Vatican & Colosseum together??

Both need at least a half day ( or mor) and both are exhausting
Split them

Agree, I was exhausted after doing each.

I agree that those are biggies and need to be done on different days. Esp. the Vatican-that was the tour that seemed to last forever! And if it makes you feel better, we skipped the Borghese bc we didn't have time. The Vatican has enough art for Rome! Although we did make a brief visit to the Capitoline Museums. Also skippable, in my opinion.

On Day 1, if you're arriving at 9:40 am after an overnight flight from the US, that could be a pretty miserable day for you.

If you do an early morning Vatican tour, I think you could do the Vatican and Colosseum, Forum and Palatine on the same day. Maybe not "in depth" at any site, but you will at least get to see them in your time parameters.

In the before time, I liked to use Trainline to make train reservations - it's very user friendly for Americans and the cost difference from the Italian rail websites is insignificant (IMHO). I'm guessing it's too early to see what trains are available for your actual dates, but you can make dummy bookings now to get a sense of what's available and the cost.

https://www.thetrainline.com/

Is this your first trip to Italy? Looks like you only have two full days in Rome. That day one is packed! Especially after a long travel day. You may land at 9:40, by the time you get off the plane, get your luggage, taxi into Rome center you, check into your lodgings, freshen up you are looking at noonish. Do you need to find an ATM, will you already have Euros on you? I would grab something to eat by your hotel (YOUR IN ROME!!!) and get to the Spanish steps with Trevi fountain close by hang out, take pictures, grab a gelato. It is amazing how fast your day goes when your having a blast.
I would suggest making an "A" list and a "B" list for each day, with the A being the TOP thing (s) you want to do and the B list being "if we have time". This way you do not feel rushed or unaccomplished.
Day two looks good, can I suggest an evening walking food tour for Trastevere? We did one in that neighborhood and it was so much fun and we learned some facts.
Day three will depend on your reservation time for Colosseum, I would just do that one thing.
The trains are fairly straight forward, are you using Trenitalia website?

I knew the first day would be rough but I wanted to get out and stay active and fight through the jet lag. That's the plan anyway. How does my itinerary look? Any local gems I should seek out? Our B&B in just east of the colosseum.

The itinerary you posted looks good, especially if you take the first tours of the day for the Vatican tour and the Colosseum. Getting to each of those early is the best game plan. You could do both in the same day if necessary...they both take some time, but we found neither one that taxing (and we are older!).

One difference we found in Rome is that the attractions are more spread out and not quite as quickly walkable as many other European cities. Several are sort of "grouped" together, then you move some distance to another "grouping" and so on. Guess when Rome was built those chariots got them around better!!

I think Day One looks good if the weather is okay and if you all have stamina and are actually able to "power through." Note that Rick's Italy book and his Rome book each has a self-guided walk starting in Campo di Fiori and leading through the "Heart of Rome" all the way to the Spanish Steps. This walk hits pretty much everything on your "day one" list. Even better (and you probably already know this but anyway): The free "Rick Steves Audio Europe" app for smart phones has a bunch of free audio self-guided tours, and this is one of them. Sister and I each downloaded the app and the tour before leaving home (and some others, including Colosseum and Pantheon) and used the "Heart of Rome" audio tour a couple of years ago. It worked great to lead us through that central part of Rome, telling us what we were seeing, at our own pace. I still can't believe that all of the high quality audio tours on the app are free!

Jmau- I have downloaded that app. I found the "heart of Rome" walk and it is pretty close to mine only in reverse. I plan on starting at the top of the Steps and working my way down to Campo Fiori and then back up and finish at the Fountain. Again, that is providing we all don't pass out. lol

On another note, I am still struggling with the best way to get around. The bus seems like a nightmare. I am assuming there are cabs that can take a group of 6 of us?

With 6 people, you could probably book a private guide with a van for a reasonable cost per person. Full disclosure - I have never used this company, but a lot of people on this forum recommend Through Eternity Tours.

https://www.througheternity.com/

With only two full days I would stick to the major sites you have listed. There are so many gems to see/do. The light show at the Foro di Agusto is great, the Victor Emmanual building and the area around it, so many other great neighborhoods. I have been twice and we still have areas we have not explored.

www.througheternity.com is actually the one doing the early morning Vatican tour. A few of the forums have said good things about them.

