How to get around in Rome and what is best to see???
Mar 3rd, 2012, 01:28 PM
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How to get around in Rome and what is best to see???
How should I get around in Rome without taking taxis all day?
We are there for 6 nights. I booked the Vatican tour and Heart of Rome tour. What else should we see???
We are there for 6 nights. I booked the Vatican tour and Heart of Rome tour. What else should we see???
Mar 3rd, 2012, 01:54 PM
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I don't know why you'd take taxis at all. Rome has a limited subway system, and buses and trams, and you presumably have two feet.
Guidebooks will tell you what's available to see. The michelin Green Guide is always a good place to start. So will the internet. We have no clue what you should see because you haven't divulged anything about your interests, your budget, or anything else. How did you come to book 6 nights in Rome without some idea of all that's there to see? Did you win a trip?
Guidebooks will tell you what's available to see. The michelin Green Guide is always a good place to start. So will the internet. We have no clue what you should see because you haven't divulged anything about your interests, your budget, or anything else. How did you come to book 6 nights in Rome without some idea of all that's there to see? Did you win a trip?
Mar 3rd, 2012, 02:37 PM
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Yes, we won a 4 night trip and extended 2 nights. We have already been to Venice and Florence so have decided to stay in Rome and maybe go to Naples for one day. I have booked the Vatican tour and Heart of Rome tour.
Thinking about seeing the Borghese Gallery. We have a Tivoli Garden option, but I don't know if that is worth seeing.
Thinking about seeing the Borghese Gallery. We have a Tivoli Garden option, but I don't know if that is worth seeing.
Mar 3rd, 2012, 03:50 PM
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We really enjoyed the Tivoli Gardens. The fountains were all running. It was beautiful. Very peaceful and relaxing. Nice contrast to the hustle and bustle of Rome.
With six days you might want to take a day trip to Orvieto. Agree with St Cirq, get a good guidebook and read it through. There is tons to do in Rome, but the replies here will vary greatly depending on what your interests are.
We are headed back to Rome in May for three days. We already spent five days in Rome in 2009. Can't wait to return.
With six days you might want to take a day trip to Orvieto. Agree with St Cirq, get a good guidebook and read it through. There is tons to do in Rome, but the replies here will vary greatly depending on what your interests are.
We are headed back to Rome in May for three days. We already spent five days in Rome in 2009. Can't wait to return.
Mar 3rd, 2012, 04:53 PM
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I don't know how fit you are but we walked everywhere, including to the Borghese. We stayed at the Hotel Porteghese and we were near everything. The Vataican was maybe a mile away? The only time we took the bus was from the Coliseum and that's 'cause we were just tired. The bus system is easy The Spainsh Steps area, Piazza Navona,Pantheon, Trevi Fountain they're all close together.
Mar 3rd, 2012, 05:32 PM
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The best way to get around Rome is feet. Hopefully your hotel is in the center and you can walk tomost sights. I fyou are tired at the end of the day - thenjust hop in 2 cabs back to the hotel.
As to what to see - check out seeral guide books tosee waht is of most interest to YOU.
And with 6 people I would have lots of opportunities for people to go off in smaller groups soeverybody get to what matters most to them.
As to what to see - check out seeral guide books tosee waht is of most interest to YOU.
And with 6 people I would have lots of opportunities for people to go off in smaller groups soeverybody get to what matters most to them.
Mar 3rd, 2012, 06:04 PM
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The Rome bus system is fairly easy to navigate. Here is a link to the ATAC (the public transit system)http://www.atac.roma.it/
If you know your starting address and destination address you can enter into the website and a bus/tram/metro route will display. If you hover over the Italian flag in the top right corner of the home page and UK/American flag icon will display under it and you can click it for the English version, although not all pages on the website will come up in English.
Bus tickets can be purchased at any tabbachi shop, metro stations and at some bus stops there is a ticket machine. There is also a 7 day bus pass available, can't recall the exact price, maybe 20 euro, if you plan to use the buses/metro/trams alot it might be worth it for you to purchase.
As mentioned in the posts above, Rome is a very walkable city and with a good map you should be ok, if you are not directionally challenged. I've found that if you are staying in the historic center most people can walk to the major tourism sites within 20 minutes (give or take).
Also, I know I'm in the minority here on Fodors by recommending a Rick Steves pubication, but if you haven't been to Rome before you may want to take a look at the Rick Steves Rome guidebook. His books usually have sample itineraries for 2,3,4 etc, days.
If you know your starting address and destination address you can enter into the website and a bus/tram/metro route will display. If you hover over the Italian flag in the top right corner of the home page and UK/American flag icon will display under it and you can click it for the English version, although not all pages on the website will come up in English.
Bus tickets can be purchased at any tabbachi shop, metro stations and at some bus stops there is a ticket machine. There is also a 7 day bus pass available, can't recall the exact price, maybe 20 euro, if you plan to use the buses/metro/trams alot it might be worth it for you to purchase.
As mentioned in the posts above, Rome is a very walkable city and with a good map you should be ok, if you are not directionally challenged. I've found that if you are staying in the historic center most people can walk to the major tourism sites within 20 minutes (give or take).
Also, I know I'm in the minority here on Fodors by recommending a Rick Steves pubication, but if you haven't been to Rome before you may want to take a look at the Rick Steves Rome guidebook. His books usually have sample itineraries for 2,3,4 etc, days.
