First day in Rome

I would suggest that your first afternoon you check in to your hotel, take a nap if you need to, and just walk around the neighborhood, get the feel of being in Rome. Rest up the first day, you'll need your strength and patience (prepare for enormous crowds and lines during Holy Week - if the things you want to see offer advance ticket purchase or reservations, do that before you leave).

Thanks! Yes, I have dates on my calendar for when I need to purchase tickets in advance. I appreciate your help.

Hi David, Everyone has a different opinion on how to handle that first day in Europe, but here's mine. Do NOT, under any circumstances, go to sleep before 9pm. Of all of my trips to Europe, I've adhered to this, save one, and they were all great, no jet lag whatsoever, except that one. A nightmare. It took me days to get back on track. So, if you can plow through the first day (we usually land in Rome somewhere around lunchtime, head to the hotel, check in, the head for some sights). Rome is pretty intense, so you shouldn't have much trouble staying alert (especially since it's your first time!). I often hit an overview of the sights (Rick's nightwalk is an excellent intro into Rome, and takes a few hours), then spend the next day or two really getting into the sites (most of them are closed at night - when you're walking). This always works for me. Obviously, if you're falling asleep while you're trying to sitesee that first day, then maybe a nap is in order. But I've found that only prolongs the jetlag. Make it until evening, then get a good night's sleep, and you're on Italy time for the rest of the trip! You don't say how many day's that you are in Rome, but the Vatican Museum is big (and awesome), so the first full day is definitely doable, but if you could wait, it might be better (just check the days of closure - monday, for instance).
Remember, you can exit the Sistine Chapel in the far right corner (opposite the Last Judgment) and take the back way into St. Peter's. This saves you from having to wait in security for St. Pete's. The door says for Tour Groups only, but ignore that, act like you own the place and head on through. It will save you HOURS from the SP security line. Have Fun!

FWIW, I've read that the security guards have starting cracking down on people using the "secret" door in the Sistine Chapel that's for tour groups. It's worth a shot, but be aware that you might be stopped.

After many years of following advice similar to Darren's - don't nap and being absolutely exhausted by 9 pm - we have now found that a two hour nap, no more, from 2-4, 3-5, is our key to making a rapid adjustment to jet lag. Try it both ways and see what works for you.

Just to offer a slight variation on the theme: What seems to work best for my husband and me is to freshen up (shower, change clothes, etc.) as soon as we can check into our room. We spend the rest of the arrival day in Europe walking. We might include outdoor sightseeing (statues, parks, monuments etc.) and generally exploring the area, but we postpone "serious" sightseeing until we're wide awake and can fully appreciate what we're seeing. We eat a light meal and go to bed by 7 or 8 pm. Typically we're awake with no jet lag by breakfast the next day. Now, if someone could only tell me how to avoid jet lag when we fly home.

I can clarify two things that other poster have brought up. First, I used the "secret" door in the spring with no problem. It was unguarded. Obviously, if the door is manned, you might want to reconsider.
Second, Frank makes a good point as well. While I stay up until 9, I'm not totally exhausted. Especially in Rome (one of the world's greatest cities, IMO), the intensity of the city keeps me going strong. I would never suggest plugging along like a zombie, since that's just wasting a day. But, hey, everyone's different. So, I agree with Frank, and try it both ways.

Thanks for the great responses. Can I tag on one more question? I'll be buying museum and other tickets this week. I just wanted to get last minute feedback on the order of events. Does it look good or would you modify anything? 4/4 (Wed) Arrive in Rome in afternoon. Check in and walk around with gelato. 4/5 (Thursday) Vatican Museum and St. Peter's Basilica 4/6 (Friday) Borghese Gallery, siesta, Trevi Founain, Spanish Steps, gelato a couple of times. 4/7 (Saturday) Ancient Rome - Colosseum, Forum, Capitol Hill, Pantheon, gelato a couple of times. 4/8 (Easter Sunday) Easter Mass. I can't quite find out the logistics for doing this. Any advice? Leave Rome for Sicily in afternoon.

