Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Flip

Original poster

Rome for my 40th

19 replies

OhYeahYouSuck · 15/09/2020 23:38

DP and I have decided to go to Rome for my 40th birthday (it's not quite yet).

Neither of us have ever been, I've never been to Italy. We're thinking about 5 nights. Will be late October (not this year, we like to plan in advance) so should still be warm and not too busy?

Any tips, hints or suggestions? I'm very excited! Oh, DP wants something romantic and we want to do something nice on my actual birthday if anyone has any suggestions. We definitely don't have an unlimited budget though!

OP posts:

Ginfordinner · 15/09/2020 23:41

We went late October, and it was brilliant. It was warm - about 21 degrees, and we walked for miles. The only downside of going so late in the year is that it gets dark so early.

Top tip - take comfortable footwear to walk in.

SJaneS48 · 16/09/2020 09:09

Walk the city and wander! It’s got an incredible amount of history. Get a good guide book. Don’t stay too far out the centre - there is a subway system and while it’s been 10 years since I last went, subway trains used to stop at 9pm. People watching while sitting in the main tourist piazza’s (Navone etc) is nice but eat elsewhere as otherwise you’ll be shelling out €€ for not great food. Do a day trip to Naples and Pompei.

SJaneS48 · 16/09/2020 09:10

PS - you can do Naples and Pompei by train. Book in advance on Trenitalia.

Original poster

OhYeahYouSuck · 16/09/2020 12:08

Thanks. Good tip about getting dark early and footwear (walked 11 miles a day around Magic Kingdom so it should be fine 😆).

Will speak to DP about a day trip, I reckon he'll be up for that. We're definitely planning on staying central so we can walk places and use the subway, thanks for the tip about them stopping earlier.

OP posts:

SJaneS48 · 16/09/2020 12:15

Looks like the metro time closure is now later than 10 years ago OP, just checked for you.

Original poster

OhYeahYouSuck · 16/09/2020 23:30

@SJaneS48

Looks like the metro time closure is now later than 10 years ago OP, just checked for you.

Ah that's great, thank you.

OP posts:

Prettybluepigeons · 16/09/2020 23:33

Go for a wander round Trastevere at night for the atmosphere. A trip to st Mark's to be overwhelmed by the scale and grandeur.
Walk along the Tiber. Drink limoncello outside a restaurant by candlelight.

I am SO jealous!
Dh and I went to Rome for my 40th and it was bliss

Timeforanotherusername · 16/09/2020 23:34

My favourite place ever!

We stayed near St Peters square.

I imagine October would be good weather wise.

We went early Sept and it was so hot. We returned mid Sept to fly home and it was a lot cooler.

Definitely easier to sight see.

It’s an amazing city. I can’t wait until my kids are older to take them.

Timeforanotherusername · 16/09/2020 23:36

Go to Vatican on a Wed / Sun when Pope is doing his address. It’s so much quieter.

Prettybluepigeons · 17/09/2020 00:00

I do of course mean st Peter's. Getting mixed up with venice which is also amazing!

Svalberg · 17/09/2020 00:29

There's plenty to keep you occupied for 5 days, DP and I go quite often and are always finding new things to do! Last time we did a guided evening eating/drinking walk round Trastevere which was absolutely fantastic, and we're planning to do that again next time we go.

Splendidseptember · 17/09/2020 23:19

Duck into churches, do read about the art in them, carrivagio, titian etc... I'm not usually a church visiting fan.. But wow....

Drink fragolini... Wander... Do some history research before to get the full depth...

Pantheon was my favourite part... Loved that square just not the macdonalds sign,restaurants...

Oh and villa borghese! The sculpture! Again I've never been a massive sculpture fan.. But wow!

MinnieMountain · 18/09/2020 16:24

Walk as far down the Appian Way as you can. There are ancient ruins scattered at random along it.

If they're still doing it, the archeologist-lead tour of the dig on Nero's golden palace was amazing.

The Coliseum is impressive to look at but you don't need long.

The Forum and the Palantine Hill has lots to look at. If we went again, we'd take a picnic.

MaudesMum · 18/09/2020 16:54

You have to book in advance online for Villa Borghese, but it is well worthwhile, especially since it isn't very crowded because of the bookings. Also for the Sistine Chapel, which is part of the Vatican museums. My best top tip for that (given to me by someone else) is to get in at the earliest possible time, and then march as quickly as possible round the rest of the museum, not stopping to look at anything, to get to the Sistine Chapel before the coach tours do. The only problem with that is since there's a one-way route around the museums you either miss out on the first half of the museum, or have to go round the whole thing again in order to see it all...

Svalberg · 20/09/2020 09:46

@MinnieMountain

Walk as far down the Appian Way as you can. There are ancient ruins scattered at random along it.

If they're still doing it, the archeologist-lead tour of the dig on Nero's golden palace was amazing.

The Coliseum is impressive to look at but you don't need long.

The Forum and the Palantine Hill has lots to look at. If we went again, we'd take a picnic.

I second the recommendation of Nero's golden palace, we were waiting about 4 years for it to open but it was well worth it when it eventually did. Ditto the Forum. There is also the place where Julius Caesar was killed, Torre Argentina, which is viewable from above and all around - it doubles as a cat sanctuary, the rooms for ill cats (where you could visit) are at the end furthest away from the multitude of bus stops

mocktail · 20/09/2020 09:49

We went in late October a few years ago and the weather was lovely - warm and sunny and perfect for sightseeing.

jakeyboy1 · 25/09/2020 20:40

We went just before lockdown, it was spookily quiet and amazing!

We had booked everything though we didn't need to as it turned out but you still need a plan.

We booked Breakfast at the Vatican (breakfast is awful but you get in there early so no crowds).

We had an arena floor tour of the Colloseum and Roman fortress - amazing!

We went to a light opera at St Pauls within the walls.

We stumbled across the Pantheon and paid a guide 10 euros to take us around.

Have an amazing time!

jakeyboy1 · 25/09/2020 20:41

Also if you do the St Paul's opera our hotel was practically next door - The Artemeide - and has an amazing roof top restaurant.

Roystonv · 25/09/2020 21:14

Totally disagree, do not rush through to get to Sistine Chapel as the both dh and myself loved/were amazed by all the rooms on the way and found SC a bit underwhelming. Villa Borghese an absolute must. We stayed very near St Peter's - you need to decide do you stay there and be near to Vatican etc or travel to it and be nearer Forum etc etc. Agree go into any church you pass.

Flip