Rome

[Notsomarryfloppins]

Im going to Rome in July and I am twisting myself in knots figuring out what sights to see.
If you've been, what are the must see options? And...if you booked in advance, can I have the links!!

Ta

Stick your dates in chat GPT ask for an itinerary and when early booking opens and what needs early booking. Also tell it where you’re staying.

How long will you be there? Alone or with someone?

What do you like? Churches? Sites of interest? Gardens? Shopping? People watching? Food? Markets?
Rome has so much you can’t possibly fit it all into one short visit so list your priorities and go from there.

I looked at all the sights on Google Maps and found reading the reviews and looking at people's photos quickly gave me a feel for what I wanted to visit.
If you're at all interested in ancient Rome you must see the Forum & Palatine Hill and the Colosseum. One ticket gets you into all of them - you need to select a timed entry slot for the Colosseum. Book weeks in advance here. I also bought the 4 euro supplemental ticket to get into a few extra bits ('super sites') inside the Forum.
I really enjoyed a guided tour of this underground excavated ancient Roman villa, it was very atmospheric and quite immersive.
I couldn't get near the Trevi fountain in December, the crowds were so huge, but they introduced paid tickets in January so it might be a bit less crazy! Not a must-see though.
St Peters is as impressive as you'd expect and I recommend going but you could be queuing for hours depending on the time of day, so go very early or late and be prepared for a long wait outside in the heat.
Trastevere is buzzing at night and very attractive, full of bars and restaurants and excellent for people watching. It was heaving in December so probably even busier in July!
Art galleries / mseums - pick depending on what takes your fancy and book in advance, I enjoyed the National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art but didn't get time for the Borghese or Capitoline Museums. I didn't feel like I missed out as there are amazing paintings and sculpture everywhere you go.
Allow plenty of breaks for sitting in the shade with a cool drink or gelato!

Unless you’re going for a month, you won’t have time to see everything on the “must see” list. And trying to pack too much in will give you cultural indigestion, so you won’t really enjoy or remember things properly. My advice is to choose one or two major things to do each day, or pick a theme for your trip, and enjoy the things that you really, really want to do.

FWIW, after much planning in advance, I did the Vatican, as many of the works of Caravaggio and Bernini as I could find, plus the locations of Gregory Peck films. I know I walked past loads of really important artworks, historical sites and tourist attractions, but I had the time and headspace to enjoy leisurely meals, gelatos and a bit of people-watching in the piazzas.

We were in Rome for 1 day. We had tickets to the colosseum including tunnels (absolutely amazing), and also saw the Trevi fountain (underwhelming).

We spent most of the day finding of men trying to fleece us of cash by "giving" us bands and wanting something in return. It was awful and put us off returning. Keep your valuables hidden away, do not allow anyone to put anything on you, and jeep your eyes open for pickpockets.

I went to the colosseum website and followed the links to their recommended seller for our tickets rather than an external supplier.

We go to Paris for a day next month, I am expecting more harassment there and am trying to learn the best ways to see the sights without having to deal with that rubbish.

My favourite place was The Pantheon. You can just walk up and buy tickets on the day (left line as you look at the building).

Big word of warning. There are scams everywhere and bag thefts are rife. Be far more careful with your stuff than usual and never put your bag on the floor at a restaurant or in the chair next to you. Keep it on you at all times.

We booked the Vatican, the Colosseum and one of the catacombs via get your guide. Also the Capuchin crypt. All worth doing but it is very hot in Rome in July. We booked morning tours and took the afternoons off. I really enjoyed walking the streets of Rome in the early evening.

I lived in Rome for 6 months. My absolute favourite things were:
wandering round the Roman ruins in the centre of town near Coliseum etc
visiting the Caravaggio paintings that are still in the churches they were painted for
going to St Peter’s incredibly early, like 6am, for Mass. Mass being said all over at lots of different altars in different languages at the same time. Make sure you see the Pieta (statue) while there.
The Vatican museums. Incredible stuff. Save some energy for the Sistine Chapel at the end

I was thinking of booking 1 thing a day, we arrive on Monday and leave Friday. I was actually just going ti book for Tu, We,Thurs.
I know I'll pay more on get your guide, but I was thinking :
an early guided coloseum tour would be good.
The Vatican
One other.

We are happy to get up and go in the mornings and thrn back to the hotel in the afternoon when it's hottest.
2 adults, no kids.

Book everything in advance.

Loved the butterfly house in the botanic gardens.

Ps as many pp say, the pick pocketing is nuts. I’ve never experienced anything like it. Keep your bag in sight and closed at all times. No phone or wallet in jeans etc. I live in a major city and leave my phone in my pocket all the time when home but would never do that in Rome

We had an awesome food walking tour, booked through trip advisor. I also booked forum and pantheon, but otherwise wandered (had visited colosseum and Vatican previously!)

If you arrive on Monday then chill out and get your bearings. Then 2 full days would be:

• Colosseum and Forum
• St Peter's, Vatican Museums plus Castell Sant Angelo. Handy to combine with time in Trastevere

If approached by chatty men holding bracelets DO NOT let them take your hand or tie anything onto your wrist. Other than that (and pickpockets ) Rome is amazing.

I've only been to Rome once but I loved it so much. One of those places I could live I reckon. Personal safety advice is right but no different from any other city really.

Your itinerary sounds great and add the pantheon and nearby piazza navona and its beautiful fountain.

