First time to Italy with two college-aged kids -looking for tour recommendations!

...a golf cart tour. I thought that might be a fun thing to do...

It will be exciting, that's for sure. I've ridden in taxis in Rome many times, but I will not ride in a golf cart there. The traffic (especially the scooters) is just a bit too hairy for me, and the cart has very little in the way of protection -- and I've driven race cars. But, to each his own. Just food for thought.

Flying all night and then driving golf carts through Rome while half asleep? Nope

Pretty sure the guide drives the golf cart-not the tourists
I can see a golf cart tour for those with mobility issues but I definitely would not want to rattle around in a bumpy noisy golf cart after a long overnight flight
I don’t think they get you real close to any sites in the historic center
The routes I have seen looked like mostly skirting around everything

I wouldn’t plan anything scheduled or paid for on arrival day

Get out and walk around-that’s the best way to orient yourself and Rome is best seen on foot.

Do the Heart of Rome walk from RS guidebook
Have lunch in a piazza
Pop ino the Pantheon if not a long line
Have a gelato and a spritz

Where are you staying?

We enjoyed our golf cart tour! It was a nice way to get a lay of the land while saving our legs a bit for the days to come. We booked through Ancient & Recent and our guide Max was a trip. We got right up to Trevi Fountain, Bocca della Verita, Piazza Navona, Circus Maximus and other sites; we’d park the golf cart and then get out to explore a bit, so it’s not like you’re just driving past it all. I believe our tour was about 3 hours in total.

Glad you got some answers to the golf cart question - I saw them often in the ancient historical center, thought it looked like fun for a night time trek, but noticed 2 of the seats faced backwards, so that might not be fun. Yes, they're going to be rocky over all the cobblestones.

I've seen a lot of discussion about that short cut to St Peters no longer in operation, double check on the Vatican website, you know you can book directly with them right? (Amazing how many sites say they're the 'official' Vatican site, I believe this is the right one.) PS, I'm not convinced this tour lets you into the museum before the crowds, the only way I know to see the museum before then is the official Vatican Key master tour, it's VERY expensive but someday might be worth the splurge. I seem to recall it meets up at 6:00AM.
https://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en.html#lnav_shop

About those food tours - Trastevere will be crowded, many on the forum liked the sunset tour there but it's too jammed for our travel style. We loved Eating Europe Testaccio, what a wonderful, much quieter neighborhood with great food! Have a great trip!

Hi Sunny,

I have been to Italy twice, once with my college-aged niece and good daughter in 2018, then 2023, and on my way back to Rome and Amalfi coast in September (although staying in Ravello and Sorrento), so won’t be able to answer your questions regarding options from Praiano.

Specifically for the Vatican, I have taken two tours, one recommended by a Rick Steve private tour guide that included the Colosseum in 2018 and the Pristine Sistine tour in 2023. The first tour was an absolute disaster and everyone in my group was disappointed. The Pristine Sistine tour was well worth the expense. I know that they have modified the tour slightly, so look at the current schedule. We did not actually get in early, but we were in line early so that when the Vatican Museum opened up we were one of the first inside. The time in line was used to brief us about the Sistine Chapel as guides are not allowed to talk when you are in there and prep us for the Vatican museum. While it was not empty, the crowds were manageable and our guide was excellent and steered us to the most important works in the Vatican museum. Note the Vatican museum is a zoo and without a guide, it can be really frustrating. I was glad that I took the tour the second time. On this trip, I am only going to mass at St. Peter’s and climbing the dome.

As for food tours, I have taking the Eating Europe Twilight Trastevere tour twice and this is one that the girls still talk about today. In fact, I have been given instructions to visit the vegan bakery and bring back cookies when I return on this trip. Trastevere is always busy and active, the tour introduces you to some great street food as well as some sit down restaurants. This time we are taking a VIP tour that ends with a cocktail overlooking the Trevi fountain.

All very helpful - thank you. I will go forward with booking the food tour through Eating Europe. Why is the Vatican website so complicated?

We are staying in Monti.