Heart of Rome Walk - Round Trip from Campo del Fiori

The walk from the Campo will take you by Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, through some great shopping, to the Spanish Steps. It really isn't very long unless each of those captures your heart in which case you may get to the Steps by dawn! Just kidding - but even if it did happen you will never regret it! Use Rick's guide, get a map from your hotel to extra help. Be assured, you're in a very safe city.

What do you others say: maybe under an hour as a very leisurely walk; 2 hours with some stops?

Amy,

Rome is very safe, but just in case you get caught after dark and don't want to walk, make sure you pick up a couple of business cards from the hotel. It makes it easier to just show a taxi driver the card if you decide to take one. You will see many people out walking at night.

Have a great trip,
Mimi

The distance between Campo de' Fiori and the Spanish Steps is barely over a mile. There will be TONS of pedestrians wandering around that entire area until well into the evening. Just take the usual anti-pickpocket steps and you'll be fine. Your hotel likely has a map they can give you to help navigate, though Rick's instructions are pretty good, as I recall. And don't forget you can poke around for yourself using Google Maps Streetview to get the lay of the land.

Robert and Mimi -

Thank you both for the reassurance and tips! I'm beyond excited. I don't know how I'm going to sit still for the next two weeks until it's time to get on that airplane! I think I'll be fine - I just need to keep track of my landmarks and hang onto my maps!

Great tip about the business card from the hotel! I'll be sure to grab one...or two!

Thank you!
-Amy

I have also laminated cards/paper with the name, address, and phone number of my hotel to give to taxi drivers so there is no confusion about the address of our hotel.

Amy,
If you are a little uncomfortable walking alone, you could sign up for Walks of Italy's Twilight City Stroll. It starts at 5:00 and ends around 8:00. You'll see the main sights (Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain) and even be treated to a gelato. Our guide Uta was very informative and helpful. The groups are small, there were 10 in our group and they use transmitters so it is easy to hear your guide.

You can book at their web site stateside. They'll send you info on the starting point, etc. We did this tour and also two tours in Florence. We felt it was well worth the money.

My question is to DougMac--who did you book the tours through that you mentioned to Amy in Rome and Florence?

I don't think there's any cause to worry about walking in the dark...I traveled to Italy for over two weeks on my own in my early 30s, including Rome and points south, and got back to the hotel after 10pm most nights because I ate out late and liked to see the city at night. I walked all over Rome (at least 10 miles a day, from morning to night) - the only downside was too much unwanted solo female attention (but never felt unsafe). There is a lot of street life and it never really feels like you're alone. It doesn't hurt to walk with confidence and with purpose (I don't remember having to resort to a map because I covered most routes during the day anyway), as it repels unwanted attention (really nothing to worry about though unless you're young and naive like I was at the time).

"There will be TONS of pedestrians wandering around that entire area until well into the evening."

I just want to emphasize this point. Remember that dinner in Rome is 8 PM to 10 PM or later, then everyone (and I do mean everyone - Romans as well as tourists) walks around after dinner. Until midnight or so, the center of Rome is busy. And it's all lit up, too - unless you choose to go down some small alleys, you won't be on dark streets.

cryer37,

Google "Walks of Italy". They have a web site where you can book online. I booked our tours a couple of months in advance. As soon as you purchase a tour, you get a confirmation email with an invoice and detailed information on where to meet to begin the tour. When you go to the meeting place for the tour, there will be some Walks of Italy personnel with an identification sign. They have a smart phone or a tablet where they check you in. They then distribute and test your receiver before the tour begins.

They are efficient and well organized.

DougMac, Agnes, and Harold -

Thank you all for the great information. Knowing that the area is bustling in the evening makes me feel better. I was concerned that, since I'll be going in the winter, that there may not be too much going on and I'd be in the dark by myself.

I may get lost from time to time, but sometimes that is how you really discover the amazing parts of a city.
Twelve days and counting and I'll be on the plane to one of my dream destinations.

Thanks to you all for the great advice!

-Amy

Amy - while you're waiting to pack (or pack and unpack and pack again) try Google Earth and the many live webcams around Rome, Venice and Florence. Great fun, spurs the imagination, builds anticipation and is a good way to double check your "must see" list. Have a wonderful trip . . . which I know you will!

Google Earth is now my favorite toy! So fun to get the lay of the land and see what some of the restaurants and hotels look like. So excited!