Levtine

Me and my friend are going to have a flight layover in Rome - flying to Thessaloniki. It is a six hour layover - what is a good place to go in Rome to get a good taste of the city and not to be late and miss a flight? What about shuttles/buses - how long does it take to get to places? Prices?

Echnaton

Take the train to Termini (5.50€), then change to the Metro. Ride two stops to Colloseo (total travelling time 45-60 minutes).

You see the collosseum, then walk over the Forum Romanum up the Capitoline Hill (you might visit the museum). This will take about an hour - and you will see the historical heart of the city.

If you want to be on the safe side, walk back (about 20 minutes) to Termini railway station. Or walk further to Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. From there, take a taxi back to Termini (5-7€).

Zerlina

The train to Termini costs 11 Euro, not 5.50 Euro, and it only goes every half hour.

You really should be back at the airport at least 1.5 hours before your flight to Thessaloniki for check in and security.

You cannot see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Capitoline Museums in an hour.

adrienne

Rome is a large city and there is no one place to get a flavor of the city. If you take the train to Termini it will take time to walk to places and to figure out where you are going. If your budget permits, and depending on the time of day of your layover (traffic), I would consider hiring a car and driver. Have a list of places you would like to view from the outside and have your driver explain what you are looking at. Some places of interest would be St Peter's square, the Colosseum, Trevi fountain (stop and throw some money into the fountain to ensure you return to Rome), Pantheon.

ThinGorjus

Zerlina is correct, the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino to Termini is 11 euros per ticket. The train takes less than 30 minutes to get to Termini. So, there is one hour devoted to travel time.

If I only had a couple of hours, I would take a taxi to the Piazza Navona and take a walk around the historic center of Rome. See the Pantheon. (I despise the Trevi Fountain. It has become a sideshow act.)

If you have time left, walk over to Trastevere and have a look around. Santa Maria in Trastevere is a very beautiful church.

Thin

Gwendolynn

Will you have bags to check? That can take awhile.. both to check and retrieve. We once had a layover and took the train into Rome and then a taxi to the Pantheon. We've been to Rome several times and that's our favorite spot... to sit in a cafe with a glass of wine.. watch the world go by and visit the Pantheon. Of course, all the prices in that area are a rip off.. but what the h-- - - (Just be sure the taxi driver doesn't rip you off first!) If you don't want to linger you could walk to the Piazza Navona and other nearby sites. As I recall... when we wanted to return to the train station there were taxis lined up near the Pantheon. Your idea is definitely doable.

Echnaton

>>>You cannot see the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Capitoline Museums in an hour.<<<

You can see the Collosseum from the OUTSIDE (it takes a minute), and walk through the Forum Romanum in an hour. And since you have five hours time (minus 2 hours travelling and 1 hour at the airport), you still have time to visit either the Capitoline Museum OR to walk over the Piazza Navona and Pantheon.

I would not recommend going INSIDE the Collosseum. It is not worth the extra time. Seeing it from the OUTSIDE is impressive enough.

And there is not need to be at the airport 1.5 hours before departure. I assume you do not need to check in (either you are checked through to Thessaloniki or you check in directly after arrival) and security does not take longer than 10 minutes.

The round-trip ticket from the airport to Termini and back is 11.00€ which is two times 5.50€.

Zerlina

Go to www.trenitalia.com. Enter Fiumicino Airport and Rome. The train to Termini (ROMA TE) costs 11 Euro one way. There is also the FR1; it costs 5.50 Euro one way, but it goes to Roma Trastevere - Ostiense - Tiburtina. It does *not* go to Termini.

You can take the FR1 to Roma Trastevere and dawdle through the landscape on the No. 8 tram to Largo Argentina near the Pantheon, but it would not be advisable in your time frame.

In my experience, security takes considerably more than 10 minutes.

ThinGorjus

The LE train from Fiumicino to Termini is 11 euros ONE WAY.

I am positive of this. Keith and I took the train in September.

