jerzgirl80

I am planning my first ever trip to Rome and will be there from October 27th until November 2nd with a return flight home on the 3rd of this year. I have ideas of what and when I'd like to see and do but I have lots of questions too! Any comments/suggestions would be greatly appreciated on the following plans/ideas. First off here is an idea of my rough itinerary:
Day 1 (arrival): Trevi, Spanish steps, capuchin crypt and quite possibly the national museum near termini
Day 2: tour of colluseum (am guided to include underground and 3rd tier as well as forum and Palentine hill); afternoon walking tour (love & death with through eternity)
Day 4: Vatican City. Have left all day for this as my arrival will be a prepurchased ticket for between 10-11am
Day 5: day trip leaving on earliest train possible to Venice (this is a must for me). Any suggestions as I have not planned anything other that walking around?
Day 6: mid morning flight to Athens. Will arrive at 2pm. Hoping to see acropolis museum as the Parthenon, etc will close earlier
Day 7: morning exploring acropolis, possible stop at national museum. 4:30 flight back to Rome. Evening strolling around in Rome
Day 8: half day Ostia antica OR Hardians villa OR appian way

Questions:
1.) am I being silly to toss in a jaunt to Athens with such a limited amount of time? I thought it would be a good option given the holiday (see #2). I'm also a person that generally likes castles so I was worried I'd run out of things to do in Rome after the "major" attractions!
2.) to what extent is All Saints Day going to effect closures of tourist related sites (other than the Vatican obviously!) and cause travel issues?
3.) just how sporadic/erratic are closures in Greece? With such a short amount of time if hate to feel as though I "wasted" it if things are randomly closed that we're supposed to be open.
4.) is 3 days time enough to appreciate Rome and its main sights?
5.) any experience with "through eternity" or "viator" tours?

Any and all ideas, suggestions, itineraries, etc are welcomed! The only things I am non negotiable on are Monday for Vatican City and a day trip to Venice. Everything else can be tweaked!

kybourbon

1.) am I being silly to toss in a jaunt to Athens with such a limited amount of time?

Yes. Too far to travel for too little time. Save Athens for another trip when you can combine it with the Greek Isles.

Day 3 seems to have disappeared?

I would overnight in Venice at least one night (or 2) instead of going to Greece.

I've been to Rome multiple times (five days last trip) and still have a long list of things I haven't had time for yet.

I'm not sure why you are so set on Monday for the Vatican as it's typically one of the most crowded days. Perhaps in November it will be a bit less crowded.

luvtotravel

I agree that skipping Athens would be a good idea. Also, an overnight in Venice if it is really imperative that you see Venice. Personally, I think you are not giving yourself enough time to see Rome or Venice even if you skip Athens. You will see "structures" but will not experience either city. Italy is best appreciated when you can slow down and enjoy it. Take time at a cafe, stroll narrow streets, have some gelato. Why not visit one city with the small amount of time you have. If Venice is a must, go to Venice. Save Rome and Athens for another time. If you must go to Rome, fly into Venice and fly home from Rome. See if you can cut down on your travel time/days.

Sassafrass

Kybourbon is 100% right.

Using up a lot of time and money to go to Athens when that time could be spent seeing more great stuff in Italy is a mistake with such a short time.

Day tripping to Venice from Rome is a really, really bad idea. If you have not already booked tickets, get an "open jaw" ticket: flying into Venice and out of Rome.

If you have already booked tickets, go straight to Venice when you land in Rome and work your way back to Rome so you end the trip there and don't break up time in Rome into two different hotel stays.

If you feel you would be bored in Rome after only a few days, put a day or two in Florence in between Venice and Rome. From Florence you could day trip to Siena.

If you wanted more time in Venice, you could stop only for a few hours in Florence, or you could go on back to Rome and day trip to Florence. From Rome, you could also day trip to Orvieto.
You like castles. What about palaces? Plenty of those in Venice, Florence and Rome.

jerzgirl80

Unfortunately I have already booked my flight into and out of Rome (a little prematurely!) before I really started looking into things. Athens was an idea that now somehow has been stuck in the back of my head. Just one of those things where "what if I never get that close to it again" thoughts!

As far as Vatican goes, the Sunday I will be there is the last of the month which is free admission and quite a bit busier I would assume. I'm actually hoping that will take some pressure off of Monday! With Thursday of that week being a religious holiday I'm anticipating quite a few extra people!

I think I may just need some pumping up about what to see in Rome! For some reason I feel worried about it moreso than any previous trip. This is probably why I keep Athens in my thoughts!

I have a hotel booked in Rome for the entire length of my trip. I had found a hotel in Athens for $55 and was just going to not worry about the night in Rome. Is there something of an equivalent price in Venice? Is Verona worth a stop?

I do also like palaces (I'm actually a huge Anglophile which does not help the situation!). I had tossed around the idea of Castelle Odescalchi kind of near Rome?

