Rules & tickets in Rome
Dress codes, fines and booking.
Book major sights ahead
The Colosseum, Vatican Museums, Borghese Gallery and the Pantheon use timed or reserved entry. The Borghese Gallery requires a reservation, and the Vatican Museums and Colosseum often sell out days or weeks ahead in high season. Book on the official sites, not through street sellers.
Dress codes at churches
St Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and many churches require covered shoulders and knees, for men and women. Bring a light scarf or shawl. You can be refused entry at the door, and shorts or sleeveless tops are the most common problems in summer.
No sitting, wading or eating on monuments
Rome fines visitors who sit on the Spanish Steps, bathe or wade in fountains, or eat and drink on certain monuments. Fines can be a few hundred euros. Treat historic fountains and steps as museum pieces, not benches.
Entry rules and plugs
Italy is in the Schengen area. Check the current visa or travel authorisation rules for your passport before you travel, as EU entry requirements are changing. Sockets are type C, F or L at 230 V; US visitors need an adapter.
Emergency numbers
Dial 112 for any emergency in Italy; it reaches police, ambulance and fire, and call-takers often speak English. 113 is the state police, 118 an ambulance and 115 the fire brigade. For non-urgent help, ask at a police station (questura). Source: European Commission (112), checked 2026-10-11
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