Going to Rome - 3-day break in June

[WendyHadWings]

Family of 4 with two preteen sons 13 and 11, no idea what to see and what to miss. Give me your top places to go and top restaurants for family dining. We are mild culture vultures but also like shopping, browsing, eating nice food, days out, and taking in the scene. All of us fairly active and happy to eat every kind of food.

In June I would give the Vatican a miss - yes I know.

It was extremely crowded and stuffy inside when we went during October half term. I imagine that it would be worse in June. You shuffle through slowly because of the crowds, and once you have passed through numerous brightly painted galleries the Sistine Chapel is distinctly underwhelming. We couldn't get near St Peters as the queue was 2 hours long, so all in all it didn't live up to expectations.

All churches are free, and there are several worth looking at. They are good to duck into to escape the heat as well.

IMO must sees are the Forum/Palatine Hill, the Colosseum and the Pantheon. The Trevi fountain was being repaired when we were there but is worth a look at if you can get near it.

We loved Rome and I would go back in a heartbeat. Most important - take comfortable shoes. You will walk for miles.

I agree about the Vatican.

The list to the top of the Altare Della Patria is well worth doing.

Forum, Pantheon, San Pietro in Vincoli church has a Michelangelo statue. The catacombs might be of interest. I saw an article about gladiator school which might be fun. Rome is fabulous.

*lift!

A friend told me that the catacombs were well worth visiting. Sadly we didn't have enough time there.

Pre-book a guided tour of the Coliseum - well worth it to avoid the queue and get to go to parts of the arena that are not accessible.

We also love the Pantheon.