
Be a sightseeing V.I.P.—Sightseeing passes grant admission to dozens of sights, avoiding the lines and saving money
Picture this: You sashay up to the front of that long line of people waiting for more than an hour outside the Uffizi Galleries in Florence... and just walk right in.
This is the VIP world of museum cards and city passes, which may cost anywhere from $30 to $90 and can get you into the lion's share of a city's sights (usually after four or five biggies, the pass pays for itself and all the rest of the sights you visit are effectively free), sometimes unlimited use of public transportation, often discounts on shopping, dining, and nightlife, and occasionally that rarest of benefits: the right to bypass the often ludicrous lines waiting to enter to top sights.
Another, unwritten benefit of city passes is that most such cards allow unlimited visits to sights, so you can split up your visit to some major sight into several shorter, more manageable visits.
Most cards come in versions good for one, two, or three days or weekly.
Personal experience has taught me that, unless you're lumping together into one day the attractions with the highest admission charges, or are sightseeing at a dead run, the one-day passes rarely pay for themselves. It's better to go with a three-day version and take your time.
A few caveats: Rarely will a pass cover guided tours, renting an audio tour you can carry around the museum, or special exhibits, and may be invalid during special events.
Keep in mind there are all sort of alternatives to full-fledged city cards, such as cumulative tickets that count at a few related museums, or passes good just on the public transport but not for sights.
There's no way to list all of those available, but going to each city's tourism web site is a good start.
- OMNIA Vatican & Rome Card - Skip-the-line priority entry to attractions along with free admission to the Vatican and a few other major churches (plus an audio guide in St. Peter's); you get to pick from 2 of 6 other attractions to get in free (including the Roman Forum, Colosseum, Capitoline Museums, and Borghese Galleries); and you also get discounted admission to 30 other sights; plus a Travelcard good for public transit.Partner
- Museum Pass -
The Venice Museums Pass costs €24 (€18 for students under 29; families of two adults and at last one child can get one pass at full price and the rest at the reduced price) is valid for six months, and good for entry to each of the following 11 municipal museums (Visitmuve.it — to book it: Selectitaly.com):
- The four Museums of Piazza San Marco—Palazzo Ducale (Doge's Palace), Museo Civico Correr, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, and Sale Monumentali della Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana. [These four are otherwise all covered by a single admission ticket, called the I Musei di Piazza San Marco, that costs €20].
- Ca' Rezzonico (museum of the 18th century; €10)
- Ca’ Pesaro (museums of modern and Asian art; €14)
- Museo del Vetro (Glass Museum on Murano; €12)
- Museo del Merletto (Lace Museum on Burano; €5)
- Casa di Carlo Goldoni (author's home; €5)
- Museo di Palazzo Mocenigo (costume museum; €8)
- Museo di Storia Naturale (natural history musem; €8)
Coverage: Covers one can't-miss sight (Doge's Palace) and three excellent secondary sights (Ca' Rezzonico, Ca' Pesaro, and the Museo Correr). The others, frankly, are more of specialized interest, or if you happen to be right there and have some extra time (though if you plan to go to Murano or Burano, those two indigenous craft museums are worthwhile).
Savings: If you use it to visit just the Palazzo Ducale plus any one significant non-Piazza San Marco sight (such as the Ca' Rezzonico or Ca’ Pesaro) and you've already saved money. After that, everything else on the list is, essentially, free. It also lets you skip any ticketing lines, which is nice.
Should I get the Venice Museum Pass?: If you plan to do a lot of sightseeing and are staying for two or more days, get the pass.Note: If you use the official ticket-booking site for Venice civic museums (www.vivaticket.it), don;t let it steer you toward to much, much more expensive "MUVE Friend Card" annual membership (which costs €45). You can still buy the regular Museum Pass there, in person at a museum, or ahead of time at Selectitaly.com.
Book it: Select Italy
Partner - Chorus Pass -
Venice was the first city in Italy to come up with the ignominious practice of charging people to visit God. Sixteen of its major churches—with the notable expectation of the biggest and best, the Basilica of St. Mark's—banded together to charge admission.
Individual entry into any one of the member churches costs €3 (or €1.50 for students).
The Chorus Pass granting entry to all 18 costs €12 for individuals, €8 for students up to age 29, or €24 for a Family Pass good for two adults and any kids up to age 18. It's good for one year.
