My wife and I will be visiting Rome for 2 days. The first day we want to visit the Coliseum and do the underground. Should we buy tickets in advance? Also this should only take a half a day. Can we walk or take public transport to the different fountains and/or museums for half a day? We are neophytes, so any help or advise would be appreciated, but we love to explore.
Posted by
Chicago
7913 posts
Buy the tickets in advance. The metro (subway) stop is right in front of the Coliseum.
It is best to walk Rome to see it in detail (or take a hop on hop off tour bus to get a primer before setting out on your own)
but one bus route that covers the city east to west from the Vatican to Termini is the 64 (even the pick pockets know) if you get tired and again the metro.
http://www.reidsitaly.com/destinations/lazio/rome/planning/around_by_bus.html
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15863 posts
The first day we want to visit the Coliseum and do the underground.
Should we buy tickets in advance?
Yes, you MUST purchase tickets in advance if you want to tour the underground. I'll just copy-paste my response to a similar question:
"This is the official website for the most economical underground tours:
Tickets for these tours currently go on sale on the third Monday of each month for the following month ONLY, at 9:00 AM ROME time. Do note that in addition to your tour you are required to purchase a general-entry ticket for the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine. You can do this when you present your tour confirmation (print at home) at the reservation desk AFTER you've cleared the security check line."
Can we walk or take public transport to the different fountains and/or
museums for half a day?
That depends on which fountains/museums you want to see: reference a map to see how far apart they are. If the Vatican Museums are on your list, then you really need to buy advance tickets lest you waste time in a really long ticket line. The museums are VAST so I don't recommend trying to do those + the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine on the same day.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
160 posts
Down the street- maybe 2 blocks from the colosseum is one of my favorite places in Rome. The basilica of san clemente is a beautiful middle age church built atop a fourth century church Built atop a first century temple of mithras! It's a great example of how Rome kept in building on top of itself.