Entertaining 17 year-old in Rome
 

Recommendations, please, for what to see/do with my 17 yr old granddaughter in Rome. We'll have 5 full days outside of travel. I want to make this a memorable experience. Will be staying at Albergo del Senato next June

Give her some guidebooks and she will find plenty to see and do to be entertained. I took teens on tours to Italy. Believe me, they were never bored anywhere on the trip and loved Rome, Florence, Venice and the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. They never had enough time to see everything they wanted in any place. The more she knows about sights ahead of time, the more she will enjoy them. Eat lots of gelato.

Great advice! Thanks!

At 17 I was traveling on my own and making my own entertainment. What Sassafrass said is vey true: have her read on the destinations and have her tell you what she wants to see. She can even plan whole days. Have fun!

The idea about the guidebooks is a good one. I would suggest she have a look at the description of the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, which I think is sure to please nearly everyone.

Trastevere should also be interesting to a young woman her age. The area around Santa Maria in Trastevere is abuzz with young people out having a good time, maybe a bit too much of a good time.

Other things I might suggest would depend on her interests. I wouldn't insist that she needs to see certain museums or churches. Give her plenty of freedom to decide what she'd like to see or do.

I agree you should give your granddaughter a guidebook. Get one specific to Rome, instead of a guidebook for all of Italy. Rick Steves would be a good option. Getting her involved in what you do will make her more interested and excited with what you plan. We were recently in Italy with our 22-year-old daughter. The 2 things she really enjoyed doing the most was the Eco City Tour (http://angeltours.eu/rome/eco-city-tour) and the Twilight Trastevere Food Tour (https://www.eatingitalyfoodtours.com...ht-trastevere/). The Eco City Tour is definitely unique and what is great is they will gear it to what your interests are or you can let them decide which is what we did. The Eco City Tour was my favorite. By the way Angel Tours gives free tours of the Pantheon. The Twilight Trastevere Food Tour is very enjoyable and interesting because you learn about the cuisine of Rome. The food tour was my daughters' favorite but she did really love the Eco City Tour. Something else your granddaughter might enjoy is Rome Bike Tours (http://www.topbikerental.com/nuovosi...-in-rome-italy). We did not have time for this but heard it is very good. If you plan on going to the Vatican, I would opt for an early entrance tour, which will cost more but is definitely worth it. We did Walks of Italy Pristine Sistine tour (https://www.walksofitaly.com/vatican...f4yxoClizw_wcB) and it was very good. There is also The Roman Guy (https://theromanguy.com/) as well as several other tour operators offering tours with early access. Your hotel is in a great location. You are close to Giolitti, the oldest gelateria in Rome. It will probably be crazy busy when you go but it’s worth it as they have the best gelato.

I hope you and your granddaughter have a wonderful time in Rome.

I went to Italy when I was 19. I wanted to go so badly that I saved the money and went alone (all of my friends wanted to go on a Contiki-type tour... 8 countries in 20 days - no thank you). So I was about her age when I started planning and saving for that trip.

Those were the days before internet, so I pored over guidebooks. She may be more interested in online research... have her check out some blogs - one I recently found is An American in Rome. It's written by a young (late 20s) California girl who went to Rome to study, ended up marrying an Irishman and staying. Her blog is a visual treat and the style may appeal to your granddaughter.

As for my trip. I wasn't, and honestly am still not, a museum person. And I'm not religious but my GOD, that first view of the Sistine Chapel just shattered me. St Peters and the Pieta. See those things. The Vatican Museums otherwise probably wouldn't have appealed to me.

Same with all the iconic sights - the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps. She will love seeing them and likely spend a lot of time poking around stalls for souvenirs .

I am going soon, and we plan to do a Bike Tour of the city. I think that sounds like a really fun and different way to get an overview of the city if that is something you could do.

I didn't visit Ostia Antica, but someone posted yesterday that it was highlight for their kids. Another place you can rent bikes if so inclined :)

I always like to do a quirky tour of the cities I visit... I mean, too much history gets boring even for me. A food tour, or a ghost tour, a tour of famous film sites (make sure they are current enough for her memory)... something like that - or if she has any particular interests, see if there may be a tour around that. Heck, even a gelato crawl... I'm sure they have them. Read reviews to make sure they sound appealing.

Another highlight on my trip was a day trip to Tivoli to Hadrian's Villa. If you have time, do a day trip to Pompeii or Sorrento. We are going to Orvieto on this November trip, so take a look at that option.

I agree with the quirky tour idea. Before I got into museums, that was my favorite thing to do. Is she active? Bike tour. Foodie? Food tour. She's very likely to meet fellow teens on a bike tour, too.

I wouldn't twist her arm over museums, but the Sistine Chapel, Borghese, and Capitoline are all places that would impress nonmuseum goers.

There's a cat sanctuary in one of ruins, if she's a cat lover, don't miss that!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attracti...ome_Lazio.html

The best thing about Rome though is just wondering around with Gelato.

I can't imagine biking around Ostia Antica. Are you sure they rent bikes?

The cat sanctuary is in the Foro Boario, not far from the Pantheon.

Not only print guidebooks. She's young. Let her do some research online too and pick out a few things she specifically wants to do. Having her involved, I predict, will give you both a better experience than if you just plan the trip all yourself, trying to guess what she might like!

bvlenci - you're right - I went back to my source and the bike rental suggestion was Via Appia, not Ostia Antica. So, two new places I need to explore now :)

OK to day trips to Tivoli, Ostia Antica or Orvieto, but Pompeii, and even more so, Sorrento, is a bit far for good day trips.

Watch some movies together that are set in Rome. Even old romantic ones are good.

Learn some Italian phrases together.

It may be obvious but... Roman Holiday!

I suggest you also remain very flexible about finind out once you get there what is enjoyable and what isn't for the 17 year old. All of us have had the experience traveling in Rome & elsewhere of pre-imagining that what we will most enjoy is X and Y -- only to discover to our own surprise that we were most taken with & enjoyed P & Q.

It's sometimes hard enough for adults to speak up to travel partners about feeling disappointment or fatigue regarding sightseeing, so I would be open to encouraging thumbs ups & thumbs downs as you travel along.

The last time I traveled with a teenager I underestimated how much they'd enjoy shopping -- and not necesssarily shopping for souvenirs, but just shopping for clothes & accessories. But I could see how much fun it was. Also hadn't expected the young traveler to be such an enthusiastic adventure eater, trying bites of everything.

The point isn't to take the teen shopping & eating but leaving a lot of air in the planning to let things unfold orgnically, even though you obviously need to have a skeletal plan in place before you leave home, and make some reservations in advance.

We don't know this teenager. She probably has specific interests that might guide some of what you do

I have friend interested in fabrics and fashion. She's always looking for that kind of special exhibit or museum to go see. Someone's interested in music. Theater. Skating. Dance. Same idea... find something local that is in line with a person's own interests. It doesn't have to be only about Rome, or its history, art, whatever.

For snacks and American food there is a McDonalds right next to Spanish Steps - was about the only one in Italy for some time- it is quite different from American ones - not suggesting you dine there but teens may at times enjoy something familiar for a snack.

Great reviews on Trip Advisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUser...ome_Lazio.html

Some great suggestions! Thank you!

I'd second bicycles on Via Appia.

Great experience, if the Italian car drivers stay off the road.

Two films you and your Granddaughter might enjoy are:
Bread and Tulips
Italy: Love it or Leave it