Hi, I am going to Rome in a month and wish to get tours of the Colosseum (including down below old floor), catacombs and then out to the Vatican (on another day). Do you have tour companies that have been good to work with in seeing these sights? Thank you.
Jaime
Posted by
Austin, Texas, USA
576 posts
All of these can be done on your own. The RS guidebook has all the details. The underground tour you book in advance online; the catacombs you can take a bus to and just walk up and buy a ticket; and the Vatican musuem should be booked in advance online.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, USA
12 posts
Thanks for replying Charles. Did the Austin Marathon in Feb. Enjoyed your city a lot.
Especially Salt Lick. Anyway, I think I would alike a tour of the Colosseum just to get more info. Catacombs DOES seem like something we can just go and do. I understand it is out of town a bit, so will have to use the bus (shouldn't be a problem). I guess my question "is there tour of the Vatican that will get us into the main part, up the dome, down into the crypt and then over to the Sistine Chapel". I have not found this combo so maybe it is just tickets to the crypt and the Sistine and do the rest on our own. Thoughts on this?
Posted by
Northern California
205 posts
We booked tickets 6 months in advance to do the underground tour of the Colosseum. The day of they decided to have a strike from 0900-1230. Our tour was at 0940. We were just plain out of luck. It took me about 4 weeks of calls and emails to finally get a refund. The rest of Rome and the Vatican can be done easily just by reading and following RS book. Get to St. Peter's before 8am. Tour groups can't get in until after 9am. Then it turns into a zoo. If your in Rome on a Friday night I suggest booking the night time Vatican Museum ticket. I was a lot more enjoyable and less crowded.
Posted by
Liberty, Missouri
265 posts
Check out the Walks of Italy website. They offer a nice variety of tours. I have used them on several trips. They are listed in Rick's Italy guidebooks.
Posted by
Austin, Texas, USA
576 posts
That's ironic...I did the Seattle marathon last year and love the PNW!! What are the odds? Anyway...the tour you described wanting to go on is real easy to do on your own. The main places are so crowded I think being with a group would only add to the craziness!! St. Peters you could easily do on your own with the RS guidebook and climbing the stairs in the dome requires an entry fee and a elevator ride, explained in the book. The crypt can be accessed on your own too. The Sistine chapel is part of the Vatican Musuem and you need to buy a ticket in advance (or wait in a long line the day of) to enter. You could get a guide to take you in there but when we were there they had lots of people always telling people to be quiet and whisper so not sure a guide would make sense. We had our RS guidebook with the illustration of what everything was and that worked fine for me. So in other words, we did all this on our own with the guidebook but if you want a guide, I am sure you can find one. Good luck!!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
Jaime, just book tours through the official sites. For the underground colosseum tour you can use: http://www.coopculture.it/en/ticket.cfm?office=Colosseo&id=2 Click on the "buy single" option then follow the prompts. For the Vatican museums you can use their official site: http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?weblang=en&do There is no tour that included climbing the dome. If you wish to visit the grottos of the basilica you can do that on your own. There are free tours of the basilica given everyday. Just go to the information booth to sign up for one. Both of these official tours, the underground colosseum and the Vatican tours, are very good. The guides are friendly and very informative. The catacombs will put you on a tour once you get to their site. You cannot visit the catacombs without being on a tour so just sign up when you get there. Donna
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, USA
12 posts
Very good help everyone. Thank you. I know I shall have an excellent time.
Jaime
Posted by
Arvada, CO
33 posts
Don't forget to check out Rick's free Audio tours. He has one for the Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica, and another for the Sistine Chapel that work really well - especially in the Sistine Chapel where the tour guides aren't supposed to speak.
Posted by
OP
Seattle, WA, USA
12 posts
Elizabeth, Good reminder. I have listened to Rick's audio guides as I exercise. But at some point I will be in the actual place he is talking about. It won't be a "I can't wait until I am there" type of situation. At one point I will be there and then using the guides will be very helpful...
Jaime