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Rome Itinerary help - Appian Way & is Pompeii Closed Jan 6?

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My three sons (18, 17, 11) and I will be in Rome for 5 days. Here is our itinerary and I’m trying to figure out what day to walk/bike the Appian Way for a bit, what else to consider on the day we visit Pompeii (on January 6 - a holiday - but can’t see if Pompeii is closed on this day).

Here’s our plan and would appreciate any tips for where to add the Appian Way and what to do January 6 after Pompeii. What else could we add - given our time.

Day 1 (arrival noon) - late afternoon/evening Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish Steps

Day 2 Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel (we already book the breakfast tour before the museum opens tickets) and will stay after breakfast to explore. This is a Wednesday. We would also like to do the Dome hike at St Peters - but I have not figured out how.. Should we book these in advance?

Day 3 - Colosseum. Palatine Hill, Roman Forum - I have not bought tickets yet.

Day 4. Pompeii (early train to Naples already booked) - Can I buy tickets for Pompeii now or wait? We are going on January 6. Is it even open? What else for the rest of the day? We depart Naples at 530 pm

Day 5 free day in Rome to do whatever we missed

Posted by
3812 posts

Is it even open?

Have you already checked if the official site has a list of closing days?

What else for the rest of the day?

It depends on how early your early train from Rome is. You could visit Naples archaeological museum (where the best stuff dug out from Pompeii is) and/or walk along the street full of Nativity Scenes called San Gregorio Armeno.

Since you are travelling around the xmas Holidays, I'd always book in advance when it's possible

Posted by
23650 posts

Pompeii is really an all day activity but you can shorten it as needed. In Pompeii you see the structures. At the museum you see the contents. You should plan at least a half day at both sites. You should plan the Appian Way for a Sunday when the travel is restricted to taxis and buses otherwise it can be challenge to walk or bike it because of the traffic.

Good luck

Posted by
16654 posts

Just adding to the Pompeii question....
It looks like the site is closed only on 25th December, 1st of May and 1st of January unless otherwise communicated. No issues with Jan 6th. What with daylight being very short in January - and the excavation being vast - I wouldn't think you'd have time for much else that day. Buy tickets when you get there.

http://pompeiisites.org/en/visiting-info/timetables-and-tickets/

The closure info is sort of an awkwardly placed line of text in the middle of the attractions listing.

Should we book these in advance?

I don't believe you can pre-purchase tickets to climb of St Peter's dome through the Vatican, and I sure wouldn't purchase them through any 3rd party for an inflated price (and you don't need a tour). Tickets purchased at the basilica are € 8.00 to climb the whole thing, or € 10.00 for an elevator partway and on foot the rest of it.
https://www.vatican.va/various/basiliche/san_pietro/it/cupola/orari.htm

You will not be able to do this on Wed. morning when there's likely a papal audience at the basilica.
Not sure what "these" are, as far as booking? The basilica is free. ????

The Appia should be done on your Day 5 unless the weather doesn't cooperate.

Posted by
11986 posts

Wed- Jan 4

There is a Papal General Audience scheduled for that day. (http://www.papalaudience.org/schedule) .
It appears you plan to do the Museum tour, not the Papal Audience.

When we went on a Wednesday, the dome climb did not open until about 1PM. One just stands in line when they open the ticket office ( shortly before they reopen the Dome climb) and then wait for the elevator. There was a sign posted indicating when the ticket sales would reopen.

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