Help with Itinerary - Venice, Florence, Rome, Santorini, Athens

Zack, Is this just you or are you with anyone? I ask because it's a pretty ambitious schedule. And only one day in Rome is not alot. You may want to pare down your day to one or two stops - and leave the rest to wander and see what grabs your attention. Either way - you picked good cities.

We actually have four full days in Rome (my wife and I) we have april 19th through the 22nd - my formatting got way outta whack and made my post hard to read - sorry about that.

On the 19th I would add the capitolini museums and the church of Santa Maria in aracoeli. I would move the pantheon to another day.

I would suggest pre-purchasing tickets to the vatican museums. This will allow you to bypass any line outside. You can do it at: biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do

You will also want to make reservations for the Borghese gallery. You can do this at: www.ticketeria.it/quick_reserve-eng.html

If you buy the romapass you will be able to see most of the sites you have listed for free or a discounted price. Check it out online at romapass.it.

On the 21rst I would add Piazza del Popolo and the twin churches, the ara pacis, spanish steps and trevi fountain.

On the 22nd you could easily see the castel sant angelo, piazza Navona, the pantheon, the mouth of truth and the circus maximus. If time permits you could see the baths of caracalla.

I would add any church that you come across as they are all wonderful and have beautiful artwork inside.

Donna

Hello.... have a question on pre purcashing tickets for the Roma pass...do you suggest that tickets be purchased on arrival if indeed you plan on doing siteseeing the following day? Can reservations be made in advance from the US for museums that require a reservation?

Wanda, there is no real need to pre-purchase the Roma Pass, you can pick it up when you arrive in Rome.

For the museums, you can pre-reserve the Vatican museum (not covered by the Roma Pass) by purchasing a ticket directly from the Vatican's website. The Borghese gallery MUST be reserved in advance. The simplest way is to ask your hotel to do so for you. You don't need advance reservations for anywhere else.

Wanda, use the web address in my previous post to reserve tickets to the vatican. You can reserve timed entrance tickets which will allow you to bypass the line or you can reserve a tour.

As for the romapass, you can buy it online before you go but you must still pick it up when you get to Italy so there is no benefit in buying it ahead of time. Just pick it up at your earliest chance when you get to town.

The romapass will not work at the vatican museums as it is not a part of Rome. You must book a reservation to the borghese gallery before you can visit it. You can go to their website and use the call back feature to have them call you to make the reservation. Let them know you will be using the romapass for free entrance. This is very easy to do and won't even cost a phone call.

Donna

If your dates are for travel in 2010 you will be in Italy during the Settima della Cultura (week of culture) April 16-25 organized by the Ministry for Culture. During the event most state-run museums, galleries, monuments and archaeological sites across the country are open to the public free of charge. Many special events are scheduled. For a list of events by region check the website of the culture ministry www.beniculturali.it. (not much info will be posted until very close to the dates or check out the info posted on www.slowtrav.com) In Rome city run museums and galleries such as the Capitoline Museums, Borghese Gallery, Trajan’s Markets etc participate. For a full list of participating sites in Rome see www.museiincomune.it Reserve tickets early for places that take reservations. You'll still pay the reservation fee. Lines will be long, but you'll save a lot of money on entrance fees.

Connie! Thank you so much, I had no idea this was going on right when I will be in Rome!

So, what is the best option to try and avoid the crazy lines that will be forming due to the free entry?

If I reserve an entry time online prior to my trip, will that help me bypass some of the line? I have heard of something called the Rome Archaeological pass, should I buy that to help avoid lines?

Thanks again!
Zack

Your Borghase reservation will be for a specific time. You will need to pick it up one half hour early. www.ticketeria.it. to reserve. Pick up your ticket for the Colosseum at the Forum then bypass the Colosseum ticket line. I have never used the Archaeological pass, I'm sure others here can advise you.

Of the other sights on your schedule you can get reservations ahead of time for the Uffizi and Accademia, which you will need with your very, very tight schedule. Whether you can get them for the times you have specified is anybody's guess.

I question many of the times on your daily schedules. I don't think they are possible. Example: You give yourself only half an hour to both see some sights and then to be at another sight. Medici Chapels/Santa Maria, San Marco/Galileo etc. This is not physically possible. I'd take a very close look at a map. Also, Uffizi at 13:45 Monte at 16:30? Even in the small walkable center of town it takes time to get between the sites, and time to get in and see them once you are there.