It being Easter week, the crowds may be different, but I'd suggest moving your Ancient Rome day to Friday, when there might be fewer people, and visit the Borghese on Saturday, as that's set number of people admitted at one time anyway. And I'd agree with the "keep moving" philosophy for your first day. Try to do outdoors activities as much as possible. Luckily, in Rome, that's not difficult! Enjoy!

I usually take an Ambien on the flight over and arrive refreshed. If I don't take the pill, I force myself to stay awake until at least 9 pm. I then crash and sleep in the next day. That usually gets me in synch with the local time zone. Either way, I'd push thru and not sleep until the evening.

You're new itinerary poses a few concerns for me. Lexma covers one, which I agree with. Move the Borghese, Trevi, Sp. Steps to Saturday. I strongly encourage Rick's night walk, as the Trevi is far more spectacular lit up in the evening. The second one, which is far more pressing, in my opinion, is your Thursday. Vatican and St. Peters is on the docket. Where, pray tell, is the gelato on this day? This omission is an egregious error in my opinion...
Otherwise, I think that you have a pretty solid plan.

Lexma and John, thanks for your suggestions. Darren, thanks for your feedback and the chuckle about the gelato. Indeed, an error on my part not include that. What was I thinking? LOL.

For us it's basically 24 hours door to door from San Francisco and with only a few hours worth of sleep on the plane we found we actually felt pretty nasty when we arrive. A 2-3 hour nap takes the edge off it and then we can stay up and enjoy the wonderful Italian evening. I too would do Ancient Rome on Friday. For me it's the best of Rome and the Spanish Steps are highly overrated. I also try to see my top choices first as sometimes things happen that force you to change your plans. In our case we lost 2 days once with a sickness and another when our schedule site was closed unexpectedly.

Just to add to everyone else's routine, we are advocates of the no napping unless absolutely necessary. I am not a person that can go to sleep easily on the plane and if I am too tired, I do not feel well, so here is my routine. We leave the US late afternoon so during or right after they serve dinner I take Tylenol PM, then I turn on the I-Pod with music, reset the time on my watch and try to get some sleep. Even though it isn't the greatest sleep you can get about 4 hours. When they turn the lights back up and serve breakfast, it is now morning. I don't think about what time it is back at home or whether I am tired or not. I eat and go about thinking that it is morning. You will keep busy once you land with getting into town and to the hotel. Then get some lunch or gelato and start walking around. Sites are everywhere in Rome. Find a place you can get dinner around 6-ish and then when you are done with dinner you can head back to the hotel and get a good nights sleep and be ready for your full day. Anyway, that is what I would suggest. We went to the Vatican, did the tour, saw St Peter's but it only took about 1/2 of the day so you should still have time to do some other walking around, etc unless the Easter crowds really alter things that much. Have a great time.

I really appreciate all the feedback and suggestions. Thank you. I'm getting real excited now. :)

Just my 2 cents on the nap/ no nap. I have flown several times to Scotland and always took a nap when I got there. I felt horrible for days. My cousin who is a pilot flies from SFO to London. He says NEVER take a nap. He stays up and never gets jet lag. We plan to stay up as long as we can then sleep that night to get our bodies in sync as soon as we can.

My wife shouldn't have any problems with jet lag. She gets up at 10:30 a.m., and sleeps half the afternoon anyway. LOL!
Fortunately, we're visiting a niece in London for a couple of days before heading for Italy, and will have already gotten over the time changes. We're young retired, and feel better after a couple of hours of a nap. First day, I'd stay close to the hotel feeling out the neighborhood. I got my dates mixed up and scheduled Vatican Museum tickets the day we get into Rome. We're going to have to stash the bags at the Termini, and head for the Vatican before going to our bed and breakfast outside of town. It'll work. If we get tired, we'll just sleep in. I'm sure we'll be back to Rome again, as one cannot see it all on a 4 night visit.