Length of time in Rome

I have a couple of follow up questions. Have you ever been to Italy? What are your main interests? When will you be going? Where are you arriving from? For me personally, 12 days in any one place, including Rome, is too much. There are others here who will tell you that you can easily fill 12 days in Rome.

If you have never been to Italy, I would suggest looking into splitting your time between Rome and another location. Perhaps a week in Tuscany at an agriturismo? Or Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi?

October. Thought about Naples, Pompeii. I have been to Rome, about 12 years ago. My husband has never been. We are interested in some museums, architecture, churches.

With those interests, I think you could happily spend all 12 days and I've done exactly that. If you want variety, you'd have time for day trips from Rome – for example Orvieto, Tivoli, etc.

Naples and Pompeii could be done as a very long day trip, but it would be nice to spend a night or two, depending on how much you want to explore. I've done short overnight trips by packing a very small bag, checking out of my hotel, storing my luggage at that hotel, and checking back in to that hotel on return. Florence or Venice could be visited in the same way.

I could spend years in Rome, 12 days isn't necessarily too much. You can take some nice day trips to Ostia Antica, Frascati, Castel Gandolfo, Orvieto, or some other towns nearby.

If you decide to shave a few days off Rome, you could go to the Amalfi Coast/Sorrento/Napoli area just for a change.

Orvieto is a quick train ride from Rome and a nice change of pace from the city. PM me if you need a recommend for a wonderful B and B.

Nope, 12 days is not too long for museums, architecture and churches. CHURCHES… oh my. So many of them are museums all by themselves! It'll also give you time to do my favorite thing of all in Rome; nothing. Sit; drink coffee or an adult beverage; watch the world go by. Heaven!

You'll have a wonderful time, and there are always some day trips if you get antsy - although I don't see that happening. I could spend months and months in Rome.

With the interests you specified, Rome for 12 days will not disappoint. It's on the short list as one of the world's great cities.
If going in the hot months, make sure your lodging has AC so you can get a good night sleep and be ready for the next fascinating day.

We spent 7 days in Rome and only scratched the surface. You should have no trouble filling up 12 days!

Good for you! We've been here 3 years and we aren't done yet! You'll have time to settle in and find favorite places, like a bar you go to every morning. Have you found an apartment? Ideal for a long stay, a place to call home and hopefully with a washing machine. Personally I would not stay in a traditional hotel for that long of a visit.

Although I LOVE Rome, with 12 days I'd want to see something else. Naples and/or the Amalfi Coast will be a nice contrast; I'd put it in the middle of the trip. In fact, that's what I did on my first trip to Rome - I had 3 nights in Naples in the middle. It was great, and it was fun to return to the same place on a trip - it almost felt like a second trip. I knew my way around, had my "regular" bars, etc.

Generally I get tired of the same place if I stay longer than 4 or 5 nights max, even if it's Rome or Paris.
But it also depends on how long your vacation is in total. If a person is staying in Italy for 7-8 weeks, then I can see spending 12 days in Rome. But if all you have is a 2 or 3 week vacation, then I would want to visit more places and cut down Rome to just a 4-5 nights.