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Original poster

When in Rome...is this possible?

26 replies

Maidchen · 07/04/2025 22:02

Arrive at Rome Airport around 9.00 am, don't have to leave until around 2 pm ish, maybe a bit later is possible.

Would it be feasible to hire car, dump bags in car, get train from airport to Pantheon, walk to Colosseum, walk to Trevi fountain (maybe), get train back to airport and away by 2 pm ish?

We're all good walkers, and would love to glimpse these sights but its got to be a fleeting visit or nothing! We know that we'll only get a brief taste of each place, but would prefer that to not seeing them at all.

We've flown in and out of Rome before, but never actually visited the city. DC is a classics student and would LOVE to see the Pantheon and Colosseum - we're just exploring the possibilities.

OP posts:
Toddlerteaplease · 07/04/2025 22:05

It’s a while since I went to Rome, but if I recall correctly those places are quite far apart. So I doubt you’ll fit them all in. Unfortunately it’s not like London where there is a tube station on every street corner.

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 07/04/2025 22:07

I don't know how long you'd need to allow for a taxi and dumping of the bags, but you can certainly do the coloseum and pantheon in one afternoon, although it's a bit of a walk between the two. I'd probably leave 4 hours for both sites, including the walk, just so that you have plenty of time and can take your time and enjoy them without rushing.

The trevi fountain and pantheon are just a couple of minutes walk apart so can easily do both of them

StartupRepair · 07/04/2025 22:07

I think it is possible timewise. The airport is about 45 mi utes to the city centre by taxi. The pantheon and colliseum are not too far from each other
You won't have time to get inside the Colosseum and you need to book in advance but you could have a lovely hour in the Pantheon. Not sure about the car luggage logistics though. Once you have hired the car don't you have to take it somewhere?

Celeryedition · 07/04/2025 22:18

Not sure about the car luggage logistics but the Pantheon to the Colosseum would be ok and then up Via Cavour to Termini station. You could chance some of the forum if you had time or walk some of the back streets to the station and take your time. There are a few small churches - some with maybe a Michelangelo that you could possibly see.

I’m not saying that it’s not worth seeing the Trevi fountain but if I had half a day in Rome, it wouldn’t be somewhere I’d rush to first.

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 07/04/2025 22:21

Celeryedition · 07/04/2025 22:18

Not sure about the car luggage logistics but the Pantheon to the Colosseum would be ok and then up Via Cavour to Termini station. You could chance some of the forum if you had time or walk some of the back streets to the station and take your time. There are a few small churches - some with maybe a Michelangelo that you could possibly see.

I’m not saying that it’s not worth seeing the Trevi fountain but if I had half a day in Rome, it wouldn’t be somewhere I’d rush to first.

Do you think theres time for the forum? Im not sure! you'd only get the quickest of looks if you made it in. The trevi fountain is so close to the pantheon I generally tick them off at the same time.

mindutopia · 07/04/2025 22:23

Is there not left luggage somewhere at the airport or in the city? I know in Spain there are places you can pay to stow your bags. The problem with using a hire car as storage is you’ll have to drive it and park it somewhere (and pay to park), then drive it back and return it. That seems a lot of faff. What about checking your bags early for your next flight? Or check them through? Possibly cheaper than hire car and parking fees.

Toastandjam16 · 07/04/2025 22:28

Is this another flight you have to be back for, that leaves at 2pm? 😬

I've been to Rome and travelled in from the airport in a hire car. It was stressful. Rome is glorious and worth seeing without it being a mad rush. Next time you're travelling through why not have a night or two's stopover? Or do so this time?

Hereslookinatyoukid · 07/04/2025 22:39

If 2pm is the time you need to be back at the airport to drive off somewhere, then yes. If it’s the time of your next flight, no.

Celeryedition · 07/04/2025 22:51

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 07/04/2025 22:21

Do you think theres time for the forum? Im not sure! you'd only get the quickest of looks if you made it in. The trevi fountain is so close to the pantheon I generally tick them off at the same time.

Show quote history

I think quick is where we’re at! Five hours in Rome will only get you to the point of sightseeing anything. I wouldn’t aim for anything more than seeing the inside of the Pantheon then walking towards the station taking in Victor Emmanuel, Trajan’s column, Colosseum etc until my time ran out.

Another option is the open top bus tour after the Pantheon. Some of them stop at the train station. At least then you’ll get to see more of Rome.

TruthOrNo · 07/04/2025 22:54

I wouldn't it will be so stressful.
I would choose one place to see, and that's the easiest to get to, and from and just stick to that.

