sizard2

Hope you can help. We are meeting a couple of old (literally) friends in Rome for a three day holiday. None of us has been there before. One couple in good shape, one couple a bit iffy. As I look at maps of Rome many things appear to be relatively close. But, I know that can be deceiving. Can anyone tell me if the walk from the Borghese Gallery to the Spanish Steps is an easy distance? And then to Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona? Any advise about walking in Rome is appreciated.

ira

Hi Siz,

Enter your destinations at www.mappy.com.

Change "express" to "pedestrian".

It won't tell you where the hills are, but will give you walking times and distances.

dutyfree

If I may suggest something different? I recently purchased at Borders(but have seen at other bookstores here in the US) a set of "playing type cards" of various cities such as Rome, London ,Paris NYC,etc. They are about $14USD and the neat thing about them is that you pick a particular card/area that shows the map with streets then you turn it over and it has major sights,bus/metro information,some hotels or restaurants,etc.You can pick what you want and put whichever interests you in your pocket and it is quite helpful.
As to the walking distances-Borghese to the Spanish Steps would be about 15 minutes without stopping. Piazza Navona from the Spanish Steps is quite a hike for someone who has health problems.I go to Rome everyweek but have a knee problem so usually walk it one way and cab home to the hotel which is only about 8 euros for several people from Piazza Navona to Via Veneto area.

missypie

The distances are not too bad. Will heat be a factor when you are there?

We didn't find the cabs to be very expensive, so if anyone gets tired, find a cab!

JandaO

dutyfree
Can you give me a link to the cards? I would like to order some online.

thanks

tonianyc

sizard2,

The walk from Piazza di Spagna to Villa Borghese is quite long, and if you enter from the Pincio it is very hilly. Entering from the east side of the park which is a more direct route and near Via Veneto (I forget the entrance's name - Porta Brasile?) it is an easier walk. AS far as the Piazza di Spagna to Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, and Piazza Navona it is 15 minutes, so pretty easy.

bookchick

Dutyfree, thanks for the plug!

BC

nessundorma

Walking just about everywhere in Rome is treacherous for people unsteady on their feet (or with eye problems) and the hills can really tire you out. The old stone streets can be very uneven and you often have to share the road in some narrow streets with motorscooters and cars. If you are not nimble, it can be nerve-wracking.

Some narrow streets in the areas around the Piazza Navona, the Piazza delle Rotunda, Trevi and the Jewish Quarter that really do need to be walked to be enjoyed.

Otherwise, budget in advance for taxis -- although with six of you, you may need to split up.

annhig

AFter two days tramping round Rome, we self-diagnosed the condition known as "Roman Foot". I suggest staying as centrally as possible -see another current thread- and using public transport/taxis as much as possible. Try to group together the things you want to see each day, and allow twice as long as you think to get there. For example, don't try to do the Forum, the colloseum, and then the spanish steps!If you are going to the Vatican museums, plan on doing that only that day, apart from a gentle stroll to the restaurant after a nice nap.
give yourselves plenty of time just for wandering around, stopping for a drink/gelato, and if you need a free sit down in the cool, head for the nearest church.
Happy planning!

Underhill

Taxis are a good idea when you want to cover a lot of ground.

sizard2

Thanks so much everybody. So, it looks as if we should take a cab from the Gallery Borgese to the Spanish Steps. 15 hilly minutes might be too much for one of the gentlemen. Do you think a cab driver will scoff at such a short trip? I've heard some have an attitude about tourists. "Dutyfree" I will look up those cards.

WillTravel

You can catch a bus up to the Galleria Borghese at Piazza Barberini (no doubt elsewhere too - I just know that stop). Consider using the public buses in Rome (taking care for your wallets, and such).

dutyfree

Bookchick-are you responsible for those cards as I think that they are wonderful! In fact, I cannot give you the name of them (Janda) as I loaned them to a neighbor for a trip so perhaps Bookchick can give you the exact name or publisher? Wish I had thought of them!

gard

Hi

I'm not sure I understand "one couple a bit iffy" but I guess this means that they are not in great shape. Inner Rome is not that big. If you install Google Earth you can measure the distances and you will see it is not that far between the places that you have mentioned. We walked around quite a bit last year but we also took the bus and metro to get around. I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . Maybe you can find some useful info there Have a great trip.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

nytraveler

What does "a bit iffy" mean - they can;t walk 10 miles? Or they'll be winded if they have to go 10 blocks?

If the latter you'll need to do a lot of cabbing - since distances in Rome, while easily walkable, are not THAT short. Also much of Rome is very hilly - it is built on 7 hills - remember?

dutyfree

I got the pack of cards back from my friend and here is the information about them. They sell for $14.95 USD and are called: CITY WALKS: ROME(50 adventures on foot) by Martha Fay. The copyright is 2006 and they are published by Chronicle Books out of SFO. Their website for the choices :
WWW. Chroniclebooks.com
I think that they are very interesting and useful!

moldyhotelsaregross

My mom found it easier to hail a cab when she was carrying her cane than when she didn't carry it.

Perhaps a folding cane could benefit.

dutyfree

Sizard2-whenever you are about to get into a cab in Rome-always ask "how much?" in Italian after you mention the destination that you want to go. You then have a better idea of the fare before they can string you along and it also confirms to the driver that you are on top of it. I also always have smaller bills instead of a 50 Euro bill so you can make sure that you get your change back.Most of the cabbies I have used in Rome have been very nice.Just remember that sometimes they cannot always just pick you up where you are standing-you have to go to an appropriate/marked cab booth. Good luck!

Eloise

Asking "How much?" when getting into a cab in Rome is as much as telling the cab driver that you haven't a clue and he can charge what he likes.

It's much more important to check on his meter that "Tariffa" is set to "1". Many drivers set it to "2" (about 40% higher), but "2" is only applicable for the part of trips that are outside the Grande Raccordo Anulare - and even then, the driver is supposed to inform you when he changes the tariff from "1" to "2".

caroline_edinburgh

On about my 4th visit to Rome I finally got round to trying the buses, & am just sorry I didn't use them before. They are very easy to use - just buy a 1 day ticket from the nearest news stand, then check the nearest bus stops - they have good information on routes. You can also get a map showing bus routes from your hotel or a tourist office. Even as one who doesn't have any particular problem walking, Rome is a very footsore experience otherwise.