Coverage: Eighteen churches scattered across town—including such biggies as I Frari (full name: Basilica of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari ) and Il Redentore (Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore)—as well as Santa Maria del Giglio, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria Formosa, Santa Maria dei Miracoli, San Giovanni Elemosinario, San Polo, San Giacomo dall'Orio, San Stae, Sant'Alvise, San Pietro di Castello, Santa Maria del Rosario (Gesuati), San Sebastiano, San Giobbe, San Giuseppe di Castello, San Vidal, San Giacomo di Rialto.
Savings: Visit at least four member churches, and the pass has paid for itself. Any others you pop into from then on are free.
Should I get the Venice Chorus Pass for churches?: In town for more than three or four days and gung-ho for a lot of sightseeing? Go ahead and get the pass.
Book it: Chorusvenezia.org or Viator.com
Partner - Roma Pass -
- Free admission into the first TWO sights you visit from a list of 45 museums, sights, and archeological areas—nearly everything in Rome except, unfortunately, the Vatican Museums (though seem the Omnia Card below for one that also covers that).
- Discounted admission to all other sights: After your first two freebies—which, unfortunately, have to be the first two you visit, so plan your sightseeing accordingly to ensure you hit two of the priciest sights immediately—you get a varying amount of discount (anywhere from 17% to 50%) on entry to all other sights on the list.
- Head-to-the-front-of-the-security-line privileges at the Colosseum, Castel Sant’Angelo and Musei Capitolini.
- Unlimited rides on all public buses and the Metro (an €18 value in of itself—or €12.50 for the 48 version). Note this does not cover the airport train.
- Discounts on bus and other tours and on cultural events (theater, art shows, opera, dance, music).
- Venezia Unica City Pass -
Venice used to have something called the Venice Card (rip-off), which became Venice Connected in 2009 (still pretty worthless), which became Venezia Unica in 2013 and has become the de facto way you have to book such things as transit passes and municipal WiFi (€5 a day).
It also can shave a few euro each off parking (€23.40 vs. €26).
It can also get you mild discounts if you buy a "pack" of musuem and church passes—but only if you are going to use everything the pass comes with:
- €28.90 for a "Silver City Pass" (covering the Musei di San Marco and your choice of 3 churches; retail that would be €29). Savings: €0.10.
- €80.90 for a "Gold City Pass" (all Museum Pass sights plus two others, 16 churches and the Jewish Museum, 3-day transit pass, and 24 hours of city WiFi; that would retail for €104). Savings: €23.90.
- €125.90 for a "Platinum City Pass" (all Museum Pass sights plus two others, 16 churches, the Jewish Museum, a tour of La Fenice, a 7-day transit pass, a lagoon tour, and 24 hours of city WiFi, that would retail for €165). Savings: €39.50.
Coverage: Modest discounts for the full sightseeing package, parking at the main garage on Piazzale Roma, WiFi access.
Savings: It saves €2.60 off the parking garage, €0.10 to €40 on sightseeing—but you only get the most savings if you visit the extra sights beyond the Museum Pass ones.
Should I get the Venezia Unica card?: Possibly. If you plan to do all the sightseeing. You might end up using one anyway if you get a transit pass.
Book it: Veneziaunica.it
- Firenzecard.it
- Milan Pass - sights, tours, & transitPartner
- Milano Card - transit & some sight/tour discountsPartner
- Milan Tourist Museum Card - Milan civic museums
- Verona Card -
In addition to discounts on CitySightseeing buses, Arena opera tickets, and other fun around town, it covers local public trasit and the following sights:
- Anfiteatro Arena
- Basilica di S. Anastasia
- Basilica di S. Zeno
- Casa di Giulietta
- Chiesa di S. Fermo
- Duomo complex
- Galleria d'Arte Moderna al Palazzo della Ragione
- Museo di Castelvecchio
- Museo di Storia Naturale
- Museo della Radio Epoca
- Museo Lapidario Maffeiano
- Teatro Romano
- Tomba di Giulietta
- Torre dei Lamberti
- Arche scaligere
Useful Italian for sightseeing
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
Where is?... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
...the museum | il museo | eel moo-ZAY-yo |
...the church | la chiesa | lah key-YAY-zah |
...the cathedral | il duomo [or] la cattedrale | eel DUO-mo [or] lah cah-the-DRAH-leh |
When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
Closed day | giorno di riposo | JOR-no dee ree-PO-zo |
Weekdays (Mon-Sat) | feriali | fair-ee-YA-lee |
Sunday & holidays | festivi | fe-STEE-vee |
ticket | biglietto | beel-YET-toh |
