Ostia Antica, Borghese Gallery and Vatican Museums on the same day

I would visit Ostia Antica in the morning. You'll be done by early afternoon. They you can plan your Borghese gallery visit and then the Vatican museums.

Personally, though, I think this is way too much to do in a single day and would cut out the Borghese gallery and do that a different day. Of course, the choice is yours, but it's a lot to take in in a single day and you could suffer from overload by late afternoon.

Donna

I would second the opinion that it's too much to do all three in one day. Ostia Antica is actually quite a large site, 75 acres, and it takes a while to walk all the way to the back and see all of the buildings. I went out in the morning, caught the train around 09:30, and didn't get back until around 1:30. I visited another museum and after that my feet were done. I don't know how many miles I walked that day, but it was a lot. Take Rick's advice when you get to Ostia and walk all the way to the back of the site and then make your way forward.

A third vote from me that it's too much for one day. By the time you hit the Vatican, you'll very well be zombified. I'd recommend as well saving the Borghese for another day (if possible) so that you're not too pooped to absorb the Vatican when you get there.

But it depends on your stamina? My husband and I can cover a lot of ground in a day but only take in so much art before going into overload…and we love art museums. I'd have a little trouble doing these particular two back-to-back without burning out.

I'm with the crowd, I'm afraid.

Ostia Antica took us over 3 hours in the off season, plus the time there and back. We were done for the day.

Borghese Gallery I have been to 3 times, each time saw things differently, each time took the full 2 hours (just under) we were allowed.

Until you have done it you can have NO idea just how absolutely huge the Vatican Museums are. It is vast. I've never been there at night but 3 or 4 hours and you have barely scratched the surface. Think, for size, Louvre plus all the Smithsonian all rolled into one.

I do one of those a day, with a small something to fill in the gaps. I'd never attempt three.

Good luck, and please let us know how it worked out for you.

A friend and I visited the Vatican Museums at 8am, done with the Basilica by 1:30, then rushed to Galleria Borghese. We could not have walked another step.

If you do this, get an early start, get a reservation at the Borghese for about 3pm, and plan on sitting in cafes or restaurants in between.

Logistically it is possible but I think it's overload in terms of art and history. Instead, if you can visit the Borghese on a different day, you could squeeze in one minor sight or a couple of churches between Ostia Antica and the Vatican. I would go with a leisurely lunch and a nap.

Really think OA is too much. You could do it, but why? There is a lot of see and understand at OA so couple of hours is not recommended unless just want to do a drive by. It is at least a hour to and from central Rome and three, four hours on site is min. You could easily spend most of a day there. I would limit yourself to Borghese and the Vatican for one day.

I agree with the too much in one day crowd. When we were there Ostia Antica had a very nice cafe/cafeteria on site with a lovely patio. It was a good place to have lunch and/or coffee after walking through the ruins.

I preferred the Borghese and Ostia Antica to the Vatican Museums simply because they were so much less crowded and intense. Yeah, sure, we all gotta see the Vatican Museums, but the intensity and number of people may have an effect on how willing you are to do another art museum on the same day.

I agree with the other responses. The sheer number of people at the Vatican museum makes it exhausting although it is amazing. The Borghese is so special because although the art is exquisite the limited number of people allowed in at a time give you and opportunity to stand back and amid,ore for all angles which was nearly impossible to do at the Vatican museum

Last May I visited St. Peter's (just the Basilica, not the museums) in the morning and Ostia Antica in the afternoon. That was plenty, thankyouverymuch.

You could spend an entire day at the Vatican. Lining up for St. Peters Basilica, entering and seeing the interior and then entering on a timed ticket for the Vatican Museums could consume most of a day.

I spent 5 hours at the Vatican Museum and I was so dead by the time I got to the Sistine Chapel, it was shame.

Be aware that once you enter, they allow you to shorten the route to get to the Sistine Chapel. Check your stamina.
There are no places to get a drink or a snack once you enter the art galleries (except for that one open park space near the ticket counter inside the building). Eat something to keep your strength up.

In my opinion, the Borghese Galleries (with its beautiful sculpture and interior) and the Vatican Museums in one day is museum overload. I don't recommend it.

Late May might be very hot. I was in Rome one time in May and it was in the high 80's with very strong sunlight. Visited in cooler weather last year.

Buon Viaggio!

Late May might be very hot. I was in Rome one time in May and it was in the high 80's with very strong sunlight.

That's what makes Ostia Antica such a refreshing getaway. It's quiet and uncrowded (photo of the crowd at the entrance at mid-day last May 29 here), and fragrant umbrella pines shade much of the site.