I don't recall seeing cabs big enough to take six people, although there are (or were, in the before times) plenty of cabs in Rome. Three or four folks are probably all that could squeeze into one cab; you'll probably need to take two if you all are travelling as a group. There are specific cab stands throughout the city which may be marked on certain maps (?) or ask at a tabacco shop where the nearest stand is. Following the conversation re the Heart of Rome: It's really a long way from Spanish Steps to Campo di Fiori - longer than it looks on maps - especially given the crowded streets to cross, the traffic, and the many stops along the way (you'll want to give the Pantheon, for example, at least half an hour). Going back from the Campo di Fiori to finish at the Trevi Fountain will actually be more or less back-tracking a significant distance. Especially since it is your first day and if there are six of you, you will be time-and-energy limited by the most exhausted member of your group: I would strongly recommend that you not backtrack any more than is totally necessary. There is no doubt a cab stand within a couple of blocks of Campo di Fiori - at least out on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, the main street nearby.

What about food? You're in Rome, lunch deserves at least a couple of hours!

I wouldn't bother with the Spanish Steps, all the Piazza's can be taken in via a walk through unless you want to stop and buy an overpriced coffee or ice cream. The Trevi Fountain won't take long, if you can get past the crowds you might be able to manage a half decent photo op and then you'll probably be ready to move on.

The Colosseum is my favourite site and I can easily spend hours there but you could reduce it and include Palatine Hill and the Forum in a reasonable time. I've never bothered with a tour inside the Vatican, it doesn't interest me but I'm aware that it does require significant time to fully appreciate it.

And don't forget dinner, it deserves at least a couple of hours!

I started researching food last night and had to stop for the night. I was overwhelmed at that point. I remember a video where Rick says something about being prepared in Rome. My dinning table at home is a mess of papers and books! Any suggestions for Dinners, lunches morning coffee would be awesome!

Your first-day walking plan makes sense if you have the energy after flying all night. If you're too tired, you could drop outliers like Piazza del Popolo.

I think your plan to split the Vatican and Colosseum/Forum between days is a good one, and I'd start each day as early as possible. You can use the subway to get close to the Vatican, or between Vatican and Colosseum if you end up doing both in one day.

I think the Capitoline Museum is well worth a visit, or would be with more time. Besides the terrific art inside, it overlooks the Forum. But I waited in line for an hour to get in, in early November a few years back. The Borghese is also a great museum, but you probably won't have time. It requires an advance-purchased timed entry, so won't work as a spontaneous choice.

A two-week trip with multiple cities and towns means spending a big percentage of your time moving around. That means working with train schedules unless you're visiting rural areas where driving may work better. Our host has good advice about time-limited travel: "Pace yourself. Assume you will return."

EDITED

When are you going? If going during hot months, you would want to avoid scheduling too much walking in the afternoons.

The Forums have (at least before Covid) evening light shows you might want to consider.

Have you had each person list their priorities? You don't all necessarily have to do everything and it might be that certain things are low priorities for everyone. For us personally, of your first day itinerary, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain would be the only "must-sees" for us. We only made it to San Clemente Church (Colosseum area) on our 4th trip to Rome, but would now consider it to be a "must-see". We went to the Capitoline Museum on our first trip(when we were 30 and thought we had to see everything on that trip) and would not prioritize it-there is plenty of sculpture in the Vatican Museums(the only sight we went to on all 4 visits). We also went to several additional churches on our first trip-they were missable, but we do love Sopra Minerva Church near the Pantheon.

Don't stress over the trains. For travel between major cities they are easy. But remember, there may be multiple trains leaving for the same city within a few minutes of each other. We didn't realize this one time and almost got on a different train than the one for which we had tickets!

Don't turn your trip into an endurance race by trying to see everything. Be selective and really enjoy the things you most want to see. Looking at your itinerary, will your mother have energy for Siena, San Gimignano, and Volterra? Is the Tower of Pisa really a top priority? We have never been, although I think I would like to see the church. San Gimignano was not worth the effort, in my opinion. The cathedral in Siena is great, but again, will you have the energy to enjoy it? Packing up and moving from one place to another with luggage(which you will have to handle yourselves on trains) is exhausting as are numerous day trips.

I am probably the only person on this forum who recommends a day trip to Pompeii. I have done it twice. Once on a very long day group tour that included the Amalfi Coast drive and was fine with my 70-yr-old inlaws. The other time, my husband, daughter and I took the Enjoy Rome bus that just goes to Pompeii. I would recommend either option, although I would give a slight edge to the group tour because the Amalfi Coast is so beautiful.