two adults | due adulti | DOO-way ah-DOOL-tee |
one child | un bambino | oon bahm-BEE-no |
one student | uno studente | OO-noh stu-DENT-ay |
one senior | un pensionato | oon pen-see-yo-NAH-toh |
Basic phrases in Italian
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
yes | si | see |
no | no | no |
Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
How much is it? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
Excuse me (to get past someone) | Permesso | pair-MEH-so |
Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
...the bathroom | il bagno | eel BHAN-yoh |
...train station | la ferroviaria | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah |
to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
Days, months, and other calendar items in Italian
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
At what time... | a che ora | a kay O-rah |
Yesterday | ieri | ee-YAIR-ee |
Today | oggi | OH-jee |
Tomorrow | domani | doh-MAHN-nee |
Day after tomorrow | dopo domani | DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee |
a day | un giorno | oon je-YOR-no |
Monday | Lunedí | loo-nay-DEE |
Tuesday | Martedí | mar-tay-DEE |
Wednesday | Mercoledí | mair-coh-lay-DEE |
Thursday | Giovedí | jo-vay-DEE |
Friday | Venerdí | ven-nair-DEE |
Saturday | Sabato | SAH-baa-toh |
Sunday | Domenica | doh-MEN-nee-ka |
Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
a month | una mese | oon-ah MAY-zay |
January | gennaio | jen-NAI-yo |
February | febbraio | feh-BRI-yo |
March | marzo | MAR-tzoh |
April | aprile | ah-PREEL-ay |
May | maggio | MAH-jee-oh |
June | giugno | JEW-nyoh |
July | luglio | LOO-lyoh |
August | agosto | ah-GO-sto |
September | settembre | set-TEM-bray |
October | ottobre | oh-TOE-bray |
November | novembre | no-VEM-bray |
December | dicembre | de-CHEM-bray |
Numbers in Italian
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
1 | uno | OO-no |
2 | due | DOO-way |
3 | tre | tray |
4 | quattro | KWAH-troh |
5 | cinque | CHEEN-kway |
6 | sei | say |
7 | sette | SET-tay |
8 | otto | OH-toh |
9 | nove | NO-vay |
10 | dieci | dee-YAY-chee |
11 | undici | OON-dee-chee |
12 | dodici | DOH-dee-chee |
13 | tredici | TRAY-dee-chee |
14 | quattordici | kwa-TOR-dee-chee |
15 | quindici | KWEEN-dee-chee |
16 | sedici | SAY-dee-chee |
17 | diciasette | dee-chee-ya-SET-tay |
18 | diciotto | dee-CHO-toh |
19 | diciannove | dee-chee-ya-NO-vay |
20 | venti | VENT-tee |
21* | vent'uno* | vent-OO-no |
22* | venti due* | VENT-tee DOO-way |
23* | venti tre* | VENT-tee TRAY |
30 | trenta | TRAYN-tah |
40 | quaranta | kwa-RAHN-tah |
50 | cinquanta | cheen-KWAN-tah |
60 | sessanta | say-SAHN-tah |
70 | settanta | seh-TAHN-tah |
80 | ottanta | oh-TAHN-tah |
90 | novanta | no-VAHN-tah |
100 | cento | CHEN-toh |
1,000 | mille | MEEL-lay |
5,000 | cinque milla | CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah |
10,000 | dieci milla | dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah |
* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.).
More on Passes & discounts
Tickets and passes for riding the vaporetto and city (land) buses in Venice's public transit system
Tickets and passes for riding the Naples Métro, bus, and tram public transit system
Enjoy free admission to various Naples sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), free public transit, plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Rome sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Paestum sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Pompeii sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges)
Enjoy free admission to various Herculaneum sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Caserta sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Santa Maria Capua Vetere sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Campi Flegrei—The Phlegrean Fields sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Florence sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy free admission to various Venice sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus discounts at other attractions
Enjoy admission to the trail system and various Cinque Terre sights and monuments
Enjoy free admission to various Milan sights and monuments—and free transit—with the Milano Pass, Milan Card, or Milan Tourist Museum Card
Enjoy free admission to various Verona sights and monuments (along with skip-the-line privileges), plus free public transit, and discounts at other attractions
Pre-booking service for sights, transit, and services offering minor discounts
Tickets (biglietti) and passes for riding the Rome Métro, bus, and tram public transit system
Tickets and passes for riding the Florence Métro, bus, and tram public transit system