Hello, I am travelling to Italy in two weeks and am ending my trip in Rome. I am travelling from Positano to Rome on Sept. 19th and flying out on the 22d approximatly leaving me 2 and a half days in Rome. The first day I am dedicating about half the day- three quarters to travel assuming it will take me a while to get from positano to Rome leaving me the latter part in the afternoon. I would like to see The Vatican & Sistine Chapel ,St. Peter's, the colesuem, the Panthenon, Trevi Fountain, Spanish steps and the borghese gallery. I would like to book tickets ahead of time however I am unsure how to plan my two and a half days. MY hotel is about 10 min from the coleseum. ANy suggestions ( Im hoping not to book anything the first day i get there becuase of unsure travel times)?! I have a quick question regarding the booking in advance for Colesuem tickets. Most tickets include the Forum and the Panthenon however my boyfriend wants to do the underground tour of the the Coleseum and that doesn't include anything else on the Omni ticket website (you must buy it seperetly alone). How would I be able to get tickets for all 3 sites including the underground colesuem and if I cant is there a place where you can buy tickets for the panthenon or forum alone?
Posted by
Los Angeles
1825 posts
Katie,
You don't have a lot of time in Rome. Do yourself a favor and get Rick's book, it will give you some tips on saving time at places like the Coloseum. The Roma pas might be a good option to aviod lines at the Coloseum but won't cover the underground tour which requires a reservation. Based on time constraints I'd skip the underground tour anyway. Do the Night time walk and you will cover many sites. If your boyfriend is dead set on the Underground let him figure out how to make the reservations.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Katie: Donna is one of the regular posters here. She has often answered questions about how to book Colosseum tickets. Here's one thread with questions similar to yours: http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm/rurl/topic/84742/colosseum-underground-tour.html If that thread doesn't answer your questions, and if Donna doesn't reply on this thread, send her a private message. Good for you for realizing that a) travel takes time, so you don't have three full days in Rome, and b) you shouldn't book anything time-sensitive on your arrival day. On your tight schedule, I would plan to take cabs between attractions to save time. Buses work fine, but will definitely take longer. A taxi will be particularly important if you are running late to a prepaid and timed attraction, especially the Borghese Gallery (many warnings here that you have to be there early to claim your ticket, check your stuff, get the audioguide, etc).
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
When you book the underground tour for the colosseum it comes with entry tickets for 22.50 euros. These tickets are also good for the forum and palatine hill. You can use these tickets later the same day or the next day. You can only enter each site one time. The forum and palatine hill count as a single site so if you enter one be sure to use the connecting walkway to see both or you'll have to pay again. Try to get an early morning tour of the colosseum and spend the afternoon visiting the other sites. The pantheon is a free site and is in no way connected to the forum or colosseum. I believe you meant the palatine hill. I would plan one day to visit the Vatican area including the museums and basilica and the other day to visit the colosseum area along with the trevi fountain and the pantheon. I would skip the spanish steps as they are a complete waste of time. I would probably visit the Vatican museums on the Friday and the colosseum area on the Saturday. Donna
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Thanks Donna! I knew you'd come through (you've been so helpful with these kinds of questions in the past). Katie: I missed that you put the Spanish Steps on your list. I agree with Donna that they are nothing special to see, and that in your limited time, you should skip them. That is, unless you need to see the American Embassy or one of the world's biggest MacDonalds. If you happen to be nearby you can take a glance, but don't go out of your way.
Posted by
roswell, ga, usa
1501 posts
Agree! Donna (the other one) gave you specific perfect advice. FYI, my first trip to Rome, I insisted that we go to the Spanish Steps, walked allovertheplace, exhausted my companions, and it was so "non-special" that we walked right by it, and didn't even notice. It looks much better through the lens of a Camera for a Television Diamond Commercial. Your very short time will be better spent elsewhere.