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Help me plan my time in Rome, please

Ok, family of 4 including a teenager and young adult...

Our first 4 nights in Italy will be spent in Sorrento...

So Essentially this means we will likely arrive in Rome (via Sorrento) about mid-day on Friday, Aug. 14.
We just got confirmed for the Scavi Tour on Aug. 17 at 9:15 am--the day before we leave for home.

So...based on that little knowledge...I am wondering how you would advise us to use our time. Obviously, we will hit St. Peter's as part of the Scavi tour--BUT then what? Does it make any sense to hit Vatican museums later that day? Or should we try to accomplish that on Friday afternoon arrival--sounds a bit dicey? I think solving the Vatican area is clearly key to determining flow of other visits to Colosseum, Forum, Spanish Steps, etc.?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Posted by
308 posts

Since you're already at the Vatican, I would do a Vatican museum/St Peter's tour that same afternoon. The Scavi tour is about 1.5 hours, give or take. So go walk around the Vatican after the Scavi tour, have a nice lunch in the area and then return 2ish for your afternoon tour. Most guided tours start around 2 or 2:30 if you would like to join one. Otherwise just buy admission tickets for whatever time you please after the Scavi tour. Save ancient Rome/Spanish steps for your other free days. Less running around means more time to enjoy your vacation.

Posted by
127 posts

Plan on not doing much on August 15th, Ferragosto. Just about everything in Rome will be closed. It would be a good day to just wander the city.

Posted by
11247 posts

There's a lot open Aug 15. The Colosseo, Forum and Palatino are open every day and the Galleria Borghese is open as are other museums..The big days for closures are Mondays, May 1, and Christmas Day.

Do all of your Vatican activities the same day. The Spanish Steps, Trevi, are a walk by. It takes more time to get there than to see them. Do a night walk (see Rick Steves' guide) to see some of these monuments when it is not so hot.

Weave some churches into your plan: great art and a respite from the heat. Castello Sant'Angelo has special night hours in the summer so you can visit after dark.

Posted by
11613 posts

If you can visit Castel Sant'Angelo after the Vatican, it would be convenient in terms of distance but might be too tiring to do all that in one afternoon/evening.

RS guidebooks have good, efficient self-guided tours, you might look at those to choose what you want to see.

Posted by
15682 posts

I'd definitely do the Vatican Museums on the same day as the Scavi as you'll already be in that area. Just be sure to reserve your time slot in advance. Laurel has given good advice for the Steps and Trevi: as those are merely walk-bys, it makes sense to do them at night when most attractions are closed and so maximize your sightseeing time. And yes, it's a good way to escape the daytime heat.

Rome is a wonderful place to walk at night when the piazzas, fountains, churches and various other bits of architecture are lit up! It's also safe to walk at night so no worries there.

I believe we touched on things which are open during Ferragosto on another of your threads.