Is hadrians villa worth a stop?

ellenem

First let's list your days correctly with you current plan in place:

Sat, Oct 27 - Day 1: arrive Rome
Sun, Oct 28 - Day 2: Rome
Mon, Oct 29 - Day 3: Rome
Tue, Oct 30 - Day 4: daytrip by train to Venice; sleep Rome
Wed, Oct 31 - Day 5: fly to Athens; arrive at 2pm
Thu, Nov 1 - Day 6: Athens; 4:30 flight to Rome; sleep Rome
Fri, Nov 2 - Day 7: half day Ostia antica OR Hardians villa OR appian way
Sat, Nov 3 - Day 8: fly home

I agree with what the others have written. Athens is the outlier in this short amount of time. You will lose a lot of time getting to the airports in Rome and Athens, going through security and such, so that will take much more of your day than expected. If you really are afraid that rome won't hold your interest, then plan a daytrip from Rome to Orvieto, a beautiful hilltown, which is an hour away by train rather than flying to another country.

If Venice is is a must, then give it enough time to actually enjoy it rather spending 9-10 hours of the day traveling roundtrip.

Here's what others have suggested:
Sat, Oct 27 - Day 1: arrive Rome; train to Venice; sleep Venice
Sun, Oct 28 - Day 2: Venice
Mon, Oct 29 - Day 3: Venice
Tue, Oct 30 - Day 4: train to Rome; sleep Rome
Wed, Oct 31 - Day 5: Rome
Thu, Nov 1 - Day 6: half day Ostia antica OR Hardians villa OR appian way
Fri, Nov 2 - Day 7: Rome
Sat, Nov 3 - Day 8: fly home

ggreen

I know it seems like Athens is so close and why not just hop over? I thought so too on my first trip to Italy - until I was on the ground and realized how much there was to see right there - and how long it would take to get between the two. Just think about how much time will be taken up within your 7-day trip to transit to Athens and back! City center to airport with time for security, then the same plus customs in Greece, and again returning to Italy...

My last trip to Rome was five days, and I left wishing I'd had just a few more (despite having 2 weeks total in Italy). I have a feeling that would be the case no matter how much time I have there!

For inspiration, you might want to go to a bookstore and browse the Rome guidebooks. (Or browse the Italy ones and see where else you might want to visit. If you stay within Italy, round-trip to/from Rome is perfectly do-able.) On my last trip, I actually found the chapters of the Fodors guide very helpful: in addition to listings by area, it provides mini-sections discussing various aspects of history and culture.

This may be stating the obvious, but Rome has so many layers of history all at once! For example, one night wandering back to our hotel, we happened upon some ancient ruins teeming with cats. Turns out it's the cat sanctuary! Then at that moment out of nowhere we were lapped by about eight high-performance racing cars circling the square.

// I like Sassafrass' suggestion of going straight to Venice on your first day and working your way back to Rome. However, I'd just hop a cheap flight (Easy Jet, Blu Express, etc.), then train your way back to Rome...

ira

>am I being silly to toss in a jaunt to Athens with such a limited amount of time? <

Yes

Add the time to Venice.

Enjoy your visit.

jerzgirl80

I am 90% sure I have ruled out Athens. Greece semi worries me with the potential for riots and or strikes with the economic crisis and all of your opinions thus far have really helped! My biggest concern was being in Rome or traveling within Italy on All Saints Day (Nov 1st) and that was my way of alleviating any issues as its obviously not a holiday in Greece.

I'm still very much up in the air as to what/where else to go. Is there anything worth seeing close to Venice? I read somewhere that there is a castle near Verona? I don't have much interest in Florence but I also haven't looked that much into it.

Heimdall

I think you are wise to rule out Athens for this trip, but not for the reasons mentioned. There have been no riots (despite what you may have read), and strikes (what few there are) usually don't affect tourists. In the many times I have been to Athens, only once have I been affected by a strike. That day taxi drivers were striking, but buses and metro still running, so I got to my destination anyway.

Quite simply, there is no point in wasting all that time and money for a short visit to Athens when there is so much to see in Italy. I can't imagine All Saints Day will be a washout for you either. BTW, strikes are not unknown in Italy.

VirginiaBeach

Figure out what you like. Nature or architecture. After 2-3 days in Rome you'll be fed up with paintings, sculptures, ruins, etc.
Drive thru Tuscany instead of going to Venice or take a night train to Venice so you don't waste a day. Remember that train travel is nice, but trains do run late and they go on strikes. Have you considered Cinque Terre?

charnees

I think once you are in Venice you will find enough to do for two days without taking any side trips. Yes, Verona is lovely, but if you want to do it add a day up north and subtract is from Rome.

Be sure to figure in travel time!!!

Delaine

With only 7 nights, I would stick to Rome and Venice. You'll spend a significant amount of time just travelling to Venice and back. I think you will find more than enough to do in those cities, and possibly more than you have time to do, without adding in Athens or Verona. While I enjoyed visiting both Athens and Verona, I would much rather return to Rome (twice) and Venice (3 times) given the choice.

