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

Rome in a weekend. What to see? Pease help me plan

28 replies

Colddayhotcuppa · 06/06/2025 11:09

Planning a weekend trip to Rome, I know it needs much longer than that. But is it possible to do this is a weekend? We would be going in late September. I have an 18 year old. What are the absolute must sees and how to book? And any decently located hotel recommendations?
we've never been and would love to do some of the historical sites.

It's such a 'big' city and I feel overwhelmed so would be grateful for any suggestions. Many thanks 😊 🙏

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 07/06/2025 14:37

PinotPony · 06/06/2025 20:25

We’re going for 3 days later this month. The website
https://www.romewise.com/ has been invaluable in planning everything from public transport to what to wear.

We’re wandering around the Spanish Steps, Trevi Foundation and Pantheon (€5 in advance) on our first afternoon before dinner.

We’ve booked a guided tour to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palantine Hill.

Final day, we’re doing an early morning guided tour of the Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and Saint Peters Basilica.
(St Peters is closed on a Wednesday as the Pope is in residence but is definitely worth a visit as you can climb all the way to the top of the dome and look out over St Peter’s Square).

We booked with TUI and are staying at Hotel Canada.
https://www.hotelcanadaroma.com/en/

Just to say that the Pantheon is actually free to get in - it's technically just a church. 5 euros pays for your audioguide but when we went there were lots just wandering round inside without audioguides.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 07/06/2025 14:39

CurlyhairedAssassin · 07/06/2025 14:37

Just to say that the Pantheon is actually free to get in - it's technically just a church. 5 euros pays for your audioguide but when we went there were lots just wandering round inside without audioguides.

whoops, I just googled and I told you old information. A couple of months after we went, so from July 2023, it's only free for citizens of Rome, everyone else needs to pay 5 euros.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 08/06/2025 20:44

Vatican Museum tickets www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/organizza-visita/tariffe-e-biglietti.html

Buy your Vatican Museum tickets in advance on the actual Vatican museum website otherwise you'll have to just turn up on the day and joint the longer line for those who haven't prepaid for a ticket. It's 20 euros entrance fee if you just get one on the day and if you prepay online, it's only an extra 5 euros. On the Vatican Museum website itself they do refer those prepay online tickets as "Skip The Line". Be aware, though, even with the official Museum onlne tickets alll this means is that you already have your ticket - EVERYONE still has to queue in the long security line to get your bags checked whether you have prepaid for a ticket for not. You can also pay just a bit extra and get a ticket with a tour guide to show you round (small charge for headphones) - again, direct with the Museum itself.

Be even more aware, there are many unofficial ticket sellers online which often look like the main official website, often through Tripadvisor, that are also selling what they also call "Skip the Line/Early entry Vatican Museum tickets". They try to market these as saves you having to wait in a huge queue, or VIP type tickets, not mentioning the fact that the security queue is still a long wait and there is no jumping to the front of that for anyone. And they charge a huge amount, and make people believe they are paying for privileged entry. It's a load of bollocks and you will feel ripped off. You will pay a fortune to just meet a tour guide outside, you will then join a long security line of people who have also pre-paid online (either cheaply, direct with the Museum itself, or through the rip off merchant 3rd parties). Once inside, your tour guide will tell your group to wait a minute while she goes and gets the actual tickets for you all, and that's all you''re paying all that money for, for someone else to go and get your paper ticket at the (quiet) kiosk inside.

There is no privileged entry with the more expensive prepaid third party tickets like they try and make out. It works just the same as a prepaid ticket direct with the Museum, only way more expensive. So don't make the same mistake we did. But DO definitely buy ahead online - just ensure that you are doing it direct with the official Vatican Museum website.

I think we had the same issue with the Colosseum. I just left it too late to prebook direct with the actual venues so ended having to do the third party vendors. Won't make that mistake again.

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