Buon Pomereggio! We have booked our trip to Rome. We have 5 nights. We will lose 1/2 day on first and last day for travelling. We are going to Vatican, Coloseum/Roman Forum, St. Giovanni Laterano and Holy Stairs, Borghese - if we can get reservations, eat lots of Gelato, shop for produce and bread at Campo di Fiori, pantheon, RS walk from Piazza Navonna to Spanish Steps. How much time do I allow for each of these sights? (Note: you don't need to respond about Campo di Fiori or gelato; we are staying close by and will buy some of our eats there.)Thanks! ---Barb (Note, we are good walkers.)
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3391 posts
Vatican...at least 3 hours. You can spend longer if you want to. TONS to see. Colosseum...45 minutes unless you're taking a tour. Make sure to budget time for waiting in line...it's unavoidable! Hoards of people also once you're inside...they funnel you through in a rope line and you just have to go with the flow. Forum...that depends. You can walk around the main part in about 45 minutes if you take your time. You really need to take a tour though to understand what it is you are looking at. I found the tours they offer with an archaeologist to be fascinating. Our tour took 2 hours. Some tours are longer and cover more of the top of Palatine Hill as well. Pantheon...30 minutes max unless you're taking a tour. It isn't huge but there are very interesting things inside to see and the building itself if magnificent! St. Giovanni Laterano/stairs...once there, 30 minutes max unless you plan to ascend the stairs on your knees. Otherwise all you can do is look - no pictures are allowed a it is a very active, holy site with quite a few people ascending.
That's all I'll comment on since I think my memory may not be good as far as walking times...I will say that Rome was surprisingly small compared to what I had always thought. Great walking town!
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11338 posts
Treat yourself to a guided tour private of the Colosseo, Foro Romano and Palatino. You can put the guidebook away and let a professional steer you through and skip the lines. Rick recommends, and I have used, Francesca Caruso (francescainroma@gmail.com) but I have also used and enjoyed Francesca's associate. Sonia Tavoletta (soniatav@aliceposta.it). My son took this itinerary with Tony Polzer of Three Millenia and greatly enjoyed his tour. Well worth the price in what can be a confusing area. The tours are usually 3-4 hours.
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
If you can squeeze this in.... Right next to the Forum/Palatine Hill/Colosseum is the Victor Emmanuel Monument. I loved riding the elevator to the very top and there are wonderful 360 degree views of Rome. It is really amazing. I took way to many photos from up there, but you can look down into the Forum, great view of the Colosseum, and of the Palatine Hills. Across the skyline of Rome......
We only waited about 10 minutes in the elevator line and then spent a good 15 - 20 minutes at the top.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Frances' recommendation is great - the elevator ride was €7 two summers ago, but worth it. There are labeled photo boards so you know exactly what you're looking at, and you can make this a lunch or coffee break at the cafe on the roof.
Posted by
Tampa, FL, USA
1054 posts
I would do the Vatican and Coloseum on seperate days. You can also book a underground tour of the Coloseum to go down to the lower level under the floor and the top floor of the Coloseum.
Posted by
Billings, Montana, USA
6 posts
Where is the best place to book tickets on line?