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Please help group Rome attractions.

Hello, I'm heading to Rome after 22 years and I need help with my itinerary. Below is my best guess as to which attractions to group together. Any suggestions on re-arranging are most welcome. Thanks in advance.

Day 1 AM: St. Peter's Scavi tour, Castel Sant'Angelo
Day 1 PM: Ara Pacis, Poppolo, Pincio Terrace, Borghese, Spanish Steps, Caphuchin Crypt, Piazza Barberini

Day 2 AM: Baths Diocletian, Piazza Repubblica, Piazza Esquilino, Sta. Maria Maggiore, St. Peter in Chains
Day 2 PM: Capitoline, Campidoglio, Vincent Emmanuele, Piazza Venezia, Via Del Corso

Day 3 AM: Colosseo, Roman Forum, Trajan's Market, Baths of Trajan, Basilica of San Clemente, Circus Maximus
Day 3 PM: Mouth of Truth, Keyhole, Orange Tree Garden, Santa Sabina

Day 4 AM: Vatican Museum
Day 4 PM: Janiculum Hill, Fontana dell'Acqua Paola, Faro del Gianicolo, Tempietto di Bramante, Trastevere, Jewish Ghetto

Thank you again.

Posted by
24153 posts

Way too tight. No provision for transportation, bath room breaks, lunch. etc. But once on the ground you will be better to judge what to drop. Remember, you can always see it the next time.

Posted by
30 posts

I'm really sorry but respectfully, this is too much and it doesn't make sense geographically. You are very likely underestimating how long it takes to get from place to place. For comparison - Here is my itinerary for the same amount of time that I did last week, I'm relatively young and fit, and I still think I did too much. I was walking about 11 miles/25,000 steps a day (as well as taking the metro, and a taxi a couple of times) and I was absolutely, utterly exhausted by the evening. If you are travelling during the hotter months of the year, it's really important to take seriously how significantly the heat slows you down.

Day 1 AM: Roman forum, Palatine hill
Day 1 PM: Borghese gallery, Capuchin Crypt
Day 2 AM: Colosseum (attic level)
Day 2 PM: Trajan's forum/market, Domus Aurea, St. Maria Maggiore
Day 3 AM: Vatican museums/St. Peter's Basilica
Day 3 PM: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Capitoline Musems (on the walk back from Vatican City)
Day 4 AM: Early morning walk from Monti district past Trevi fountain, Spanish steps, Piazza del Popolo
Day 4 PM: Small group tour to the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, Appian Way and aqueducts

Again, with respect, there is physically no way you are going to be able to do everything on your itinerary. I would suggest paring it back to sites which are particularly meaningful to you personally. For me, there was little point in walking 20 minutes out of my way, each way, just to get a photo through a keyhole or with a hand in the mouth of truth. Those are just instagram checklist items.

Everyone always says "you can't do it all" and this is particularly true with Rome. Plan to come back!

Posted by
932 posts

I would also say that you have too many items on your list. What are you most wanting to see in Rome? For me, it's some (not all, there are too many) Roman remnants, plus paintings or sculptures by artists that I love (Raphael, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, etc.), and mosaics. Narrow down your list by considering what means the most to you.

One way to plan is to choose a couple of "must-sees" for each day, and buy tickets ahead of time if necessary (Borghese Gallery, Vatican Museums). And have other nearby things or places that you could visit if you have the time and/or energy.

Posted by
5351 posts

I think San Clemente is somewhat close to Colosseum, so I would put it on Day 2 of BICs schedule. My priorities would be: Vatican Museum, St. Peters, Colosseum, Pantheon(I think you have to have a ticket), Basilica of San Clemente, Roman Forum(do they still have a nightly light show there?). I have been to Rome 4 times and have not been to many of your sights, and don't feel like I've missed anything important. If you like cats, you should prioritize the Largo Argentina ruins because they have a cat sanctuary.

Posted by
3644 posts

Mattebay, welcome to the Forum. It's very temping to want to do and see everything. But you have way too much planned for each day. Maybe these ideas will help you cut and organize your day:

~Decide on "A" sights (must see), "B" sights (want to see), "C" sights (would be nice to see you don't mind if you don't). I'm not going to choose your sights; what's important to me may not be important to you. Give yourself permission to change your agenda when you are in Rome even if you have to throw away a ticket.
~Lump each days' activities by location. Using Google Maps and bookmarking them with icons will help.
~Use your phone's calendar to plan your time. Decide how long it takes to walk to each sight (again use Google Maps). How long you plan to visit each. Schedule in walking/transportation, gelato breaks, meals, allow time for security, entrance lines and the all important potty breaks. When you see your day laid out in the calendar you will see you cannot do/see everything you listed.
~Take time to experience, not just see. Take a food tour.

Know that you will return to Rome and elsewhere in Europe. I didn't travel for years between trips: 1969, 1992, 2019 and every year since 2022.
Where else are you visiting?

Buon Viaggio!

Posted by
2389 posts

I also encourage you to cut down on how much you do. For me, slowly wandering around and exploring a neighborhood has created some of my best memories of Rome.

A big consideration, lines to get into most famous places in Rome are typy quite long.

I’d rank the places you would like to see and plan to do 2-3 per day. As Rick often says, expect you’ll return some day,