When you say the Vatican do you mean The Vatican Museum and St. Peters or just St Peters? And by the Colosseum do you mean just the outside or the inside as well? I love museums but hated the Vatican Museum. It was hot and crowded and noisy; the Sistine Chapel was packed wall to wall. If you really want to see it book one of the tours that take place before it opens to general admission.RS Rome lists offerings. You can visit St Peters without going through the museum, no entry fees or tickets needed. Once you are through the crowds clustered around the Pieta, which is near the back, it is a lot less crowded. For the Colosseum buy tickets in advance, preferably for a guided tour, to get the most out of your visit. Again I am sureRick has good suggestions.

Day three would be a good day to rent a car and driver to take you to Aquaduct Park and the Parks. A company such as Rome Taxi offers such a service with vehicles that hold six. Again RS Rome has their contact info. I have used them for airport trips only.

Day 4. Are you returning to Rome after Pompeii? If so, you might consider visiting Ostia Antica about an hour outside Rome. A large Roman city that was abandoned when the river silted up, it has everything Pompeii has except the tragic story. Also has a nice gift store, small museum and a pretty good cafe. The train station is a 10 min. Walk from the site. If everyone is ruined out you take the train one more stop to the seaside town of Ostia.

Try and get to the Pantheon when it first opens before the tours arrive. Then enjoy a coffee and pastry on the piazza and watch it come to life.

Have you thought about coffee/potty/meal breaks during these extremely busy days?

My wife and I will return a few times. This trip is more for my mom who has never been outside the United States. I tried to get most of the big stuff in for her to see.

3.5 days in Rome (with a day trip to Naples & Pompeii)

2 days in Siena (with a day trip to Volterra and San Gimignano)

3 days in Florence (with a day trip to Pisa)

3 days in Venice

All the trains between places are early morning ones so it won't eat up to much of the day. I told everyone in advance it will be a long two weeks lol

Any local gems I should seek out?

LOL! Very kindly, kursed, but you haven't left TIME for anything else in Rome! To be real honest? I'd love to see you scrap Pompeii/Naples and devote that time to Rome. It really does take more than 2.5 days to get your head around the place, and your partial Day 1 may very well be a fog of jet lag. Also, by doing Pompeii as a day trip you'll miss the opportunity to explore more of the Naples/Sorrentine/Amalfi region: a prime destination for a lot of folks, and deserving of a 2nd trip when you can give it the time and attention it deserves.

Anyway, most people I know who ended up hating the Eternal City rushed through it, as you're about to do, and spent what little time they had in the middle of the tourist crush at the most-visited attractions. That can get real old, real fast. Building in another day to see more of it at less than breakneck pace will help you to better digest and appreciate what you'll be looking at. Your Day 1 involves a TON of walking (the best way to explore the historic center is on foot: wheels can't get you directly to all the corners) and is also very weather dependent; no fun should it pour rain! Is your 74 year-old mom up to the amount of ground you intend to cover?

For certain trips the Metro can be useful, for instance from the Colosseum to the Vatican Museums. You would change from Line B (Colosseo might be the nearest stop to your accommodation) to Line A at Termini, take that to the Ottaviano stop, and walk to the museum entrance. You might also do it reverse. Anyway, with just two lines currently of usefulness to tourists, it's not at all difficult to figure out.

Oh, and no, I wouldn't do the Vatican and Colosseum on the same day. Hint? The Forum/Palatine is a pretty complex site that greatly benefits seeing with a knowledgeable tour guide. I'd look at a tour which includes both + the arena. The folks here can make some recommendations if interested.

kursed30 - certainly an ambitious itinerary. Having worked for a few years in Rome as a guide, I'd agree with the group to keep the split of the Colosseo/Palatine Hill/Forum and the Vatican Museums/St. Peters Basilica on separate days.

Referencing Day 1 - your arrival day in Rome - we call it "jet-lag" day. We try to avoid scheduling any fixed, prepaid tours on this day because you never know how jet-lag will impact members of your group. And nothing is worse than feeling you have to go on a tour "because it's already paid for." And then it becomes a never-ending. exhausting march! So your first day of walk-by sites is a good plan. But, having worked with large groups before, on Day 1 don't be surprised if members start peeling off and heading back to the hotel. It may end up with just you and your wife --- and that's okay. You don't want exhaustion on day one to impact the next few days of your trip... so let folks "do what they want to do."

