Rome in 7 days-Starting this Sunday! So excited!

That would be far too much for me. How about Ostia Antica? It is close to Rome. My favorite way to spend my first day after an overnight flight is doing something outdoors, so I think it would be perfect. Being on a train part of the day, and having to transfer at Naples, would not be my choice for arrival day.

I think it would be a stretch to try to do Pompeii on Saturday before the tour begins. And, logistically I think you don't have the time to do it. Are you staying after the tour ends? I went to Naples for 2 nights and did Pompeii from Naples, taking the Circumvesuviana train.

Plus, jet lag will be tough, at least for me it is. I did this tour (loved it!) and on Saturday, I walked a lot and had scheduled a cooking class with the Walks of Italy for late afternoon. Learned to make pasta with a fun group and stayed up until 11 pm Rome time! I simply crashed and the next morning I woke up and had hardly any jet lag.

This is a fantastic tour. Who is your guide?

Thank you for the advice, my excitement has gotten the best of me. I believed since I was arriving early at 7:15 AM that I could lock up my luggage at the train station and take the fast track train to Naples and then to Pompeii by noon. The 7 day tour has plenty of excursions to include a trip to Ostia Antica. I will just need to consider other options within Rome and play it safe. I saw some options of for sightseeing not included on the trip such as Capitoline Museums, National Museum of Rome, Etruscan Museum, Santa Maria Maggiore, Testaccio neighborhood, and Castel Sant'Angelo. Any preferences on these choices. Thanks again!

Ben is listed as the tour guide.

You definitely could do it, but whether you should depends on your stamina. An overnight flight takes it out of me! You could always play it by ear, but sometimes the jet lag does not really set in until the afternoon so play it safe.
I would choose something that gives you ample fresh air and sunshine, near a neighborhood where you could stroll and stop for coffee, window shop etc. I would pick maybe just one gallery or museum--something you are personally interested in.

You're going to have such a great trip! :O)

But nope, there's no way I'd try and do Pompeii on an arrival day in Rome. Firstly, you don't know if your flight will be on time. Secondly, you don't know how you're going to feel right off an international flight. Thirdly, you won't have a handle on local transport yet. Fourthly, Pompeii is much, much bigger and more complex an excavation than most first-timers imagine it will be.

It's definitely NOT an attraction I'd try and do right off an international flight into FCO. Ostia Antica would be the MOST I'd attempt in your situation, and I'd even question that one right off the plane.

You will enjoy Ostia Antica, its history is very interesting. It was once an important harbor town but because of a civil war, one of the leaders, Gaius Marius, purposely stopped trade from Ostia Antica reaching Rome to starve the city in order to win the war.

During my day on Saturday, I arrived early in the morning, took a taxi to the hotel. My room was ready and I took a shower and a 2 hour nap. Refreshed, I went to have some lunch. Then I set out and visited the National Museum and wandered the neighborhood. Eventually I went to the Campo de Fiori area to walk around. Staying outside in the fresh air and people watching was a ball! My Walks of Italy cooking class met in this area. Had a wonderful evening and back to the hotel at 11 pm! That was my first day.
You will love this tour!

Glad you changed your mind about trying to do Pompeii....you will be in much better shape for the Rome tour if you can relax as Judy suggested. It’s quite intensive! Last time I was in Rome I did pretty much what she did.

Another place which is interesting to wander around is the Jewish Ghetto a mix of Jewish and ancient Roman history.

Ben was my leader for the Rome tour and he was great. We also had the incredible Francesca Caruso as our local guide for San Clemente/Colusseum and the Borgese Gallery.

This is a busy tour and you will see much. Don’t push it your first day, you’ll be putting on the walking miles soon enough. Our guide, Sarah, recommended this place https://www.palazzovalentini.it/domus-romane/index-en.html and it was one of the highlights of our trip. It’s a short walk from your hotel (I’m assuming the Lancelot). Be sure and book an English speaking tour. We were exhausted our first day and opted for dinner at the hotel. We dined with the proprietors, a very good meal and endless wine. Then we rolled up to bed.