For those of you who know Rome well

Good starting point here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/rome-itinerary

Thank you!
Yes, I've read numerous "Rome in 3 days" itineraries and they just leave my more overwhelmed. I guess I just need to make a trip to the library and peruse some more travel guides!

I usually start by making a list of all the sights we want to see
Then get out a map and group sites together, check hours, figure walking distance, determine how long needed at each site, etc
Try to focus on one area at a time each day-allow time for lunch, breaks, just wandering

So for 6 days I’d probably put 1 or 2 major sites on each then leave afternoon free.

We’ve been to Rome 4 times and still have lots we haven’t seen

You'll see a lot in 6 days. Personally, I thought the Forum was more interesting than the Colosseum even though I was expecting the opposite. I would recommend a tour to get the most out of the visit. We used https://www.througheternity.com/. We did the Forum/Colosseum as well as a Vatican tour with them.

I haven't done this yet, but we're really interested in renting bikes and riding along the Appian Way.

Thank you for the replies! I think I confused people; we have 3 full days that I thought I'd look at as 6 half days for organizations sake.
I agree, I just need to get a map and get down to the biz of mapping things out. This trip was made on a bit of a whim and I'm generally one who gets a lot of enjoyment out of the planning process. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed and rushed, but will get it together. I guess this is what happens when circumstances keep you on the ground and in one place a bit too long...

I just returned from Italy and spent 5 days in Rome. I highly recommend seeing the excavations at the St. Clement Basilica: https://www.basilicasanclemente.com/eng/index.php/informations/excavations
It's a fascinating journey down through the excavations from the medieval church to a Roman temple and the remains of a villa. It was one of my favorite sites in Rome and not at all crowded. You do need to buy tickets in advance.

I also did the Through Eternity tours of the Colosseum, which includes the Forum and Palatine Hill) and the Vatican. I would recommend both. My 18 year old nephew loved the Colosseum, but was also blown away by the Vatican, which kind of surprised me.

Another highlight for me was a stroll through the Jewish Ghetto with an excellent lunch at Nonna Betta. I used the Rick Steves audio tour and it was a nice break from the crowds and popular sights.

I had also planned an e-bike tour of the Appian Way, which regrettably we had to cancel. I did a lot of research before booking it because reviews are definitely mixed for this particular activity. But after talking to several friends who absolutely loved it, I knew It was a good fit for me and my nephew. I recommend it as part of a group tour, rather than on your own, and that you get e-mountain bikes, as opposed to city.

Have fun!

A bike tour of the Appian way is so much fun!

If you have covered the major sites, which you should, this is another cool thing to see. I think it may appeal to high school boys, depending on their interests. It appealed to my inner high school boy when I went to see it- and I am a 57 year old woman. not to be disrespectful.
The Capuchin crypts In Rome are amazing. It’s a small museum dedicated to the idea that life lives on after death. There are some interesting museum pieces with stories of lives of the monks. The end of the tour- an artist took the bones of all of the monks and created rooms with the actual bones. It’s just really breathtaking and interesting. My friends that weren’t expecting this end were blown away and for them this was their favorite tour of Rome because it was so unexpected and real. It’s a nice complement after you visit the forum etc. please check out the website first because it definately is not for everyone. You can get a tour on Viator but we just showed up at the door, no waiting, and it was 1/10th the prices. No wait on our day we went.
I’m almost hesitant to suggest this because it could be a hit or a miss so please look at the website first? I hope that you have a great trip!

http://www.cappucciniviaveneto.it/

Thank you so much for the specific tour suggestions, that was very helpful. The Basilica and the crypts look to be things we would enjoy, and the bike tour is still under discussion for us. The boys are a firm yes, parents are not as enthusiastic. Mostly we worry it could be very cold so we might make that “a maybe”.
Did your colosseum tour include the underground?

For something very cool and very different
http://www.cappucciniviaveneto.it/#english

Did your colosseum tour include the underground?

Ours didn't. It was a 4-5 hour tour and 80% of it was on the Forum and Palantine Hill. Most of the Colosseum tour was outside the building and then we were taken inside for a short tour and left to wander.