If you have kids and are leaving them at home don't spend all the time thinking how much they would love it because of the pizza and ice cream. They probably would but I'm telling you you will have a much better time without them! Perfect place for a break for two IMO. Have fun!!

We spent one of our days on foot and saw the Spanish steps, Trevi fountain and Pantheon while generally wandering, eating and having a few drinks. It was a good day. We had an organised tour of the colosseum which was good. We are against the Vatican so didn’t no visit but we did see outside from walking.

There is so much to see. You can’t go wrong but as others have said book what are your definites to visit. If going in the summer book early so come the afternoon you can wander and stop off places for a drink and relax. The heat will be difficult.

Im in Rome now. We have 3 full days of sightseeing. All booked in advance months ago, skip the line tickets. Yesterday was day 1. We were up at 6. We did the Colosseum, Forum, Paletine Hill, Trevi Fountain and Spanish steps.
Today we are visiting The Borghese Gallery then wandering this afternoon. Taking it easy or easier.
Tomorrow is Vatican day and everything that that entails. Will be a long full day.
Home Tues.

We are walking or taking the Metro if further away. There is so much walking.

It has far too much wonder and so many hidden gems and something amazing around every corner that it should be banned!

In July it will be absolutely roasting, so brace yourselves for that. Early mornings and late evening are best obviously. You will melt during the day so be careful. I was there late September into the first days of October and it was still very very hot. No need to buy bottled water at every shop you see. Just bring your own container/bottle and refill at the Nasoni which are public drinking water fountains dotted everywhere, and the water is great from them.

I am late 60s and walked everywhere on my own. I just had a look at all the sites and plotted a walking route that would take me from the metro station I got off at to a metro station at the other end to connect back to my line back. It worked out great. Very tiring in the heat, but so worth it!

Over three days I did the ancient parts around the Colloseum. I didn't go in, the queues were too long, but I was happy enough to see this iconic building from the outside and the area around it such as the Forum, the baths of Caracalla, and anything else that looked interesting around there.

Next day started off at Piazza Navona and walked from there all the way across via Pantheon, Victor Emmanuel, Trevi, and the absolutely amazing church of St. Ignatius Loyola with the amazing ceiling that you look at via a mirror in the nave. Wow.

Third day was to the Vatican for the Papal audience. OMG, the crowds were just unreal, but it was well organised and the atmosphere was electric when IL Papa came out on the balcony. For me it was something not to be missed. That took most of the morning, so I was exhausted.

Last thing I would recommend if you have time and energy - I took the train from Porta San Paolo station out to Ostia Antica to see the ancient Roman city. OMG it is as good as if not better than the likes of Pompeii. Honestly. And no crowds, water fountains, toilets etc. It was amazing. I self guided with info from the ticket office. Highly recommend.

I was totally exhausted at the end of every day, but it was an absolutely amazing experience. I felt very safe, was careful on the metro and in crowds, and used a spring coil to attach my phone to inside my bag, and clips to attach the outer zip to the shoulder straps. No one was getting MY stuff ha ha. But it can be very hairy, since you are totally enraptured by what you see around you and can take your eye off the ball, then they swoop!

So sorry for the long essay, but I enjoyed it so much I can't help my enthusiasm!

Realised that I commented but didnt say what to see.
As I've only completed day 1 so far. I have to recommend the Roman Forum. I was blown away. More than the Colosseum. But it comes with the Colosseum ticket.

If you can, I highly recommend you get skip the line tickets for everything you decide on. It costs more but well worth it. You do need to book them soon though as the time slots go fast.
Watch YouTube videos. There are plenty giving advice.
Good luck

If art is your thing, the Borghese Gallery I’d to die for.

I don't know if it's still running but we went to a light show in the Forum I think that was brilliant-it was video images projected onto the ruins of how the buildings would have looked rebuilt, very impressive, and really came to life.

We were there for just a day and a half before a cruise.
You have loads of recommendations here and you will love it.

But be really careful about pickpockets!

I got my purse stolen from a zippered pocket in a zipped up bag that was under my arm the whole time. I honestly have no idea how or when it was taken. This was within the first hour of being out.

Luckily I had taken my bankcard out to swipe onto the metro and it was in my pocket.

My DH also had someone's hand in his pocket but he felt it and shouted out.

Some young girls, late teens, early 20s came to us on the metro to warn us there were pickpockets behind us later in the day. We weren't sure if they were being nice or a distraction but we all held on to our belongings more tightly and came out unscathed.

Ive been in many European cities but Rome was where you could see gangs everywhere, and obviously to my cost nowhere too.

Im thinking this for the guided tour. Times entry for 8.30 am

Does that cover the areas that are worthwhile/ must see?

I would suggest Pantheon followed by Colosseum, then Roman forum the next day. When you buy your Colosseum ticket it includes the forum and is for 24 hours which means you can spend a whole morning in the Forum - make sure you go to Palatine Hill as lots of people didn't walk there.
We were lucky to be there when the Pope did Mass which was fascinating. Vatican City is expensive to buy anything in!
Trevi fountain - go at night when it is free and quieter, same with the Spanish Steps.
Hidden gems - I loved the Keats museum and tea at Babingtons. Above all pottering through streets, aperol and people watching!

Just back from the Borghese today. Very emotional. Ive never seen sculptures so beautiful in my entire life. They made me tear up.