Please sign in to post.

What days to do what??

Hi,
Looking for advice on what days to do the following activities. We were thinking

-Colosseum, Roman Forum, Capitoline Hill with museums, and Pantheon on one day

-Pompeii on its own day

  • Vatican city (attend church) on Sunday

We will arrive mid day on May 30th and leave the morning of June 3rd.

I was thinking we could do the colosseum day after 4pm the day we arrive (that's a Friday) is that too much to do after 4pm?

Then we were thinking Pompeii either Saturday or Monday? Thoughts?

Thanks for the feedback.

Posted by
14979 posts

When you arrive on the Friday mid-day is that from an International flight or will you have adjusted to the time difference and gotten some rest previously?

Posted by
12116 posts

From what I see from another of your posts, you have 7 & 9 year olds with you. ?

I would do Ostia Antica instead of Pompeii. You have a packed schedule and I suspect the kids would be 'dragging' the day after a trip to Pompeii.

If Pompeii is a 'must', I would do it the day before you fly out of Rome.

My $0.02

We will arrive mid day on May 30th

From where and what is "mid day"?

Posted by
5699 posts

I was thinking we could do the colosseum day after 4pm the day we arrive (that's a Friday)

Whether or not you will be arriving from another European location, or are arriving from overseas, this is a really bad idea. And disregarding the likelihood that kids are going to be tired and dragging by late afternoon, they are also going to want dinner at a reasonable hour. And sunset is at 8:30. The Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill, and Pantheon (plus any extraneous museums) can take the bulk of a whole day, especially when meals and rest breaks are taken into account. Do this the day after you arrive.

Since the family will likely be very tired after a day trip to Pompeii, do it on the day before you leave Rome.

Posted by
13 posts

Great questions! We will be adjusted to the time. We will have been in Tuscany for 4 days.

Pompeii is a must. Pompeii is one of the main reasons we are going to Italy in the first place. Yes, my kids are 9 and 6. They are used to long travels. We drove 24 hours in three days last summer and they did fantastic.

Posted by
13 posts

I might have been reading Rick's book wrong. Doesn't he suggests 1 hr for the colosseum and 1.5 hrs for the Roman Forum? I was following his guide days on 3 days in Rome. Is this a bad way to follow... he also suggests going after 4pm to avoid crowds. Is this for just one activity after 4pm?

Posted by
157 posts

I do not have a lot of feedback on your proposed itinerary except to advise that June 2nd is a national holiday in Italy. You may want to check the availability of attractions.

We were at the Colosseum a couple of days before Republic Day and the security was already being staged. On the morning of Republic Day, we were traveling between Paestum north towards Naples and traffic was bumper to bumper. The trains heading north (away from the coast) were ok…Just something to take into consideration.

Also, be sure to book the Colosseum tickets via the official website the day they are available.