Which tickets to book before going to Rome, and how far ahead

In Rome not everything needs booking, but a few sites cannot be visited without a ticket bought in advance: the Borghese Gallery, the Domus Aurea, the Mausoleum of Augustus and several palaces are open by time slot only. Others, such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, can be visited without a reservation but cost you hours in the queue. This guide sorts the sites into three levels, with the prices and lead times seen in October 2026. Tickets are often named: bring photo ID.

Reservation required: the time-slot sites

These sites have no walk-in visit. Book as soon as sales open.

Borghese Gallery: €16 plus a compulsory €2 booking fee, in two-hour slots, Tuesday to Sunday. Book on the official site as soon as your dates are fixed: weekend and first-Sunday slots sell out fast.
Domus Aurea: €26 with a guided tour and virtual reality, Friday to Sunday, in groups of 23. Sales open 30 days ahead; weekend slots go quickly.
Mausoleum of Augustus: guided visit of about 50 minutes, by reservation (price before the closure: €5 and €4). In October 2026 access is suspended for works on the square: check the reopening.
Largo Argentina: entry in 20-minute slots; €7 full price, €4 reduced, plus €1 for advance purchase. Book on 060608 or on the official portal.

Three other places are also visited by reservation only, with varying formats: the Palazzo Farnese, the Quirinal Palace and the Villa Medici. Their pages give the details. The Roman domus of Palazzo Valentini must also be booked.

Strongly recommended

For these sites a reservation saves the queue, and morning slots go first.

Colosseum (with Forum and Palatine): basic ticket €18, named, sold on the official ticket office of the Archaeological Park 30 days ahead. The name can be changed only once, up to seven days before the visit.
Vatican Museums: €25 booked online (including €5 booking fee) against €20 at the desk. Booking avoids a queue that can last hours; it matters most in the morning and in high season.
Castel Sant'Angelo: €18, named ticket; booking is recommended at weekends and on public holidays.
Catacombs: the catacombs of San Callisto ask for online booking; San Sebastiano offers it free.

No reservation, simple purchase

Pantheon: €7, ticket bought on the Musei Italiani portal or at the ticket desk in front of the portico. Beware of resellers charging more for a "Pantheon ticket".
Baths of Caracalla: €8 in normal times, named ticket bought on the Musei Italiani portal or app; card-only machines on site.
Capitoline Museums: €15 for non-residents, one ticket for both palaces.

How far ahead?

Site	Price	Advised lead time
Borghese Gallery	€16 + €2	As soon as your dates are fixed; weekends first
Domus Aurea	€26	As soon as sales open, 30 days ahead
Colosseum, Forum, Palatine	€18	As soon as sales open, 30 days ahead; mornings first
Vatican Museums	€25 online	In advance, especially mornings and high season
Largo Argentina	€7 (+€1)	As soon as possible; entry in 20-minute slots
Pantheon	€7	No reservation

Prices checked in October 2026.

Our tips

Buy on official sites: tickets resold by third parties often cost more, and some are in fact guided tours.
Bring photo ID: tickets for the Colosseum, Castel Sant'Angelo and Caracalla are named.
First Sunday of the month: admission is free at state sites, but the Borghese Gallery still requires a €2 reservation.
Keep confirmations on your phone or printed, with the ID of the ticket holder.