How much time needed to see top attractions?

Barbara, I can take all days just for the Forum,Colosseum and Palatine. get to the Pantheon early before it becomes too crowded, then have a restorative wine in the piazza. Walk past the Spanish Steps to Pza del Popolo, up the stairs to the Borghese gardens for a quiet sit, or a picnic. It is quite safe to walk around at night and see the beautiful city under lights. How long you take anywhere will depend on crowd, and just how entranced you are.

I was wondering if I could cover the Colosseum, then the Forum and the Pantheon all in one day. I'm getting the Roma Pass and trying to walk the path in Rick Steves Book....only he doesn't really suggest how long it will take in some of these sites. Saving the Vatican City area for the next day.

Thanks for your reply,
Barb

At Vatican City, can I do St.Peter's Bascillica, the gardens, Vatican musem with time left to see the Borghese gallery or the Nat's Museum of Rome. Perhaps that is too ambitious???

Thanks again,
Barb

It's hard to say exactly how long you need to allow for each of the sights as every person's opinion will differ, however the tour companies allow 2 - 3 hours to see the Colosseum & Forum, so maybe use that as a guide.

Angel tours do a free tour of the Pantheon each night at 7pm. They also do a walking tour taking in all the major sights - Trevi fountain, spanish steps etc at 6pm for 2 hours. Have a look at their website. www.angeltoursrome.com

I did the Vatican tour with them last year and really enjoyed it. I will be doing the night tour this trip. I like the idea of a night tour as it leaves you the whole day to do something else.

Thank you so much for the tips....I will check out the site you gave me. We are staying at the Hotel Italia Roma which seems close to things. Trying to give ourselves time to relax and enjoy the atmosphere with a glass of wine! I can't wait to go.

Thanx!

Depending on the day / time, it will take you a looonnnggg time to do the Vatican Museum (including Sistene Chapel.) I'm glad I did it once, the chapel is amazing (even if you do see it with 800 of your closest friends,) but I won't do it again. You're on your feet for three-four hours, your route is completely controlled. It's like a conveyor belt.

This is my one main suggestion for improvement on Rick's guidebooks. It would be really helpful to plan a day if you knew to allow three hours for this, two hours for that or a half-hour for something else. Can I plan three sites for a day or just two?

My guess is that this board would be lit up with complaints if he included those recommendations because all of us would have different opinions about how long to plan a visit to a specific site.

Here is my take and I'm sure there will be many others.

Colliseum - if no line allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Forum - 1 to 2 hours. Pantheon - 1/2 to 1 hour. I did't go to the Capital Hill Museum.

Last summer, one day we got up early and were at St. Peter's probably by 8:00. We looked around inside and climbed the dome before 10:00, and then walked over to the Vatican Museum for a 10:30 tour reservation (through the Vatican). The tour is 2 hours, although you can spend as much time as you want in the Sistine Chapel at the end. We then took the door from the chapel that goes back to St. Peter's (to avoid going through security again), and went inside again and went through the crypt. As I recall we finished all that and left the Vatican area by about 1:30. This worked because we had tour reservations and could skip the line, which was very long. Skipping the crypt you would be done by 1:00 probably. So yes, there would be time for lunch and then the last time at the Borghese, which will seem very relaxing and un-rushed after the Vatican Museum!

Both those day-long agendas sound do-able. The one suggestion I would make is to do the e Colosseum, Forum and the Pantheon in the REVERSE order....then it's all downhill! ;)

Hi Barbara,

We are doing something similar as we only have about a day and a half in Rome. Our plan is this: Day 1-Arrive around noon. Tour Colosseum, and Forum then do the Angel Tours Heart of Rome Tour at 6pm that includes the Pantheon. Day 2- Climb the dome at St. Peter's at 8:00 when it opens. 9:30 Angel Tours Vatican tour which includes the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's. 1:45pm Scavi Tour (You said you wanted to see the gardens so this would maybe take the place). 5:00pm Borghese Gallery and then walk home using Rick's Dolce Vita Stroll.

So, I think your itinerary is doable if you realize that you'll be go go go. We understand that the two days will be hectic but that's what we want to do.

Kristy

For the Vatican, I would plan at least a full morning or a full afternoon. There are a number of things to see and each may have a line. Having stood in some of the lines, I've become interested in some of the postings about tours that skip the lines.

I see you are staying at the Hotel Italia in Rome. We stayed there in 2007 for 4 nights and it was very nice. The front desk people are very nice (say hello to Sabrina for us). There is a very good restaurant right across the street from the hotel (not the one right below which they pooh pooh. Also another good one nearby. Turn right as you exit the hotel, then turn left on the next side street, at the end of the block. Some tables outside and some inside. Very good and not pricey. You are close enough to be able to walk to the Coliseum and the Forum, seeing some churches along the way, and also close enough to walk to the train station or the metro.

Dan