Visiting Rome for a few days and can’t decide between the Rome Pass or the Omnia Card?
There are two cards in Rome that allow you to access the most important museums for free or at a discounted rate, as well as free access to public transportation: Roma Pass and the Omnia Card. The Omnia Card is slightly more focused on the Vatican and its sites but includes the Roma Pass in it’s deal (at least the 72 hour version). For this reason the Omnia Card is significantly more expensive.
So, which is right for you? Let’s have a look at the characteristics of each below, and then you be the judge!
Everything you need to know about the Roma Pass
The Roma Pass is a service provided by the City of Rome in collaboration with ATAC, the main transportation authority.
How much does it cost?
- €38,50 for 72 hours (3-day pass)
- €28 for 48 hours (2-day pass)
*There is no discount for children, however it is not recommended for children under 10 years old since entrance to museums and archeological sites is already free.
What’s included?
- 2 free entries (3-day pass) or 1 free entry (2-day pass) to the museums or archeological sites of your choice, without having to pass by the ticket counter! Click here to view a list of participating museums.
- Discounted tickets for all other museums that participate in the Roma Pass and to many other events and exhibitions
- Use of the public transport system (bus, metro, tram) for the duration of the pass’s validity (see our blog post on public transportation in Rome for getting around the city)
- The app Roma Pass é with a complete guide to the Eternal City of Rome
- Dedicated entry at the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo, and Musei Capitolini for all holders of a Roma Pass
How do you validate the Roma Pass?
Roma Pass is activated from the moment it is first used at an entry to a museum, an archeological site, or for public transportation. It expires after 72 or 48 hours after initial activation.
Where can I buy it?
- Online: www.romapass.it
- Museums and Tourist Information Points (kiosks)
- Metro Stations
- Trenitalia ticket offices
- Renting with ROMAC? Find your Roma Pass in your vacation rental when you arrive!
For more information visit the official Roma Pass website.
Everything you need to know about the Omnia Card
The Omnia Card is provided by the private organization Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi in collaboration with the City of Rome.
How much does it cost?
- €113 for adults/€80 for children (ages 6-9) for 72 hours (3 day pass)
- €55 for adults/€34 for children (ages 6-9) for 24 hours (1 day pass)
What’s included in the Omnia Card 72 hours?
- Entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (with a free, downloadable audio guide for St. Peter’s Basilica)
- Roma Pass for 2 free entries to the museums or archeological sites of your choice and free access to public transportation for 72 hours
- Entry to the Cloister in the St. Paul’s Basilica outside the walls
- Skip the Line advantage at St. Peter’s Basilica, Sistine Chapel and the Colosseum
- Free hop-on-hop-off bus tour (Roma Cristiana, with free wifi) for 72 hours – see the route the bus takes here
- Discounted tickets for all other museums that participate in the Omncia Card
For more information visit the official Omnia Card website.
What’s included in the Omnia Card 24 hours?
- Entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel (with a free, downloadable audio guide for St. Peter’s Basilica)
- Free hop-on-hop-off bus tour (Roma Cristiana, with free wifi) for 24 hours
- Entry to the Cloister in the St. Paul’s Basilica outside the walls
How do you validate the Roma Pass?
Your Omnia Card is activated from the moment it is first used at an entry to a museum, an archeological site, or for public transportation. It expires after 72 or 24 hours after initial activation.
Where can I buy it?
- Online: www.omniakit.org
- Any of the following Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi (ORP) offices:
- Largo Argentina (Via dei Cestari, 21 – Mon-Sun 10am – 4pm)
- St. Peter’s Square (Piazza Pio XII, 9 – Mon-Sun 9am – 4pm)
- Lateran Complex (Basilica of St. John Lateran – Mon-Sun 9am – 4pm)
- Renting with ROMAC? Find your Omnia Card in your vacation rental when you arrive!
The skinny on choosing the Roma Pass or Omnia Card
So which card is the right one for you? There are several factors to consider:
- Are you traveling with kids?