Some folks have found biking the Appian Way quite a rough ride. Photos indicate that the surface varies considerably at various spots: https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALiCzsYqpj4ZGANzhKRTon1To9EZx0ve2g:1666080546878&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=photos+biking+appian+way&fir=5RVKomOvuuN3-M%252C38juR56qzr9gmM%252C%253BBZTtdIKLZRgOcM%252CgeLJF0e9qeenrM%252C%253Byzs83GMeqdU8LM%252CmaTVi5su6BA-EM%252C%253BhKdTAAayXQ2NGM%252CiJ5No60-jGCLM%252C%253B8b8Z6U76yBJvvM%252CgeLJF0e9qeenrM%252C%253BqgWDlHkk78m-fM%252Cc2Khs1nxJyWtBM%252C%253BW60etvfl40oSM%252Ch6BsRKbczVm4M%252C%253BUndde3QEBdt0M%252CzyuW1lTqk3ifbM%252C%253BV8HGFjSBXqv6M%252CgOK5d4u3SqD5gM%252C%253BUX8a25GyGEDDVM%252C-HiFc7IZra9jvM%252C&usg=AI4-kSpYizG74JqCBYt1S82aoNfx2EB2g&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnrafZqen6AhVVomoFHVMtBzwQ7Al6BAgIEFI&biw=1280&bih=625&dpr=1.5

Thanks Allan, good to know as the underground is of particular interest to one of the boys. ACraven, that's another reason the boys are all in and me, not so much!
Greatly appreciate the tips and tours!

I wouldn't say I know Rome well, but I took my two teenage boys in June for 6 full days of touring (so I'm not counting our arrival day or our departure day). Here are a few lessons learned.
1. Even though we were prepared to go, go, go, they needed downtime to process and breathe, or even just get some extra sleep. Maybe think about one of those 1/2 days as something a bit lazier. I also did stuff on my own so they could chill or occasionally sleep in late. While one part of my brain screamed "I'm spending all this money, we are going to see EVERYTHING." The other part of me said "This is a once in a life time opportunity and I don't want the memories to be mom as drill sergeant."
2. Gelato was a great incentive to get people moving. We would often walk a great distance to get to a gelato place (and see things) and then take a cab home. Definitely worth the money.
3. Pre-book as much as you can; don't waste time in lines.
4. Walking tours are well worth the money. Definitely check that they have experience working with teens -- it really does matter.
5. We loved a food tour. Not as much talking "at" and a better insight into the culture.
6. We got a lot out of our visit to Castel Sant'Angelo.

Ah gelato, the great motivator :) I know for a fact that will work with our little group!
I am slowly getting organized and not feeling so overwhelmed, so thank you for the tips and advice!

hey hey JKL
couple sites for a bike ride with your family
withlocals.com/ rome
foodie cycling tour with local chef
romeinadaytours.com
highlights of rome: E-bike tour of the city center.
couple other different tours within site, if interested. your time is short and at a busy time. do enjoy
aloha

There is so much to see & do in Rome that you need to resign yourself to the fact that you'll only scratch the surface, so try not to cram it in. If your teens are able to rouse themselves early (unlike mine), I'd recommend planning the scheduled sights in the mornings and leaving the afternoons to wander more casually.

In addition to the Coloseum & Forum, you should make time to stroll around the Pantheon & Piazza Navona areas. Near the Pantheon, stop for gelato at Giolitti & coffee at Caffé Tazza d'Oro. There will probably be a Christmas market in Piazza Navona between Xmas & the epiphany on Jan 6. (Assuming it's come back after Covid.)

The Capuchin crypt was a hit with my 17 y/o. The museum is a relatively new addition, there's no need for a guided tour. It's small, so only takes about 60-90 minutes. From there, you can stroll over to the top of the Spanish Steps.

Go to dinner in Trastevere one evening, your boys will probably appreciate the lively night life & street performers (if they're out between Christmas & New Year's). Pizza L'Elementare has great Roman pizza & craft beer (which your boys can legally enjoy in Italy). In general, walking around Rome at night has always been magical for my kids.

We have been to Rome four times. On our first trip there we stayed in the Spanish Steps area and did not like it. It is filled with designer shops, not a neighborhood feel. Since then we have stayed in the Palazzo Navona/ Pantheon area. It is a good location for walking to the famous sites and has a nice vibe..

Just adding to this thread. We are about to travel in Jan with 2 kids of similar ages.

Get in some of your key bookings (Vatican, Colosseum, Borghese). I then have a couple of apps that i have loaded on their phones. The first one is trip it , which has all our travel details in it (Were in Italy for 26 nights, so a long time, this also has dinner reservations and any activities booked. Im also sharing this with family, so they can follow along where we are.

