Where would you stay between Prati and the Vatican in Rome?

I don’t have any recommendations but I think a search of forum will turn up a few.

Booking.com is a good place to start your search
Set the filters and see what’s available
You can trust the reviews there as they can only be left by folks who have actually stayed at the property

When is your trip?

I have to ask-
Are you really planning to visit Florence, Venice and Pisa all in one day?
That’s near impossible, I mean I suppose you can do it but you won’t really have any time to do more than ride the train all day.
Venice especially is way too far for a day trip even by itself.

If you want to see Venice, Florence and Pisa a better plan is to fly in to Venice and stay at least 2 nights
Then train to Florence for 3 nights with day trip to Pisa
Then train to Rome to end your trip there

A 3 night stay anywhere is really only 2.5 days in that location

Are you really planning to visit Florence, Venice and Pisa all in one
day?

Yikes. I sure HOPE you aren't trying to all of that in one day from Rome! I consider Venice too far for a day trip from the Eternal City (it's 4 hours, one-way, by even fastest trains) and Florence...well, even though it's a shorter 90 minutes, one-way, by fast train, it's a personal favorite that needs more than a day to get to know. Enlighten us here? :O)

Here's where we stayed in Rome near the Vatican in early December 2021 and liked it very much: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17386216?guests=1&adults=1&s=67&unique_share_id=7ec9466b-b4c3-40f6-8ab9-bc476303955e

As you'll see, it's already booked up for many dates --- it is deservedly popular!

Here's my airbnb review of Lina's apartment:

This apartment was in a new neighborhood for us and we found it to be convenient to several useful bus lines, interesting to walk around in, close to Bonci's bakery and Pizzarium, and excellent for visiting the Trionfale market in the mornings. We have enjoyed staying in areas like Testaccio and Garbatella before that are slightly outside the usual tourist areas --- we would definitely stay in this neighborhood and this apartment again!

Antico Falcone, our host's recommendation for a nearby classic osteria, was perfect, with really good food and atmosphere.

Extra nice to have an oven in the kitchen and a combo washing machine and dryer.

The shower was by far my favorite of our whole 5 week trip --- easy to use and to get in and out of. The beds are very comfortable and there are shutters to darken the rooms for sleeping.

The host, Lina, explained how everything worked and was very accommodating about check-in and check-out times. Also drove us to the airport!

Thank you for your responses! Unfortunately, the referral to Lina is booked. We need rooms in Rome from March 15-17th and then 19-21st. I wish I could copy and paste an excel sheet or share the table of our itinerary she planned to get your experience and input....

16th: Rome: 6:30 AM arrival to the airport...planning on St. Peter's Basilica/Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/Dome at 10 AM...when there is papal training on Wed morning, does that mean we can't get in? Or would you book an early entrance ticket with an agent like the Roman guy?

17th: Rome
18: Florence
19: Venice & Pisa
20: Rome
21: Rome and fly home

Thank you,
Susie

I think it would make more sense to use the fast train to Venice and back (if you must do a day trip)--diverting to Pisa makes a long day an unrealistically long day.
I'd also question whether you really want to do a big tour like the Vatican after getting off a place at 6:30 am--I know I'd be pretty worthless for that.

We need rooms in Rome from March 15-17th and then 19-21st.

Are you arriving on 3/15 or 3/16? If 3/16 as below whey do you need a room on 3/15?

16th: Rome: 6:30 AM arrival to the airport...planning on St. Peter's
Basilica/Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/Dome at 10 AM...when there is
papal training on Wed morning, does that mean we can't get in? Or
would you book an early entrance ticket with an agent like the Roman
guy?

3/16 is a Thursday so the Wednesday Papal Audience does not come into play here

I wouldn't plan any major tour for this day. You'll be jet lagged. If plane is late you will miss your tour, etc. An early entry tour won't help- those meet at 7:30ish- you'll certainly never make that with a 6:30 arrival.
Makes more sense to head directly to Venice or Florence on arrival to FCO and put all your Rome nights together at end of trip so you don't have that split stay.

17th: Rome

18: Florence

19: Venice & Pisa

20: Rome

21: Rome and
fly home

Pisa is an hour train ride from Florence. It is nowhere near Venice and is not on the way to Rome from Venice.
You are going to have to redo this itinerary or drop something unless spending your days on a train is your plan.
Sorry but that's just the truth.

