5 day trip to Rome

[Tweney22]

Its my 25 wedding anniverary in July and we are going to Rome.
We are not very well travelled and need some help.
I have seen companies that do tours of the famous places, and you get in early.
Has anyone done these trips? and are they worth it?
I dont want any stress and will pay a bit more money if it makes it easier.
Thanks

Mmm not sure if I'd bother with them if I was to go again. They're a bit unorganised , we tended to go in with them and then sort of break away and do our own thing once inside.

We did love the tour bus though , that was really handy for getting around and learning about Rome at the same time.

Get some comfortable shoes , you'll do a lot of walking.

Taxi drivers are the best and tend to love tourists , try and negotiate the prices and ask about the city whilst driving , they're usually keen to show off their knowledge.

Go down lots of side streets etc for the best restaurants and bars.

We used the Dark Rome tours recommended on here, did the Vatican Museums and the Colloseum with them and they were excellent tours.

If you're feeling flush a food tour is a good idea. We did the Twilight Trastevere food tour, it was an amazing evening.

The Colosseum/Palatine Hill/Roman Forum is a must. I spent all day exploring.

Buy advanced tickets - if you can afford a bit more I would highly recommend the 'panoramic' tour which takes you up to the third floor with amazing views of the Colosseum and surrounding area.
The Colosseum is really busy and crowded but because the 3rd floor is an extra, you go up in small groups so no need to push to the front for a view etc. The view of Rome is breathtaking.

This ticket will also give you entry to the Roman Forum - the queue for the entrance right opposite the Colosseum might be massive, instead walk to the LEFT, and you will find a smaller entrance which often doesn't have any queue!

I agree with ShiningTor. The tours really are worth it, firstly because the Italians, lovely as they are, don't understand the concept of timed entry tickets so people with those tickets were turning up 10 minutes before their entry time but finding themselves in queues that were almost as long as the queues for ordinary tickets. People on tours simply sailed into the buildings plus the tours take you into places ordinary ticket holders can't access. So you can go into the underground areas of the Coliseum where the animals and gladiators were kept before their fights and see how wild animals were raised to arena level. Ditto, in the Vatican you visit areas not open to ordinary ticket holders and you get in before everyone else. We were only there for 4 nights and also wanted to take the train to Florence so we needed to use our time as efficiently as possible plus I hate queues at the best of times.

Rome in Limo.

We have used them several times and couldn't recommend them highly enough. They will arrange everything for you.

Thanks for all this help
will have a look.

I went in October. 4 days was enough. Everywhere was packed and I found the best bits we're none of the tourist areas at all

We did a Vatican museums tour (not an early one) & apart from in easily it wasn’t worth it - we were just swept along in a huge mob of others, with no time to stop & look at things, & all the lovely side rooms were chained off.

Skyejuly we did 4 days in October too

Agree it was enough, we were exhausted by the end of it.

My best indoor bit was the Capitoline museums - we went late afternoon, to catch the sunset from the roof, & it was quiet inside & easy to get around

The original Marcus Aurelius statue, inside, is MAGNIFICENT - it quite took my breath away.

We did a Vatican and museum tour and our guide was amazing.
It was a small group of 6 and it lasted 5 hours with 30 minutes in the Sistine chapel.
She then sat outside at peters ( as there was a service on) while we went to look around and we could ask her any questions.( she did this in her own time)
She was fabulous and the tour was amazing

The lift to get to the viewing platform at the top of the Altare della Patria is also really worth doing - amazing views.

We didn't use any tour guides and it was easy. We walked to everywhere apart from the Vatican (hopped on a bus).
Remember first Sunday of the month main attractions are free under Italian government scheme.

The Colosseum has an audio guide option. Got there at 9am and were in within 10 minutes. Palatine Hill is self-explanatory.
Pre-book this from the UK as not 7 days per week & small numbers. www.palazzovalentini.it/domus-romane/
People watch at Campo de Fiori.
Weirdest spot Capuchin Crypt.

Would do a food tour though if there's a next time for us.

We did it ourselves & loved it. We downloaded the Rick Steves app, did loads of walking tours listening to him tell us all the important/interesting stuff. If you're going to the Vatican I recommend doing the early breakfast entry ticket & going ahead a few rooms so you have it all to yourself. Enjoy!