Rome Itinerary Advice - 14/9 - 19/9
Jun 21st, 2013, 09:55 PM
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Rome Itinerary Advice - 14/9 - 19/9
Hi All,
Wanting some advice on the following rough itinerary I have made for our first trip to Rome. We are a couple in our early twenties. We are wanting to wander and experience the city has to offer. We are not interested in art. We are staying at an Apartment from Rental In Rome (Via Della Pigna, 200m south of Pantheon). We plan on mostly walking everywhere (I will regret this when I am there wont I?!)
Wanting to see if anyone has any other suggestions to put into the itinerary or whether they days are planned well.
Saturday – September 14
-Arrive at Fiumicino Airport at 2:30PM from Paris
-Car service to our apartment (Offered through Rental in Rome for 50E)
-Explore the local area and have dinner
Sunday – September 15 - Explore!
-Campo de' Fiori
-Piazza Navona
-Pantheon (free) (9am to sunset)
-Trevi Fountain
-Spanish Steps
-Explore Trastevere area for afternoon and dinner
Monday – September 16
-8:30am Walks of Italy VIP Colosseum tour including Forum & Palatine Hill (79E each)(no bookings available on website yet)
-Relax at apartment
-Anywhere to check out at night??
Tuesday – September 17
-Free day. Open for suggestions
- Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini? (10E each)
Wednesday – September 18
-Castel Sant’Angelo (10.5E each)
-2:00PM Walks of Italy “Vatican Highlights – Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel” tour (54E each)
-Continue on to St Peters Basilica
Thursday – September 19 – Time to leave.
-Train to Venice @ Termini at 10:50am
Thank you in advance!
Wanting some advice on the following rough itinerary I have made for our first trip to Rome. We are a couple in our early twenties. We are wanting to wander and experience the city has to offer. We are not interested in art. We are staying at an Apartment from Rental In Rome (Via Della Pigna, 200m south of Pantheon). We plan on mostly walking everywhere (I will regret this when I am there wont I?!)
Wanting to see if anyone has any other suggestions to put into the itinerary or whether they days are planned well.
Saturday – September 14
-Arrive at Fiumicino Airport at 2:30PM from Paris
-Car service to our apartment (Offered through Rental in Rome for 50E)
-Explore the local area and have dinner
Sunday – September 15 - Explore!
-Campo de' Fiori
-Piazza Navona
-Pantheon (free) (9am to sunset)
-Trevi Fountain
-Spanish Steps
-Explore Trastevere area for afternoon and dinner
Monday – September 16
-8:30am Walks of Italy VIP Colosseum tour including Forum & Palatine Hill (79E each)(no bookings available on website yet)
-Relax at apartment
-Anywhere to check out at night??
Tuesday – September 17
-Free day. Open for suggestions
- Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini? (10E each)
Wednesday – September 18
-Castel Sant’Angelo (10.5E each)
-2:00PM Walks of Italy “Vatican Highlights – Vatican Museums & Sistine Chapel” tour (54E each)
-Continue on to St Peters Basilica
Thursday – September 19 – Time to leave.
-Train to Venice @ Termini at 10:50am
Thank you in advance!
Jun 22nd, 2013, 03:41 AM
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Hi Ammclean - I see that you have a tour of the Vatican on Wednesday afternoon. We did something similar on our first trip to Rome. It was a really, really busy and crowded! Could I suggest that you add a early morning walk to the Vatican to your schedule? The second time we visited, we drug ourselves out of bed to arrive at St. Peter's at 7:00. It was WONDERFUL! No people, no noise. I can't stress enough how precious those quiet moments are in Rome. (I recommend the same thing for the Pantheon. We were strolling by very early one morning, peeking through the open doors at the cleaning crew. They were finishing up and invited us in.) Mornings and late evenings just can't be beat in this tourist-packed city!
People might disagree, but we had the best pizza both visits at this tiny grab and go pizza place bordering Largo di Torre Argentina. (Great for budget eating.) We avoided any restaurant that employed someone that shouted in English for you to come into their restaurant. ;-) Walk off the beaten path and find somewhere quiet to grab a drink or meal.
I know you said you weren't art people. I wasn't either -- until I visited Rome! You'll see some amazing art in the Vatican tour, I'm sure, but you can also see a lot of great work through a short tour of the Borghese Gallery. If you decide to do it, be sure to book your visit in advance.
http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm
Oh, and you won't regret walking everywhere. We stayed near the Trevi Fountain last time and walked everywhere (except the Appian Way).
