Rome. Siena Top tips

[Chinwag]

We are going to Italy and would like to do day trips to Rome and Siena.

Obviously we won't have long (and it will be hot and tiring), so wondered what not to miss in each place.

DD's are 12 & 10.

Well, in Rome the Colluseum and forum are unmissable and very easy to spend a few hours in. They are literally opposite each other and one ticket buys entry into both. If, say, you did these two sites in the morning I'd recommend the Colluseum first (get there early to beat the queues) and then onto the forum, a great place for a lunchtime picnic if you buy your sandwiches etc. before you go in. For the afternoon you can easily hop on the metro (only two lines, A and B) and head for the Vatican and St Peters, though again queues might be an issue. If your kids are good walkers then you could alternatively plan a simple walking tour that would lead you up past the forum and into the city, taking in the Trevi fountain, the Pantheon (free entry!!!), through Piazza Navone and across the river past the Castel Sant'Angelo, and onto Saint Peter's Square before taking the metro back, and obviously eating as much gelato as you can manage on the way for energy?

Siena is a relatively small city, and in a day you can easily take in the main sites by just wandering round the narrow streets, and visiting Piazza del Campo and the beautiful Duomo on the way.

HTH

Thanks Paleodad. That's really helpful.

If you are going to the Colosseum DO NOT queue to buy your ticket there. The ticket is a joint one with the Palatine which is next door. Go to the Palatine ticket office (not more than 300m from Colosseum), buy your ticket there then skip the queue at the Colosseum.......look for a separate "ticket holder" queue beside the main entrance. Also approach the Colosseum via The Forum.

..in fact if you approach the Colosseum via the Forum you'll hit the Palatine ticket office on your right before the Colosseum.

Would you fancy hiring a couple of scooters to flit about the place? Great fun and a good way of seeing loads in a short time.

Great tips thanks.

Scooters sound like fun, but would frighten the pants off me, especially with 2 x DD's on the back!! He he