Rome

[StressedGMOOH]

We're going to Rome (DH and I) next week for 2 nights. We'll be arriving mid evening, have a full day the following day, then flying back just before 5pm on the last day. So one and a half days of sightseeing.

We're planning on doing the coliseum, forum, Trevi Fountain etc. on the full day, but looking for ideas for the morning of the second day. Would a morning be enough for the Sistine chapel and Vatican museums? Any other ideas? Thanks

You need to queue for a very long time for Vatican Museums, unless you booked a tour in advance. I would just stick to St Peter's.
Colosseum and Forum should be booked ahead too.
1.5 days is nowhere near enough time to even scratch the surface with Rome, so just try to get a feel of the place and then plan to go back for a longer trip at some other time.

For 1.5 days it is going to be a short fun visit.

Whereabouts are you staying? There are loads of things that can be easily done in a morning. The Vatican museums are enormous, Sistine Chapel is heaving, and it's all a bit out of the way.

Am sure we can come up with something near where you are.

@AnnaMagnani We'll be staying at the Raganelli, Via Aurelia, Lazio

We're considering booking a guided tour of the coliseum and forum but were hoping next week would be quieter in terms of tourists so queues not quite so long.

Prebook a time for Vatican museum. There are various routes according to how long you can spend there, showing you highlights.

The Forum is great, you can spend ages there just with a guidebook. I think you need a tour of the Colisseum to get the best out of it.

You are going to need transport to go to anything from where you are staying so depends on what you want to do.

Off the top of my head I'd do one of:

Palazzo Borghese
San Clemente
Wander around Trastevere going into the churches there
Wander around Piazza Navona, Pantheon, pop in to the church and see the Caravaggio
Galleria Doria Pamphilij

Pantheon is worth a visit. Much you can see from the street level anytime so wander in the evenings.

I did the Vatican museum in January and it was empty. As was the Sistine Chapel. But to be quite honest it was very boring and I was so knackered by the time I got to the Chapel, I just wanted to sit down with a cuppa. It did absolutely nothing for me. And if I only had a day and a half, I'd give it a miss.

If you can, do the Scavi tour instead. There is a necropolis under St Peter's. It's fascinating

Unless you really really really like art, Sistine Chapel is very disappointing.

We did 2 nights / 2.5 days and did ...
First day, train straight in from airport ,bus tour ( good to get your bearings ) , drink in bar , check in hotel ,dinner bed .
2nd day am collusem and forum guided tour (took about 3 hours ), lunch , two hour wander , Jewish quarter food tour ( my favourite activity learned so much and covered our dinner that night ), cab home
Last day , Vatican and Sistine chapel , long late lunch then to the airport at 630 bus outside termini.

The address is Lazio as opposed to Roma? 😬 I think you might be a long way out...are you near a train or metro station?

Are you taking the airport train from Termini? There are some interesting things around the station- the Baths of Diocletian for example. Otherwise- yes, S. Clemente might be a good call for a morning. Or the Pantheon, although they've started charging on weekends.

You can book an early morning tour of the Vatican and go in before it opens. Costs twice as much but defo worth it. The Pantheon is worth a visit and Nero's golden palace is defo one to see if you can (need to book a time slot for that one).

Ok, so the Coliseum, Forum and Pantheon are definites. I'm not too bothered about the Vatican, more interested in the "Roman" rather than Christian side of the city I think.

Trip advisor reviews, many stated the hotel was in a good location, not too far from the centre. Hotel itself has good reviews which is why we booked. We'll be getting the train from the airport to Termini and then bus, I think (will be looking into that tomorrow) - there's a bus stop a couple of minutes walk from the hotel. Only planning on packing lightly, small rucksacks each so won't have to worry about luggage on the 2nd day.

Have heard that it's very rainy in Rome in January. Home from home, then...

Palatine museum if you have time. There are Roman artefacts in the Vatican museum iirc. Along the Tiber is a huge pile of amphorae. (Monte Testaccio) and don't forget Circus Maximus. Roman Rome is evident everywhere as you stroll around.

If you are more into the Roman then I'd look at the Pantheon and a wander round the area taking in the Largo Argentino. I think the Ara Pacis is walking distance as well, and has the added bonus of being indoors so great in the rain (we went in torrential rain so it has a special place in my heart). Or a tour of Nero's Golden House.

I have done “Rome in a day” twice. My dad can’t leave the dogs and then my elderly aunt wanted to go.
First flight out Landsat 10.30 am , taxi to somewhere near the Colosseum which you pre book the secret tours visit at 1pm ( coop ticket is the official site ) Ticket includes the Forum so have a look round there whilst getting a sandwich ad drink from one of the many traders.Do the tour. Taxj to St Peters walk around inside and
you can pay extra to go up the Basilica. Walk to the Piazza Navarro, look inside Church with Caravaggio’s and the Pantheon .Dinner near the Trevi foundation at 5pm .Bike ride round the park. Taxi to airport at 7 for 9.30 pm flight home.

Two days is luxury!

I spent 10 days there last summer. I think I could have done it in seven...but I went to the beach in Ostia and all over the place. Went to loads of museums, went to the Botanical Garden, explored Trastevere...

Top tips: stick to pizza/pasta for dinner because it's cheaper. Do not get a drink by the Pantheon 🤑. And public fountains dispense water good enough to drink.

Taking the bus tour is brilliant as you can hop on and off and just gives you a great feel for the city.
There are some amazing sights to take in as you just drive around.

Sorry for scaring you...I checked out the address (I'm an obsessive vicarious travel planner), and it does look like a good location...about 3 miles away from the centre (which means that any local shops/ restaurants won't be silly tourist prices), and about a mile away from the nearest metro stop. It's right the other side of the centre from Termini, which means you might get a bit of a free sightseeing tour if you took the bus! Public transport is very reasonably priced in Rome, too.

Absolutely take the panoramic glass lift at the back of Altare della Patria (imo the most overwhemingly impressive building in Rome). It takes you to the roof where there is a terrace and the most beautiful view of Rome you could ever imagine!

The glass lift view is amazing.
I really like the Castel Sant Angelo. It’s been used since it was built for Hadrian.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. Will be busy planning with DH over the weekend 😊

My itinerary!

Day 1 - tour of Colosseum, Forum and Palatine at 8.30am.
A further relaxing meander around the forum without the guide and a bite to eat in the area. After lunch, Nero's Golden Palace then a walk up to the Trevi Fountain. The maps say it's roughly a 20 minute walk, probably 30 with my little legs. Dinner in the area or maybe back to the hotel first.

Day 2 - morning only, the Pantheon then lunch before heading back to the airport.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, they've really helped! I'd love an extra day there to fit more in, though.

It's a great itinerary.

I'd add the Pantheon is a must see but doesn't take all morning. So plan some mooching around the area. There is a great obelisk sat on an elephant just round the side. It's also not far from the Piazza Navona which personally I think is a better fountain and doesn't attract the hordes of the Trevi fountain.

Whatever you do, do NOT have lunch at the restaurant facing that fountain on the Piazza Navona. It has a great view but knows it - food is crap and very expensive.

Generally if you walk 1 minute down a side street from a famous site, the quality of food increases astronomically.