Walking Rome in one day

It's really not walkable from the Colosseum to the Vatican....a bit too far for your schedule. Take the Metro from the Colosseum to the Vatican...the stop is about 4-5 blocks away.

Depending on what time you start in the morning, you can see these two sites. You won't spend a lot of time at the Colosseum, but just walking around in there is amazing. Take some time to walk in the Forum too if you can. The Metro stop is just across the street from the Colosseum so you can get to the Vatican in a hurry.

If you feel you a rushed, and don't want to figure out the Metro, take a taxi.

From Termini (train station) take the Metro to the Colosseum stop in the morning. From there you can walk thru the Forum, Palatine Hill, and Collosseum. So you don't get too tired, and so you have more time, take the Metro back to Termini and take the other Metro line to the Vatican area. Get a fairly detailed map. You can do it in a day, but it's best to plan ahead and know what you want to see. The Metro system is simple, but tends to be crowded.

St. Peters is in the Vatican; check your map.

There has been much discussion on this Helpline about transportation from cruise ships to Rome. I can't help you there, but you can find the info elsewhere on this helpline.

Thank you both, Ellen and Swan. I know they will be "breezy" tours but it may be our only chance to ever get there at all, so we'll hit the highlights. I really appreciate your responding. I have printed off your answers and will take them with me.

One more quick question -- we do have tickets to get into the Vatican. However, we will not have a guide once we get inside. What is your best advice about that? Are guides there waiting and avaiable like there are at some other historical sights or should/can we do an audio tour? Best recommendation?

One more thing -- where is the Trevi Fountain located? Just trying to figure out if its closer to the Vatican area or the Colosseum area?

You are correct. I see it now. Thank you.

When you say you have tickets to the Vatican, I am assuming you mean to the Vatican Museum? 3.5 hours is definitely a rush job to see the Museum and St Peter's Basilica, but it can probably be done if you just keep moving. I think it took us about the same amount of time on our second trip to Rome to do it.

My recommendation, so you don't feel too rushed and worn out and to also conserve some extra time, would be to spend the money and take a taxi between your various destinations.

Yes, I just looked at my tickets and it does say Vatican Museum. I have never been to Rome and really have no idea of what is what .... so sould I assume that all we get to see is museum artifacts and not the inside of the building itself? Once we get inside, can we get a guided tour or an audio tour or do you know how that works? Your idea of a cab makes sense too.

Re:Vatican tour, does yur ticket incl the Sistine Chapel? If this is "once in a life time" you really should see the chapel as well. I wud go to Colosseum, skip Forum & head on over to Vatican City. We were w/tour grp & i don't recall seeing just independent tour operators hanging around picking up business. We are going independent late in Nov & want to find out if there are audio headphones for self guided tours inside St Peters. I couldn't find this info on website. Have you visited the Vatican official web site? Wud be hard to see Trevi Ftn or much else in limited time to ensure you arv back to ship. Have a fabulous visit!

The Vatican Museums are an enormous structure within Vatican City (which is within Rome). I don't know why its plural (Vatican MuseumS); the entire thing used to be where the pope lived and worked. Now he lives in a portion of it, and the rest is a museum inside a sumptuous palace. St. Peter's is right next to the Vatican Museums - there's a door from the Sistine Chapel (which is within the Vatican Museums) into St. Peter's.

There won't be guides INSIDE the Vatican Museums that you can hire, but there are plenty outside. They do good business soliciting people from the lengthy line outside (for those who haven't already bought tickets), for a group tour.

One time we toured the Museums as part of a two-hour tour. It was informative, but felt very rushed. On our last visit, we toured on our own, with our Rick Steves guidebook and another guidebook. That worked better for us.

You might find it helpful to pick up Rick Steves' guide to Rome; he has very good information about Rome and visiting the Vatican (the Museums and St. Peters).

You HAVE to buy the RS book for Rome. It's more than worth the price in order to get answers to all these questions, along with a very good self-guide to the Vatican Museum, St. Peter's and more.

Okay, you have all convinced me. I'm going to look for his Rome book right now and see if I can get it in time for next Friday when I leave. Thanks so much!

I would also take a taxi from the Forum area to the Vatican.

When you use the taxi, ask how much it will cost to take you to the vatican? Don't hop in unless the price is something you are willing to pay. I try to have the correct amount plus tip exactly ready to give the driver. I haven't experienced it but have heard many stories of Rome taxi drivers taking, say, a fifty Euro note and insisting you gave them only a twenty. Having exact change and counting it out to the driver (so they realize you do understand the currency) may be the best way to counter that.

You will also help your day by being ready to get off the boat as soon as it pulls into port. Get up early, eat and be ready to go. Pack a light snack from the breakfast buffet to eat later. Getting off the boat quickly will give you much more time to get to Rome and see something.

Before you leave the train station in Rome, make sure you know the return times for the train. Write it (them) down so you know whether you are in a hurry, or not, when you head back to the station later in the day.

Very good advice. Thanks so much to you all.

Karen,

Rick's Rome guide (not Italy, he has a separate guide just for Rome) is stocked by most major bookstores, so it should be quite easy to pick up between now and next Friday.

Best of luck!

I'm off to the bookstore for that book today. Thanks again everyone.