Our flight was changed and we will now have a 5 hour wait in Rome. I have never been there before and was wondering if it would be possible to do anything, or is this just wishful thinking. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated.

You could take the train into downtown, then walk around for two hours or so, maybe visit the Roman Archeological Museum nearby the Termini train station.

Hi mariagug-

There's a train (Leonardo Express) from Rome airport (FCO) to Rome downtown (Termini station).

However-
1) The LE train runs 2x/hr and takes 30mins.
2) Even when you get to Rome Termini, it is still some distance (several subway stops) to the "major" sites such as Colosseum, or Spanish Steps, or Vatican etc. The Rome Archeological Museum that GAC mentions is one of the few sites that's near the Termini.
3) You will have to get back to FCO 1-2hrs before your flight (one hr for inter-Europe, 2hrs for trans-atlantic)

So, for a 5 hr layover, you'll have about 2-3 hours to spare max.

Another option would be to arrange for a private car & driver to pick you up at FCO and drive you to the sites in Rome for a quick tour, and drive you back to FCO.

I would hire a driver. this will be more money but more convenient, time effecient, less stressful and more fun. I used Limoservicerome the last time I went and they were great.

Hi maria,

If you can afford 150-200E, I agree with hiring a driver/guide.

Otherwise, take the LDV into Roma TE.

Purchase a ticket from the tobacconist upstairs before getting on the tube.

Take Metro Line A direction Battistini to the Barberini Metro stop (2nd stop). From Pza Barberini go West on Via Tritone abt 1 km to Via Stamperia on left. Take Via Stamperia to the Trevi Fountain.

Throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, so that you will return again.

Reverse your trip.

You should get back to FCO about 1 1/2 hr before your flight leaves.

There is actually much more to see around the Roma Termini Train Station, but you need a very good guidebook of Rome (such as the Blue Guide), and many Americans simply are unaware of everything that can be seen within a radius of 1 mile.

I agree completely with GAC, but in addition to the very good guidebook I would suggest a very good map! (But perhaps the Blue Guide, which I don't know -- I use the Companion Guide to Rome -- has a very good map.)

Thank you for all the suggestions!