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 literally can't believe there are people who found Rome underwhelming

@fedup2017

You have to go to Rome surely! In my opinion the best city in the world One of the highlights of my life (and im not exaggerating) was a 7 am 7 mile run around Rome in 2018 ..... trevi fountain... round the colloseum.... along the tiber to the vatican..... absolutely flipping amazing!

Ahhhh so jealous! I'll do this one day.

Rome is amazing! Pre book the big sights, and just wander around. It’s wonderful- the history is fantastic and it’s just all there to see

Skippable - Florence, Bologna, Verona, Milan, Pisa, Cinque Terre
Non-skippable - Rome, Venice, Trieste, (and probably loads of places in the south where I haven't been )

DH and I did 3 days in Rome, then got the train down to Salerno where we got a boat round to Amalfi and did a week of the Amalfi coast- Ravello, Positano and Capri. Heaven.

Just don’t go in July, because fucking hell it was hot. >40°C in Rome...

I was in Rome, Florence, Siena and Pisa this summer.
Siena and Pisa can be easily reached from Florence and both can be done in a day. Pisa in an afternoon tbh.
Spent 3 full days in Rome and saw everything we wanted to. It's as cheap as chips as well compared to many other places.
I like Verona a lot. Bologna underwhelmed me.
Would go to Venice if I hadn't been, but I have, and wouldn't particularly want to go again. It is so rammed day and night it's becoming a parody of itself and the tat merchants and bars and restaurants ripping tourists off are (in)famous all over Italy.

The thing about Venice is that 90% of the tourists are around the station, San Marco, Rialto and Murano - there are so many quieter, lovely places to visit.

@yellowtotebag

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…

Pisa is horrible! I'd definitely skip it.

Rome is possibly my favourite city for a city break. We went in winter though and is was so quiet, no queues at all.

I think Pisa is worth a visit for half a day.

Rome is wonderful! I spent two weeks there.
Glorious time with my sister.

You can skip Milan, it's a shithole and the only reason to ever fly there is to drive the 2.5
hours to some gorgeous skiing.

Rome is amazing. . Even if you just do a few days its one of the best cities I've ever been too....although I wouldn't go midsummer as gets very hot! ...although its worth a trip on its own...

I love history so Rome was top of list of places to visit. The colosseum, palatine hill and the Vatican are all worth visiting. Even walking around the churches is pretty cool, there’s some stunning ones.

Overall, I was disappointed with Rome though. I prefer places with lots to do (like London, Paris or Queenstown), Rome was just full of things to look at.
We went at the end of January, so they still had Christmas decorations up, which was cool. I would recommend queueing up at places before they open to beat the crowds though.
I don’t know if they still do it, but entry to those places is(was?) free at the start of the month as well.

I've been to a lot of places in Italy and didn't actually think all that much of Rome (or Milan). It felt a bit like a theme park, lots of people (I live in London) and attractions you felt you'd somehow already seen. The restaurants seemed particularly touristy.

Love, love Rome definitely not to missed.

Rome is just a history lesson on every corner- amazing city. Also Venice- yeah its crowded and expensive - but stay over when the day trippers have left and its totally magical and unique. Thumbs up for Mantua and Padua. Bologna for food, Sienna. Skip Milan, Turin , Naples - great cities but nothing unique

Absolutely love Rome, and I would echo those who've said if you don't have much time, don't spend it queuing to get in the main sites, but just wander....there is literally ancient history on every street corner, so you don't absolutely have to go into the main sites to see it. The atmosphere is just lovely. I wandered alone there for hours and really felt a sense of the place, without spending any money getting in places at all.

One thing I love about Rome is even as someone who isn't religious there are so many beautiful churches. Provided your quiet and respectful you can in.

I get goosebumps in the Basilica. The Pantheon is incredible too especially early when it's quiet - we were lucky enough to be staying in an apartment last time literally 3 minutes walk away. It was lovely to pop back for a rest each day!

LMAO at the restaurants being "touristy"

I loved Naples. But it is 15 years or so since I was there, it reminded me of India, never stopping. And such good food.

Rome, we ate well in Rome, but we asked people where to go and only ended up in one rip off tourist place when we were both knackered, and even as we sat down I thought 'uh oh'... and I was right. But chalk up to experience.

Venice - agree, stay over, and wander.

I have visited Rome twice in mid winter and it was comparatively mild. The weather is a non issue there, really. Infact, I was in Positano a day later and found myself staring at lemon groves through heavy snow! As a pescatarian, I have found myself badly catered for in certain parts of Italy (and many places in Europe) but Rome is a foodie destination which covers everyone's needs really well (including fussy children). We ate very well in a hyper touristy place on the Piazza Navona near the Parthenon but we abandoned an appalling equivalent meal opposite the Duomo in Florence (as were many of the other tourists).

Rome is my favourite place of anywhere I have ever been. It feels like it’s my soul home or something. It’s incredible. Make sure you book skip the line stuff to all the tourist stuff before you go to save time, and look for more unusual things (Atlas Obscura website is your friend).

I’ve spent around a month there so far and I would do it a million times again (and will). As the saying goes, you can spend a lifetime in Rome and it’s not enough.

Rome is amazing! So much to see. Treasures round every corner! I'm so grateful to have visited!

If it's in the summer, I'd just do the country/coastal places. Then when you're older go to places such as Rome, Venice, Florence and the Pompeii, Herculaneum etc area for at least a week each in spring or autumn, after taking the time to learn something about them.

Rome is amazing! It took me about 3 trips to feel
I'd 'done' it. So much to see. And completely walkable. But the graffiti is terrible.

I went to Rome in January and it was really quiet. My friend is currently there and it looks absolutely deserted.

@StrychnineInTheSandwiches

Pisa and Milan are skippable in my opinion.

I can’t comment on Milan, but I totally agree about Pisa. It is just dreadful. Rome is fabulous, even if you just go for a couple of days. You can do a circuit of the historic centre in a day, taking in the Forum and Colosseum (go first thing as they open), Capitoline Hill and insula, Pantheon (free), Piazza Navona, etc. Stop for a beer or two at the Campo del Fiori while the market is still going. If you’re only there for a couple of days, give the queues at the Vatican/St Peter’s a miss and do something a bit more off the beaten track instead - the Catacombs, “The Mouth of Truth” and the temples and other Roman buildings nearby, Area Sacra (where Caesar was assassinated, you can view it from the road). Some of the baroque churches are amazing; our favourite is the Jesuit church with its trompe l’oeil ceiling. Rome is astonishing but the best thing is just walking around and finding some Egyptian obelisk, antiques market or surprising 1st century temple which is now a tax office or something! I’d also highly recommend stopping off in Siena, Orvieto and Gubbio for the day if you can - all very beautiful and far less touristy. Enjoy your trip!