Suggestions for Sunday afternoon in Rome

Assume you are coming from the US direct, you need to clear immigration and customs in Rome. Immigration can be a dice roll from half an hour to two hours or more. Then it is another thirty minutes to get you luggage, walk through the custom's exit door and to the train station. Then a thirty min train ride to Termini. I would plan on a max of an hour and half from airport to hotel.

Sunday is the best day to visit the Appian Way - most of the traffic is prohibited so it can be fairly enjoyable. And one of the catacombs will be open on Sunday.

In the less touristy parts of town, Sunday afternoon is when families go out for a slow, relaxing dinner. I have fond memories of wandering into a family-oriented restaurant in Trastevere, the kind of place that doesn't have printed menus. It was a great way to live out the RS idea of being a "temporary local."

Matt, I'm pretty sure that the wonderful Borghese Gallery is open on Sunday afternoons. You need an advance timed reservation for a specific 2-hour period. The Bernini sculptures are marvelous, among other great works of art. It is located in the Borghese Park, which is nice to stroll around, among many local families.

@Frank - we connect from US to FCO in Amsterdam, and if memory serves customs processing will occur at AMS, right?

Ya, you will do customs in Rome and that is nothing more than a walk through the green door with all your luggage. You will do immigration in Amsterdam.

The Parthenon, pasta and gelato

The one thing you'll want upon arrival--besides sleep--is a good meal. Depending on where you are in Rome, on Sunday evenings the pickings might be a little slim. This article may help:

http://katieparla.com/eating-in-rome-on-a-sunday/

We arrived on a Sunday this February, and had made advance reservations at Emma Pizzeria, listed in the article. After a 2-hour nap, we walked over there from our apartment and I had the best Spaghetti alla Carbonara of my life.

I second Larry's suggestion to visit Villa Borghese. It is a beautiful park. As Larry said, the gallery is there and you need to purchase your tickets online in advance. However, even if you don't visit the gallery, the park is free and will give you a chance to walk and get some fresh air.

You say Winter, Sunday afternoon, and your hotel is near Roma Termini? Why not hang out at Termini for a time! The Cafeteria on the main floor makes delicious hearty Winter soups, and they make various hot pasta dishes, risotto, meats and fish dishes, salads, fruits, desserts. Mercato Centrale is an "open air" eating place that you're sure to enjoy with lots of food choices, food shops, and shopping.

Termini is full of shops on main and lower levels, with easy access to buses and Metro subways for visiting other sites. But you don't have to run off anywhere on your arrival afternoon, you can stay at Termini and have a wonderful time getting to know this famous train station! Especially Winter, it's been cold in Rome this Winter, it's Ok to stay inside for a bit, and Sunday afternoon, many of us Romanites will be there too!

The only site closed on Sundays is the Vatican Museum.

The Domus Aurea must be booked in advance and is open only during the week-ends. I know that putting an hard hat and going underground after a flight may be a little tiring, but 2018 could be the last opportunity to visit Nero's house with the archaeologists that are exploring and restoring it.

I enjoyed the Nero's House tour, but it's timed entry and the OP won't know in advance if they can get there in time, after checking in and dropping luggage at the hotel.

Unless the hotel is a block or two from Termini, I'd take a taxi, just to avoid getting lost. If the weather's good, an outdoor walk anywhere is a good idea. If the weather's not great, consider riding the (in)famous #64 bus which goes to some of the top tourist spots. That's why it's infamous - because so many tourists use it, it's often targeted by pickpockets. Just keep your valuables safely tucked away under your winter coats (or in your hotel room) and enjoy the view from the windows.