Can your flights be changed to fly IN to Venice out of Rome?
If so- I highly recommend you do that.
If not consider dropping Venice completely- you don't have time to enjoy it anyway with just a partial day. If you go there from Rome it is a 4 hour train ride EACH way. That leaves you no time at all to see Venice.
(Venice to Pisa is at least 4 hours with a change in Florence
Pisa to Rome is about 3 hours
So that’s 7 hours on a train)

Head right to Florence on arrival- stay 2 nights. (Leonardo Express Train to Termini then fast train to Florence)
On 2nd day take the train to Pisa (or skip Pisa entirely) as it is you don't have enough time to enjoy Florence either.
Then train back to Rome for the last 3 nights.

Arrive 3/16 am- train to Florence
3/16, 3/17 Florence- you will be jet lagged on 3/16 so you really only have 1 full usable day in Florence- without a day trip to Pisa
3/18 Train back to Rome
3/18, 3/19 3/20 Rome
3/21 -Fly home- what time is your flight? You probably really don't have time for any more of Rome sightseeing this day

TBH- I'd just stay in Rome. Looks like you only have 5 nights total which means 4.5 days. Your first day hardly counts (jet lag, check in, etc)
1 day for Vatican sights
1 day for Colosseum sights
1 day for other sites- P Navonna, Pantheon, Campo de Fiori, Trevi, etc
1 day for more wandering- visit the Borghese, other museums, churches, etc

Lastly- for a short first visit like this I recommend you stay in a hotel. No worries about what time you can get into an apartment, you'll have somewhere to drop your bags with that early arrival (hotel will hold bags before check in time), the hotel will have a front desk that can help you with recommendations, calling taxis, bkft available, etc.
We prefer to stay in the historic center- near Pantheon, P Navonna, etc. You can walk most anywhere from there. Prati is nice but out of the way for all sights other than Vatican.

And I'd get on that booking asap- you have less than a week til arrival.

You’ll need to book your tour for Vatican asap, they are selling out so your only option might be with a tour if available - but NOT on your arrival day

All the online regular admission tickets to the Vatican Museums are sold out for the days you will be in Italy. If seeing the Museums and the Sistine Chapel is important to you, you'll either need to go to the Museums and stand in the very long buy-a-ticket line or pay for a tour. The Vatican has some tours on its website, but private companes also offer tours. Note that tours can also sell out.

Tickets for Vatican Museums

Edited to add: Staying in Prati puts you not particularly near either Termini Station or Tiburtina Station, the stations served by the very fast trains to Florence, so you need to figure on considerably more travel time than indicated by the train schedule.

And as others have pointed out, Venice is way, way beyond a reasonable day-tripping distance--it's over 300 miles from Rome.

We have stayed in the Prati neighbourhood our last 2 visits to Rome and we love it. Lots of bus options, a Metro line, and great restaurants. Last November we stayed at Hotel Isa on via Cicerone; it was excellent with great breakfasts and lovely staff. There are many hotels in this area which you can find on a google map.

We need rooms in Rome from March 15-17th and then 19-21st....

16th: Rome: 6:30 AM arrival to the airport...planning on St. Peter's
Basilica/Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/Dome at 10 AM...when there is
papal training on Wed morning, does that mean we can't get in? Or
would you book an early entrance ticket with an agent like the Roman
guy?

Hi Susie -
As said above, these dates are inconsistent. Are you coming into Rome on the 15th or on the 16th? And why are you not needing a room on the 18th? Whatever the case, you do NOT want to plan St. Peter's Basilica/Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel/Dome for a (potentially jet-lagged) arrival day! They are difficult enough to deal with when wide awake, and a delayed flight would have you missing your entry time slot. As well, an early entrance tour won't work as they start even before you'd be able to get into Rome from the airport.

Can you clarify exactly when you are flying into Italy and when you are flying home? It's difficulty to tell, from your last post, how much time you actually have on the ground in the country.

Again: Venice is not a day trip from Rome. You'd spend 8 hours of that day on a train, and there's NO time for Pisa.

I'm overwhelmed w/ gratitude w/ all of your responses. Thank you. I'm sorry for confusion. Your time & effort is thoughtful & valuable! It makes great sense to avoid touring on arrival day & we were staying left of river to be near daughter...Trying to determine best options w/ availability now...

