Our trip has many different parts so need many different posts! Part 1: DH and I are flying into Rome for 4 days, then proceeding to Venice to join some friends for a Greek Isle cruise.

What would you see in Rome in only 4 days! Will do the Vatican for sure, the Forum, I guess that doesn't leave much time for much else! We are avid cyclists, are there any bike tours?

Where to stay in Rome?

Also it seems we will be able to take the train to Venice, one schedule says the train lv Rome at 8:50 arr Venice 1:30. Ship sails at 4, is it far/difficult to get from train stn to cruise terminal? Should we get off at Mestre or go to the end?

Have always been impressed by how willing everyone here is to answer all questions!

The day we arrived, we did a “walkabout” -> Fontana di Trevi, Piazza Colonna, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, then Sant-Ignazius and back to the hotel. The next day, we went to: Campo dei Fiori, along the Tiber to the Jewish Quarter, Teatro Marcello, Portico d'Ottavia, Piazza Mattei, Largo de Torre Argentina /cat sanctuary, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, Via Veneto ( a lot of this is just walking and looking). The 3rd day we went to: San Giovanni en Laterano, then San Clemente, then on to see a very very crowded Colosseum. On our last day in Rome: we took a bus ride and then a 15-minute walk to the Baths of Caracalla, then a wander through the Roman Forum; later, strolled past the Spanish Steps and up to Piazza del Popolo, climbed up to the Pincio (overlooks Rome) and a very pleasant walk through the Pincio park and Villa Borghese; entered the Cappuccin Crypt for a quick visit.... We also did some walking around in the evenings, on the way to/from dinner, as many fountains and monuments are illuminated at night. Your plans to visit the Vatican will supersede some of the above, as we had been on a previous trip.

If you use the buses, you can cover quite a bit of ground. Rome's historical center is fairly compact, also. I think it could be accurately said that one could easily walk from Spanish Steps to the Colosseum in a half-hour or so.

Rome's traffic doesn't lend itself to bicycle tours. You can rent bikes at the Villa Borghese if you have time. Four days is enough to see the highlights. Stay around the Pantheon/Piazza Navona for easy walking to almost everywhere.

I traveled with my family to Italy this past summer. Even though our trip report was a Family Trip Report, I would still enjoy the same restaurants and hotels if I was traveling alone with DH. YOu might enjoy it: Amazing Two Week Family Trip to Italy!

In Rome we stayed at the Albergo Cesari (loved staying in that area).

ttt

hi, ivillinois,

in 4 days [or is this 4 nights, 3 days?] you need to think carefully about grouping together all the sights that are in the same area, and your timings.

for example, i read a recent trip report by people who booked an early SCavi tour, followed by the Vatican museums, ending with St. Peter's and the Dome. [you'd not have energy to do anything else that day!]

similarly, you can do the forum, palatine hill, colosseum, and the capitaline museums, all in one shot.

make sure that you are hitting these places on a day that they are all open.

you can google "bike tours in Rome" and I have a memory that you can hire bikes to explore the appian way. [best on a sunday when they stop the traffic]. insurance definitely NOT optional [have you seen the Rome traffic?]

a book like Rick Steves' Rome is good at desigining itineraries tailored to the no. of days you have.

places like the trevi fountain, spanish steps, pantheon, piazza navonna and campo dei fiori can be explored in the evenings on the way to dinner. that's why staying somewhere in the centre is a good idea.

there are loads of threads with hotel recommendations.

happy planning,

regards, ann

Illini,

In Venice, it is a fairly short trip from the train station to the cruist ship terminal Actually, there is more than one cruise ship terminal in Venice, so you will need to find out which one your ship leaves from.

If your ship is berthed at Marittima (for the large ships), you can take a taxi directly from the Mestre station. Or, you can go to the end and cross the Grand Canal over the new bridge (if it is open) or cross by vaporetto to Piazzale Roma, and take a shuttle bus or taxi from there.

If your ship is berthed at San Basilio, you have the same options mentioned above, or you can take vaporetto lines 61/62 or 82 all the way to San Basilio.

You say that your ship sails at 4, but what time do you need to be onboard by? Although it won't take long to get from the train station to the ship terminal, your 8:50 may be cutting it close depending on boarding time or if there is any delay on the train.

Mark

Great ideas, as usual! Will definitely have to check out the maps in detail and plan accordingly...it is really 4.5 days, but figure we'll be too wiped to do much the first day.

Duh! How could I forget the traffic in Rome! Bikes will not work unless we are out of town, so don't think there's time for that....

I thought the train might be cutting it close, ship leaves at 4, but you have to board at least an hour ahead, so maybe we'll spend the previous night near Venice...much planning to do and I love every minute of it!

HI

My wife and I went to Rome a couple of years back and here is my trip report with pictures, links and maps: http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm . Maybe you can get some ideas from the trip report to start with

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

Gard

Enjoyed your trip report! We think the Hotel Nord Nuova Roma would be a good idea as we are taking the train to Venice, and also for catching buses to see Rome. Anyone stayed there recently? When I check availability some sites say it's booked! Do I really have to nail down a hotel now when we're not traveling until next fall!

hi, ivilinois,

just had a look at the hotel web-site for the hotel nord nuova roma. have you checked their cancellation policy? - you can cancel up to 4pm on the day before your arival date with no penalty. so you could book here as insurance while you look for somewhere you might like better.

if you are getting a train from rome to venice at 8.50am, it's not so critical to be staying near termini - it should be easy to get a taxi to the station from anywhere reasonably central to get you there for 8.30.

alternatively, I like the idea of spending a day and night in Venice -why not travel the day before, spend the night in a hotel near the Station in venice [lots along the rio terra lista da spagna which is an easy walk from the station - no bridges to cross], and leave your luggage there til you need to join your ship. from the station, you can get a vaporetto to your cruise dock, or to the piazzale rome, or even walk.

we stayed at the Hotel belle epoque, which would be very convenient and fine for a night's stay.

good luck,

regards, ann

We also like the idea of spending a day and night in Venice! No worries about delays, etc. plus we'll have some time to see a little of Venice...

Back to Rome though, have read several posts on different areas of Rome, and thought around Termini would be most convenient for catching transport around the city. Is there a more convenient central location?

hi, again,

for seeing the sights, the most convenient area is the "centro storico" around the campo di fiori and piazza navonna.

the further away from here you are, the more time you'll spend on the buses/metro.

there are a no. of threads about hotels/ B & Bs in that area. there is one near the pantheon that gets good reviews [can't remember the name I'm afraid but you should find it with a bit of research].

good luck!

regards, ann