The other app, which i am loving (And is free) is VisitaCity. I have created one login, and the kids share this. We have mapped walking tours for 4 days (We are in Rome 7). This is a really cool app that has suggested itineraries at different paces but also allows you to put in your own stops. I have created a number of tours for my main cities (Verona, Venice, Florence, Salerno and Rome). What is excellent, is each stop has information that can be read by the kids, and then they can click on where to next. Im just putting in some random gelato stops now after reading this thread.

Have a great time..

Thank you for the thoughtful replies. Visitacity sounds like a fantastic app and I will be looking into that for certain!

Great one-day in your son's life will be Campo Dei Fiori in the morning for breakfast and the market, followed by the Pantheon and Piazza Navona and people watching at the Spanish Steps. Then let them walk back on their own (or with you) to the P. Navona at night...its' a totally different place at night!.
Another great day is the Vatican, Vatican museum and the Colosseum in the same day. If you are Christian, it's a must.
Rome never fails to provide you with great options.

Rough plans are a tour of the historic center, a tour of the Vatican and St. Peters etc., and tours of the Colosseum etc. and Basilica of San Clemente. We have most of NY day before we take an early evening flight to Paris, but have no set plans for that day. We may head to Vatican Square to see the pope, but that will be decided when we're there since transportation on NY day could be spotty.

At this point, I'm just browsing tours to see what sounds like the best fit for us. Still debating about the bike tour, but a night tour does sound pretty special.

Any recs for NYE dinner?

Just visited Rome! Had a wonderful time. Along with the main sites, we enjoyed walking along the Tiber River from Ponte Sisto towards Testaccio. A favorite gelato spot- Frigidarium near Piazza Navona. Favorite meals- Trattoria Da Enzo and Tonnerello in Trastevere. Pizza at Dar Poeta never disappoints.

TopBikes offers several bike tours in Rome. Their location is quite close to the Colosseum. Most of the bikes they offer our E bikes. Groups are fairly small. I took a tour down the Appian way to the catacombs and then to aqueduct Park. A previous poster mentioned that the Appian Way is often quite difficult to bike on because it’s very bumpy. This is true, but there are paths on either side where you can ride your bike.

I did not see anyone mentioning Domus Aurea or the Roman House. Tickets for Domus are only released a month in advance on the website and disappear instantly. I recommend you go through a secondary vendor. Both are timed entry and the Roman House is must easier to purchase. Both sights use special effects to help you imagine what the house might have looked like.
I to wanted to bike the Appian way (we usually visit Rome before or after a 8 bike ride) but chose to walk it. Can't say I would want to bike it, remember it was a Roman road!
I just returned 4 weeks ago and the modes of transportation were multiple., every form of scooter and electric bikes. You might want to google "scooter accidents in Rome". We saw one that looked quite serious and it all appear quite dangerous in the tourist areas.
Enjoy!

We just finished our first trip to Italy with 3 days in Rome, 3 in Florence and 1 1/2 in Venice. We can't wait to go back and Rome was our favorite, but loved it all. We stayed at https://www.hotelorologioroma.com/en and highly recommend it, great location and hotel so close to everything. We walked a lot, 7-10 miles a day, but with lots of breaks. I wouldn't book more than one tour per day and then leave the rest of the day to wonder, rest, eat, hang out in cafe's, etc.

Our first day our room wasn't ready when we arrived so the hotel gave us a map and we just wandered around and saw one amazing thing after another! We had a Panoramic tour of Rome by car in the evening. The driver took us around Rome to all the major highlights, parked, we got out walked around and he gave us info/history. Great intro to Rome and nice to be driven around since we were tired from traveling and walking all day. Second day we had Vatican City museum, Sistine Chapel and then St Peters. Very nice to have the guided tour as she took us through the highlights of the museum and gave us great info about the Sistine Chapel so we appreciated it so much more when inside (no talking or pictures allowed in the chapel). Once we got to St. Peters we were on our own to take as much time as we wanted inside. Walking back to the hotel after tour were more amazing sites. Third day was Colosseum, The Forum and Palatine Hill. We booked the Gladiator Gate and Arena Floor Special Access Colosseum Tour by Walks of Italy through Trip Advisor.
It is easy to catch a cab from the hotel to the Vatican City or the Colosseum as each is about a 30 min walk and it is easy to get lost. Especially when you have to meet at specific address outside of the Colosseum, could be challenging to find it walking, Cab ride to and walk back takes the stress off trying to find a specific location on time, and once you are done and there is not time constraint doesn't matter if you get lost!

Thanks again to all! I think we have nailed down everything except a special NYE dinner, and I will get into that as the trip gets closer.