poirierjeff

My fiancee and I will be stopping through Rome (on July 9th) for one full day before heading out to Amalfi Coast. Where is a good (cheaper) hostel to stay with a private room in Rome that is close to some of the major sites we should see in one day? Also, what are 4-5 of the best sites to see in one day...should we hire someone to take us around to be more efficient? Also, what is the best way to get from Airport to city of Rome? Lastly, what is best (cheapest) way of getting from Rome to Amalfi Coast...train, rental car, bus? Thanks!

Steve_James

Hi Poir -

'Lastly, what is best (cheapest) way of getting from Rome to Amalfi Coast...train, rental car, bus? Thanks!'


The budget option to Positano is the Rome-Positano bus service
(- operator: Marozzi).

Dep. 07.00 Roma Tiburtina
Arr... 11.30 Positano (- Chiesa Nouva)

Fare:
€20.00 one way
€34.50 return

For details see:
www.marozzivt.it

[Roma Tiburtina can be reached by Metro (- Line B, direction Rebibbia), bus or taxi].

Hope this helps ...

Steve

galaxygrrl200

I loved this hotel. Make sure to ask for a room with a terrace. http://www.hotelduetorriroma.com/English.htm

I would not stay there without a room with a terrace though.

Top sites really depends on what you like since there is so much in rome. My must do would be the Vatican (st Peters, the sistine chapel, etc, and all it has. I love the Trevi fountain personally, and I think you would want to do the coliseum. I would skip the forum unless you want to spend most of the day there on a tour.

I would get a book and see what else you want to see.

kybourbon

Rome's tourist board has walking itineraries. You can look at their maps/routes and pick which combinations would work for you and add or delete things to fit your time frame.
http://www.romaturismo.it/v2/romain4...in48ore_1.html

What do you mean my cheaper hostel? Try www.eurocheapo.com or www.monasterystays.com

gard

Hi

My wife and I went to Rome a couple of years back and here is my trip report with pictures and links http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there

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

ekscrunchy

I would not refer to the Hotel Due Torri as a hostel!

dutyfree

Are you talking about 4 days from now? Good luck on finding anything cheap at this point if you are. This is major high season and I am in Rome usually everyweek in the summer and lately everything has been packed with tourists and tour buses.

I would recommend the on/off bus to tour Rome if you only have a day-then go back to the main sites that you want to concentrate on.

Take the Leonardo Express train from FCO into the city for 11 euros. You simply cross over the skyway where you will signs for it and purchase your ticket at the ticket office. It takes about 30 minutes and puts you at Termini station where all buses,trains and metros meet.

Just be advised that Rome cannot be done in a day!

danon

a cheaper way ( if money is tight) from the airport to the city is a train to Tiburtina station - about 5.50e

Vttraveler

The local train from the airport leaves right opposite the Leonardo Express track. You can get off at the Trastevere station and take a #8 tram for 1 euro right to the center of the city (Largo Argentina). I think this is easier than the Tiburtina stop

In one day you have to pick and choose. I would spend some time at the Vatican, some time at the Forum and Colosseum and some time at Piazza Navona and Piazza della Rotunda (Pantheon) You can do this on your own with a combination of walking and public transit or use the hop on/hop off bus #110 as dutyfree suggested.

It is going to be hard to find anywhere to stay on such short notice

slangevar

My sister and I once arrived in Rome at noon on one day and caught a night train to Paris the next afternoon (24 hours total). Here's what we did with no guide, using just our feet and public transportation:

Walked to and up SPANISH STEPS

Metro to COLISEUM (paid & went inside)

Walked back through CIRCUS MAXIMUS

Stopped at TREVI FOUNTAIN (tossed in coin to make sure we'd return)

Bus to dinner/drinks at CAMPO DI FIORI - busy, fun square filled with restaurants and bars(try "brachetto" - delicious sweet sparkling red wine)

Breakfast at hotel

Public transpo. to ST. PETER'S (saw Michelangelo's PIETA - MUST see Pieta)

VATICAN museum (skipped straight to the SISTINE CHAPEL)

Buses to CAPUCIN MONASTERY CATACOMBS(awesome, but tricky to find)

Somewhere in there we stopped for pizza, limoncella and gelato, too.