PleaseDontFingerMyPouffe · 07/04/2025 23:08

TruthOrNo · 07/04/2025 22:54

I wouldn't it will be so stressful.
I would choose one place to see, and that's the easiest to get to, and from and just stick to that.

I'm inclined to agree. I know I said it could be possible, and it might be, but I'd rather just enjoy half the sights you'd like to see and spend any extra time having a wander, enjoying some gelato. Rome is so beautiful and you want to be able to soak up a little atmosphere.

You could do trevi fountain, pantheon and the piazza navona easily. Stop and have lunch and soak it all in.

Or you could do the coloseum and St clementes basilica which is close by and fantastic- as you walk down the different levels you literally walk through different centuries of history down to one of the earliest roman springs.

It will be a push doing the pantheon and coloseum together and I don't think you'd be able to give the coloseum the time it deserves.

hotblacktea · 07/04/2025 23:22

if your flight back is at 2pm, forget it, rome is not going anywhere

if you somehow have 3-4 hours, a walk is doable, hitting spanish steps, trevi, piazza navona, pantheon and via fori imperiali, with the colosseum at the end

all of these from the outside of course, no time to properly visit inside

it's all on fast forward, streets will be brimming with locals and tourists, but doable, for a quick taste of the center

otherwise, forget about it now and come back, ideally several times, there's just so many things to see

notatinydancer · 07/04/2025 23:48

I’d leave bags at the airport.
Taxi in to thing you want to see most.

mondaytosunday · 07/04/2025 23:48

It took us three hours to view the Colosseum and Palentine Hill (right next to it). I’d also add an hour to your arrival to get through customs, get bags, collect car.
Also when are you going? It’s baking in the summer.

Hereslookinatyoukid · 08/04/2025 07:19

Sorry, I assumed you wanted to see the coliseum. If you want to go inside/ tour it, don’t bother - the queues can be really bad.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 08/04/2025 07:24

You can feasibly do the Pantheon and Trevi in that time or the Forum and Colusseum in that time, not all of them. It's not your walking, it's that tue streets get swamped with people so uou literally can't go any faster. A taxi from Leonardo will take 40-45min at least so factor that in too.
Personally I'd do Colusseum and Forum, tons to see without paying and easy foot route.

Mio fratello viva in Roma e anderò ogni d'estate

Tbrh · 08/04/2025 07:26

I think you'd be better to look at one thing properly rather than rush three. It's been a long time since I went to Rome, I'm sure I spent a fee days there. Have you google mapped the distances?

GingerLiberalFeminist · 08/04/2025 07:27

Also, if you want to go in, you will need to book tickets for Colusseum and Forum via a registered tour company, and there are massive queues and specific entry times. Again I'd err to walk on Via forii and see most from outside.
Circo maximo is near Colusseum too if you want a third.

GingerLiberalFeminist · 08/04/2025 07:27

Nb Pantheon and Trevi are free, but always busy.

JustMarriedAndLovingIt · 08/04/2025 07:29

I’m in a FB group called Extreme Day Trips and there will be plenty of people on there who could give you top tips as to whether this itinerary is possible. When we did an EDT to Geneva, we had a great time. We even walked over the border to France 😂

Scottishlass9 · 08/04/2025 07:33

I used to live in Rome and what with the traffic and public transport issues combined - I wouldn’t chance it. I’ve often almost missed flights in Rome despite leaving well enough time due to congestion in Rome. It would be a bit more feasible if you’re getting the train from/to termini but again, depends which airport in Rome it is

SunshineBirdSong · 08/04/2025 07:46

We're just back from Rome and the taxi to the airport took an hour because of protests closing certain streets. The driver was loosing his patience 😅 so let's say you take away an hour each way for travel, leaves you 3 hours. Dump bag and then recollect it again take away 30 min each side for that so 2 hours.

Eeeeh you may be able to see the coliseum and look over the bridges on the road into the forum but you won't actually get in and look around. I genuinely don't think you could do it all. Why so tight?

Crunchymum · 08/04/2025 07:47

Rome is too beautiful to be done in a stressful rush.

As a PP suggested why not tack a few days on next time you pass through and do it "properly"

Hiring a car and booking train tickets seems such an expensive faff for 4 hours? Is the car for your onward journey?

I also appreciate that you won't want to spend all the time at the airport so if there is a cheaper option (bag storage lockers?) and then I'd pick the closest area / main attraction and head there. I'd also stop for food and / or coffee and geleto.

upinaballoon · 08/04/2025 07:55

12 days in Rome aren't enough. Sit at a bar and observe what's going on. Plan a longer holiday there for the future. Enjoy one minute or one year there.

BishBashBoomer · 08/04/2025 07:59

which airport?