*Itinerary (3/15 w/ 6:30 AM arrival-3/21 w/ 8:40 AM departure) to work around daughter's classes for Rome, Venice, Florence, & Pisa.*

*Wed, 3/15 Rome*
• Take a taxi to your Airbnb, it is 50 Euro flat fee from the Airport to City Center - Arrive at AirBnb at like 11AM (Ballpark)
• Unpack, nap if needed -the next two days will be very busy! Added this column for notes/questions.

10:15-1 PM Vatican/St. Peter’s Basilica/Sistine Chapel Tour Peter’s (gotta go early or late)…should we go even earlier? Is St. Peter’s Basilica typically closed on Wed morning for papal audience? I dk what that is…

1:00 PM Onward Walk past Castle San Angelo and Senate building while making your way to Pantheon
• Pass through Piazza Navona (20 Minute Walk)
• Grab Snack @ All'Antico (BEST PANINIs IN ROME!!)

2:00ish Tour the Pantheon

3:00ish Grab late lunch at Napoletano

4:00ish Grab Gelato at Giolitti
4:15-4:30ish Head to the Trevi Fountain (8 Minute Walk)

4:30-5:00ish Take pictures/enjoy the Trevi

5:00-5:15ish Head to the Spanish Steps (8 Minute Walk)

5:15-6:00ish Enjoy the steps, take photos, shop

6 to whenever Eat Dinner @ ?
Walk through Downtown/Shopping Area to get Home

Thurs, 3/16 Rome

@1:00PM Start making your way to the University of Washington Rome Center (Piazza del Biscione, 95, 00186 Roma RM)

@1:30-2:00 Explore Campo Di Fiori -the open air market near the UDub building- until my classes end.
@2:00PM Onward See My School!
• Walk to Enzo’s (very popular bar for CIEE students)
• Head to CIEE & check out the school building
• Church across from CIEE
Churches/Area near CIEE
• Basilica of Santa Maria in AraCoeli
• Tomb of the Unknown Soldier/Contemporary Museum
Heading Home to your AirBnb (Different Route!)
• Walk thru Jewish Ghetto
• Get Crostata ricotta e visciole from Pasticceria Boccione
@5:45 PM Taxi to Tonarello’s
there @5 or 6 to beat the line -which apparently moves quickly
After Dinner Head to Pimm’s
• Drinks & live music
@10:30 Head to Drunken Ship & meet my friends

Fri, 3/17 to Venice
7:15 AM Meet at Rome Termini
7:35 AM Train Leaves
11:34 AM Arrive in Venice
Check into AirBnb/Grab Food
Head to Rialto Bridge
St. Mark's Square & Basilica
Snack @
Librarie Acqua Alta
• Vintage Bookstore on Gondolas
Gondola Ride
Dinner

*Sat, 3/18 Venice to Florence*
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM - 11:45 AM Doge’s Palace/Museums
12:00 PM Arrive at Train Station
12:26 - 2:39 PM Train to Florence
Check into AirBnb
Lunch @ ?
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
Gucci Gardens (If we have time)
Leather Market to Ponte Vecchio (Jewelry Districts)
Piazzale Michelangelo for Sunset
Dinner @ ?

Sun, 3/19 Flo to Pisa
9:00AM Get Up, Breakfast
Academia Galleria
Lunch @ Koto Ramen
Gucci Gardens
1:00 - 2:04 Train to Pisa
See the Tower, Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta & Baptistery
Dinner @ Knights Square
Arrive @ Train Station
6 pm Lazio game?
7:38-10:35 Train to Rome

Mon, 3/20 Rome
You get to sleep in, YAY!
Do what you want with the day, maybe check out some vintage stores in Trastevere.
King Vintage, Humana Vintage
Shop, pack to go home, etc.
2:00 PM Colosseum & Roman Forum Tour
(no Gladiator)
6:00 PM Dinner @ La Palapa or Nearby Restaurant
Get Gelato @ St. Peter’s

3/21 fly out

How do you think we should change our tours in Rome? Need place to stay in Rome. We booked train & airbnb for Venice&Florence.

Thank u for your enlightenment, as I make changes!
Susie

OK, just some quick feedback on some stuff that stuck out for me? From the itinerary:

• Take a taxi to your Airbnb, it is 50 Euro flat fee from the Airport
to City Center - Arrive at AirBnb at like 11AM (Ballpark)

This is another reason to book a hotel with a 24/7 desk versus an apartment. Apartments usually have fairly strict check-in times. Like hotels, those are usually in the afternoons. I wouldn't count on getting into yours before noon and so you'd have to deal with your luggage in the meantime. Most hotels will store your bags until check-in, and often have a bathroom available for washing your face and whatnot before setting out to explore before your room is ready. I have the same concerns for your AirBnB in Venice and Florence but maybe they've OK'd early check-in.

