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First day arrival to rome

I will be arriving into rome at 0800 tuesday and plan to visit the borghese gallery followed by the national museum of rome. What times do you recommend that I reserve for the borghese gallery with travel time taken into account. Our hotel is located about 4.4 Km south of the gallery and we might take the bus or taxi to get to the gallery. Ideally I would like to reserve the 1100 time slot so that we could take the 1110 guided english tour. Do you think that it's possible? Also how much time would a typical tourist need for the national museum of rome? thanks!

Posted by
4407 posts

I have to assume you're flying into Rome from Massachusetts? If you arrive on time and don't have luggage to collect, it's a bit of distance to get into Rome proper. Next, you have to get to your hotel - you may not get to check in yet since it's early in the day; hopefully, they'll store your luggage for you. Then, you must arrive at the Borghese at least 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled time. Did you eat enough breakfast on the plane to sustain you until 1:00? Did you sleep on the plane? Too many people talk about sleeping - literally - through their first day's tours :-( I strongly suggest seeing the Borghese on Wednesday. You've only got 2 hours; you don't want to be yawning, or worse, the whole time.

Posted by
53 posts

I'm open to changing things up/suggestions since I don't have any museum reservations for the Vatican or borghese gallery yet and this is my first time so I don't know how much time each place requires. The suggestions that I currently have came from rick steves' rome in 2-3 days itinerary idea. On saturday we will be taking train to florence Yes I will be flying in from Massachusetts Day 1 Tuesday 0800 arrival ROME Day 2 Wed Day 3 Thur Day 4 Friday

Posted by
1589 posts

Earlier you listed Friday as going to Pompei- now are you still in Rome all day Friday? If so, push everything back one day and leave your arrival day to stroll around without being locked in to a formal tour. Tuesday would be a good day to stroll by the Trevi & the Spainish steps. Just a thought.

Posted by
53 posts

oh yes i still want to fit a pompeii full day trip for one of those days.

Posted by
1589 posts

If ( big If ) you arrive exactly on time & if the customs line isn't too long & if the next Leonardo Train rolls in just as you walk out- maybe. I have seen & heard of cases ( usually not mine) where travelers get into the Termini station within 2 hours of landing. Gotta' be very lucky to have it happen to you. The Borghese is SO WONDERFUL that you might want to consider it for day #2, when you will be more rested.

Posted by
53 posts

hmm well we will have four days in rome: this is our plan, what do you think? Would that work or should I switch things around? Day 1 Tues Arrive at airport ROME 0800 Borghese Gallery National Museum of Rome Tour Day 2 Wednesday Colosseum to the Forum, then over Capitoline Hill to the Pantheon. After a siesta, join the locals strolling from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish steps. Day 3 Thursday
Vatican City (St. Peters, climb the dome, tour the Vatican Museum). Have dinner on the atmospheric Campo de' Fiori, and then walk to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps (following my Heart of Rome Walk) Day 5 Friday May 17 Pompeii

Posted by
1589 posts

" we will have four days in rome " I only count 3. Stuffing 10 pounds of sugar in a 5 pound bag is the first thing that comes to mind. You have too much jammed in too little time. How many total days on the ground do you have to work with? Is it possible to "steal" a day from your next stop?

Posted by
316 posts

If I were you I'd switch days 1 & 2. It's very unlikely that everything will fall into place to get you to the Borghese in time. If you go to the coliseum instead, you'll have time to get to your hotel,drop off your bags and grab some lunch. Then spend the afternoon outdoors at the coliseum and forum. Have an early dinner (save the Spanish steps for another time if you really want to see them. They're just a set of steps to me and not worth the effort though I saw them on my first trip.), get to bed early and you'll be in good shape for the 2nd day.

Posted by
53 posts

sounds like a good idea TEENA Day 1 Tues Arrive at airport ROME 0800 Colosseum to the Forum, then over Capitoline Hill to the Pantheon. After a siesta, join the locals strolling from Piazza del Popolo to the Spanish steps. Day 2 Wednesday 1100 Borghese Gallery reservation (i'm having issues trying to reserve it online, the avanti button doesn't move to a new screen) 1110 guided tour Borghese Gallery National Museum of Rome Tour Day 3 Thursday
Vatican City (St. Peters, climb the dome, tour the Vatican Museum). Have dinner on the atmospheric Campo de' Fiori, and then walk to the Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps (following my Heart of Rome Walk) Day 5 Friday May 17 Pompeii