With your group of six, as mentioned, it might be less expensive to work with a private guide versus a group tour. The beauty of that is you are able to walk at your pace and on your itinerary.

A couple of suggestions based on living in Rome for a few years... On Day 1, if the market of Campo de' Fiori is on your list, go earlier in the day. At 1 PM, they start tearing down and by 2.30 PM, the market is gone! You could include Pizza Venezia with your Colosseo/Forum Day rather than Day 1 to stay more compressed.

On Day 3, I'd suggest you drop Aqueduct Park. It can be time-consuming to get to... and it's a better go-for-a-day, have-a-picnic, ride-a-bike, kind of place. Instead, go to the nearby Victor Emmanuel II Monument, where you can head to the top for some of the best views of Rome (not to mention the nearby Capitoline piazza designed by Michelangelo.

With just 2.5 days in the city, you are covering a lot of ground... I guess the best advice I can give would be what the more experienced Italian guides would tell me when I asked for their thoughts on what to do differently to improve my tours. They'd say. "Piano, Piano, Ronaldo!" and that's great advice when traveling throughout Italy.

We are discussing dropping Pompeii based on weather alone. It will be July 27th on that day. Probably be to hot for my mom to walk around a bunch of stone ruins. She keeps telling me to do what I want and she will follow but maybe it would be better for us to stay in Rome that day. My wife and I plan on the Amalfi Coast someday so we could hit Pompeii at that time.

Any local gems I should seek out?

I can't recall the names of most of the excellent restaurants I've eaten at, some have been expensive affairs whereas others were little more than a couple of tables outside what appeared like some old woman's house but one place I do recall and one which I frequently recommend on here is https://www.facebook.com/lasalumeriaroma. It's a small salumeria that offers the most mouthwatering platters of porchetta, hams, salami, cheese, bread and also a breadth of sandwiches. It's just across the bridge from St. Peter's Square and is ideal if you want to grab something quick and decent to eat or spend a bit longer (considerably longer in my case) over a couple of platters and a few bottles of wine (I wasn't alone just to be clear!). There are a LOT of excellent eateries in Rome but this one is a "go to" every time I'll be visiting Rome.

Personally I would skip Pisa. It's a bit of an overrated curio which is swamped with tourists and the surrounding area doesn't really offer much. I would much rather spend more time in Rome which I've yet to tire of despite visiting more times than I can recall. It's such an amazing city that really deserves plenty of time to enjoy and thoroughly absorb everything about it. To really enjoy it you have to slow the pace, take time over a coffee, lunch and dinner, enjoy walking the back streets and taking in the architecture and the history of the place. Rushing from sight to sight does the city and yourselves a disservice so I would recommend dropping Pisa and Sienna and spend the time saved on savouring Rome.

Don't drop Pompeii though, it's a sight not to be missed. It's a long day however with lots of walking involved so consideration should be given to the capability of your mum. If Pompeii seems a bit daunting then consider Herculaneum, it's much smaller but better preserved than Pompeii, equally as fascinating and not as crowded. Use Naples purely as a transiting facility to Pompeii or Herculaneum, the city itself has little to offer most people, I would never recommend it to anyone.

What a wonderful trip you have planned for your mom. It is sometimes difficult to slow your pace to match someone older. That said, I would ask how much detailed information your mother is expecting at each sight or does she just want to look and take it all in. We did the Walks of Italy colosseum, forum, and palatine hill tour - it was 4 hours! Too long and after awhile you kinda zone out. Also, we were there in February so it wasn’t hot, no sun beating down on us cause there isn’t any shade if I recall correctly. A quick tour of the colosseum and a walk through Palatine hill should suffice. I remember just being there, marveling at the structures and imagining what it was like xxxx many years ago, was enough for me. I remember some facts but not all from our tour. You don’t mention if you are Catholic. I only ask because when we were at the Pantheon on a Saturday night, anyone attending Mass was ushered right through. If you are religious, the best gift shop is on the roof of St, Peter’s, along with a lovely cafe and bathrooms. There is an elevator up to this level.

Well after a few phone calls it looks like we agreed to kill the Pompeii idea and use that day for more Rome! A few things that my wife found were-

• Aventine Hill -Quartiere Coppede -Largo di Torre Argentina -Janiculum Hill

Throws off my whole itinerary I had planned! lol

Doggone it, kursed! Your bride is already overloading that extra day! :O)

Good call to bizbag Pompeii this round. That extra time is when you can do the Borghese (which I absolutely recommend; we enjoyed it much more than the mob at the Vatican). I wouldn't personally do Quartiere Coppede 'cause it's not really all that close to anything else on your list.