Also, remember, this is Italy. Things will not always be open when you expect them to be. The bus may never show up or will be late. You will get lost, hungry, tired. Lines will be long. You might want to look through the giftshop, enjoy the view. Talk to someone. Build in some time for the reality of travel or you will make yourself crazy. Then have fun!

Thanks Connie,

This is my first time planning such a big trip and I definitely have been having trouble with geography and making sure that my itinerary does not have be double backing or wasting valuable time.

I think I will pare down my schedule a bit and leave more time free for getting lost, relaxing etc.

One more question - I did go online and try to make reservations at the Uffizi and Borghese, but both websites were quoting prices that included the normal price of admission. Are the websites not programmed to automatically deduct the normal cost of admission and only charge the reservation fee during the cultural week?

Thanks again!
Zack

Hi Zack, I made a Borghese reservation for April 20 at 11:00 this past weekend using the web site I gave you. As soon as I put in the date it showed "gratis" where the euro charge would usually be listed. I still had to pay the 3 euro reservation fee. I tried a date outside the week of 16-25 and the ticket price came up. Remember in Europe the day is first and then the month. At any rate I would try again. I was a bit suprised that the Borghese already had its computers programmed for the free days (it's Italy) Perhaps that is the issue with the Uffizi. Or perhaps the Uffizi is not participating this year? A good question to ask on the slowtrav web site. The slow talk group has lots of good information. I'd keep trying, you have time. There were plenty of reservations available when I made mine. If I can answer any other questions, I'd be happy too. Send me an email if you wish. Connie

Zack,

This Itinerary is very "ambitious" in parts and although it might be feasible, it's going to be a bit tiring. Also, if your timing is out at any one of the places you're planning to visit, it will throw the whole plan out.

Could you clarify the phrases "Savor a drink April 14th is a travel day" and also "April 18th is a travel day".

How were you planning to travel from Rome to Santorini?

Cheers!

Hi Ken,

April 18th I do not have anything scheduled because we are traveling by train from Venice to Rome - I figure we will just wander around after we get to Rome that day.

The "enjoy a drink" part got cut off - I think that one was meant to say have a drink while listening to the dueling orchestras at St Marks Square.

As for transportation from Rome to Santorini - I was told to book a flight on Ryanair (which I have yet to do)

I agree that my itinerary seems to packed - I am having a difficult time trying to balance the "slowtravel". mentality with the "i need to get everything out of this trip I can". I know it's no fun to have som may thing scheduled that you never have time to soak up the local culture. Yet on the other hand, I wouldn't want to arrive in Florence with no reservations at the popular sites and no sense of which sites I should group together based on Geography and my likes/dislikes and which I can leave out.

Seems there are so many things to see in Italy and so little time.

I feel like my Venice and Roam itinerary are in the best shape, but the Florence one definitely seems tight...If you were to take out a few of my entries from Florence, which would they be?

Thanks for your response :)
Zack

Zack, Three days in Athens may be two days too much.
What are you going to do? Visiting the Plaka in the shadow of the Acropolis would only take a day, if that.
Believe me, Athens has little to offer and is not an attractive city. An alternative would be to stop at an island or two for a night on the way to Athens.
I think we stayed at Paros and then Mykonos. Every island is unique. In Santorini, be sure to eat at "Nicks" which is right in the middle of town. Real food, menu on chalkboard or recited by Nick.

Regards,
Sandra

Hi Sandra,
I think you are right about Athens. Unfortunately, we have booked all of our hotel stays...

I think we could go from Santorini to somewhere else for a couple of nights and cut Athens down to two nights without incurring any fees.

Anyone have any ideas what to do for 2 nights (April 26th and 27th?)before we go to Athens.

We will be in Santorini April 23rd through the 26th and flying back to the states on the 30th. SO-

26th, 27th???

28th, 29th, 30th - Athens

Thanks in advance

Pretty packed with times and everything. Are you adding in travel times to the different sites, waiting in lines (cuz there are always lines), fact that lunch may take longer than you planned (even if you get takeout?). What if you want to stay at a museum longer than the allotted time, or want to hit the gift shop cuz you liked the museum so much?? Something to think about...