Since we're only going to be in Rome for a short time, I would love advice. 7 of us (two adults and 19, 18, 14, 12, 8 year-old kids) arrive at FCO on Friday, June 21 at 8:40 AM from Paris, and I have made a reservation with Rome Cabs for our pickup. We're staying in an apartment on Via Della Palombella (near the Pantheon). We'll have the rest of Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday before we take the train to the Pisa airport and rent cars for our week outside of Lucca. As I'd like to arrive at the villa before dark Sunday night, I think we should aim for a noon train out of Rome. Does that sound about right? In Rome,I would like our kids to see the top spots. I plan to follow Rick's Rome in 2 days plan, with Saturday being the Colosseum day. We'd like to see Vatican City and the Borghese Gallery, too. Open to other ideas, though.Should we get Roma passes for everyone? My questions: Is a private tour "worth it"? Money is tight. But it seems having a knowledgeable guide explaining what we are seeing will impact the kids way more than a pod cast will. They'll be forced to listen.:)Any good tour guide suggestions? Will this also allow us to skip lines? We'd like an all-day guide Saturday. Is it even feasible to do Vatican City on Friday (arrival day)? Should we get a guide for that too? And will we see enough of Borghese with only a few hours Sunday am? So sorry for my many questions! I appreciate all of your help.:)
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16234 posts
Rome-Pisa is 3+ hours by train. Pisa airport to Lucca, by car is 20 min. End of June in Lucca gets dark after 9pm. So a Noon departure is more than sufficient for a daytime arrival. Others will chime in on guided tours. Never taken one in Rome.
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8053 posts
The Borgese Gallery is actually not very large. You can probably see it adequately in 2 hours. You might allow some time before the gallery and/or after it for the kids to play in the park outside the gallery or just to run around. Great outdoor space. The underground tour at the Coliseum might be a good bet depending on the size of the group that day. I probably would recommend a guide on Sat. based on the size of your party. Keeping 7 people together in Rome on public transportation might be a challenge. Cabs may be just as cheap and less hassle. A Roma card would pay off for site entrances but you might not use the public transportation portion.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11851 posts
A private tour is absolutely worth while. It will maximize use of your time and increase your enjoyment by not having to worry about logistics or have your nose in a book the whole time. With your group, at €50 per hour for a 3-4 hour tour of the Colosseo, Palatino and Foro Romano, is a deal. Contact Francesca Caruso (francescainroma@gmail,com), a Rick Steves recommendation. If she is not available, she will refer to other reliable colleagues. Galleria Borghese is limited to two hours, scheduled at 9, 11, 13, 15, or 17. Advance reservations mandatory. You could do Vatican on Friday, then your Ancient Rome guided tour Saturday AM, lunch and a brief rest, with the Borghese at 17:00, perhaps. Sunday you won;t have time for much, I am afraid. It's a travel day....
Posted by
OP
California, United States
16 posts
Thank you for your detailed responses...they are very helpful. I have emailed Francesca and two other tour companies (Roman Odyssey and Private Tour of Rome) for quotes and availability Saturday. In your opinion, is it worthwhile to also get a tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistene Chapel, and St. Peter's? I've heard that staying near the Pantheon makes most of Rome very walkable. Our biggest concern involves the logistics of navigating our herd through a crowded, unfamiliar city in hot June. But it will be so worth it! Again, thank you all very much.