The friend we met in Campo di Fiori said that we'd done more in 24 hours in Rome than she'd done in a month of living there. I don't remember feeling rushed, but I do remember having a hard time walking the next day.

By the way, I don't advocate only spending a day in Rome, but if that's all you have, you can probably accomplish all of things we did.

slangevar

Btw, I just checked on Venere and there seem to be a bunch of places available on the 9th.

Check out this place:
http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/H...ome_Lazio.html

http://en.venere.com/bed_and_breakfa...l=1&pval=2

I've never stayed there, but it has good reviews; it's 300 meters from the Coliseum (which is next to a metro stop); it has AIR CONDITIONING, and only costs $94 for a private double room with en suite bathroom (breakfast included).

Not sure if the heat wave is still continuing, but air conditioning could be worth the extra $$ if you can afford it.

danon

"My sister and I once arrived in Rome at noon on one ...."


that must have been that ONE day when there were no usual lineups to visit
the Coliseum, the Vatican, St. Peter's...etc.

slangevar

It was May and we didn't book tickets ahead of time, so I'm sure there were lines, but somehow I don't remember them. I guess that's the advantage of a good companion.

And I know it sounds unbelievable, but we did all of those things in a 24-hour period with no advance arrangements (except for the hotel), and we only used the metro, buses and our feet (which were bloody stumps afterwards).

kybourbon

danon - Why go all the way to Tiburtina station? It's way past the historic center of Rome? It would be better to get off at EUR Magliana (a dozen stops before Tiburtina)or Piramide/Ostiense, and change to the subway.

danon

'
"Why go all the way to Tiburtina station?"

depends where they are staying ( I was not sure).

annw

I was in Rome last week; we stayed next to the Pantheon which was a great location. To have a good touring day in Rome I would do the following:

I assume you have breakfast where you are staying. Arrive at Coliseum (we walked from Pantheon) 9:15 a.m. or so -- the lines moved rapidly on our day. Walk back through Forum area, seeing as much as you like and feel you have time for. Bring cold water or buy some iced water from a local cart.

Walk back to Pantheon area regardless of where you are staying and see the Pantheon. There's an easy and pretty direct route going just around Victor Emmanuel monument (the large ornate white building).

Depending on time, have lunch at a local place though probably not right on Pantheon piazza--a couple of blocks off are some pleasant ristorantes or cafes. Or walk over to Piazza Navona (optional) a few minutes away.

Take a mid-day break after lunch at your hotel, as it will probably be quite warm, or walk over to Trevi Fountain (about 10 min. from Pantheon area).

You cross Via del Corso, a main street, going from Pantheon to Trevi; stop in at Rinascente dept. store if you are wanting a quick shopping visit in Rome.

Take a taxi (8 Eu or so) to Vatican -- planning to see the Vatican late in the day -- I believe it is open til 7 p.m. or so. Mass or some kind of benediction is at 5 or 5:30 -- with lovely music/singing during the service.

If you are really splurging, get the after-hours tour of the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museums; otherwise, plan to go to the museum/chapel late in the day, an hour or two before closing (check on the times on the Internet) when there are far fewer people there and almost no lines. (The line can be a quarter-mile or more early in the day. If you go during the day at least get reservations.) Have a light trattoria meal after the museum tour.

If time allows, and you don't do the after hours tour, I would go to Trevi in the evening when it is really beautiful.

This is a day that will get you to ancient Rome, the Pantheon (my favorite place in Rome), possibly Trevi, a couple of cafes/trattorias, and the Vatican including basilica and museum. We did it with five sisters from 50s to age 70 and it was very doable. We missed Spanish Steps which I'd seen previously, and did not make it to Gallery Borghesse which I would like to see, next visit perhaps (requires reservations). I don't know if that is doable with the other sights.

We took a taxi to the airport arranged through our hotel but there were 5 of us.

On previous trips we got to Amalfi through a train to Naples and a car from there. Next trip we will take a train to south of Amalfi town and then a boat.

Have a great trip -- I think I would consider getting a tour guide through the hotel if you want someone to drive you around all the various sights but as I said we did it with walking and a taxi across town to the Vatican.