10:15-1 PM Vatican/St. Peter’s Basilica/Sistine Chapel Tour Peter’s
(gotta go early or late)…should we go even earlier? Is St. Peter’s
Basilica typically closed on Wed morning for papal audience? I dk what
that is…

Honestly, I just don't see this happening even if you COULD make a 10:15 entry time, which I doubt. Trust us, you don't want to go anywhere NEAR the Vatican Museums in a jet-lagged state. As well, with air travel being what it is, I wouldn't purchase advance tickets - I'm not even sure they're not sold out for next week but haven't looked - for a time-slot you have a pretty good chance of missing: no refund if you do. The best thing you can do on the day you arrive is to just walk and look and try to stay awake until bedtime; most of your other activities on the schedule would be fine unless completely brain-fogged. Oh, and yes, the basilica is closed on Wed. morning for the papal audience.

If you don't eat lunch until 3:00, you're not going to want dinner at 6:00.

On the 16th, you should be able to start your day much earlier than 1:00 PM if you get to bed the night before. Even if the daughter is in class, don't waste those precious sightseeing hours! IF you could land advance tickets at this late date, THIS is the morning I'd do the Vatican Museums. There are also tours for the thing that we might recommend that, while higher in price than a standard entry ticket, would get you in and shepherd you to-and-through the highlights. The museums would add significant time on your feet, though.

The train to Venice: I would bring food and eat lunch ON the train. You have little enough time for the city as it is. Do you know if you can get into your accommodations in late morning/early afternoon?

Your last day in Rome: skip the sleeping in and get out for more sightseeing. LOL, you can sleep on the plane the next day! The Vatican Museums in the morning might be a possibility on this day too but maybe too much with the Colosseum/Forum in the afternoon.

EDITED to add suggestion for Vatican Museums to the Thursday itinerary.

We booked train & airbnb for Venice&Florence.

Oh dear.
Well in that case I guess you’ll have to make the best of it.

First- who is we?

Second- get somewhere booked in Rome. It doesn’t need to be in Prati. Her school is right near Campo De’ Fiori- go to booking.com and set filters. Anywhere near there, P Navonna, Pantheon will be fine. You can meet up with her near her school- no need to go to Prati if that is where she is living. Book a HOTEL.

Luggage- how much will you have? I am concerned about your airbnbs in both Venice and Florence- have you confirmed early check in? If not you need to travel light since you’ll be carrying your bags around for part of the day before check in. Or consider storing at Termini and just taking small knapsacks for your 2 overnights away from Rome.
Can you daughter help with that?
Or better yet- book a HOTEL in Rome- same hotel for the 2 stays- then ask if they will hold your bags while you go to Venice/Florence. They probably will.

Wed 3/15- I’d guess you are at your lodging closer to 10- again a HOTEL will hold your bags. Get out and start walking- do the RS Heart of Rome walk (which is basically what your daughter has suggested). She’s made a lot of suggestions for lunch, gelato, etc. That’s fine but there are many many good places to grab quick bites so don’t worry or waste time trying to find specific places.

Thurs 3/16 AM is your best time for Vatican/St Peters

All the online regular admission tickets to the Vatican Museums are sold out for the days you will be in Italy. If seeing the Museums and
the Sistine Chapel is important to you, you'll either need to go to
the Museums and stand in the very long buy-a-ticket line or pay for a
tour.

Since tix are already sold out don’t waste your time waiting in that line- book a tour
Walks of Italy, Tour Guy, etc- whoever has availability.

Fri 3/17- Is your daughter traveling to Venice and Florence with you?
Where is your airbnb?
I’d skip Rialto Bridge this day and get to St Marks area. See all the sights there now- Doges, Basilica, etc.
Then use rest of day to just wander around get lost.

10:00 AM - 11:45 AM Doge’s Palace/Museums

> 12:00 PM Arrive at Train Station

Sat 3/18- Check out- go to Rialto market/Bridge this am— much closer to train station than San Marco- you don’t want to miss your train! Grab lunch to take on train.

Sun 3/19
You’ll want to be at Accademia in line when they open- unless you already have an entry booked?

