One more day in Paris or Rome?

Old Oct 14th, 2012, 08:40 PM
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One more day in Paris or Rome?

We are planning a trip to Europe for this January, and to make a long story short, will either be spending 5 days in Paris and 6 days in Rome,or 6 days in Paris and 5 days in Rome. Neither of us have been to either place.

I know most of you are thinking, that's way too short of a time to spend in either place, that there's no way we're going to be able to see very much of anything being there for that short of a time. I understand this and wish we could stay in both places for longer, but unfortunately, this is the way it has to be.

My question to you is- would you spend that one extra day in either Paris or Rome?

Thank you!
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Old Oct 14th, 2012, 08:48 PM
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Its only one day -- hardly makes a difference IMO.

Which one 'speaks to you' more?
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Old Oct 14th, 2012, 09:03 PM
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I agree with janisj. Make lists of the things you most want to see and do in both and see which place wins the day. Pretty straightforward. And don't forget sitting time to watch the world go by.
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Old Oct 14th, 2012, 09:49 PM
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That is a tough choice. Really, it's a toss-up as both cities have so much to offer. Check your guidebooks and make a list of what you'd like to do and follow janisj's advice.
Also mmeperdu is correct about allowing time to watch the world go by. Sometimes the unplanned hours are the best.
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Old Oct 14th, 2012, 10:02 PM
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Wil you be flying directly to one of these cities? If so, jet lag may be a factor and I would allow an extra day for you to recover from that.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 12:13 AM
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KTravels reply was great, it does make more sense to give the extra day to the city you arrive in to recover from jet lag.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 12:33 AM
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I would look to see what is on and what is open in each city on particular days, and plan so that you get to see or do those things that are really important to you.

For example, if you want to see the Pope, you need to be in Rome for his audience on Wednesdays or for Mass on Sunday - at least I think that's how it works - but I'm the non-Catholic in our family. ;-)
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 01:53 AM
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Both cities have many attractions, but because Paris is so much bigger than Rome, you would need more time in Paris. Paris attractions are spread out throughout the city, you have to jump on the subway from one to another. Rome is much more compact, you can hit many Rome's famous attractions in a day just by walking; Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevin Fountain, Spanish Steps, Piazza del Popolo, including many of the churches along the way.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 02:44 AM
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Personal opinion only:

I've been to Rome twice, enjoyed it a lot, but don't feel compelled to go back there (though I wouldn't turn an opportunity down, mind you).

I've been to Paris 6 times, each time finding new areas and loving it more, and would gladly go back again and again and again. There's no such thing as "enough" Paris.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 02:49 AM
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I would stay an extra day in Rome and consider an excursion outside of the city. Most visitors forget that Italy is full of interesting places to visit and that "real" Italian life can be more easily embraced when you get past the masses of tourists which flock to the main cities. Just to provide a couple examples (there are many to choose from):
Palestrina (where I live, 40 km east of Rome) a beautiful town built on a huge temple dedicated to the goddess of fortune, the archeological museum is wonderful and you can also visit the home of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, famous composer of polyphonic music; casual but good lunch at La Taberna in the center of town or very high level lunch at nearby ValleFredda Resort in Labico.
Tivoli (30km east of Rome) has Villa d'Este, Villa Adriana (lunch and cooking classes at the Hotel Adriano directly in front of the archeological site's entrance) and Villa Gregoriana.
Frascati (20km south-east of Rome) and the Castelli Romani (Castel Gandolfo, Nemi...) offer panoramic scenery and great places for wine tasting.
Ostia Antica (25km south of Rome) is a large archeolocial area south of Rome (good substitute for Pompeii if you're looking for a day of archeological ruins to walk through).
Cerveteri (50km north of Rome taking the Aurelia which follows the coast) is famous for its amazing necropolis with strangely shaped tombs.
Another thing to keep in mind is that January is sale season, so you might want to dedicate a day just to shopping (in the city center or at the various outlets outside of Rome).
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 04:43 AM
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If you have no other way to choose, stay the extra day in the city of your arrival to help with jet lag as KTravel suggests. If indeed Paris is "so much bigger than Rome", it is also easier to navigate with a better public transport system. We also take more day trips outside the city from Paris (Chartres, Versailles, Reims) than from Rome.

In my experience only, I find new things to see and do in Paris each time we visit (8 times) while we tend to do much the same in each visit to Rome (6 times).
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 11:38 AM
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I agree with an extra day to get over jet lag.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 11:39 AM
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Don't feel bad about "only" 5 or 6 days in either city. That's more than most people get to spend while on a European vacation.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 05:26 PM
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You have a problem I would love to have, for me it would be Paris. I do like the idea of giving the extra dat to the city you fly into. Both cities are amazing....you win whatever you deide!
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 05:32 PM
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I think you are smart to choose two cities, and stay put in each. I prefer Paris, and would do a day-trip from there.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 06:59 PM
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I agree that you should consider jet lag. Then prepare your list of high-priority activities and experiences, check them against opening days/hours, and see if that enters into the equation.

These are two wonderful locations, and I think 5 or 6 days each is perfect for a first visit to each. You won't lose whatever you decide!

Enjoy!
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 07:02 PM
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Does this 6/5 or 5/6 itinerary include the travel day between the two cities? If the travel day is not included, keep in mind that you'll lose a half day or more getting from your hotel in one city to the hotel in the other.
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Old Oct 15th, 2012, 08:19 PM
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Rome will probably have better weather. Given a choice between the two cities, Rome wins for me, so I am biased.
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Old Oct 17th, 2012, 04:57 AM
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I much prefer Rome to Paris and would use the extra day to make a day trip. Orvieto is lovely and only an hour by train, yet a totally different experience.

For me, I am never ready to leave Rome and always ready to leave Paris. I prefer the food, ambiance and history of Rome to that of Paris.
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Old Oct 17th, 2012, 11:50 AM
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To me, Rome is deeper than Paris. Meaning that the more you seek, the more you'll find something there. Rome's beauty is not always in the surface, sometimes you have to make an effort to find it. And that applies to Italy in general. That's what makes Rome infinitely more intriguing than Paris to me.
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