F.A.Q. about tours
- Do When in Rome Tours clients get to skip the lines at the Vatican?
PRIVATE TOURS:
When in Rome has access to VIP entrances to skip the line at the Vatican Museums. In order to obtain these tickets, a 10 Euro booking fee per person is charged in addition to the cost of the private tour. Preferred entry is only offered at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 AM.
GROUP TOURS:
Our group tours are scheduled to depart at 12:20 PM, after peak lines and crowding have gone down. On most days, we walk right in to the museums without waiting at all. On some days, there is a short wait to pass through security. On Saturdays line time is inevitable (except by booking a private tour in advance) and some waiting is to be anticipated.- Do When in Rome Tours clients get to bypass the lines at the Colosseum and other sites?
When in Rome Tours guides purchase the tickets at the group windows for the Colosseum and all other monuments. There is no significant waiting time while they do this.
One way to avoid waiting on line for tickets to the Colosseum if you are not with a group is with a new special offer called the Roma Pass. This a 20 Euro ticket that allows you unlimited transport on Rome's public system for three days, free access to two museums, and reductions for subsequent museums and attractions. Info on where to purchase the Roma pass is available in English at http://www.romapass.it/?l=en
Tickets to the Borghese Gallery can be purchased in advance by calling 199757510 or online at www.ticketeria.it
Tickets are not required for the Roman Forum or Pantheon.
- Is there a dress code at the Vatican?
YES! There is a strict dress code at the Vatican. For both ladies and men, knees and shoulders must be covered. For men, no shorts of any kind are allowed. No exceptions are made.
- What are the hours of operation for the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel?
- How can I get tickets to the papal audience?
Tickets to the weekly papal audience are fairly easy to obtain and are completely free. There are several English speaking services in Rome that can be contacted for reservations.
The first is Santa Susanna, the American Catholic Church in Rome. The ticket request form can be found here: http://www.santasusanna.org/popeVatican/tickets.html. Note that not all requests are replied to, however they do state that as long as your email or fax went through then you can assume your tickets will be waiting for you on the Tuesday afternoon before the Wednesday audience.
Tickets for Easter, Christmas, and other special masses can be obtained through Monsignor Roger Roensch or the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, at the Bishops Office for U.S. Visitors Office to the Vatican, Via dell' Umilt? 30, 00187 Rome, Italy. It is located at the Casa Santa Maria dell'Umilt?, one block from the Trevil Fountain. Their contact information is as follows:U.S. Bishop's Visitor Office, Via dell' Umilta' 30, 00187 Rome, Italy
Tel. 011-3906-6900-1821 FAX: 011/3906/679-1448
Email: nacvisoffrome@pnac.org- Can I take pictures inside the Vatican? With flash?
Photos are allowed just about everywhere inside the Vatican except for the Sistine Chapel. Photos with flash may be taken inside the Vatican Museums and inside St. Peter's Basilica. No photos of any kind may be taken inside the Sistine Chapel. This is not only for the broadly accepted theory that flash photography is damaging to the centuries old frescoes. In the 1980's when the Sistine Chapel was badly in need of restoration, the Nippon television network of Tokyo offered to pay for the complete restoration and document the process on film. In return, they were granted a long-standing agreement to exclusive film and photo rights inside the chapel. The guards (if doing their job properly), will reprimand anyone caught taking photos and may even confiscate the film. Although at times they have been known to be lenient, save yourself the embarrassment and opt to buy the books or postcards they provide instead!
- Can I pay by credit card?
Credit cards may be used for booking all of our tours, the process is simple and secure. Should you need to cancel the tour within the limits allowed by our cancellation policy, you will be refunded in full. Credit card payment is only possible in advance and may not be processed on the day of the tour.
- Do I have to pay for your tours in advance?
Not necessarily. Group tours may be paid for in cash upon arrival for your tour. For private tours, a minimum deposit of 50-100 Euros is required, depending on the tour.
*smart traveler tip: ask about our discounts offered for cash payment*- What sites are included in the Colosseum and Ancient City Tour?
This tour covers the Colosseum (from inside), the Palatine hill (from outside), the Roman Forum, and the Imperial Forums. Time allowing, it will also briefly cover Piazza Venezia and the Capitoline Hill.
- Why don't you offer a driving tour?
As much as we would like to be able to accommodate this request, the simple truth is that one does not need and cannot use a car in Rome. The Vatican and historic center can only be seen on foot. This is why we arrange for easy-to-find on site meeting points to minimize unnecessary walking around the city, making our tours as cost effective and brief as possible while not compromising on content.
Upon request, we are happy to organize tours using car and driver service if a walking tour is not possible.
- How big are your groups?
Group size can vary depending on time of year, but in general groups at the Vatican are between 10 and 20 people. With large groups we will use headsets so that there is no difficulty hearing the guide. Groups at the Coliseum are almost always less then 10 people.
- Are entry fees included in your tour cost?
Entry fees are not included in our rates and are as follows: Vatican Museums, 14 Euro (children 7 and under free) Coliseum, 11 Euro (Children 7 and under free).
- I have trouble walking. Can I take the group tour?
Both our Vatican City group tour and the Colosseum and Ancient City group tour involve prolonged periods of walking. People with serious physical limitations should consider the possibility of a private tour, when frequent breaks and an easier tour route would be made available.
The Vatican is wheelchair accessible, but in order to partake in the group tour clients must be able to walk or be assisted up a few staircases.
- Should I take my child's stroller along on the tour?
If it is compact and light, yes. Is is fairly easy to navigate the Vatican with a stroller, although it will have to be carried up and down a few staircases.
- Do I have to pay for my children?
Children 10 and under are free for our tours. Children under the age of 7 are exempt from purchasing entrance fees, while children 8 and up are charged the regular entrance fee. When processing your booking, do not include children 10 or under in your total number of persons as this will result in an automatic charge for them. Inform us of any children 10 and under in the "remarks" section of your booking enquiry.
- What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation policy for our tours is as follows:
Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be received in writing. For cancellations with less than 24 hours notice, cancellations should be sent in writing as well as by phone. Bookings that are cancelled 7 or more days before the scheduled tour departure will be entitled to a full refund, less a 10 Euro cancellation fee per transaction. No refunds will be given for late cancellations, failure to cancel (no show), or failure to arrive at our tour meeting point by the scheduled departure time.
