What to Book Before Your Rome Trip: Attractions, City Tours & Day Trips

What to book in advance in Rome?

You can enjoy Rome without booking everything in advance. Wander through the streets, pop into churches (there are around 900 in Rome), admire historic buildings, and explore the city’s beautiful piazzas.

But if you want to visit the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Galleria Borghese, or unique places like the Vatican Necropolis, you’ll need to plan ahead.

Booking a few things before your trip can save you hours of waiting in line, especially in the heat or rain. It also helps you avoid missing out on Rome’s most popular sights.

Some places can’t be booked on the day, so it’s best to plan ahead.

Here’s what to book in advance in Rome—and what to do if you’ve left it too late.

👉 This mostly applies to the period from April to November!

Here are the most important things to book in advance in Rome:

The Colosseum experience

The Colosseum is one of the first things you should book in advance in Rome.

When you go to the official Colosseum website, you'll notice that tickets are sold months ahead, especially for arena and undergroun access. Plus, travellers report difficulty buying them.

Thats why we recommend buying Colosseum tickets through Tiqets, where you can buy them about 1-2 weeks ahead withouth any problem.

👉 Our tip: Grab a morning ticket slot (8:30am until 10am) or an early morning tour to avoid the biggest crowds. This is especially important during hot summer days, when the Colosseum becomes crowded by midday.

The Colosseum guided tours are all in high demand. So if you plan one, especially those that goes underground, book as early as possible.

If visiting during summer, opt for early morning tour, to avoid both heat and crowds. Or go late or even evening, which is available only in certain period.

The Colosseum opening hours

• Fall–Winter: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM every day
• Spring–summer: 8:30 AM–7:15 PM every day

Vatican Museums visit

The Vatican Museums are one of the sights we’d definitely book in advance.

They’re extremely popular, and waiting until you arrive can mean long lines or limited availability.

If you want to visit the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums, book your ticket ahead of time.

This is especially important in summer and around holidays, when popular time slots can fill up quickly.

The Pantheon

Since 2023, entry to the Pantheon has required a paid ticket on most days, although we visited when admission was free.

You can buy tickets at the door, but be prepared for long queues with little or no shade. To avoid the wait, book online at least three days in advance. You should still have a good choice of time slots.

Opening hours

• 9:00 AM–7:00PM every day

Rome’s catacombs

The Catacombs of Rome are a popular attraction, but visits are only possible with a guided tour, so places are limited and can sell out quickly.

I recommend booking at least two weeks ahead, especially if you want a tour in English. These are particularly popular during the high season.

The limited number of visitors means the catacombs don’t feel overly crowded. For a quieter experience, consider booking a late-afternoon tour, when it tends to be less busy.

Galleria Borghese

The Galleria Borghese is one of Rome’s museums you should book in advance. In low season, a few days may be enough, but in peak season, try to book at least a week ahead.

Can’t find a ticket? Try these options:

• Call the booking office on +39 06 32810, as they may have tickets not available online.
• Try showing up just before the 9 am or 5 pm entry slots in case of cancellations.
• Look for a guided tour through an external agency.
• Visit another great art museum, such as Palazzo Doria Pamphilj or the Capitoline Museums.

Vatican Gardens

The Vatican Gardens are one of those exclusive experiences in Rome that you should book well in advance. Visits aren’t available every day, and places are limited, so tickets can sell out quickly.

What if you can’t get a reservation for the Vatican Gardens?

• Try booking through a reputable tour agency, which may still have availability.
• Climb the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica for a beautiful view of the Vatican Gardens from above.

Don's go to Rome without booking these experiences in advance

• Colosseum skip-the-line tickets
• First-entry Colosseum tour with arena access

Things to Book in Rome 3+ Months Ahead

• Colosseum special-access tours — underground, arena floor or small-group tours.
• Vatican private or small-group tours — especially in peak season.
• Popular food tours and cooking classes — the best-rated options can fill early.
• Galleria Borghese — particularly for preferred dates and times.
• Opera and major performances — especially popular shows and venues.
• Day trips from Rome — such as the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii or Tuscany, particularly in summer.
• Popular hotels — if you’re visiting during peak season or around major events.

What you don't need to book in advance in Rome

• Visit to St Peter's Square and Basilica - both are free to enter, but for Basilica usually there are lines (come early in the morning)
• Vittoriano Monument - Just show up and explore, to go up to the top you need to take a lift (buy tickets onsite)

When to book your Rome accommodation?

As earlier you book, you'll have better choice of hotels and apartments in Rome. We suggest you to start looking in December for the next year.

As the date of your travel approach, you'll have less choice.

We usually book through Booking.com, where we usually pick small hotels with several rooms. These are not classic hotels with variety of services, but rooms with tasty breakfast. Our recent find is Otto Rooms, north of Vatican.

Should you book a restaurant in Rome in advance?

If you have your heart set on a particular restaurant, booking a table in advance (1-2 weeks) is a good idea. Just book online or call them!

This is especially valid for peak season, weekend and dinner. If you are larger groups, we recommend to book!

We tried a few times to get a table at Colline Emiliane near Piazza Barberini, but hadn’t booked in advance.

Rome’s most popular food spots fill up quickly, especially in the evenings, at weekends and during the summer months.

Booking ahead saves you from walking from one restaurant to another, hoping to find a free table.

😋 Our tip: Book your must-visit restaurants a few days or weeks ahead, depending on how popular they are, but keep the rest of your meals flexible.

If you’re just after a panino, a slice of pizza or some supplì, you can simply turn up and order.

More stories from Tasty Italian Travels

• Visiting Rome on a Budget: Our Guide
• Rome to Florence Day Trip: Is It Worth It?
• Best Time to Visit Rome: An Insider’s Guide

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