I don't know if you like churches, but Rome has many wonderful ones -- San Giovanni Laterano, Santa Maria Maggiore, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, San Luigi Francesi, Santa Maria del Popolo, Santa Maria della Vittoria, San Pietro in Vincoli, San Clemente...

There are fantastic museums apart from the Vatican Museums: the Borghese Gallery, the Capitoline Museums, Palazzo Doria Pamphilj...

Castel Sant' Angelo is nice too. You can climb to the top and have a wonderful view of Rome and the Vatican.

Venice is amazing itself. There are more beautiful churches, more art and just wandering about. You can visit the Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale), go up the campaniles (San Marco and San Giorgio Maggiore). I suppose you could even take a day-tour out of Venice to see some of Palladio's Villas in the Veneto.

uhoh_busted

I agree...with only a week, limit yourself to Venice and Rome. Start with Venice. There is much to see and it is so unique. Finish up in Rome. Get the Roma Pass, use it and especially the free transportation. We loved using the bus in Rome, whenever we got tired or too hot and just needed to get home after walking,walking,walking ( and loving it!). Even if you don't go to the Borghese galleries, visit the gardens. Amazing people watching, and there is usually plenty of shade and often, music!

The forum and Colisseum can take up a lot of time and is terrificly worth it! There are themed exhibits set up throughout the forum that really get your imagination pumping. Tour the Vatican and see the Sistene Chaple. My favorite museum in Rome is The Capitoline. especially the giant atrium where all the big bronzes are displayed,

windowshop your way to the Spanish Steps. It is worth taking Rick Steve's book our of the library just to do the nighttime. Walking tour of all the lit up fountains.

jerzgirl80

Thank you all for all of the wonderful suggestions! I greatly appreciate it all! I believe I will nix Athens all together this trip and spent the majority of my time in and around Rome. Hopefully I'm worrying about All Saints Day being more of a problem than it really will be. I think the suggestions of spending the extra time in Venice rather than a whole different country is worth taking!

suze

Finding a hotel for $55 in Venice is going to be next to impossible.

I think forgetting about Greece and sticking to Rome and Venice is *plenty* for only 7 days!

nytraveler

IMHO - way too much.

You can't actually do Venice as a day trip from Rome. I mean you can but you will spend the whole day on the train. Just a waste of time. I fyou go, spend at least one night (instead of Athens).

In Rome - -you can;t see Coloseo, Forum and Capitoline in one morning. that;s a full day worth of stuff.

And there are many, many other things in Rome that you are missing. I would do more exploring yourself and fewer tours - many of which are least common denominator. (Covering C, F and Capitoline in a morning is definitely lest common denominator - you are missing a lot. Including just exploring neighborhoods, sitting in a sidewalk cafe with a drink and watch Roe go by - especially in the piazza in front of the Pantheon.

You will be running so fast you will really see and absorb little.

jerzgirl80

I am trying to stay away from too many "tours". I thought about one for the Vatican but many of them don't spend the amount of time in the museums (or see specific things I'd like) and from my understanding once you exit the museum for the Basillica you cannot reenter? Besides, the prices for those tours are a bit hefty for something I can do on my own with a prepurchased ticket thru the Vatican museum site. I may be incorrect in this (and please correct me of I am) but I am under the impression that the only way you can see the underground and 3rd tier of the Colosseum is with a guide. This is the main reason I chose the option of a tour with "through eternity". It's a 5 hour tour and it at least sounded interesting. Same with their "love and death" tour. I could easily do that walk on my own but the commentary seems as though it may be an interesting addition. I could be wrong! In late October and early November is it really necessary (with the exception of the Vatican) to purchase "skip the line" tickets for anything in Rome or Venice? Everything I've looked at makes me feel like I'd waste tons of time by not doing so.

Sassafrass

I also think it will be hard to find a hotel for $55.00 in Venice. Can you take the money you had planned to spend on airfare to Athens and up the amount you can spend for a hotel in Venice?

tuscanlifeedit

You certainly don't have to worry about an influx of tourists in Rome for November 1. There won't be extra crowds; it's not like Easter.

A 5 hour tour, unless it includes the Forum, sounds too long to me. Do you have a link to the tour?

You can do the Vatican Museums on your own. You are correct the prebooking your tickets will be adequate.

So prebook the Vatican Museums, use a guide/tour for ancient Rome and the parts of the Colosseum you want to see, and maybe book a time for the Galleria Borghese.

You won't need to really book any other tours. I've only seen really long lines for the Colosseum, Forum, and Vatican Museums, and you've already figured out how to deal with those. The "skip the line" tickets would be the Roma Pass, I guess, and they would be worth it for saving money, but the plan you already have will take care of time.

I would only see two places in Italy in one week.

If you decide on Venice, a daytrip to Verona would be OK, but right there in the Venetian Lagoon, you have Murano, Burano, and Torcello. I think visiting the islands is fun. It's easy and interesting.

I suggest not overplanning. I don't think you'll be bored at all.

I too am a great lover of Britain, and I love Italy just as much. I keep returning to both places.