The Aventine: I'm a fan, and it's not far from your accommodation if you're staying near the Colosseum. One of my favorites of the very old churches - Santa Sabina - is up there, and there's a pretty little orange garden (Giardino degli Aranci) with a nice view right next door. Just a short distance up the street from the church, peer through the keyhole of the gate at the Priory of Malta for an interesting view of St Pete's dome. It looks like this:

https://www.thewingedsandals.com/the-keyhole-of-the-priory-of-malta-rome/

Heading up the Aventine, past the Municipal Rose Gardens (sadly, not likely to be blooming in July), you also get an expansive look at the backside of the Palatine + Circus Maximus.

Also near your accommodation will be San Giovanni of Laterano. This is another very old, very interesting lady that's officially the Pope's Church as Bishop of Rome (the man wears multiple hats). Yep, it's a big, fancy thing well worth a look-see. Basilica of San Clemente is also nearby, and has Mithraic temple in the basement.

The Aventine and churches I just listed could be combined with your Colosseum day, although it will be mighty full if visiting Terme di Caracalla too. I'd probably skip the Janiculum this time, and Largo Argentina (do as a walk-by) should be combined with Campo di Fiori and Pantheon.

I know, lots of great stuff, eh? Take a deep breath and see if you can revise your itinerary by grouping the things you want to see by area, as the days those things are open allow? It'll save you some shoe leather, and some general wear-and-tear in the heat. Churches, BTW, can provide cool, welcome respites from the intense Roman sun! :O)

Editing to add: here's a short educational video about Santa Sabina which will tell you why she's so important:
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/early-europe-and-colonial-americas/medieval-europe-islamic-world/v/santa-sabina-rome

Will your BnB allow you to check in at Noon? If not, do you have a plan of what to do with your bags.

Glad the mad dash to Pompeii was tossed out. In its place a visit to Ostia Antica would give you the experience of 'ancient Roman city' , in a less stressful and shadier environment.

Temps could very easily be in the 90s in late July, so everyone will wear down faster than you might expect.

Do not go so fast that everything ends up a blur. Three well focused photos are better than 10 blurry ones

Looks to me like you have a lot on your plate. Would definitely do the Vatican and Colosseum etc. on separate days (we did) and would also suggest slowing down to enjoy Rome even if you miss a couple of the places you'd like to see.

Holy smokes you have all been so helpful! We sat down last night and went back through the itinerary. Here is what we came up with now-

Day 1 (arrival day 9:40am) - Basically going to do the Heart of Rome tour from the book. Only thing we will add is Largo di Torre and Galleria Siccara.

Day 2 - Early morning Vatican tour, Castel sant' Angelo, Trastevere

Day 3 - Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, Viaduct Park, Baths of Caracalla, Aventine Hill and Circus Maximus.

Day 4 - Capuchin Crypt, Spanish Steps, Pinocchio Hill, Borghese Gardens and Museum and whatever else we think of.

Dropping Naples/Pompeii really opened up the option not try so many things on the day we land. Any suggestions of things to add to any of those days? Some stuff that is in the area we can make it to while walking around? How is the subway system? I found a map of it and I noticed there is a terminal close to where we are staying ( a few block east of the colosseum) and it pretty much run close to most of the places on my list.

Going to throw in another option when it comes to visiting San Gig, Siena, and Pisa. I have gone on two tours with WalkaboutFlorence and have been very happy with each tour. Friend and I especially enjoyed their "Best of Tuscany in One Day" tour a couple of years ago. You start out bright and early from Florence, and spend several hours in Siena, have lunch at a Tuscan farmhouse restaurant (with wine), then visit San Gig (with free time to walk around there) and end the day in Pisa (with time to climb the tower if you wish, or to just walk around, in and out of church and baptistry). If you want to leave the driving to someone else, and even perhaps limit how many times you move from hotel to hotel, you might consider staying in Florence for a couple more nights - so much to see and do in Florence! - and simply see Siena, etc., on a guided day tour. Just one more option... (There are also other highly recommended day tours often mentioned on this forum, including ToursByRoberto. I mention the WalkaboutFlorence tour because it ticks off three places on your "to see" list, and I've personally taken the tour and enjoyed it very much.)

regarding Largo Argentina.

