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18+ Layover in Rome - Ideas

I have a very long layover in Rome in February - I arrive from Palermo at 9:20 am on Sunday and my flight from Rome to Amsterdam is at 6:15 am on Monday. I'm not interested in sleeping at the airport or near the airport. I spent 3 weeks in Rome ages ago when I was in high school and also was there in 2003 so I've done all the "required" things, but it's been a long time. I was thinking I'd like to do Rick Steves Rome by Night walk and spend time photographing the fountains. I would like to stay in a central location near Piazza Navona - but I'm open to other suggestions - my budget range is anything from $150 to $225 for a single room. I would (of course) like a good dinner - any suggestions are good - I'm a "foodie". I'm female and traveling solo - I have a good grip on my personal safety and of course use a money belt - but I'm not too keen staying somewhere that might be "gritty" given some rather negative experiences I had years ago in Rome that I can't seem to forget (I remember the train station area as being very gritty). I plan on taking a taxi for my early morning flight - I'm budgeting about 50-55 euros for that. Any suggestions for hotels, restaurants, weather (will have a rain coat and fleece jacket - do I need something heavier), places to wander, do I need to up my taxi budget, any solo female travelers do the Rome by Night walk alone - thoughts? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Posted by
15043 posts

When you arrive take the train to downtown. It's only 14 euros. If you intend to take the taxi in the morning you can stay anywhere downtown. Your taxi budget of euro 50 works (no tip, you are in Italy). I use nycerome.com for hotels, but any website will work (booking.com, venere.com). A 3 star hotel, which are very nice, will run you euro 80 to 120 for a single person, depending on facility and location. Termini and Quirinale area are cheaper, Centro Storico (Spagna, Navona, Trevi, Pantheon, Campo dei Fiori, Via Veneto) a little more. Ask locals for restaurants depending on which area you are. Plenty of good choices everywhere.

Posted by
1994 posts

I'd check the weather before you leave, but I'd guess you'll be fine. I've been in Rome a couple of times in the winter. Both times it was a little nicer in Rome than it was when I arrived back in San Francisco. I've done it just with a hood rain coat (mid thigh) with a few layers under it. And I've felt safe being out in Rome alone after dark just with normal precautions, and it will get dark early in February. If you want to join a group walking tour, I've used Context Rome happily, and I think they have a night walk.

Posted by
11247 posts

You will be safe, don;t worry. I walk alone home from work every night, right through the Villa Borghese, and am never concerend for my safety. It is a very safe city in terms of violent crime. Crime of opporunity, i.e., theft, pick pockets, occurs, but personal assault is almost non-existent. Stay central: Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, even Monti. Your plans for attire are good. Bring gloves, too.

Posted by
11613 posts

Diane, there are a few hotels (you'll find more on booking.com, etc., sort by "city center" on the Location tab) in the Piazza Navona/Pantheon/Campo dei Fiori area: Smeralda, Lunetta have both been refurbished since I first stayed there (years ago). Albergo Cesari is at the top of your range but gets excellent reviews. Residenza in Farnese is also a good choice. I've walked around Rome at night a lot, there's a lot of activity going on until well after midnight, perhaps not quite so late in winter; you should be fine. I might avoid the side streets if I carried a lot of camera stuff openly, but going from piazza to piazza you'll probably not be alone, even in February.

Posted by
8094 posts

Diane: I wouldn't consider any early morning flight out of Rome's airport. It's not one of those airports to arrive at 45 minutes before a flight. The airport layout is inefficient and they're very security conscious. You'd need to be picked up at 2:00 a.m. to make a 6:15 a.m. flight. If at all possible, change your reservation to a mid day flight to The States. If you're taking an early morning flight and you're interested in some sleep, stay out at the airport. See RoninRome.com for details on negotiating Roma, transportation and their airport.

Posted by
15043 posts

You are flying to Amsterdam, therefore in a schengen area flight. You need to be at the airport one hour ahead. So be there at 5:00 am to make sure. My wife and I took the exact same flight a couple of years ago. You don't need to leave downtown Rome at 2am. At that time in the morning any taxi will take you to the airport in less than 30 min. Leave your hotel at 04:15 and you'll even have time for cappuccino and brioche after you check in.

Posted by
141 posts

Thank you for all the suggestions! I will definitely bring gloves, Laurel - excellent suggestion. Zoe, I booked at Albergo Cesari - great rate for 79 Euro! Perfect location. David, I appreciate your thoughts (they mirror mine); however, I'm trying to get away from the idea of spending the night in an expensive, charm free, airport hotel - it's a safe but predictable bet for me. Heck, I'm in Roma - love getting out of my comfort zone and taking photos of the fountains all lit up in Winter - wandering around with no appointments - just soaking in the beauty and ambiance - having a comfortable bed for six hours of sleep before the next 16 hours of mind numbing planes, trains and automobiles. :-) I have taken a very early morning flight from Rome before (to Amsterdam) - getting a taxi was very efficient; I arrived in plenty of time. Traffic was non-existent at that time of the morning, and my cab driver was channeling Mario Andretti! Again, thanks for all the great suggestions!