Have fun planning your trip!
People might disagree, but we had the best pizza both visits at this tiny grab and go pizza place bordering Largo di Torre Argentina. (Great for budget eating.) We avoided any restaurant that employed someone that shouted in English for you to come into their restaurant. ;-) Walk off the beaten path and find somewhere quiet to grab a drink or meal.
I know you said you weren't art people. I wasn't either -- until I visited Rome! You'll see some amazing art in the Vatican tour, I'm sure, but you can also see a lot of great work through a short tour of the Borghese Gallery. If you decide to do it, be sure to book your visit in advance.
http://www.galleriaborghese.it/borghese/en/edefault.htm
Oh, and you won't regret walking everywhere. We stayed near the Trevi Fountain last time and walked everywhere (except the Appian Way).
Have fun planning your trip!
Jun 22nd, 2013, 05:31 AM
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We rented an apt. in Trastevere last time we visited Rome, and walked everywhere for an entire week. Even though it's a large city, walking is the best way to go.I agree with biblioteca71 that visiting the Vatican/Sistina in the AM is a choice you won't regret.
Re the Sistine Chapel tour, the first time I was there (many years ago) it was empty and you had time to sit and savor. Last time, (in the afternoon) we were herded through in the extremely long, line, and really couldn't appreciate it at all. So, if possible you may want to visit the Sistine/Vatican in the AM. And, even though you say you're not into art, you can't avoid it in Roma! For dining, wandering about and eating local is the smart thing to do! Your itinerary sounds great.
Re the Sistine Chapel tour, the first time I was there (many years ago) it was empty and you had time to sit and savor. Last time, (in the afternoon) we were herded through in the extremely long, line, and really couldn't appreciate it at all. So, if possible you may want to visit the Sistine/Vatican in the AM. And, even though you say you're not into art, you can't avoid it in Roma! For dining, wandering about and eating local is the smart thing to do! Your itinerary sounds great.
Jun 23rd, 2013, 01:06 PM
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You won't regret walking everywhere in Rome. Wander down streets, sit in cafes and piazzas, enjoy a gelato and people watch!
There is a cute little hop-on hop-off tram that circles the historic center of Rome if you get tired.
Or, take a bus to your destination and then work your way back, stopping for lunch or a glass of wine.
Your itinerary sounds really good. Not too much per day, spreading out the tour days and the 'do what you want' days.
There's a great free walking tour of Rome that meets every evening at the bottom of the Spanish Steps at the Keats/Shelley House.
www.newromefreetour.com/rome-free-walking-tour
You say you're not interested in art, but in Rome it's all around you!
If you're a fan of the Dan Brown series you might like the Angels and Demons tour, or a Secret Rome tour?
Look for podcasts to download. Rick Steves has a couple that walk you across the city.
Either way, you'll have an amazing trip!
There is a cute little hop-on hop-off tram that circles the historic center of Rome if you get tired.
Or, take a bus to your destination and then work your way back, stopping for lunch or a glass of wine.
Your itinerary sounds really good. Not too much per day, spreading out the tour days and the 'do what you want' days.
There's a great free walking tour of Rome that meets every evening at the bottom of the Spanish Steps at the Keats/Shelley House.
www.newromefreetour.com/rome-free-walking-tour
You say you're not interested in art, but in Rome it's all around you!
If you're a fan of the Dan Brown series you might like the Angels and Demons tour, or a Secret Rome tour?
Look for podcasts to download. Rick Steves has a couple that walk you across the city.
Either way, you'll have an amazing trip!
Jun 29th, 2013, 05:53 AM
#6
I would avoid the Vatican on a Wednesday unless the Pope is still on vacation (check the Vatican website). That is usually a very busy day (audience with the Pope in the morning).
>>>There is a cute little hop-on hop-off tram that circles the historic center of Rome if you get tired.<<<
Not that I'm aware of. There are multiple trams, but they don't circle the center. Perhaps you are thinking of the electric buses (or maybe the tourist hop on/hop off bus). There are two lines that sort of cross through the center.
Trams:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5
Electric bus:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9
>>>There is a cute little hop-on hop-off tram that circles the historic center of Rome if you get tired.<<<
Not that I'm aware of. There are multiple trams, but they don't circle the center. Perhaps you are thinking of the electric buses (or maybe the tourist hop on/hop off bus). There are two lines that sort of cross through the center.
Trams:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5
Electric bus:
http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=9
