Rome: Walking From Termini Station To Hotel Across From Vatican Museum

The Vatican is a large area and you don't specify where the hotel is. It's impossible to tell you if it's a good idea without knowing exactly which hotel you're staying at.

Rome is a very safe city, you won't be mugged or attacked. Remember that Rome is not flat, it was built on hills so you'll be pulling luggage up and down some of them. Rome also has a lot of traffic and crossing the street is actually an art form. The streets are not all clearly marked and it's very easy to get lost once inside the city.

I have done the walk from the Vatican area to the termini area, without luggage, and didn't find it invigorating in the least. While I enjoy walking and really enjoy walking in Rome, it's a very long walk on hard, uneven surfaces. I would suggest either taking a cab directly to the hotel or getting on the metro and taking that to the stop close to the Vatican and walking from there.

Donna

1. Is my walking plan reasonable?

Sure... its generally level and a nice way to start to find your way around.

1. Would the walk be as safe as Google street views appear to show it?

Yep... I think the biggest danger is going to be moving cars from being jet lagged. (Google street views does not have a way yet to show this danger.

1. Has anyone else done about the same thing and, indeed, found it easy and safe, and actually invigorating?
   I arrive from the west coast generally trying to arrive mid to late afternoon and I walk to where I am staying, drop off my bags and keep outside and walking til around 7-8pm and crash.

2. Or, would others say just take a cab - and if so, the reasons why.

May not be a bad idea to have it as a fall back plan, its quite a long trip especially from the west coast.

1. From others experiences - do all Rome street corners have good street name signage, clearly visible to tourists?

They are there but maybe not quite as clear as you expect. I'd have a good map on hand. Rome (to me) can be a bit disorienting.

I find Rome very rewarding to the person who walks.

I at first thought your tour hotel was near the Termini, but in re-reading your question it looks like the hotel is near the Vatican? If so I would not want to have to carry/roll my luggage from the Termini to the Vatican area. If you are rolling it, the pavement will likely have uneven areas and you may be slightly distracted having to manage it for a distance. Being distracted in Rome is not good as there are areas being worked by pickpockets and they will look for the distracted traveler. I would take a cab to the hotel, deposit your bags and then get out in the sunshine. If your hotel is indeed near the Termini, then I would walk.

I did not find the street signs in Rome easy and clearly visible! Especially when you have some of the odd 3 or 5 corner intersections.

Have a wonderful time on your RS tour! I loved my Heart of Italy tour...the country, the guide, the group, the food!

I'm pretty sure you're staying at one of the Alimandi hotels from your description. I almost always stay at one of these hotels, totally LOVE the family!~ I'd take a cab. You're going to get plenty of "invigorating walks" on this trip. Seriously, you're 70 years old and on an overnight flight from the West Coast of the U.S. Don't underestimate your jet lag! If, after checking in and getting rid of your bag, you can take an invigorating walk across the street to St. Peter's square.

Rome is very safe from a physical standpoint. The only "danger" is to careless people who don't watch their belongings carefully and underestimate the talents of the local pickpockets.

If indeed you ARE staying at the Alimandi, ask them for directions to Piacere Molise restaurant. It's two blocks in back of the hotel and I absolutely love it. Avoid the BIG pizza place on the corner of Via Candia and Tunisi. A tourist trap and the food is lousy!

Forgot! NO Rome street signs are not always good and clearly visible. Sometimes they're engraved in the stone of a building at the upper corner. Sometimes they're on sign posts. I have trouble with that. Again, I'd save some exercise for later. Keep your belongings close while you're in Termini.

We've been to Rome a number of times and on one trip started a RS tour (South Italy) at a hotel not far from the Vatican. From Termini we took a cab, freshened up and went out for a walk. I think being in Rome with luggage and traffic walking that far for the first time would be very distracting. We usually walk all over Rome, more than using buses and taxis, but when first arriving before you get your bearings it might be safer to get a taxi from Termini.Not to imply that Rome is not safe, we have always felt secure walking around, just traffic wise when you're jetlagged. Make sure you get one from the official taxi stand, because you may be approached upon exiting Termini by people offering you a taxi. They are not official and may overcharge. Which tour are you taking?
Whichever it is I'm sure you'll enjoy. Rome is our favorite city ever and we plan to head back there as soon as possible!

Have a Great Trip!

To respond specifically to your question.
1. It is reasonable as long as your recognize that it would be nearly four miles and the hour estimate is fairly accurate but probably slower with luggage. I am not sure I would want to do it but it is fine for the reasons you outlined for yourself. What is your luggage set up?
2. The walk would be very safe but there are some hills. Remember Rome was founded on seven hills.
3. My preference is to stash the luggage at the hotel and then do the walk so that I am not encumbered with luggage if I want to hit a sidewalk cafe somewhere.
4. Given the location of your hotel, I would take the taxi from the airport - fixed at 48E. The train is 14E plus an 20E if take a taxi from Termini. If really interested in walking, a better option would be to take the local train (FM-1 ?? I can never remember)- <8E, from the airport to San Pietro Station. Just south of Vatican city and walk from there. Much closer. Plug that into Goggle street maps and see what you get time wise. I am guessing less than half.
5. Typical American street signage does not exist. The streets are often marked by a block carving high on the corner of a building. Once you get use to the system, it is marginally OK. But have a good map and a compass.

Let us know how it goes and forgive those who are geographically limited.

My experience of a long walk with luggage after a transatlantic flight is that leg cramps can occur, probably due to dehydration. I would take the metro or a cab.

Walking would be safe, but invigorating? Not really.

No, do not walk to your hotel. Rome is great walking city, but not with luggage after an overnight flight. Take the the Leonardo Express to Termini and then metro to the area near your hotel. Finding your hotel for the first time from the metro will probably be enough of a challenge with jetlag.

It sounds as if you will be at either the Alamandi Tunisii or Vatican hotels - both are opposite the Vatican Museum. It's a long hike from termini to the Vatican Museum; you are coming off a long flight with a stopover in Frankfurt (which can be a killer depending on how long the stopover is and where your departing gate is in relation to where you landed). You will be tired and more than likely dehydrated, both are conditions which can leave you disorientated Rather than taking the train to Termini, arrange for a car to meet you at the airport and drive you to the hotel or take a taxi - the cost is much the same. You can arrange for a car through the hotel.

The distance is walkable, but not recommended after a long flight and hauling a rollalong over Roman pavements. Rome will be getting hot (and humid if they have had rain) and it is busy and noisy and just plain confusing. Why start off getting het up and frustrated? Take a car/taxi, have a shower at the hotel and then take a wander around the Vatican area (follow the Vatican walls in either direction until you reach St. Peter's square. The hotel will give you a map of the area and restaurant recommendations. The area is safe - all the tourists vanish once the Vatican and Museum close. It is very much an area where Romans live and work. The nearest Metro stop is about 10-15 minutes walk away and if you are doing the 7 Day Rome tour you will be given a metro pass and instructions on how the metro works - its very efficient and I used it every day I was in Rome. The metro pass also works on the buses.

Enjoy Rome - lots of lovely walks in the city and the tour gives you lots of time to explore on your own.

I was lost walking in Travestavre trying to get back to the Termini area after dinner one night. The signs are not the easiest to see and find sometimes. I just simply walked up to who I thought looked like locals and they gladly pointed me in the right direction of where to go. You should be good with google maps walking, if not just ask. If you don't want to ask anyone on the street just pop into a cafe and ask a worker.

Just take a taxi...they're actually pretty cheap.

It's doable but that's too long a walk with a suitcase by my standards. Safety is not an issue but I generally like to get to the hotel to drop off my bags as soon as possible. In your case I would get a taxi directly from the airport to the hotel (48 euro flat fee). A taxi will get you to your hotel in 30 to 45 min, depending on traffic.

If the taxi fare of 48 euro is too much these are the money saving options:

1 - Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino Airport to Termini (€14). Then Subway Metro line A from Termini station to Ottaviano station (€1.50). Not sure where exactly your hotel is, but the Ottaviano Metro station is very close to the Vatican Museums.

2 - Regionale train from Fiumicino Airport to Roma San Pietro station (must change trains at Roma Trastevere station) for €8. Then walk from Roma San Pietro station to your hotel (less than a mile, probably 15 min walk).

Option 1 will get you to your hotel in less than one hour from the moment you depart from the Fiumicino Airport station.
Option 2 will get you to your hotel in maybe 1 h and 10 min (walk included) from the moment you depart from the Fiumicino Airport station.

No, the street signs are not clearly visible and the roads are not straight. I am usually an excellent navigator and have never been more lost than I was in Rome. Take a taxi to the hotel then take a walk if you feel like it. Have a great time!

Take a taxi your your hotel, drop your luggage and then go take a walk for an hour or two. If you get lost, take wrong turns, it won't matter since you are not carrying your luggage.

jim,

I agree with the others that the best method would be to head directly to your hotel, drop your luggage and then do a walkabout if you're so inclined. As this is your first trip to Europe, don't underestimate the effects of jet lag. I'm 60+ and find that it usually takes me a couple of days to get over that. Also as mentioned, the streets may not be in the best of condition in places, and the street signs may be somewhat difficult to see in some locations.

The method I normally use is to take the Leonardo Express from the airport to Termini station, and then a Taxi from there to the hotel (provided I'm not staying near Termini). One point to mention is that you MUST validate your ticket for the L.E. prior to boarding the train, or you'll likely face a hefty fine which will be collected on the spot! That would be an unpleasant first experience with Italy.

Enjoy your RS tour!

Hi Jimr,
It is a r-e-a-l-l-y long walk from Termini to the Vatican area. Just to navigate out of Termini to get to the main street that flows towards the Vatican can be confusing for a first-timer. Start your trip off right and either take a bus from Termini that'll take you directly to the closest point near your Vatican-area hotel or take a taxi. The RS guide tells you which bus that would be.
Drop off the bags, freshen up with a splash of water on the face or change of clothes or shower (if your room is ready) and THEN hit the streets to wander around without the luggage in tow. The first time you see Rome is special so don't lose those magic moments by trying to hoof it through the Roman chaos.

I am there now and I wouldn't walk it. Take the subway it's cheap and fast. Even though it is not super warm in 70 degree weather it is hot carrying things. There is much waking in Rome that you will do so save this walk and take the A subway. Even from the subway it is a little bit of walk. I assume you don't have more than a backpack of luggage, if you did I would take a cab.

Roberto ----
Regionale train from Fiumicino Airport to Roma San Pietro station (must change trains at Roma Trastevere station) for €8. Then walk from Roma San Pietro station to your hotel (less than a mile, probably 15 min walk).

When I have taken the local to Termini it always stops at San Pietro without a train change. But that was last year. Has there been a change in routing recently?

I would recommend booking a private airport transfer via Viator, it is slightly cheaper than getting a Taxi on the spot. You really don't want to roll your luggages through the cobblestoned streets and risk getting lost or pickpocketed.