I'm going to Rome next week for the 1st time ...any tips?

[Mywifenow]

Hello
Can you give me your best tips and must do/see please?
Staying in an apartment near the colloseum.
Planning to visit the cistine chapel. Can't decide whether to pay to go inside the colloseum or if it's enough to just see it?Hate queuing and on a bit of a budget.
Any hidden gems?
Also a bit stuck for evening activities will probably go out for ice cream and wine..any other ideas?
Thanks :)

All the churches are free.
IMO The Vatican was too crowded to be enjoyable. By the time we had shuffled through endless ornately decorated galleries the Sistine Chapel was underwhelming.
You can prebook tickets for the Colosseum to avoid the queues.
Palatine Hill/The Forum is a must, and so is the Pantheon (free).

Most important of all - wear comfortable shoes. You will walk miles.

I was just about to post the same lonerica. Rome is brilliant to just wander around but it's really hard on the feet. I didn't enjoy the Vatican either. If you let yourself wander you'll find wonders everywhere.

If you want to go into the cistine chapel or anywhere near the Vatican buy tickets online. Even with skip the queue tickets there can be a queue. And I agree it's horrible inside.

Buy a ticket in advance for Colloseum/Palatine Hill/Forum, go first thing in the morning, in that order.

Like the others said - just walk around. And look up

I loved the Pantheon. Just sat under the hole in the roof with the sun shining, and it felt very peaceful despite thousands of tourists!

Walk around at night too, it's all lit up.

We booked a walking tour through viator before we went and it was the best thing we did. We did all the big monuments and churches on the tour but she explained all the history and things we would never of known. It included entry to the ruins and colloseum and it was worth going inside to see. Buy Vatican tickets through viator too as then you don't have to queue, the queues are insane!! Take very comfortable shoes there's a lot of walking! The tour guide said be very careful of pick pockets when you go in the churches, because they are free entry the pick pockets go in and out all day and mug tourists whilst they are busy looking at the ceilings etc.

So did I Dynamitewithalaserbeam. It was raining when we were there and it added to the experience.

we booked a tour of the coliseum which meant we got a lot more out of it than we would have done if we hadn't. we went into the Vatican and queued and the best bit was going up inside the dome for the view across Rome. we did make sure we had a really good detailed guide book. also went on the day trip by train out to Ostia. we spent the whole day there and thoroughly enjoyed it. Makes a nice change if you want to escape the hustle and bustle.

Book the third level and underground tour of the colessium, it was fantastic! Use the metro - it’s easier to use and quicker than the buses.

Agree lots of free things to see. The Pantheon is my favourite. Also Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps. Many churches with amazing sculptures (they are EVERYWHERE). Try to go to restaurants and cafes a few streets away from the main sights, they tend to be cheaper.

I am going for the first time in June.
Hope OP will report back!

Do a Segway tour - really easy to learn if you haven't done it before and a brilliant way to get a sense of how the whole city fits together, and to see the major sights without getting tired.

I loved the capuchin crypt and the criminology museum. The museum is a bit tucked away and not everything is in English but it's worth seeking out.

Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary is also a lovely place to stop by for half an hour.

Visit Trastevere in the evening - it’s a lovely place to wander in the evening, lots of lovely restaurants and bars.

If you’re on a budget, go to Fresno e Frizioni in Trastevere for aperetivo ,for about €10 you get a drink which also includes unlimited visits to a buffet bar - it was mostly cheeses, hummus, salads, breads etc, but was delicious. We were planning to go for a meal after, but we were full up!

A great place for wine is Cul De Sac, just off the Piazza Nirvona. It’s not much to look at (formica tables!) , but is always busy with locals and tourists. At very busy times, you must get a ticket before joining a queue to get in. They have a huge range of wines , starting from around €12 a bottle, up to €2000! They do fab meat and cheese platters, although the rest of the food is very average.

Lots of things are free in Rome, just wander, popping in to churches, shops etc as you go. My favourite place was the Pantheon.

If you have time, walk up through the rose gardens to the Piazza of the Knights of Malta, and peer through the keyhole in the gate there. It took my breath away!

Don't cross the road, get a bus across.

Definitely Trastavere, the cat sanctuary ( which is also the actual site where Julius Ceaser died), Pantheon, the English tearoom at the Spanish Steps, the Vatican Museums and lots of ice cream! on our first night there we walked from the Vatican (stayed beside it) all the way to the Coliseum and back..can really recommend that too...just soak up the atmosphere..It's an amazing place...oh and the Mamertime prison where the Apostle Peter and Paul were imprisoned (next to the Roman forum).

And watch out for the men and women dressed as gladiators outside the Coliseum..they will come up to you and put their arm around you and before you know it your photo is being taken and there's a charge!..our man looked like Sid James from the Carry on films, so it was worth it as it was so funny.

This is all fab so thank you OP! We are going in September for 2 nights.

The Colosseum is a must-see. Vatican not so much. After queuing for ages they wouldn't let my friend in as she was wearing a sleeveless dress so I went in on my own.

Keep an eye on your handbag—my friend had her purse stolen while we were on a bus.

And make sure you try the gelato. They only give you a tiny portion so you can have several a day. :-)

Thanks for this thread, OP

I’m going in October - I have been before, but so long ago (1970) it might as well be the first time, & DH has never been at all.

Thanks all for helpful suggestions. We’ll be staying in an Airbnb just north of the Borghese Gardens - lots of embassies there apparently, anybody know the area?

We never made it to the Villa Borghese..I still regret that.

If you're there on a Wednesday you can go to a papal audience for free. It's better to book in well advance but I've got in without a ticket before (the Swiss guard felt sorry for me ).