Holiday to Rome!

[InfrequentTraveller]

I'm looking to go this summer. I've visited Paris last year after getting MN advice. Paris was quite nice. So those who have been to Rome tell me all about it!

(I don't know Italian)

Would like what people's experiences are.

I didn't like it. I saw so many scam artists out there. It just didn't feel nice.

I loved the Colosseum and the Pantheon.

The Sistine Chapel and many other places in the Vatican are ridiculously overcrowded (and I didn't visit in the height of the season).

So much litter and graffiti and the food in the touristy bits was terrible.

It definitely wasn't my favourite city.

Conversely, Rome is my favourite place in the world. So much going on, so much to see and a fantastic atmosphere.

Be aware that it's the Jubilee this year so will be even more busy than usual.

DD and I went to Rome last week, I got lots of top tips on here.
We booked a package with BA which was good. Yes, it’s jubilee year but it wasn’t as rammed as I thought it would be.
Book your tickets for any places you want to go a month in advance- you can avoid huge queues doing this. Be prepared to do a load of walking- I took my walking boots.
We stayed in Trastevere which was a good area with the attractions just over the bridge.
There's free water bottle filling stations at the biggest attractions which was very welcome.

Paris I found we had to be wary of the pickpockets and the scammers but I'm street smart so wasn't worried.

It's years since I visited Rome, so my memories are hazy. One thing I do remember is that if you're visiting a church, you have to dress appropriately. So your shoulders have to be covered and I don't think they allow shorts.

Rome is on another level. In Paris, I was a bit wary on the metro. In Rome I was wary pretty much everywhere including at outdoor restaurants.

Aha. I want to go there next spring, so this is useful! Hope you have a lovely time, OP. My Italian mostly comes from menus.

You'll get by fine with English. I learnt a few words and phrases as I think it's polite to do so but I got by ok with a tiny bit e.g. excuse me, thank you, sorry, a table for two please etc

I love Rome, didn’t feel any more worried as I am in any busy city, keep your wits about you as you would anywhere. But I’d be careful when in summer, it is very, very hot and they’re not terribly well equipped for it (used to it I suppose!) air conditioning is not as common as you’d think, even the taxi drivers we went with didn’t use it in their cars 😩

Rome is fabulous, but too hot in summer for me. Lovely in spring, even if it rains.

Do most people there speak English?

Enough to easily get by.

Loved it and would go back but never in August again. The heat was unbearable for me. We flung the language barrier most prominent at the train station. Took as a while to get the info we needed.

I love Rome. Recommend a visit to San Pietro in Montorio, a beautiful church and great views across the city. Many of the streets are cobbled and in poor repair so sturdy walking shoes are a must.

I find Italy is a country you will find people who aren’t very fluent in it, but in a city like Rome you’ll be fine, but it goes a long way to make a bit of an effort.

It will be screamingly hot

Visiting the Sistine Chapel is an unpleasant experience - think carefully if you want an overlong life shortening day shuffling around shoulder to shoulder with a billion others in endless long corridors

coliseum is great - if you can’t find tickets on the website have a look on Viator - you will pay a premium but really worth it (watch Gladiator before you go!)

Segway tour is a brilliant way to see the ancient sites - our guide was a historian and really engaging. Hop on / off bus also good. But you will walk a lot

A package with BA holidays was way cheaper than booking flights plus hotel separately

How's the food?

Like most cities you can get anything from McDonalds to Michelin star dining. Our best meals were at a neighbourhood restaurant recommended by the receptionist at our hotel - great pizza and pasta.

Following as I am taking 40 teenagers there next year! Any tips people can give to make that easier would be great 😅

Very very hot. 🔥

Oh I adore Rome. I’ve been twice in the last 6 years and I’d like to go back in a few. I’ve been end of January which was very wet but still beautiful and late October which was perfect weather, about 20 degrees and sunny.

Book with BA as PP have said. Some very good deals on flights and hotels. Checked bags included too if you hate decanting all your toiletries. The hotel doesn’t need to be all singing all dancing as you’ll barely be in it.

The pickpocketing I didn’t find any worse than all the major capitals like Paris or London to be fair. I didn’t take my purse out with me as most things are set up for Apple Pay so I had my smartwatch, phone in an inside jacket pocket and an emergency 20€ stashed. Kept my hand on my phone in my pocket on the metro as that seems to be the hotspot for them.

You will need to be reasonably fit as it is a lot of walking. It’s a small city with lots of little alleys so the bus tours you get other places don’t work so well in Rome. The metro is good but limited.

I got a lot of great advice from a website called www.romewise.com . Good recommendations for places to eat and general tips.

School trip?

Yes. Very exciting, but nerve-wracking! Certainly not a holiday

There are pickpockets and scammers as there are everywhere. Crossbody bag/ bag under clothes. Beware of women thrusting a baby at you, don’t know if this still goes on but two men narrowly missed having a wallet nicked with this scam when I was there.

And if it’s been raining when you visit the Trevi fountain beware of the cobbles, slippy as hell.

Everywhere is interesting, loads of art, famous graves, catacombs below the Vatican.