- How many museums do you want to see?
- How do you want to get around Rome?
- Are you planning on taking a hop-on-hop-off service?
While the Omnia Card is significantly more expensive it offers more services and access to sites, like the bus tour and privileged access to the Vatican sites. The 72-hour Omnia Card includes the Roma Pass, so all of its benefits are included. The best approach is to roughly layout what you’d like to see in Rome and see which service gives the best bang for your buck! And don’t forget that the first Sunday of every month enjoys free entrance to all state-run museums! Which one’s are those? These.
Renting with vacation apartment from ROMAC?
If you’ll be staying in one of our vacation rentals in the center of Rome, we’ll be happy to purchase your Roma Pass or Omnia Card and have them waiting for you at your apartment.
If you’re still looking for a place to stay in the Eternal City for your vacation, peruse the ROMAC website for special offers and filter our portfolio of 40+ vacation rentals in Rome by neighborhood, number of bedrooms, or other preferences.
*Have you checked out our site dedicated entirely to video tours of our apartments? Click here to see our videos – ROMAC!
Have you visited Rome with either a Rome Pass or Omnia Card? Which is your preference? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
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[…] Roma Cristiana Open Bus: http://www.terravision.eu/city-tours-europe/orpnet/rome-hop-on-hop-off.html The stops for this service are St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, Pantheon, Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, the Lateran Complex, Circus Maximus, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia. The tickets cost 20€ or 23€ for 24h or 48h and the bus passes every 15 minutes. If you decide to use this service you should reserve your ticket online and pick it up when you arrive in Rome at the office in St. Peter’s Square.The ticket is included with the Omnia Card (for more information read our previous post Roma Pass and Omnia Card: Let’s explain the Difference) […]
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[…] You can enter the Vatican Museums and skip the line by purchasing the Omnia Card. Learn more about the benefits of both the Omnia Card and the Roma Pass from our past blog post. […]
I’m not sure I fully understand. Does the Omnia card include FREE entry to the Sistine Chapel etc? Or just a skip the line advantage? Because I noticed it says FREE entry to some museums but just entry to the Sistine Chapel.
Ciao Alexandra,
Thanks for reaching out to us! The Omnia Card includes FREE entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, not just the skip the line advantage.
I just arrived in Rome and haven’t book Omnia card in advance. Can I buy it at the museum or where? Thanks
Hello, you can still buy the Omnia card on the official website or in the Tourist Information Point in the city centre (there is one in front of the Colosseum and another one near Navona Square). Hope this helps!
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Do i need to buy Omnia pass for 4 year old kid or will the kid be afforded free entry to Vatican museums and Rome attractions.
Hello Haris,
you don’t need to buy the Omnia Pass for your kid. The entrance is free for children up to 6 years old. Enjoy Rome!
Hi. This blog post is absolutely marvelous in highlighting the difference between the two cards. I’ll be visiting Rome next month for two days and I intend to visit some sights of Rome on one day and visit the Vatican the next. My question is regarding the 24 hr Omnia Card. I wanted to inquire whether it gives any advantage regarding entry to St Peter’s Basilica (including the visit to the Dome) or will I have to stand in the queue’s to gain entry?
Hello Gautam,
the Omnia Cards includes the priority entrance to Saint Peter’s with Pop Guide App. It doesn’t allow to skip the security control.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us for further information. And if you are looking for an accommodation in Rome drop us a line.
Kind regards,
Rome Accommodation Staff
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We get in on January 11 in the AM should be ready to roll in the early afternoon. what day should our 72 hour pass begin. We leave on January 14, 2020. We are staying 500 meters from the Vatican…how many times will we be able to ride the hop on hop off bus?
Hello Lois, the Roma Pass must be used during the first 72 hours following activation and it expires after 72 hours. It doesn’t include the hop-on hop-off bus, but you can use the public transport as many times as the card is valid.
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