📋 Quick summary
| Full price | € 8 (includes 4 MNR museums for 7 days) |
| EU concession (18–25) | € 2 |
| Under 18 | Free |
| Roma Pass 72h | € 52 (Altemps included) |
| First Sunday of the month | Free (for everyone) |
| Booking recommended | Yes (weekends and peak season) |
The truth about the Palazzo Altemps ticket: it's a "four-for-one"
Before we get into numbers, there's a fundamental point that many visitors only discover on the way out: the € 8 ticket is not just for Palazzo Altemps. It is a combined Museo Nazionale Romano ticket that also includes single admission to:
- Palazzo Massimo alle Terme — the main site, with Roman mosaics, Greek sculptures and the Villa of Livia frescoes
- Baths of Diocletian — the largest thermal complex in the ancient Roman world, now housing epigraphy and protohistoric collections
- Crypta Balbi — layered archaeological excavations from the first century BC through to the Middle Ages
The ticket is valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of first use. If you have a week in Rome, you can spread the four visits without any rush. It is the best value for money among Rome's state museums.
💡 Expert opinion
Whether you only visit Palazzo Altemps or all four museums, you pay € 8 either way. The question isn't "is the ticket worth it?" — it's "why not make use of the other three sites while you're in Rome?" Palazzo Massimo alone is easily worth € 8. You get Altemps on top, at no extra charge.
Full price list 2026
| Category | Price | Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Full price | € 8 | Adults aged 26 and over |
| EU concession | € 2 | EU citizens aged 18–25 — ID required |
| Under 18 | Free | EU citizens — ID required |
| EU teachers | Free | Valid MIUR staff card required |
| University students | € 2 | Architecture, Humanities, Cultural Heritage faculties |
| Disabled visitors | Free | With companion (also free) |
| EU tourist guides | Free | With professional licence card |
| Journalists | Free | With valid press card |
| ICOM/ICCROM members | Free | With membership card |
| Temporary exhibition supplement | € 3–5 | When applicable, variable |
| Audio guide | € 5 | Italian, English, French, German, Spanish |
| Guided tour | € 12–25 | Variable by duration and group size |
Source: official website museonazionaleromano.it, January 2026. Always verify before your visit.
Free admission: all categories and free days
1. First Sunday of the month
The "#DomenicaAlMuseo" initiative by the Italian Ministry of Culture: free entry for everyone — Italian and foreign visitors alike, regardless of age. No booking required, but come prepared: the museum is noticeably busier than usual. Opening hours remain standard (09:30–19:00).
⚠️ Worth noting
The first Sunday of the month is not a substitute for a relaxed visit. The crowd around the Ludovisi Throne can be substantial — expect to wait 5–10 minutes to get close. If you want to enjoy the museum properly, pay the € 8 and come on a weekday.
2. Museums Week (spring and autumn)
Usually in March and October, the Ministry of Culture organises a "museums week" with free entry at all state sites. The exact dates are announced each year on beniculturali.it.
3. Special events
European Night of Museums (May), National Museums Night, particular anniversaries: entry at a symbolic € 1 or free. Always check the official Museo Nazionale Romano website.
4. Categories that are always free
- Children under 18, EU citizens
- EU students enrolled in Architecture, Cultural Heritage Conservation, Humanities (archaeology, art history streams) and Education faculties
- EU teachers in active service
- Disabled visitors + companion
- Italian Ministry of Culture staff
- Tourist guides and tourist interpreters on duty
- Members of ICOM (International Council of Museums), ICOMOS, ICCROM
- Journalists with a valid press card
Passes and memberships: when do they pay off
Roma Pass
The capital's most widely used tourist card. Includes unlimited public transport plus free entry to the first 1 or 2 sites, and reductions on others. Palazzo Altemps is included in the network.
| Version | Price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Roma Pass 48h | € 32 | 1 site free + unlimited transport for 48h |
| Roma Pass 72h | € 52 | 2 sites free + unlimited transport for 72h |
When it makes sense: if you're planning at least 2–3 paid attractions (Colosseum, Castel Sant'Angelo, Borghese Gallery), the 72h version pays for itself easily.
MNR Card / Annual subscription
The annual Museo Nazionale Romano subscription costs around € 25 and gives unlimited access to all four sites for 12 months. Worth it for Rome residents, researchers and students who visit regularly.
Roma & Vatican Pass
A combined card adding the Vatican Museums to the Rome package. Around € 130. Palazzo Altemps is included, but the real value is the Vatican Museums and Colosseum skip-the-line: for Altemps specifically, you don't need it.
Comparison of purchasing options
| Option | Advantages | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|
| On-site ticket desk | No service fee, cash and card accepted | Possible 15–30 min queue at weekends |
| Online via official website | Base price with no markup | Interface not always user-friendly, no free cancellation |
| Online via GetYourGuide (partner site) | Free 24h cancellation, mobile app, multilingual, customer support | Small service charge (€ 1–2) |
| Guided tour | Skip the queue, professional guide included | Higher cost (€ 25–40) |
🎯 Which option is right for you
- Visiting in low season (January, February, November) → buy at the desk, no queue expected
- Visiting April–October, at the weekend → book online via a platform with free cancellation (safer)
- Spending 7 days in Rome and want to see more museums → combined ticket, make the most of all four sites
- Want to understand what you're looking at → guided tour (90 minutes, € 25–35)
How to save: 6 tested strategies
- Go on the first Sunday of the month if crowds don't bother you. You save € 8 outright.
- Use the combined ticket: divide € 8 across 4 museums = € 2 per museum. Unbeatable value.
- Roma Pass 72h: covers Altemps plus two other sites at full price. Worth it if you're also visiting the Borghese Gallery or Castel Sant'Angelo.
- EU under 25? Always just € 2. Bring your ID.
- EU teacher? Free entry. Bring your staff card.
- Travelling with children: under-18s are free. Only the adults pay. A typical family (2 adults + 2 children) spends € 16 for the whole visit.