Hi, we are in Rome for 4 full days - should we do any guided tours and if so, what company... also any day tours out of the city heading south? What do you think??

I've been to Rome several times and the first couple of times we didn't do any tours, we just walked around and soaked everything up...how could you not enjoy Rome?

Last time we booked a half day walking tour of the Forum through Scala Reale...if you are interested in Roman history or architecture I can not recommend it highly enough. There were three of us and one other guy...the guide was so knowledgable and opened up the ruins to us creating a picture of the past. It was quite expensive but worth every penny.

I'd also recommed the English langauge tour of the Domus Aurea...Nero's housebuilt on the hill above the Colusseum. I think it runs once a day but the commentary really helps you invisage the history of the place.

Hope this helps.

I absolutely recommend a tour. We would not have appreciated the sites as much without a knowledgeable guide. If you have time,read the first part of my trip report for details on our experience with Through Eternity Tours:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34436026

Also, there was a thread a few days ago on this same subject so you may want to scroll back. Good luck!

All of the organizations listed below have been mentioned on this forum at one time or another.

Scala Reale gets rave reviews but is a bit pricey for some folks. enjoyrome worked for me.

www.througheternity.com
www.enjoyrome.com
www.romewalks.com
www.sogniitalani.com


However, unless you love to research things ahead of time, its usually worth paying $15 to $40 dollars for a two to four hour orientation or area specific walking tour. Its a great way to get your bearings in a strange town and is really a small amount of money considering what you spend on airfare and hotels.

We did a guided walking tour in Rome as part of a tour package. It was worth its weight in gold, not only because the guide was great and we learned a lot, but because we got into the Vatican an hour before it opened to the public, which gave us 45 minutes in a largely deserted Sistene Chapel. Later, at the Colosseum, we got to bypass the (very long) regular line and enter immediately, with no waiting.

I don't know what tour organizations get these perks, but it would be worth asking.

Good morning, Sophie D. Acouple of places in Rome that are a little bit out of a walking tour are any of the catacombs,via Appiaa Atica (which can be reached by public transport and then
becomes a walking tour...) Tivoli & Villa d'Este, either by public transport or by guided tour..and lastly St. Pauls outside the walls.
Richard of Lagrange Park, Il..

thanks for all the advice!!

Degas, the following address did not work for me:

www.sogniitalani.com

I was going to try that tour where you hop on and off. I did this in New York worked well. Has anyone tried that in Rome>