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

The vatican and sistine chapel were my biggest hates of our trip. Crowded and got nothing from it. Herded around like cattle. Ugh.

One of my favourite things after the Forum and Colosseum was a walk in this park- https://www.romesightseeing.net/aqueduct-park/ it was peaceful and quite stunning and easy to ghet to on the metro.

You would need to prebook Nero's Golden Palace as it is not open every day with access for limited numbers. There is also a Roman house below street level near the Trajan column, again prebook as only certain times are guided in English.

Honestly the Pantheon won't take a morning and it's en route between Piazza Navaro and the Trevi Fountain anyway. Remember its Rome and the cities were tiny compared to todays. Stuff is very walkable.
Have you booked the underground tour for the Colosseum? Its 24 euros and you don't have to queue. You see the underground bit where the slaves would be kept and stand on the stage. Colosseum | CoopCulture

We went for 2.5 days and the best thing we did was a golf cart tour of the city, it was brilliant, and everyone I’ve recommended it to has always absolutely loved it. You have a whistle stop tour of all the ‘main’ sights and the guide was so knowledgeable. It’s also really fun with the golf cart alternating between tiny pedestrian alleyways and squares to main streets with traffic - it sure I’m selling it that well but it was fab.

We did a three hour tour of the coliseum with access to the lowest floor which isn’t always available which was quite special as well.

I loved the colosseum, palatine hill and forum, and St Peter's. Sistine chapel so anti climatic and Trevi fountain rammed. Go to Travestere to eat in the evening.

@Jessforless Where did you find the golf cart tour? We're going in February and that sounds like fun.

Also, does everyone book Colluseum tours online from the UK or do you book once you're there?

DH and I went about 20 years ago and we just turned up at various places. I think it's all a bit more busy and complicated now.

Once you get there you find a zillion touts, usually dressed as gladiators.

It's easier to book everything before you go, some things are booked slots only or so busy that if you don't book you will be in a massive queue.

On the other hand it can be difficult to tell the difference between official websites and reselling websites.

Add on one more sight on the Saturday. It's a 10 min walk from Trevi Fountain to the Capuchin Crypt. You only need 20 mins there but it is mind boggling.

Rome was one of my most memorable holidays ever. Book the fast tickets to enter the big attractions to leave you more time to walk and explore this incredible city and find those little spots out of the way.

Did Rome in November in a similar timescale and managed to pack a lot in! My favourite was the Trevi fountain, although very busy, but spectacular, and the Pantheon is on the way there.

We also went to the Colosseum, The Forum, St Peter's Square, Palazzo Colonna, Piazza di Spagna/the Spanish Steps/Fontana della Barcaccia, the church of St Ignatius of Loyola (among others) browsed the high end streets Via Condotti, the Largo di Torre Argentina (where Julius Caesar was reputedly killed, and which now houses a cat sanctuary - think something like 80-odd cats), Vittoriano/the Victor Emmanuel II monument, and did a decent amount of (non high end) shopping in between!!

Our favourite restaurant was Tre Scalini - food was gorgeous but I paid 15 euro for a bowl of (admittedly excellent!) soup, for context.

Enjoy!

https://www.getyourguide.co.uk/rome-l33/golf-cart-tour-of-rome-with-guide-t27124/?utm_source=getyourguide&utm_medium=sharing&utm_campaign=activity_details

we booked this one, so worth it. Had such a good time.

We booked our other tours through this website too.

Thank you 😊

@stressedGMOOH Thanks for starting this thread! I'm going in two weeks for three nights and this has been really helpful! I am also staying at the Ragenelli hotel, would you mind if I DM you a few questions about it?

Vatican museum was the least favourite part of our trip last year. I'd say try to avoid it if you hate crowds, or maybe try to go at the end of the day before it closes. We paid quite a lot of money to have the supposed early bird access in the morning. I had visions of us in a nice little group being shown slowly along calm quiet echoey corridors all relaxed. What they don't tell you is that there are quite a large number of those "early access" groups, so much so that it didn't feel any less busy then when they'd opened the doors to let the supposed "ordinary" ticket holders in. Just felt like a money-making thing.

Having said that if you love art it's surely a must-see.

As with all the sights in Rome, it's just the pure volume of things that wows you. By the time you get to the Sistine Chapel you're kind of "yeah, yeah, another painted ceiling" 😂

We just loved walking around the narrow streets in the centre. The atmosphere is wonderful. We walked about 9 miles a day so wear trainers!

Just realised you're not going in school holiday time or in warm weather so the crowds will probably much less of a factor for you. Hope the city still looks as wonderful this time of year as it does in early summer.

@shrumps yes, DM me.

I've only just realised that I forgot to update all you helpful people on here!

We got to the airport at around 5pm, walked the 500miles to the exit and got the train to Termini. We got a taxi to the hotel which took approximately 25-30 minutes at that time of day. We decided to use taxis the whole stay (just between the hotel and the city centre) because we had such limited time. 4 taxi rides altogether which cost us around 65 euro altogether. We did the guided Coliseum and Forums tour on the first morning, then walked to the Golden Palace. Had lunch on one of the side streets not far from there, then walked to the Trevi Fountain which was jam packed. From there to the Spanish Steps (a bit underwhelming) and then over to the Pantheon. We sat outside enjoying spritz for a couple of hours just people watching and gazing in awe at the building. Paid 5 euro each to go inside but, to be honest, wasn't that blown away with the interior. We then walked down to the Trastevere district for an dinner. We only had until 1pm on the 2nd day so had a more relaxed wander round. Found the Piazza Navona that someone on here mentioned - it was nicer than the Trevi. Not so many people and little stalls selling souvenires.

It was 18C on the first day and we nearly melted. Slightly cooler on the 2nd day.

There was so much we didn't see and do without even going near the Vatican that we'll definitely go back..