Staying at a Rome Airport hotel for 1 night. Would like to see Rome in 3 hours. Best way to get there? Tour group?
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11432 posts
What time do you arrive and when is your departure?
Which '3 hours' of the day do you have?
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Probably after noon.
Posted by
Fort Myers, FL
1801 posts
My first question is why just 3 hours if you are spending the night? Do you just want to "See" Rome or actually visit a site? If you just want to see Rome, hire a car service and take a drive by tour. Ask your hotel for recommendations. You will use up an hour round trip to and from your hotel.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Airlines messed up our flights... are putting us "up" at an airport hotel... I have been to Rome but my mate has not. Thought we could squeeze in an overview drive by...
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
So if you arrive in the afternoon and are staying in an airport hotel overnight you have a lot more than 3 hours. I’d take the train or a cab in, do a walk through some of the highlights (outside of Colosseum?), have dinner and do walk through the historic center (Pantheon, Navona, Trevi), then go back to the airport hotel for the night.
If I’m misunderstanding then there are driving overviews. A driver takes you past some of the highlights, maybe stops somewhere for a picture or two. I can’t recommend a specific one, but an airport hotel would know.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks so much! Great ideas!
Posted by
New England
1662 posts
Hi margie,
With a restricted time table, of course you want to plan out and make the best of you and your friend's short time in Rome.
From the airport, you can take a train (about 15€) from FCO to Termini. Taking the train and arriving at Termini, you would need to walk (maybe about 15-25 minutes) depending on where you are going. If you had more time, that would be a nice walk to see the "outside of Rome's city." It is an outdoor walking museum. Since you have been, you know this.
Probably to be more time efficient, take an official white Roma taxi = 48€ (one way) -- so 24€ a piece breaking it down. A taxi could leave you very close to the "main attractions" in the city centre.
The Spanish Steps
The Trevi Fountain
The Pantheon (a beautiful, active Church that is worth going into and spending at least 15-20 minutes)
Piazza Navona
If you are fast walkers and time allows, perhaps you can visit the outside of the Colosseum.
You may not have time to visit St. Peter's (free to enter) -- The Vatican, St. Peter's and Castel Sant'Angelo (all three are in the same area and farther out from the centre.) Maybe you can visit St. Peter's Piazza.
Watch The Roman Guy (How To See Rome In A Day) for some ideas to map out your own itinerary. Of course, anything needing a timed-entry ticket -- The Vatican, The Borghese, The Colosseum will be out of the question.
https://theromanguy.com/italy-travel-blog/how-to-see-rome-in-a-day/
Watch this video to get a really good idea of the "areas" of Rome to help maximize your visit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2VcEkPaeF4
Hopefully your friend will really like Rome and want to return to visit longer.
Have fun!
Oh, and adding: Make sure all your valuables are very secure -- no money or Passport, etc, in accessible clothing pockets or backpacks.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Great info! Thanks!!
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16044 posts
Margie, Rick provides free, downloadable audioguides for a number of self-guided walks in Rome. These would allow you to move at your own pace and make stops as the spirit moves you (and/or time allows). Take a look? :O)
https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/audio/audio-tours/italy
His "Heart of Rome" walk might be a nice one for you two; here's the map that goes with his audioguide: