Rome with physical limitations - Help me figure out what we can see, please?

Rome is one of those cities that often requires a lot of walking--and climbing steps.

Hopefully you can handle steps in order to get on and off public transport--buses mainly in Rome. We find the buses to be very efficient in traveling around Rome. Otherwise, you'll need to use taxi's in Rome, which can get expensive.

Another option would be to find a tour guide with an automobile to transport you. They'll also know where the elevators are to avoid steps. We have found that there are a number of very interesting tourist sights in the Rome suburbs that are very often overlooked by most tourists.

You might want to look at RonInRome.com to see if he addresses handicapped travel in Rome.

Yes, stairs for public transportation will be fine. A lot of stairs to get to sites will not be fine.

Specific suggestions for places we can access and enjoy would be appreciated. I'm afraid that this was a very last minute booking and trying to figure this out is overwhelming (so much easier to travel when we were young!)

How will you manage on cobblestones? Unfortunately there is very, very little smooth pavement in Rome. Almost all of it is cobblestones, the uniquely Roman ones.

When the buses fly over them everything clatters and the ride, while fast and efficient, isn't what could be referred to as smooth.

Getting on and off the 8 tram is smooth and easy but it doesn't go as many places as the buses.

Across the river from your digs are Campo dei Fiori, and Piazza Navona which come with caffes and markets.

The crypts are below ground and are reached by tight steep entrances. I think that will be the same for all but haven't been to that one.

Your mention of being bored with museums is noted (despite your plan for the Musei Vaticani) but you might like Trajan's Market which is very different even if a few walls are missing, but most are there and I think they have a lift. Another thing we found fascinating was the top floor of the National Museum where there are the actual walls and rooms of Livia who you may have seen a few years ago in the TV show, "I, Claudius". They were real people and it is fascinating to see the actual walls, and the decoration in her dining room. On another floor are some fabulous huge mosaics just as they were made. There's a hall with lots of life size statues, too - but maybe that's too much. Several lifts in the building and smooth flat floors.

Enjoy your trip!!

Rome does have a hop on/hop off tour. Consider doing that one day- you can get a good feel for all of the sites before you choose which ones you want to look more closely at. I also have a short attention span at a lot of museums but I really love the Borghese- I love the Bernini sculptures. And the museum is small and manageable and most of it is on one floor. The Borghese park is also flat and non cobblestoned. But it is huge so just make sure you get off at the right entrance for the museum or you will be doing a lot of extra walking.

If you are interested in a wine tasting day tour from Rome, private message me. My parents took a day trip wine tasting tour from Rome where the tour guide picked them up and drove them around. My parents really enjoyed it and my mom and the tour guide still exchange emails. Do you have Rick's Italy book? He also lists several tour guides in Rome. It's short notice but they may be able to personalize a tour for you.

Worst case scenario- if you get a little tired, have a drink or coffee at one of the numerous cafes and head back to your B&B and use the opportunity to recover from your jet lag so you can fully appreciate your cruise.

Have a great trip!

Kristen

I would also suggest visiting Trajsn's Market as it's pretty intact & I believe they have an elevator to get to the lower levels (you might inquire ahead of time though). You can easily walk around Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps & Campo de Fiori without encountering stairs. They are flat areas but you will do a fair amount of walking to get from one site to the other. This is where it might be best to hire a guide/driver as someone previous suggested. This will, of course, be expensive but it will certainly minimize the amount of walking you'll have to do & you'll see more than you would on your own. It doesn't seem like you're interested in seeing the Forum but how about the Colosseum? You might inquire ahead of time as to how accessible it is...I seem to remember that they had an elevator to go up to the top.

The nice thing about Rome is that taxis aren't as cost prohibitive as they are in other cities. We used taxis quite a bit in Rome as it was towards the end of our 3-week trip and we tired and the cost was reasonable. I also suggest that your husband take one of those small portable folding tripod seats. You can find them at REI and other places but they're extremely light weight & if he really needs to sit down, it will afford him that opportunity, especially in places like the Vatican Museums where there aren't many benches or places to sit.

It's probably too late to change your lodging reservation but while I like Trastevere, it's really not as central to the main tourist attractions and the tram is not comprehensive; it doesn't go to a lot of sites. I would recommend being close to Piazza Navona, Campo de Fiori or the Pantheon to really be close to the major sites and to minimize doing a lot of walking.

I would suggest that you rely on taxis, and save the walking for when you get to the sites. I found that worked best when I was traveling with someone with limited mobility. Taxis in Rome are quite reasonable compared to many other cities. You cannot flag taxis down in Rome, but I found the doormen of hotels to be remarkably helpful, even when I wasn't staying in the hotel. My interests are quite different from yours, so I can't make recommendations. But certainly the area around the pantheon is quite walkable, and there lots of nice cafés and restaurants where you can stop.

I'll be in Rome myself for a couple of days next June (not my first visit) and just read in Vanity Fair about the Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, which now is at the top of my list for Rome. Never heard of it? Neither had I but google it and you will be impressed, I think. Only €11 to enter and it's open from 9:00 to 7:00.

Do you both have a folding travel cane/seat?
My dad carried one he got at a golf store and it helped tremendously - gave him a place to perch when we were at museums or waiting anywhere.
I just bought one for my aunt on Amazon but you can also try a sporting goods store. They are marketed towatds golfers
Have fun

I'd check with a local guide. We used Francesca Caruso who purchased our tickets ahead of time at the Colosseum and Forum, took us up a small elevator and gave us an amazing experience. We also are not into wandering an empty field looking at rocks and trying to figure out the map. The Forum is beginning to add wheelchair access but check ahead. Francesca is very busy because she's so good but it is the off season so you might get lucky and be able to book her services. If not, she can recommend a colleague but we had such a wonderful trip thanks to her. She has a website and is mentioned in Rick's books.

There's tons of helpful information here: Accessible Rome

Happy travels.