To skip Rome?

[yellowtotebag]

DP and I are planning a trip travelling to various places throughout Italy for 3 weeks. Neither of us have been to Rome (DP never been to Italy at all) but we are not majorly bothered about it - there are far more countryside and coastal places we would like to visit.

I’ve had a real split of opinions when saying to my friends that we might leave Rome off the itinerary. Some have said they didn’t really enjoy it that much and could see our point of view, some said that given we’d only be able to go for 2/3 days anyway we wouldn’t have enough time to make it worth it. But then some people have said we are crazy and that it would be criminal to travel around Italy without going to Rome!

What do you all think?

I really enjoyed Rome (I actually got engaged there) but we were there when there was a holiday in Italy so we didn’t have to queue for anything and the streets weren’t that busy. My parents went a few months before and said they didn’t both with things like St. Peter’s and the Sistine chapel because the queues were huge. I personally would still want to see it but it depends what you want to do and how tight you are on time.

It’s a fabulous big, dirty but beautiful city. If you like cities, don’t miss it. If you don’t, there’s plenty of other stuff to keep you busy for the rest of your life, let alone 3 weeks.

YABVU. Rome is fabulous.

Well you can do as you like but it is the lost incredible place. There’s something fantastic and beautiful to see around almost every corner.

I adore Rome. I felt so energised and alive when I was there. So much to see and do, so much fashion to admire, so much atmosphere to soak up.

Depends how long you're in Italy for, but I'd find it a little strange that you'd avoid Rome if you're doing a whistle stop tour of the country.

It’s one not to be missed to be honest. There were things I disliked about it but it really is a must do. The history is crazy.

You need to visit Pope Francis 😂😂

There are treasures literally everywhere.

I like Rome and I'd encourage you to go for a couple days, but I don't think there's anything wrong with skipping anything. There is so much to see in Italy!

I prefer Florence personally so would be giving you grief if you skipped that : )

Rome is INCREDIBLE but v v intense.

So much to take in, even aside from the major attractions.

Just viewing the forum from afar is breathtaking.

But three days of the city overwhelmed & exhausted me.

YBVVVVVVVVVVVU.
Rome is fantastic - it's millennia of history looking at you.
If you want to visit the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Cathedral, book in advance, otherwise the queues will kill you.
We booked all those above plus Colosseum and Palatine Hill and we haven't even seen half of it, tbh.
Beautiful, just beautiful.

Rome is amazing, If I had to 'skip' a famous Italian place I would skip Florence (the museums are expensive, plus there were lots of mosquitoes and a flash flood when we went).

Thank you so much everybody I think I just needed to be told those exact words - Rome isn’t one to be missed! I’d read a few old MN threads where people had slated it a bit - particularly the queues and how little you can actually fit in when you’re there. But I am a huge city lover @Notonetojudge DP and I lived in another European capital for a few years and it was the best time of our lives. So no idea really why neither of us were that attracted to it?! Will do some more research and have another chat with DP

Is there anywhere in Italy that anybody would say yes you definitely should skip…

Ahhh interesting that in the space of 3 posts we’ve had someone saying you can’t skip Florence and someone saying to skip Florence! Just sums up how different we all are as travellers

Pisa and Milan are skippable in my opinion.

Rome is one of my favourite European cities, I loved it. Just avoid the super touristy bits if you don’t want to queue, or pre book or go later or early in the day.

But go, it’s amazing.

I loved Rome and actually can’t wait to go back, only thing is be careful of pickpockets. My mum got targeted at trevi fountain and it was only me shoving the woman out the way that was doing it meant she didn’t get anything.

I love Rome and it's a bucket list destination.

HOWEVER you can't see all of Italy in three weeks. If it doesn't fit your itinerary then enjoy other places (make sure you include time to stop, eat, swim and generally enjoy) and go back to Rome for a long weekend another time.

We travelled around Italy on our honeymoon. I loved everywhere we went but Rome was probably my favourite so I think you shouldn't skip it.

I'm from Milan and you can skip it

The Duomo is good but you can see it ik an afternoon.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

Pisa and Milan are skippable in my opinion.

I agree. Two hours in pisa is more than enough. I fund Milan a very cold city

Cinque Terre is amazing. One of my favourite places in the world

I’d skip Florence in summer (love it in winter/spring).

I adore Italy, I’ve lived there, studied Italian. You can’t go wrong anywhere in Italy really. Rome is my favourite place in the world (and I’m a country girl, and also was an airline stewardess for over 20 years, so have seen a lot of places!)

Rome is truly jaw dropping. It has an energy and atmosphere all it’s own.

You really don’t need to queue up to go inside things to experience Rome.

If you’re not there long, just walk about, see things from the outside, eat some gelato and have a coffee al fresco.

If you really love it, go back for a longer spell and see the specific things.

But don’t miss out on Rome by trying to cram in all the notable sites.

(although yes Pisa and Milan are my least favourite- and Rimini area too).

I love Rome, but I wouldn't go at the height of summer - the touristy bits are too busy, and the weather's too hot to be tramping around. Spring's perfect, imo.
And I do think you're either a city break person or you're not - look at the NYC thread with people talking about grimy bits, busy people going about their lives, tourist traps, expensive meals in the heart of the city, and so on, and others raving about it. I've loved NYC, Rome, Paris, London, Barcelona, Munich, Milan - busy working cities, which are amazing if you go in expecting that. On the other hand, you couldn't pay me to go back to Venice because it was rammed and felt entirely full of tourists.
Fwiw, I'd seriously consider adding Florence to your trip - absolutely beautiful place.