Rome - tips on eating out, access to tourist sites, what to avoid? What not to miss?

[almost50]

Travelling to Rome soon. Has anyone any tips at all? (Accommodation sorted). Where to eat, what to do, things to avoid, etc

Thanks so much for all these recommendations everyone. Sounds like we can't fail to have a great time! Commencing pre holiday diet to make room for ice-cream!

I agree with Errol. If you've got time and fancy something a bit different from the usual tourist sites, go to Ostia Antica. It's an easy, not too long trip on train, and it's amazing. You can see the whole preserved Roman town, and when we went there was hardly anyone else there (a big change from the main attractions in central Rome).

Just back a few weeks ago. It was fabulous - loads of walking, so pace yourself if with DCs.

I pre-booked Friday evening tickets for the Vatican, it was amazing and not that busy.

Portions of ice cream are HUGE and quite inexpensive, in fact we found eating out quite reasonable, apart from one cafe where we sat down only to discover that coffee was 10 euros a pop - we left sharpish !

We went to a nice park - sorry can't remember the name. It would have been great with children. They had a huge play area and I think you could hire pedalos as well.

Completely agree re Ostia Antica - it's a fantastic site and easy to get to on the metro (linea B).

I know this thread is old but I have a question re the sistine chapel. I hope someone knows the answer. We arrive in Rome this coming Saturday morning at 9.10 (traveling by overnight train) and get the overnight train home on Sunday. Sistine chapel etc apparently closed Sunday. Only tickets available are for 9.30. I have no idea if I can get to the Vatican from the main station in around 20 minutes. I suspect not. Will they be flexible if we turn up late or will it be tough shit. I wouldn't have thought of buying tickets online till I read tips here. Surely plenty of people must turn up without tickets?

I'm going to be with my 13 year old ds for his birthday treat. Only got 2 full days so can't do everything. Any absolute musts for 13 year old apart from Colosseum?

You could get a taxi from the main station. It would take longer than 20 mins to walk.

We just turned up and walked straight into the chapel. Even the queue for the Vatican St. Peter's was fast moving so certainly no need to pre book and we went in August last year.

For me the best form of transport were the tourist buses outside the station. Children upto 12 are free(and they don't ask for proof of age.......) and I think I paid 20 e for two days. We just hopped on and off for two days.

Bring good shoes, you will walk a lot. Cistine chapel closed on Sundays ( when we were there anyway), any church you walk into will be amazing. We couldn't find much of a night life. Not all Italian restaurants are amazing, we had some truly awful food

Thanks for replies. I'll look out for the tourist buses. Ds just turned 13 last week. This is his birthday present from us. Have noted tips.

I remember going to Milan a few years ago and more than 1 meal was really dire. One was clearly in a tin foil tin ready meal thing!

Tbh I'm not a big lover of Italy at all. This is really a labour of love for my ds who has waited over a year for this so I hope it's going to be good. He didn't change his mind and clung on for so long so I am reluctantly giving in. It's going to be great, right?

I loved Rome when I went and didn't have any preconceptions about what it would be like.

I found food to be ok, not stunning - look out for restaurants where there seem to be Italians rather than tourists, and avoid any restaurant like the plague that offers you a free glass of champagne to eat there ( I speak through experience).

I would prebook for the vatican and get the taxi from the station. The queues when we went were long and it takes the hassle away, even if you were a wee bit late I'd imagine you would still get in.

Just to let you know we ditched the idea of the sistine chapel but went to the vatican and all the main ones in a fun but exhausting 2 day whirlwind tour of Rome. Glad I read to bring comfy shoes. We walked almost 40 kilometres in the 2 days.