Lunch @ Koto Ramen

If this is the one I am seeing on Google maps- it is sort of out of the way and a good 20 min walk to train station. I'd go to Mercato Centrale and either eat there or take with you on train.

Pisa- if you want to climb the tower you need to book in advance. Do you have tickets already?
Note that the train station is a 25-30 min walk from the Field of Miracles. Don’t miss your train to return to Rome!

Here is where staying in a hotel will be wise- you won’t get there til 11ish- not sure an airbnb will like that late check in time

3/20
Do you have a tour booked for Colosseum?

Christine, this is stressful for coming down to the wire, so I appreciate your great questions and tips! Thank you for so much thought.

• My husband booked it for the three of us, so daughter is included. -We were going to leave main luggage at daughter's apt. Waiting to hear back on early check in with airbnb. I'll book hotel!

-Airbnb in Venice is in Castello; and Florence is District 1/Sata Maria Noveli

-I don't think we have tickets for Academia or Pisa yet...

Yes on tour of Coloseum...we were just going to do RS audio, but maybe I should switch that to a better tour with company for timing and efficiency if I can get in...

Thank you!
Susie

Susie-
I just looked at booking.com
Hotel Smeraldo has availability for your first 2 nights
Highly recommended hotel, a favorite of many here
I’d grab it

https://www.smeraldoroma.com/en/

If you are leaving bags at daughter’s apt you’ll want to do that the night before since your train is so early in am
Take a cab to Termini, probably about 10 euros
Have hotel call for one

Walks of Italy has Vatican and Colosseum tours available on days that work for you

https://www.walksofitaly.com/rome-tours/

Pristine Sistine on Thurs 3/16 meet at 7:15

Premium Colosseum Tour with Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Mon 3/20 at 10:30 or 1 pm

I'd pick the 1 pm since you are getting in late night before

They do offer a RS discount- have to email them for the code

Lunch @ Koto Ramen

If this is the one I am seeing on Google maps- it

is sort of out of the way and a good 20 min walk to train station. I'd
go to Mercato Centrale and either eat there or take with you on train.

Not sure why you'd would go out of your way to eat ramen in Florence but...
Go to Mercato Centrale- upstairs towards the back is a stand- Trapezzino the "new" Roma street food- delicious, filling and cheap
We love the chicken cacciatore Trapezzino

The original location is in Trastevere
https://www.trapizzino.it/en/

Hotel Sonya is a quick walk from Termini and a good place to stay- since you are arriving home late on Sun night this would be a good choice for your final 2 nights.
15-20 min walk to Colosseum, easy to get to FCO next am as well

Has availability
https://www.hotelsonya.it/en/

Accademia tickets here
https://www.galleriaaccademiafirenze.it/en/

Pisa tickets here
https://www.opapisa.it/en/

Basilica San Marco here
https://basilicasanmarco.skiperformance.com/en/store#/en/buy

Doges Palace here
https://palazzoducale.visitmuve.it/en/pianifica-la-tua-visita/tickets/

( I might suggest just visiting the Basilica inside, see the Doges outside and send time in piazza and surrounds)

My daughter enjoyed the ramen, so she wanted us to try it...hmm, add the Trapezzino to the list. And thank you for the hotel near the Termini!

Omg, I just saw all the links for tickets. Thank you!

Christine, I do not even know how to thank you. May all the goodness you share come back in great blessings of health, peace, fun, security, and success! In shock. I'm so grateful, and my husband and daughter will be too. I can't wait to share these details with them. Hugs and love! Susie

For simplicity sake you could just stay at Hotel Sonya for both stays if they have availability
Pretty sure they will hold your bags between the 2 stays
Would save you the trek to apartment in Prati

Happy to help
Not a big deal, been to italy/Rome many times and have all the links saved!

Just want your visit to Rome and seeing your daughter to go as smoothly as possible :)

If we choose just one hotel for ease and have them hold the bags, would you do Hotel Smeraldo instead of Hotel Sonya? or sounds more convenient to just split them up bc of quick walk from Termini and quick walk to Coloseum and FCO...

I didn’t see availability at Smeraldo for your 2nd stay but only checked on booking.com

Both are good choices, good locations
I’d pick whichever one has availability for both stays and have them hold luggage

A lot of people PREFER to stay near Termini
It is perfectly safe and very convenient

You’ll want to take a taxi to your early am Vatican tour no matter where you stay