PLEASE HELP!!!! Rome or Greece, which one would you choose?

Rome is a city, Greece is a country. Or are you asking about Italy versus Greece?

Thank you Carol, I appreciate your feedback it was very helpful and exactly what I was hoping to hear. It's helpful to hear what others would do if they were in my situation. I will definitely do plenty of research before I make my final decision.

I have been to both. I would choose Greece over Rome BUT I would not choose Athens over Rome.

The islands in Greece are amazing, beautiful really, but that's if you want the tpye of holiday not packed with major historical sites , museums ,and cathedrals, but beautiful scenery, eye bugging views, sandy beaches ,rocky coves( with the amazing azure Mediterranean water lapping up against them) smaller towns with white washes buildings, narrow winding streets, fresh seafood, bustling small fishing harbors!

So really what sort of holiday are you interested in?? There's no right or wrong answer.

If this helps at all, since ancient Romans admired and emulated the ancient Greeks in many ways, you can get a bit of ancient Greece if you visit Rome. The Vatican Musem and others have great, original Greek sculptures, and many Roman statues on display are copies of Greek originals made centuries earlier.

If you tacked on a bit more of Italy (as we did in December 2012), and visited Sicily and/or Paestum (SW and SE of Rome, respectively), you can see actual Greek temples, built by Greeks who traveled west to create new cities within the Grecian Empire of the time. Not the same as visiting modern Greece, but still . . .

The weather could be HOT in either place in summer.

How likely would you be to have similar options in 2016 and future years?

If you could take a trip to Italy in a subsequent year, then I would suggest Greece for 2015.

To this day, I regret not going to Egypt when things were calmer there.

Greece has had its ups and downs. It appears relatively calm now (no threats of major,repeated strikes). So, maybe it is a good time to go.

You'd most likely fly into Athens (spend one day), then as Pat said, get out to the islands and the rest of the country. While Athens has the Acropolis and some other historic sights to see, the beauty is elsewhere in Greece. I still smile when I see photos of Santorini.....such beautiful memories :)

But, we also LOVE Italy. Been to both Tuscany and the Amalfi coast, and Rome twice. Will return someday to see Venice and the lakes district. Lots and lots and lots to see in Rome, but it is a big city (as is Athens). To me Rome is a much prettier and better-kept city than Athens.

Pull up photos on Trip Advisor, and just see which calls to you the most. I say that picking travel destinations is like picking out art.............what appeals to one person might not appeal to the next. And, a piece of art might appeal to you two years from now that does not appeal to you now.....same with travel.

You've got two good choices....either one would be great!

I would do Greece. I've been to both. I've been back to Greece! I'm sure I'll go back to Rome too, but Greece, was wonderful. I loved Athens; I loved the Islands; I loved the people. My friend who went with me still claims it was the best holiday ever. We did have a month, but even with much less time, I would recommend it. What was good for us, was that we were able to mix history, a new and different culture, and the beach! We would wake up every morning and have breakfast in a cafe. We would decide then, was it a beach day or a culture/museum/ruins day. We mixed it up. It was very relaxing.

Pam

I'm still waiting for an answer to Norma's question. Is the OP choosing between Rome (just the city) and Greece as a country, or are they choosing between Italy (Rome and other places) and Greece? Asking to choose between a city and a country makes no sense.

If it's between Italy and Greece and they've not been to either, then I would say Italy. I've been to both Italy and Greece and given the choice to go back I'd pick Greece, but I loved Italy (as a country) too - Rome, not so much. I wasn't as enthralled with Rome as I thought I would be. I anticipated loving it (having seen "Three Coins in the Fountain" and "Roman Holiday" several times each) but was a little let down when actually there. Yes I was awed and amazed with St Peter's, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, and the Forum; but as a city I wasn't that impressed. I know I'm in the minority here but I have no desire to go back to Rome.

Now, Venice or Florence - those I would go back to in a heartbeat.

Italy is the number one destination in Europe and Greece would be further down the list. I just returned from Greece where I spent 3 weeks and loved my trip. I have also been to Rome more times than I can count. I feel it really depends on how much time you have to devote to the trip. Do you have 2 weeks? Less? More? It also depends if you are interested in ruins, churches, museums, food, etc. If you would like a place with less tourists-I would pick Greece. 2 days in Athens then go see the country and 2 islands. I also found Greece more affordable if that's a factor. They have amazing food and everyone is so helpful.