Can anyone help me plan a trip to Rome with a teenager?

[pasta]

I'd like to take my 14 year old to Rome for a couple of days in the October half term. I don't have loads of money, but we have had a difficult few years and I'd like to do something special with him while he still wants to spend time with me.

I've been to Rome, but years ago. How many days do people think we will need? I'd also be really grateful for recommendations for accommodation, reasonably priced but want to avoid super budget/grotty.

We stayed here for 4 nights. Great location and quirky hotel. We loved Rome. The capuchin crypts are a bit different which I'm sure teenagers would like!!

@pasta Get something like Lonely Planet and look at their recommendations. My DDs were fairly happy with the Roman and Papal side of Rome. Ask DC what they are interested in. Then look at where places are on metro and when you need to book tickets. We had 4 nights.

Thanks, I'd actually completely forgotten about Lonely Planet and the like, good idea

@pasta There has been quite a few complaints about the new format of their books. An older edition might be useful as they have itineraries which are very useful. We dip in and out according to our interests but there’s always gems you discover.

I went this summer post GCSE exams with my teen. Lots sights in Italy were cheaper or free for under 18s. We went to the colleseum early on morning and it was cheap because of his age and you could enter the forum too. In forever he got free entry to a gallery.

We were only in Rome a day and half as interailing so paid ££££ for so the queue tickets to Vatican. This was a bit disappointing, it was fascinating at start but it was a fixed route so got to the point where you are like another room of pots before you can see the Sistine chapel. Was very busy as expected.

The trevi statue amazed him (especially at night when it and other landmarks are illuminated) and lovely gelato in shop opposite. We went twice.

There were tour buses but traffic looked bad so we mainly walked and got metro to Vatican. That was easy with contactless cards unlike the complicated system in Paris.

We didn't try Rome but in Florence played a Questo app game which have done more info, have used app in UK and they are usually quite fun.

Do a food tour! My teens loved it. We did 'Prati by Sunset'. Sooooo much food!

Expensive but worth it! We did Twilight Trastevere.

My teens loved wandering round Trastevere in the evenings, we ate there a couple of times and also wandered for hours stopping for drinks and ice creams. They enjoyed the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain (but the latter was rammed). We used buses and metro to get round (easy with a 48 hour ticket from the metro station) and walked for miles.

fmgelato.com/

These geletarias are amazing.

Good plan to go in October - it was very hot in July. The Vatican is a bit hard going although the Sistine chapel is amazing it is very crowded and you don’t get that long in there. If you can just go into St Peter’s basilica that was pretty amazing.

We also booked the underground tour of the colosseum which was good, again they moved us through quite quickly - it is quite a bit more expensive than entry without the underground and I am not 100% sure it was worth it - it was good but really you are looking up anyway to where everyone else is.

We also did the catacombs which were interesting and the capchin crypt with all the bones - amazing but strange.

I think I most enjoyed walking around the smaller streets and having gelato and coming across ancient ruins and beautiful views. It was too hot to do very much of that except in the evenings. My 12 year old hated everthing about Rome but my 16 year old liked it more. Everyone says you need a lifetime/at least a month to see Rome but I think 4 days was enough for me.

Why was Vatican hard? Too busy?

I'm also looking at a trip to rome. Going to try and time it with an inset day!

The tour goes through the museums for a long time and it was hot and crowded - No air conditioning. Reasonably interesting I guess but not the main event. Again, better in October and without a 12 year old who really, really doesn’t want to be there.

Thank you! I'll bear that in mind.

We went to Rome last October with our 14 year old DS and had a great time. We stayed 4 nights which was enough to get a good look round. We did a guided walking tour of the Forum, Colosseum and Palatine Hill which was great and took about 3 hours. We started by visiting the Welcome to Rome exhibition which helped us to understand the basic history of the city. We enjoyed the Pantheon and the Borghese Gardens. You can rent some fun bikes in the gardens which is a bit different. We also liked the Baths of Caracalla, which is a bit further out and has lots of interesting things to see. That's close to Bocca della Verità as well, which is a good photo opportunity.

We’re just back from Rome and if you are happy wandering around yourself the colosseum and forum are free for under 18’s. St Peter’s Basilica is also free. Definitely worth doing your research because you can get charged various prices for the same thing

I stayed in an AirB&B in the Baldo degli Ubaldi area in the spring time. The apartment gave opportunity to do some meals there and reduce spends. There were a good number of small wine and food shops close by. Also its not particularly touristy area so the restaurants bars etc are priced more for locals.
Its close to the Metro and not too many stops to the Vatican, Spanish Steps and other attractions.