What do you hope to see there? Are you going for the Julius Caesar angle or for the cats? Or the ruins?

On one of my trips I stayed right there, just one alley off the pizza place Rossopomodoro. Back when the number 8 tram ended there.

Other than the 3 things I listed there isn't much there. A bookstore and a bus stop....

What's attracting you there?

I just figured that it was some ruins close to where we would be walking so I might as well just walk by it. Kind of a history buff so I thought it may be neat to check it out.

Regarding Largo Argentina -- This restoration was first announced in 2019... and this updated article is from April 2021... so hopefully this will open soon: https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-to-open-largo-argentina-site-to-visitors-thanks-to-bulgari.html
Other media outlets, including Lonely Planet, have this opening before Summer 2022. Perhaps, they'll hit the 2022 goal.

EDIT: We had a friend who lived just off Largo Argentina so we spent a lot of time there. She showed us the Aldo Moro memorial about 200 meters from Largo. Also, we stopped often at the nearby Antica Forno Roscioli - which was always packed for lunch with locals. it's also less than 200 meters to the famous Fontana de Tartarughe. And there's a great gelateria next to Largo called Gelateria Artigianale Corona - on hot afternoons, we head there for a granita. Or we'd jump on the #8 tram to explore Trastevere - which is where she moved to next!

Allow a full day for the Vatican. We did both on one day to the detriment of the Vatican. I could've lived without seeing the Coliseum from the inside. All I could think of was how many animals suffered and were killed for entertainment. The place is a disgusting reminder of violence against people and animals for entertainment purposes. Upon arriving to the Coliseum and walking into it, I was kicking myself for leaving the Vatican, especially St Peters, to dart across town. It was rush, rush, rush. We had hired a private tour guide and service to see the Vatican and thought it would be fun to see the Coliseum too with this guide.

Also, when touring the Vatican, if you see something at the gift shops inside the Vatican- buy it inside. Our tour guide took us to a place outside the Vatican gate and it wasn't the same stuff. We had no idea but were very disappointed it was just a TT place. She didn't know the difference and wanted to keep us moving ahead of the crowd. Luckily I stopped and bought some post cards and a nice laminated bookmark of the Sistine Chapel. ( No pics allowed in the Chapel) The TT place didn't have anything with the Sistine Chapel or other important sights in the Vatican.

Hi.

I think it would be too much in one day for two big "heavy hitters."

Explore the Borgo Pio area. (Vaticano neighborhood)

Also, I feel you would be doing yourself a disservice if you toured the Vatican and did not give yourself at least an hour or more+ to visit Saint Peter's Basilica.

Coming from the hustle bustle of the Vatican, when you enter the doors of Saint Peter's Basilica, a cool, quiet, calmness greets you -- or it did for me.

Depending on the time of day and time of the year you visit, it still won't be as hectic as touring the Vatican.

There is so much to see without being pushed and shoved.

There is a beautiful chapel (Blessed Sacrament) where you can enter, sit and admire the beauty of it all while quietly reflecting in prayer or just your own thoughts.

There is a beautiful tabernacle designed by Bernini.

http://stpetersbasilica.info/

They have cute little gift shops inside and outside the basilica.

I've been to Saint Peter's Basilica many times and always saw something new. I never tired of it.

Because of covid, things may be altered a little bit -- When I was there, I was able to get some Holy Water from the font that is on the left, passed the Pieta, as you enter.

(I brought my own little bottle to fill on each trip. The gift shop sells mini, glass bottles for 3€ -- price may have increased of course.)

Girasole,

The tour we booked includes all of I believe. Is the Basilica the one you can pay to go up to the top?

https://www.througheternity.com/en/vatican-tours/early-morning-vatican-tour.html

golddance5, while the Colosseum does indeed have a violent past, for at least the last 2 decades it has been a symbol of international campaign against capital punishment. Its illuminating color is changed from white to gold any time a death sentence has been commuted or death penalty abolished anywhere in the world. Call that penance of sorts for past sins? The architectural value is also well worth admiring as the design handled the entry and exit of many thousands of spectators so efficiently that it's incorporated into sports stadiums and arenas built 2,000 years later!

kursed, I'm concerned about your Day 3 (Day 3 - Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, Viaduct Park, Baths of Caracalla, Aventine Hill and Circus Maximus.) I think you'd have to burn a ridiculous amount of rubber to get all that done, and almost all of those sites, aside from the church on the Aventine I'd mentioned, have little-to-no shade. All of that in the July heat? Ouch. At the very least I'll vote with Ron (RNR) for axing Parco degli Acquedotti as it's not at all close to anything else you're trying to see that day.

