globally-recognized frescoes of Michelangelo. Popular among sightseers and photographers alike, the elegant craftsmanship of the Trevi Fountain and the vast Spanish Steps bridging Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti easily stand as some of Rome’s most lauded landmarks. Given their huge following among tourists, these sites tend to get very crowded during peak times, so you’d be best advised to visit early in the day for more of a serene experience and better photo ops. Those captured by Rome’s rich and complex history may find themselves inspired by a walk through the Roman Forum, where towering ruins now stand as mere whispers of the once great administrative district of the ancient empire. Older still are the ruins atop Palatine Hill, considered to be the cradle of Roman civilization and the fabled site of the Lupercal cave of ancient Roman myth, said to be the true birthplace of the revered historical empire. For a little more insight into some of the eternal city’s top sights, a Big Bus tour offers visitors a much quicker means of exploring Rome without cutting corners. The tour’s main route passes by the likes of the Colosseum and Vatican City, with stops strategically placed near key locations where pass-holders can hop on and off at their leisure. Audio commentary is also available in seven major languages, providing cultural and historical insights into many of the city’s famous landmarks. What’s On in October Romaeuropa Festival One of Rome’s most anticipated cultural events to take place each year, Romaeuropa brings together hundreds of artists across a wide range of disciplines and from a variety of countries to help put together an impressive program of dance, music, theater, circus and digital arts performances. Over the course of several months, Rome becomes the true cultural epicenter of Italy, with artists both established and upcoming sharing their multidisciplinary talents and passions for thousands to enjoy. Performances tend to range from classical compositions to cutting-edge technological displays, covering just about the whole spectrum of the modern performing arts. Rome Art Week For one week in October, Rome hosts a monumental festival dedicated to contemporary art in all of its forms. Exhibiting the works of over 300 visual artists across over 100 venues and workspaces throughout the city, the Rome Art Week brings together professionals, curators and aficionados of the art world together in one of Europe’s most culturally significant cities. Rome Film Fest Taking place over roughly two weeks in mid-October, the Rome Film Fest sees the eternal city host a vast program of film screenings, industry-expert conferences and panels, installations and exhibitions in celebration of all things cinema. Events throughout the festival take place across various venues, with the impressive Auditorium Parco della Musica at the center of it all, complemented by one of the world’s largest red carpets for the duration of the celebration. Halloween While of course not a traditionally Italian celebration, Rome – like many major European cities – has largely adopted this now globally-popular festival of ghosts and ghouls. As October draws to a close, you can expect to find many local retailers and venues embracing the spooky season with all manner of Halloween-themed decor and limited-time products. Many bars, clubs and restaurants across the city host their own – often spectacular – nights of terror, with the likes of the Hard Rock Café putting on a hugely popular event each year. Even the Vatican plays its own part, hosting its traditional Holy Halloween Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica. If you find yourself in Rome around this time, a sure-fire way to get yourself into the Halloween spirit is to explore the eternal city’s macabre underbelly. The Rome Catacombs, for example, stretches for miles beneath the city streets, lined with the skeletal remains of those who walked them centuries ago. In the same vein, the Capuchin Crypt beneath the Church of Santa Maria della Concezione comprises several tiny chapels adorned with the skeletons of many of the site’s former monks.
Robert Heaney

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.