Suggestions for first time visitor to Rome

We can give more useful (to you) advice if you:

1)give us some idea of your interests

2) share some of the "general idea of what I'd like to do" that you mention above

3) Do you already have a guide book, and if so, which one?

How about telling us your general ideas, your likes and dislikes so that we can comment. This site doesn't have enough room to write the tour book your are requesting.

Giovanni
Suggestions- Vatican(museum & St. Peter's Basillica) Colosseum(Forum Palentine Hill) Pantheon
Borghese Museum are a must- Certainly exploring the different areas (Spanish steps, Trastevere area as well as the Piazza Navona-Campo de Fiori to people watch enjoy a glass of wine and certainly seek out a good restaurant.

This May will be our 3rd time there and have not touched all there is to see. Some we go back to again as we sometimes rush and miss out on some things.

Have not hit "the perfect restaurant" yet but will seek out more on this trip.

Enjoy-- and remember pick out a few of the major sites and always anticipate you will be back.

Giovanni - Consider staying at The Spanish Steps in my favorite Hotel - http://www.hotelforte.com/en/index.htm
My friends Emanuel and Emanuella work the front desk and can also make suggestions to you as to what you might like to do in the area - At The Steps , on the side streets there are many excellent Cafes and Restaurants.
From there you can walk easily to The Trevi Fountain, The Roman Forum, and The Via Veneto . And, at The Via Veneto you can board an open air bus for a very reasonable price and tout the city getting off and back on as often as you like. Since you have not been there it is not fair to ask you what you'd like to do since it's a new place for you!!

Enjoy my Roma, Greg

As the others have mentioned, you will get more helpful advice if you give us more information to work from.

One thing I can tell you though is--eat lots of gelato! When my dad and I went to Italy, he wore a pedometer which is a fun way to keep track of how much you are walking. We had a rule that if we walked 5 miles in one day, we were entitled to a second gelato--the first being mandatory of course!

I love Liz's idea! I think I'll adopt it for my future trips. Definitely visit the Pantheon! Also visit Campo de Fiori in the morning when the market is there. The 110 open-top bus is a good way to get your bearings & a good oversight of Rome. Definitely also visit Piazza Navona at night; there are street performers & artists selling their paintings, etc. It's very lively. I also recommend going to the top of the Victor Emmanuel Monument for the views. Take the elevator for an additional cost; the views are worth it. Have a wonderful trip.

The open air bus, previously mentioned, can be picked at 16 others stops besides the Via Veneto. It's called the Hop on-Hop Off Bus. It might be a good way for you to get a general feeling for Rome and a way to get around the first couple of days.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

Suggest, if you haven't already, pick up a copy of Rick Steves' Rome Guide Book.