Booking Rome - tickets, passes and hotels

In a nutshell: reserve the Colosseum, the Galleria Borghese and the Vatican Museums as soon as your travel dates are locked in, because in season they disappear. Your hotel deserves the same urgency, and the restaurants you most want to try should be reserved too. Once those slots are sorted, plan your days around them or follow the three-day itineraries. Back up to the full planning chapter for the wider picture.

The big three - book these first

Nothing sells out faster than these three, and all of them repay a little foresight. The Colosseum's entrance lines swell from mid-morning, so the day plan is to show up early - the first entry is best - with a ticket already secured. The Vatican Museums draw their biggest crowds in the morning, precisely when most visitors arrive, and buying online lets you skip the ticket window. The Galleria Borghese is the most rigid of the trio: timed entry is compulsory, with visitors let in every two hours so the rooms never overflow.

• ✦Colosseum - ticket demand stays high, so reserve far out, up to a month ahead during peak periods. The Full Experience Attic option has very few daily slots - claim one early if you want the top-tier views
• ✦Vatican Museums - an online booking costs a little extra but saves the queue, or book a guided visit instead; mornings are the crush, so an afternoon slot is usually easier
• ✦Galleria Borghese - the slot is non-negotiable, and holding a Roma Pass changes nothing; give yourself 30-45 minutes to collect the ticket and carry photo ID
• ✦State-run museums - the month's first Sunday is free, with packed galleries and long lines as the trade-off
• ✦Papal audiences and Masses - seat requests go through the Vatican's Prefecture of the Papal Household long before you travel, and the most sought-after celebrations are fought over

Hotels - book early

Rome offers plenty of places to sleep, but demand is heavy and mid-range and upmarket properties dominate, which keeps prices high everywhere - so the earlier you reserve, the better the rates you will find. Seasons are not strictly defined in the city, yet rooms are cheapest from November to March, apart from the Christmas holidays and New Year, then again through most of July and August. Spring and autumn carry premium prices, as do the big religious holidays.

Restaurants - reserve the popular tables

The in-demand and upscale dining rooms fill quickly, so reserve ahead, especially when the season is at its busiest. Aperitivo bars also pack out, and a booked table turns an early-evening drink into a proper night out. Trattorias and pizzerias away from the landmarks are looser - walk-ins usually work - but the famous addresses near the sights repay a call or an online booking a few days in advance.

Passes and free days

The Roma Pass comes in 48-hour and 72-hour versions at €32 and €52, bundling free or discounted museum entry with free public transport - do the sums before you buy, since it will not skip the Borghese's timed slots. On a budget, churches never charge, the state-run museums open free on the month's first Sunday, and the Vatican Museums waive their fee on the final Sunday of every month, when the queues are at their longest.