I would suggest you just visit the Borghese Galleries in the late morning. It is an easy but very worthwhile 2 hours in a not very large attraction which does not involve a lot a walking. Then you can go for a nice lunch and have a relaxing afternoon. I would then go to St Peter's Square and the Basilica in the late afternoon. Have a relaxing dinner and then do your night visit of the Vatican Museum

About snacks inside the museums: there are several options, a couple of coffee bars, a full-service cafeteria area at the lower level (do NOT eat the pizza, you have been warned), and my favorite, a cafe in the courtyard where you can get a light meal. All of these were operating last summer.

Thanks for the replies.

If I do the Borghese in the morning will I still suffer from Museum overload in the evening?

If this is too much I'm afraid the only way to remedy it would be to skip the night tour and do the Museums on another day together with the other Vatican stuff. It's a shame because I hear the Museums are much less crowded at night?

I plan on doing the Basilica/Square on Monday morning before I leave to the Fiumicino airport. My flight is scheduled for 18:45 so I think there's plenty of space to slot the Museums on this day. Of course I will check my big bag at Roma Termini first.

Zoe, Psyche is booked for the Friday night late opening. As I've not yet done that, do you know which - if any - of those services are open in the evening?

Psyche, as only certain parts of the museums are open on Friday nights, you will not have the option of navigating the ENTIRE complex (not that you'd want to). Taking in just some the highlights available will save some wear-and-tear on the feet if you go ahead with the original plan.

Where do I check what is missing on the night tour? Anything really worthwhile?

I didn't book yet, still deciding whether I should do this or leave it for another day (like Monday).

None of the snack bars were open the few times I've done the night visits. I just ate dinner before my visits so I didn't need to worry about eating.

Since you already have booked the night visit why not go to Ostia Antica that morning and plan a different day for the Borghese gallery? It's really only a 3 hour total time commitment out of your day so you can probably squeeze it in on another day.

Donna

Where do I check what is missing on the night tour?

It's easier to list what IS open. From the website:

"Visitors will be able to admire important collections, following an itinerary that includes the Pio-Clementine Museum, the Egyptian Museum, the Upper Galleries (Candelabra, Tapestries and Maps), the Raphael's Rooms, the Borgia Apartment, the Collection of Modern Religious Art, the Sistine Chapel."

Thanks for the info on the snack bars at night, Donna. I wouldn't personally want to spend any time at those during a Friday late opening but it's good information for others. :O)

Kathy, I was responding with refreshments info because Psyche hadn't booked the night tour yet. I am not sure what is open, but apparently Donna does know - and it's nothing.

So I think I'm gonna skip the Night tour and do all of the Vatican on the same day - Monday. What is the best hour to book the Museums considering I'll also visit the Basilica (climbing the dome) and spend some time at St Peter's Square? I have a flight on this day on the Fiumicino airport at 18:45.

As always thanks for the help!

Any advice about my previous post? I don't see what could go wrong but you never know. Just need some peace of mind before booking.

I don't know that you'll have enough time to do the Vatican area on Monday if you have a flight that same day. If your flight leaves at 6:45 and you're flying to somewhere in Europe you'll need to leave for the airport no later than 3:45 (one hour for transport and 2 hours prior). If you are able to leave your luggage at the hotel that means that you'll need to leave the Vatican area no later than 2:45 in order to get to your hotel, get your things and get to the form of transportation that you're taking. If you're flying to North America then you'll need to leave for the airport no later than 2:45 (one hour for transport and 3 hours prior), which means going back to the hotel by 1:45.

I suppose you could be at the basilica at 7am when they open, then climb the dome and try to be inside the museums by 10-10:30. It would be a very rushed visit but it could be done.

Donna

Donna:

I'll leave my luggage at Termini station, which is the station I'll use to travel to the airport. The flight is back to Brazil with a connection at London Heathrow.

I don't understand what difference there is in flying to Europe or America (in terms of how early I need to be at the airport), can you elaborate on that? Is it mandatory to arrive a specific number of hours early depending on where you're flying to? I'm sorry if this is a dumb question, this is my first international flight.

When ever we've had a connection in Europe the airline has always stated that we need to be at the airport only two hours prior and when going directly they've always stated 3 hours prior was what was needed. Every time we've gone straight back it's taken most of the three hours to get checked in, get through security and get to the gate. We've never found three hours to be necessary when stopping in another EU country first. Two hours was plenty to get checked in, through security and to the gate. You should check with your airlines to see what they suggest to be sure.

Donna