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Rome, Sorrento, Sicily Itinerary

We are a family of 4 adults traveling August 28 to September 13. I have a few questions and am looking for advice.

I am not able to change the dates in each city -

Travel on Aug 28 - Overnight flight, Arrive Rome 9:30 am Aug 29th.
Aug 29 - walk around Rome, explore, Sleep! maybe go to Colosseum?
Aug 30 - 9 am Vatican tour scheduled
Aug 31 - mid morning - train to Naples
Aug 31- visit Pompeii on the way to Sorrento - Staying in Sorrento and doing day trips
Sept 1 - Capri
Sept 2 - Positano, Ravello, Amalfi coast
Sept 3 - morning flight from Naples to Palermo Sicily
Sept 4-11 in Sicily with family
Sept 12 fly from Palermo to Rome, arrive Rome 1pm
Sept 12 last afternoon of vacation - walk around Rome, explore - Colosseum??
Sept 13 - flight home to the United States.

We definitely want to go to the colosseum in Rome. Arriving on the 29th after an over night flight I kept the day free. I have already heard it is too much to try to see the colosseum the same day as going to the Vatican, Sistine Chapel, etc.

MY QUESTION IS:
Should we plan for the afternoon of September 12th?

Do I have to purchase tickets in advance? I see a lot about that and wish we could be flexible and see how we feel the day of.
Should we try to go the afternoon on the day of our arrival? I don't know how we will feel after travel from the states. I'm having difficulty and wish we did not have to purchase in advance and be able to decide the day of.

Posted by
6587 posts

Have you purchased tickets for the Vatican, etc.? You might be able to squeak out more time by taking the train directly to Naples upon your arrival to Rome and then finish with more time in Rome.

I usually am fairly energetic when I arrive in Europe, but I feel like it is too much to do the Coliseum on your arrival day--hot, crowded, it will be quite draining.

Posted by
11948 posts

If you choose to stay at or near the airport , or the town of Fiumicino, you could spend the afternoon at Ostia Antica.

Fiumicino has some waterfront restaurants that could make for a nice farewell dinner and sunset.