Visiting Rome.Come tell me everything...

[NotExactlyHappyToHelp]

Off to Rome on Friday for two nights (two adults). We’ve never been before. We’re definitely going to do the Colosseum and the Vatican City and pootle about the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Piazza Navona.

Staying in a hotel very close to Termini station.

Has anyone got any recommendations for things we must do, things we should avoid, general tips and tricks?

It’d be much appreciated. I sound a bit of a baby saying this but it’s the first holiday I’ve organised myself and I’m slightly apprehensive I’ll cock it up somehow.

How essential is being able to speak Italian?

It's definitely not necessary to speak Italian.

It helps of course, but you'll manage fine. All the tourist sites have information in English.

Watch out for people trying to hustle you, trying to aggressively sell you flowers or whatever. Keep walking and be confident and you'll be ok - just like in any big city really. They can spot tourists a mile off so it will happen, unfortunately.

@NotExactlyHappyToHelp there’s more than one but there is quite a big one just at the Spanish Steps I was ridiculously delighted about that as was dd who spent the day looking very glamorous
They will give you samples if you ask as well.

I went in winter and it kissed it down. Pack well

The public transport is all state owned so a metro ticket will work on a tram or bus you can get an all day ticket but that’s only worthwhile if you are going to be hopping on and off all day a couple of short journeys you’re better off buying the 100 minute ticket because it’s 100 minutes from validating it in a machine on a bus/tram or the gate at the metro not 100 minutes from purchase.

*pissed it down, my app won't let me swear

I’m attempting to learn a few key phrases of Italian just to show willing. I think it’s nice to be able to say hello thank you do you speak English etc.

@Spudlet I did read about that, shocked me a little. Definitely won’t engage or pick up dropped flowers/ accept flowers etc.

I’ve been to a good few capital cities Paris/London. Is the pickpocketing and scamming worse than most?

The Pantheon. Go and have a coffee or glass of wine in one of the restaurants opposite (preferably at nigh) and just stare at it.

God, I LOVE Rome.

It's worse than London I think but it's not awful. You just have to get your bitch face on and stride by.

Can help you with some Italian swearwords if it helps

Wonder into the churches and have a look around
Get a Vatican guide
I loved Rome

Watch out for the people in Roman costumes especially around the Colosseum, they try to get you to take a selfie with you and then make you pay. Watch out for beggars and pick pockets. Wear comfy shoes and have an ice cream by the Trevi Fountain.

@Spudlet I’d love to be cool enough to pull off swearing in Italian but I don’t think I’ve quite got the pizzaz for it. I’ll do a good old fashioned Paddington bear hard stare.

Will definitely warn DP against the people in costumes. Gladiator is his favourite film of all time (three different editions on DVD ) so he’d probably fall for that one.

From your list, I would lose the Vatican and add pantheon and forum. Love Rome - enjoy.

make sure you use loo outside colosseum - they were seriously dire -

It's been 10 years since I went but 2 things:
Real Italian ice cream is like no other on earth! I recommend ananas (pineapple)- trust me.
Second. The zebra crossings they have on every corner don't work like ours. Cars only stop if you actually start crossing them. It sounds scary but it's true. Close your eyes and step into the traffic!

Explore Trastevere. It’s what I think Rome should be. Not far from the main city but food is significantly better, buildings are more beautiful and far far less busy!

In addition to what people have already mentioned:

Bocca Della Verita (Outdoor sculpture of a face with a gap for the mouth - legend says if you put your hand in the hole and tell a lie it willbite your hand off (or something like that).

Doria Pamphilij palace - great audio guided tour.

Villa Borghese - Bit out of the way but great Bernini sculptures

Sant Angelo Bridge and Castello (you can cross this while walking to the Vatican)

Piazza Navona is great, as is the Piazza dei Fiori - good places for lunch, but might be too cold to sit outside right now.

The catacombs are fairly cool too, but not so central, IIRC.

Eat all the food, drink all the wine, eat all the gelato. (If you can afford it, buy all the shoes, clothes and handbags!!!) Expect to get depressed about when you get home - avoid reading novels about British women who changed their lives by dropping everything and moving to Italy and falling in love and living happily ever. (I did this, and I am Australian!)
Italy's divine.

Oh, make sure you have some comfy pants to wear home!

I would say comfy shoes and rain gear are a must. You end up doing an awful lot of walking and it makes such a difference. When we went it rained most of the time, so rain gear is important. Watch out for pickpockets and beware of people trying to sell you tours to the Vatican on the road as you walk towards it. I found the Vatican totally too much - perhaps we should have had a tour, but be careful you are getting the real deal and not a rip off.
Sistine Chapel amazing.

The public transport is good and we didn't have any issues.
We paid for an expensive tour of the Colosseum and Palantine Hill, in the end we wished we'd just wandered around on our own.
Enjoy, it is a wonderful city.

We've just come back from there - went for new year.

We got the Roma Pass - gave me access to tourist sights and free train / bus travel. Worked out cheaper as I went into 2 places and had all my travel paid for.

We used the train to get from the airport to Rome was €14 and really quick - would deffo recommend.

The colosseum had massive queues but the Roma pass allowed me to skip the line. I also pre booked the Sistine chapel with a queue jump included which was so worth it as by 8:30 the queue was around the block!

Unless you have pre-booked the Colosseum and the Vatican be prepared to spend a lot of time queuing. On such a short trip it might not be worth the effort, Getting there are at crack of dawn will be necessary if you haven't pre-booked.

Try a pizza or pasta making lesson. This place was great: www.inromecooking.com

It's an amazing city and you can have a fantastic time just wandering around soaking in the sights and the atmosphere.

“The worst holiday we have ever had. Sorry hope you enjoy it though!!”

Why dinkydolphin?

“If you only have a couple of days I’d really ask yourself if you want to go the Vatican there are miles and miles of museum and it’s busy and you feel a bit like you’re in a production line being pushed along at times”

I agree. Also, the queue for St Peter’s was 2 hours long so we didn’t bother. Quite honestly 2 nights just isn’t enough to see Rome. It took us half a day just to look round the Vatican. I found that after shuffling along with the crowds through beautifully ornate galleries the Sistine Chapel was rather underwhelming in comparison.

I would definitely visit the Colosseum, Palatine Hill (which was brilliant) and the Pantheon (even more brilliant), and I agree with verite. If something has to go lose the Vatican.

Re the pick pocketing. IMO Italy does have a rather notorious reputation for pick pockets, Rome in particular. As it will be winter while you are there it is much easier to keep hold of your phone, bank card etc. Just wear a winter jacket with inside zipped pockets. I tend to wear parka style jackets from outdoor wear shops at this time of year, and they do have inside pockets. If you look alert and not vulnerable they will leave you alone. DD and I went in October 3 years ago and we never had any problems.

Other tips: all churches are free, and I agree about wearing really comfortable shoes. You will walk miles.