Thin

aaronw

Take the train and the subway and just go to see the Colosseum (not inside) and walk through the street that brings to the forum, eat something and go back.

I did something like that some years ago.

Or pay a taxy... but will cost you more.

Lorenzi

Forget Piazza Navona and the Pantheon. Pantheon is under renovation and covered with scaffolding. Piazza Navona, main fountain, Niad, is surronded by barrier walls while under renovation.
Stick with walking the outside of Colloseum. I would walk by the Forum, as other recommend, then up to Campodolgio to view the forum from a height plus you get to see the piazza of Campodolgio and at that elevation views over Rome and even St. Peters in the distance. Or you can take a taxi from Termini to Campodolgio and start there overlooking forum and then walk past Forum to Colloseum.

zeppole

Instead of spending 44 euro and an hour to buzz by antique Roman ruins and risk getting lost and missing your flight, take a 15 minute taxi ride to Ostia Scavi, which is a fascinating and tremendous site. There is a cafeteria on site where you can get something to eat.

When you enter the site, use the modern paved road just to the right of the ticket booths to head directly to the points of main interest.

Before you leave for your trip, use the web to download information about Ostia Antica and Ostia Scavi.

When you are through touring the Scavi, ask the ticket office where to get a taxi.

Be sure to be back at the airport at least 90 minutes before your departure time. Security at FCO has become tighter.

http://www.ostia-antica.org/

http://www.ostiaantica.info/excavations.php

zeppole

PS: I didn't mean to imply taxis will be cheaper than the Leonardo Express into town, only that you will get less bang for your buck, since you need to plan on at least an hour transit time to and from Rome -- and that's optimistic. Given the logistics, I think you'd find it more rewarding to tour Ostia.

fmpden

I think it has been a while since Echnaaton has been in Rome. The Leonard Express is 11E EACH way and non-stop. The is another train for 5.5E that goes to Termini BUT makes a number of local stops along the way and is much slower. It does stop at Trastevere and from there you would walk through the heart of old Rome in about an hour and half to Termini and take the Leonard Express back to the airport. You could walk along the side of the Forum but no longer can walk through it. Depending on time of day, security can be real zoo and time security even if just walking through with no luggage.

I always think of five hour layovers as sucker plays. Long enough to think you can do something but too short to really do anything.

The suggestion for AO is a good suggestion and should be strongly considered.

Lynnaustin

We are just back from there and I assure you that security is much more than 10 minutes. Be there at least 1.5 or 2 hours ahead.

SusanP

I would also not be sure you'll get through security in 10 minutes. You might, but there's a very good chance you won't.

The Four Rivers Fountain in the Piazza Navona is no longer completely surrounded. I was there in Feb 2009, and at that point there was only a wall at one end. You could still see the whole fountain.

Lynnaustin

As of last week the fountain is completed surrounded by high wooden fencing with a plexiglass window on each side.
Half of the front of the Pantheon is completely covered with scaffolding.

SusanP

You mean they've surrounded the fountain again? After being surrounded for a couple of years, it was finally uncovered last Feb. I didn't realize they were starting over!

charnees

Oh, I am really unhappy if the fountain is still covered over!! We missed it in 2008 because it was in restauro, and I was looking forward to it this fall! And now the Domus Aurea fell down!! Things are not looking up! Que peccato!!

MelJ

The fountain at Piazza Navona was covered with scaffolding in October 2008, but it was clear (except for the vendors) between Christmas and NY eve. Sorry to hear they're working on it again, but glad we had a chance to see it!

Also, many people on here have said to "not bother" with going inside the Colosseum. This last trip we DID go inside, mainly because we had our two teen-aged grandsons with us and they wanted to go in. Well, it was wonderful to walk along the inner walls and look down into the excavation that shows the underground rooms. It was amazing to look out over the arena and think of what went on right there where we stood. I would most definitely advise people to go inside.

On the other hand, we were less than charmed by Trestevere (except for St. Mary's church).

To each his own