We have only one day in Rome and it's a Monday in August.How can we best schedule our time to see the most sites.We really want to try see the Vatican, ST. Peter's Basicilla, Colosseum, Forum area and Pantheon? We also have to get back to a cruise ship by 7;00. We are planning to prebook any tickets we can.Also, does anyone know how heavy crowds have been this summer? If I prebook tickets to the Vatican will we get right into St. Peter' without an additional line after finishing the Vatican?
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23624 posts
Remember it is an hour or so train ride in from the port.
Posted by
DC Metro
36 posts
It's doable. I think you have reservations for the Vatican museum, you will be able to skip the line. Getting there as early as possible can help avoid the line. You probably want to be done with Vatican by noon. Then grab togo lunch before hopping on a 40 express bus towards Termini on Piazza Pia near Vatican. Get off at Largo di Torre Argentina (aka Argentina Largo) stop (10 min ride). Walk 3 blocks to the north and you will see Pantheon. Then get back to the same bus stop, take the same 40 express bus to Termini (15 min ride). Get off at Termini and take the metro B line to Colosseo. You can easily do Rick's Caesar shuffle walk in 3-4 hours. If you end your walk at Monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, you can find a bus stop and catch a 40 bus back to Termini and take a train to the port?
Alternatively, from Pantheon you could walk to the southeast and do the reverse Caesar shuffle starting from Emanuele monument ending at Colosseo. I don't recommend that because it's a more confusing walk when you get to Forum as you cannot enter Forum from the back ( you can from one side and the front).
Also bus 64 is the non-express version for bus 40. It stops at every bus stop so it's also slow and more packed.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Note to Forum Participants Thinking About Replying to This Post: A similar (though slightly different) version of this question is being answered in the To The Boot forum, here.
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Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
187 posts
If I only had one day, I would hire a private guide who knows the ropes to avoid an honest tourist mistake that might keep me from seeing something high on my list. It seems expensive, but the alternative may be getting on the cruise ship and having missed the sight. Try Ron in Rome or search this site for private guide in Rome recommendations. With one day you don't have time for mishaps.