Oops, kursed30. 😎 I guess I missed the part where you are taking a tour.

Yes, there is a charge to climb the Dome -- under €10 I think. Cash only; unless they've changed that. It costs more for those who want to take the elevator.

Kathy,

You are making me kind of sad. For some reason I REALLY want to see the Aqua ducts. I don't know why but it just something I want to see lol

Whatever I cant do on day 3 may just become optional on day 4 if time permits.

If you booked the Through Eternity tour you linked, it's the "straight shot" tour which includes The Raphael Rooms - Ancient Sculpture Galleries - The Belvedere Courtyard - Tapestry Gallery - The Hall of Maps - The Sistine Chapel - and St. Peter's Basilica.

Given the path most group tours take when seeing these sights, you will probably walk through the Museo Chiaramonti, the Collection of Modern Religious Art (look for Van Gogh and Salvador Dali works), and the Vatican Library but your tour will not include the Pinacoteca wing, Etruscan Museum, Egyptian Museum, or Cappella Niccolina. (I am a big fan of the Pinacoteca as it contains The Transfiguration by Raphael, his last work).

You can also independently tour the Vatican Grottoes (basement of the Vatican with tombs of many popes - free), as well as the Necropolis (separate reservation required), the Gardens (separate reservation required), ride the elevator and then climb stairs to the Cupola and roof (separate payment required). Some private tours can get you "behind the scenes" to places like the Mosaic Restoration studios. One private tour once brought me in through the backdoor of St. Peters! And yes, there's even more to see than this list.

If you exit from the Vatican with a tour group, you're most likely headed to St. Peters, via the infamous shortcut. Thus, you'll miss the famous Bramante Staircases. This is the exit BACK at the entrance point to the Museums. To see it, when you head up the escalator as you enter the Museums, at the top, ask where the mailroom is up there... and once in that area, you can look DOWN the staircase and then DO THE TOUR (if your guide will allow it!)

If The Passetto di Borgo is open this year - and it has not been recently... it's an incredible experience to walk between the Vatican and Castel Sant'Angelo. So you can see, if you want, you can spend a FULL day exploring the Vatican Museums and St. Peters. Enjoy!!!

Hi again.

Just read a couple of your other posts.

If a visit to the Aqua ducts is what you really want to see, you may have to slice off a few minutes here and there from other attractions.

Of course keep in mind - time out for your lunch or snack breaks.

On another note, I am still struggling with the best way to get around. The bus seems like a nightmare. I am assuming there are cabs that can take a group of 6 of us?

Official Roma taxis can maybe hold 4 adults comfortably - 1 in the front seat and 3 in the back.

I never took a Rome cab so I'm only speaking from what I would see while walking. If you do take a taxi, be very careful to only ride in an official city cab. https://www.romewise.com < lots of useful info from her. She's lived in Rome for about 20 years.

City buses are ok. Cost about 1,50€ (with a transfer) one way.

Tickets can be bought at Tabacchi shops, small cafes, and some gift stores. Bus drivers have no tickets or euro change. Most drivers speak a little English - some more than others.

They are a timed ticket (75 or 100 min) I can't remember, but it does state it on the ticket.

You must validate your single BIT ticket once you are on the bus. There are visual instructions on those stamp machines.

[BIT tickets are also good for a one-time ride on the metro.]

Uniformed inspectors will stop a bus at random to check validated and time-limited tickets/passes.

Buses 40 and 64 are the most popular; therefore being the most crowded and the most vulnerable.

Nothing to be really frightened of.

If you do take a city bus, put your bag and any valuables (camera, etc) in front of you and keep your hand on it, and you will be okay.

Bottom-line -- always keep aware no matter where you go. (I'm sure you know this: keep No valuables in your pockets. Even if you don't take a bus - standing at an attraction or in line somewhere, peeps may "tip toe" into your pockets looking for wallets/loose money/phones/ etc.

I took the bus quite a few times, and never had an issue.

Well, lol, except for my first time to Rome -- I got on the wrong bus and had a tour of the outskirts of Rome! I enjoyed the ride to and from. I did not have any time constraints, so it was okay, ha.

