My parents will be in Rome for basically one day/night in May - a Sat- they arrive via train at 11:00 am from Milan to Roma Termini- and can check in early at 12- then want to go to Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, and throw a coin in Trevi Fountain. They leave the next day ( Sunday) to go to Padua, train tix already purchased for noon . Is this doable?? They can walk or take cabs/ Uber or Metro but Ive noticed people on this forum say the Rome Metro is not recommended?? Any advice appreciated Thanks
Pantheon open until 6 pm Sat- Colosseum open until 7 Sat- Vatican open until 6 final entry 4pm
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16700 posts
they arrive via train at 11:00 am from Milan to Roma Termini- and can
check in early at 12- then want to go to Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon,
and throw a coin in Trevi Fountain. They leave the next day
Ouch. Demi, even with a FULL day, trying to do Rome's two biggest (and most crowded) tourist attractions in a single day (Vatican Museums +Colosseum) would be an exhausting stretch. I won't say it's impossible but enjoyable? Personally, I wouldn't try to do the Vatican Museums on this timetable as that one is the most time-consuming and tiring.
That said, we didn't have any issue with Rome's metro at all, although we've only needed it a couple of times. It is useful for travel between the Vatican and the Colosseum but involves a change at Termini. There isn't a station near the Pantheon or Trevi, and those two are best walked between. There are buses, of course, although we've never used them.
Where are they staying?
Posted by
Portsmouth
5577 posts
It's do-able but rather pointless as you won't actually be absorbing anything.
The Colosseum, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain can all be reached by walking (Pantheon and Trevi Fountain are the closest to each other). The Vatican can be easily reached via the metro although even then I've walked back from there to Termini but that was to burn off an exceptionally greedy lunch.
The least time would be spent at the fountain, it'll be thronged with tourists and people selling tat so it's unlikely that they'll want to stay too long there. The Pantheon is spectacular, I visit on every occasion however some people are in and out within minutes. The Colosseum, for me, is the place that I love the most and I can spend hours there. For me the Vatican holds the least interest however I can't deny the grandeur of it and I've never been tempted to endure the queues to view the Sistine Chapel.
To try and fit everything in with the constraints of the opening hours and getting their bearings is simply too much.
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
12044 posts
If by the "Vatican" you mean St Peters Basilica and not the 'Vatican Museums', it could be done. This also assumes a walk around of the Colosseum and not a tour through the interior. Unless just a quick walk through is satisfactory.
Trying to go through the Vatican Museums and tour interior of the Colosseum in half a day would leave the Energizer bunny dead in the road.
Pantheon and Trevi are the quick n' easy part.
Why just one night in Rome? Any way to arrange to spend more time in Rome at some other point in the trip?