help me with rome itinerary- please!

Posted by Nicole (Toms River, NJ, USA) on 07/28/09 09:15 AM

i need some help with my itinerary for rome as i don't know how to plan my days. we will be taking an overnight flight and arriving in rome at around 7:30 am so i want to know which day of activities i should do that first day so that i will not be totally dragging but i also don't want to waste an entire day of laying around. here is what i am looking at doing - any tips or changes - i don't really know how long to leave for each place or how close things are! also, let me know if i am missing anything that i should add or if there is anything really not worth seeing.

Day 1 - Ancient Rome - colosseum, Roman Forum, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Capitol Hill Square, Palantine Hill

Day 2 - Vatican - Vatican, Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica and Dome

Day 3 - Borghese Gallery, National Museum of Rome

thanks!

Posted by Brian

Washington, DC, Washington, USA

07/28/09 10:12 AM

110 posts

Nicole,

Day 1 -Our flight arrived around 8:30 am and we took the train from the airport, checked in at hotel then went to the Collosseum, Forum, Palantine Hill - Had lunch - went to Peter in Chains Church, Pantheon, Nero's house - Had dinner - went to trevi fountain and spanish steps and then too a leisurely walk back to hotel. I think we were in bed around 11:00. Fell asleep quickly and was fresh the next morning.

Day 2 - St. Peters, scavi tour, some other churches, Jewish section and just explored.

Day 3 Vatican Museum and just explored

Posted by Paul

Eastern Iowa, USA

07/28/09 10:38 AM

7560 posts

I like to look at Roman sites as those needing to be done as an objective, devoting maybe half a day, and those that can be slid in nearly anywhere, usually on a walk. For what you mentioned:

Ancient Rome - colosseum, Roman Forum, Palantine Hill Are all a Single Group easily done your first day. They are outside, so you will be active, good for jet lag.

Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Capitol Hill Square are all walk bys, done that day, on the way to dinner, or squeezed in along the way.

Vatican - Vatican, Vatican Museum, St. Peter's Basilica and Dome Very easily done in less than a day, really only the Museum takes some effort, St. Peters is free and very accessible.

Borghese Gallery, National Museum of Rome Plan one for the morning and one for the afternoon, that will leave ample time for walking.

Rome overall is an extremely walkable city, you can hit many sites, plus just the odd Piazza, Church, or ruin just in wandering.

Posted by Gabrielle

Toronto, Canada

07/28/09 01:25 PM

28 posts

I also wanted to add that if you want to visit some sights that may be a bit of a walk from eachother you can always hop on the subway to save time (and not get completely worn out from walking!)
It's very easy to get around and really affordable!
I was in Rome at the end of June and it was hot and sunny. One tip I can give is to bring a water bottle with you at all times...the street vendors near the major sights often jack up the prices quite a bit (2Euros for a small bottled water)