Buses 40 and 64 run frequently. If one is too crowded, you can always wait for the next one coming along within 7-10 minutes; depending on time of day.

Since you have limited days in Rome, you will probably opt for the Rome taxi to get you swiftly to and from.

Driver can drop you off as close to an attraction as they can - zoning limits. Same goes for buses of course.

*In case you are not aware, you may encounter some beggars in the area of the Vatican and Saint Peter's.

They are not harmful or aggressive. They shake their little cup of change and circle around people. They move on.

Be mindful of the bracelet vendors.

It may be totally different now with the limitations from covid -- in the past, "certain vendors" would try to strongly encourage people; especially girls and women to take or try on a bracelet made from string - don't comply.

They will demand euro for that bracelet.

*edited to add

How is the subway system? I found a map of it and I noticed there is a
terminal close to where we are staying ( a few block east of the
colosseum) and it pretty much run close to most of the places on my
list.

It does and it doesn't. If you pull up a map of Rome, you'll notice that there's a large part of the historic center that is not served by metro.

There are two lines of use (currently) to tourists: Line A and Line B. They cross at Termini, and you can change from one to the other on a single ticket as long as you don't go outside the turnstiles: follow the directions from one platform to the other. Which metro train you want to get on is easy once you look at where they terminate on each end, and the stops along the routes. For instance, if you're going from Termini on Line A to the Vatican Museums, you want the metro going in the direction of Battistini: the western terminus of that line. Your stop for the Vatican (Otttaviano) is along that route.

Going back to your accommodation, you'd take Line A in the direction of Anagnina - the southern terminus of that line - to Termini, change there to Line B, and take it to the Colosseo stop (probably closest to where you're staying?) in the direction of Laurentina. Make sense? From Termini, you'd take the A line, direction of Anagnina, to Parco degli Acquedotti as the closest stops (either Lucio Sestio, Giulio Agricola or Subaugusta)) are along the way...and no, I don't want you to be sad if you REALLY want to do this one! :O)

Where there isn't a metro station closeby is in the Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Campo di Fiori. Piazza Venezia, Jewish Ghetto, Trevi area and then some. Same for Galleria Borghese.

How is the metro? It's fine if it works for where you're going, although we only needed it a couple of times. I'd use it if only if you want to cover a sizable piece of ground. Like any other public transit in Italian cities, just keep your valuables where light fingers can't get to them. Nope, no exterior pockets or unsecured purses. Managing the valuables (cash, cards, phones, etc.) is another discussion but nothing at all to be afraid of if you take some easy precautions.

I thank all of you awesome people have answered my questions on this thread. I thank you all again for all the help.

Now that Rome is pretty much final, I will be posting my itinerary for Florence next. I look forward to the same kind of advice for that one!

Kursed30,

Helpful Tidbits.

Vatican and St. Peter's require shoulders and knees to be covered by all.

There will be a security check at Vatican. Outer jackets, hats, bags, etc. need to be put on a conveyer belt and scanned. They did not ask people to take off shoes.

If possible, bring a bag/backpack no larger than about 14" (to play it safe)
My tote bag was about 14" and there was no issue.

Ultimately, it's up to the guard in charge with regard to bag allowance. Avoid checking your bag. It will be a hassle to go back to retrieve it.

Umbrellas had to be checked. A few people left them by the side to avoid the hassle of going to the check room.

Water bottles were okay as long as they were tucked away - at least that is what I witnessed and experienced. Of course, things could have changed.

Ahh Florence! I will be interested in your itinerary and the suggestions you receive, lol.

I would like to plan a holiday there in the future.

I'll second that: Ahhhh, Florence! :O)

Great, great city if you like art, architecture and history. Emphasis on the art part. Oh my. So, kursed, will you be starting a NEW thread just for Firenze? Because the title of this one refers to Rome, I fear that some helpful folks might miss your questions about that city if you post them here.

Yep! A whole new thread of goodies! lol

Yay! Lol! I will be observing :)

that advice about the size of the backpack (backpacks are the holy grail to light finger artists by the way - you won't even know they have been there until you look in later) is very important.

I don't know about now, but in the before times the Colosseum had very strict size limits, and the Vatican security seems to be stricter as the bag gets bigger.

Ahh yes! - The Colosseum.

This is a tour we have used twice. They're very easy to work with and the drivers are extremely fun and informative. It would be perfect for your first day in Rome, give your group a great overview and save a lot of walking.

https://mybesttour.com/tour/golf-cart-tours-rome/