Mar 4th, 2012, 07:34 AM
#9
We have a Tivoli Garden option, but I don't know if that is worth seeing.>>
i think you are talking about the gardens of the villa d'este in tivoli [i think the tivoli gardens are in Copenhagen which is a bit far for a day trip from rome!] - and there is Hadrian's villa nearby too. we only did the villa d'este which was certainly very worth your time, but the bus journey was quite long and hot, even in April. you may find that your hotel can find you a tour company that goes there in a nice air-conditioned coach which would be preferable, IMO.
as for the rest, what do your vatican and Heart of Rome tours comprise? how long do you get in St. Peter's? you might like to consider booking the Scavi tour [that takes you under St. Peter's into the area where St. Peter's remains are said to lie] which you could combine with a visit to the Basilica itself and possibly a trip to the top of the dome.
apart from that, there are so many things to do in Rome, it's difficult to know where to start. what are you interested in?
i think you are talking about the gardens of the villa d'este in tivoli [i think the tivoli gardens are in Copenhagen which is a bit far for a day trip from rome!] - and there is Hadrian's villa nearby too. we only did the villa d'este which was certainly very worth your time, but the bus journey was quite long and hot, even in April. you may find that your hotel can find you a tour company that goes there in a nice air-conditioned coach which would be preferable, IMO.
as for the rest, what do your vatican and Heart of Rome tours comprise? how long do you get in St. Peter's? you might like to consider booking the Scavi tour [that takes you under St. Peter's into the area where St. Peter's remains are said to lie] which you could combine with a visit to the Basilica itself and possibly a trip to the top of the dome.
apart from that, there are so many things to do in Rome, it's difficult to know where to start. what are you interested in?
Mar 5th, 2012, 06:01 AM
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Walking is a great way to see the center of the city, but to save some time, and your feet, I'd also suggest riding the bus, trams, and metro. There are various tickets available (see: http://tinyurl.com/rome-tickets). The single day pass is €4, a three-day pass is currently €11 and a 7-day pass is €16. Prices are expected to rise in June 2012 - at least if ATAC gets their way.
The buses are easy to use. This post might give you some additional help: http://tinyurl.com/rome-bus.
The bus and metro ticket kiosks are very easy to use and have an "English" language option. They are in all the metro stations and at larger bus stops all around the city: http://tinyurl.com/bus-kiosk
As suggested, with a couple of extra days, you certainly can do day trips to Ostia Antica, Villa Ariana, Orvieto, Lake Bracciano, or Tivoli. Here's a few posts with some "day-trip" examples. Enjoy!
http://tinyurl.com/ostia-antica
http://tinyurl.com/orvieto-daytrip
http://tinyurl.com/tivoli-daytrip
http://tinyurl.com/adriana-villa
http://tinyurl.com/lake-bracciano
The buses are easy to use. This post might give you some additional help: http://tinyurl.com/rome-bus.
The bus and metro ticket kiosks are very easy to use and have an "English" language option. They are in all the metro stations and at larger bus stops all around the city: http://tinyurl.com/bus-kiosk
As suggested, with a couple of extra days, you certainly can do day trips to Ostia Antica, Villa Ariana, Orvieto, Lake Bracciano, or Tivoli. Here's a few posts with some "day-trip" examples. Enjoy!
http://tinyurl.com/ostia-antica
http://tinyurl.com/orvieto-daytrip
http://tinyurl.com/tivoli-daytrip
http://tinyurl.com/adriana-villa
http://tinyurl.com/lake-bracciano
Mar 5th, 2012, 10:25 AM
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Using the mass transit system, in conjunction with walking is the best way to get around the city. Do a 7 day transit pass, it is fairly cheap and gives you a lot of alternatives regardless of where you are in the city. Let's say you are at the Colosseo and decide you want to go to Popolo, sure you could walk but instead you can do two quick metro trips or a couple of bus links and you are there. Get tired one day, we will often just find a bus terminus, say Cavour, get on a bus at the start of its trip, so we get seats, and just ride for an hour. Some of my favorite routes are 87,81,492,118,116, 119,75. Those will pretty much cover the entire city in all directions.
If interested, go to my website. Under the Library area you can download my free MP3 audio guide, free printable guidebook, official guides, lots of links and more. You don't sign up for anything.
www.passagetoroma.com
dave
If interested, go to my website. Under the Library area you can download my free MP3 audio guide, free printable guidebook, official guides, lots of links and more. You don't sign up for anything.
www.passagetoroma.com
dave
Mar 5th, 2012, 10:18 PM
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The Borghese gallery for sure, perhaps a Rome food and markets tour, I've heard good things about those. Also we really enjoyed the "Palazzo Valentini" which is an amazing multimedia visit through an ancient Roman domus. Gives Pompeii a run for its money!
Another great website to use is Revealed Rome www.revealedrome.com by American writer Amanda Ruggeri. She has some really interesting information on there. Some of my favorites are the #3 bus "Rome's foodie bus", common Italian ettiquete mistakes to avoid, and a little "Rome's hidden gems" tour, lots of great archaeological info, too. Enjoy!
Another great website to use is Revealed Rome www.revealedrome.com by American writer Amanda Ruggeri. She has some really interesting information on there. Some of my favorites are the #3 bus "Rome's foodie bus", common Italian ettiquete mistakes to avoid, and a little "Rome's hidden gems" tour, lots of great archaeological info, too. Enjoy!
