Hi all, just looking for suggestions for day 1 of our trip in Rome (we will be there 4/5 days)- we anticipate being somewhat tired after our flight from Boston. Also - it will be a Sunday, so I don't think that it will be the best day to do Spanish Steps / shopping / Trevi fountain - if the shops are closed? What do you think?

Usually on the arrival day I prefer to just walk around, have a quick lunch, and get oriented with the area. Maybe take in a sight or 2 (not a major sight, just an outdoor kind of thing like Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, etc). Then take a nap, have dinner in a nieghborhood of interest and get a good night's sleep.

My motto is "hit the ground running." Well, not literally, since I have bad knees. But like the poster above, I get out and walk around, orient myself, and see some things. Just don't try to do too much, which I've done on other earlier, hence younger, trips. I feel that travel time is too limited to NOT use whatever time I have avaliable.

I also meant to say, that on our first trip to Rome, after checking into our hotel on the first day (after spending about 16 hours on a trip-from-hell plane ride), we walked the streets and saw the Forum and the Trevi Fountain before finding a quiet restautant for an early meal. I love Rome.

We did: Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Pantheon, ate gelato while gazing at the Pantheon, St. Ignatious (with the false dome), Trevi Fountain, a few minutes of a free concert at the Reformed Church, pizza, bed.

I didn't want to go anywhere that charged admission, in case I was too tired to appreciate it and wanted to return later in the trip. I also wouldn't recommend anything where you sit for a long time. I could tell while sitting at the concert that the kids were about to fall asleep and if they did, they would be OUT and they're too big to carry!

Pizza at da Bufetto was a good choice for the end of a jet lagged day. Not very expensive, familiar, so if you're too tired to translate an Italian menu, you can't go too wrong.

For the best use of time, it would be helpful to know where you are staying.
Dolf

After a long flight and major time change, I quite often book (prior to arrival) a general overview tour for the first day. It accomplished a couple of things - forces us to get up and about even though we might like to stay in bed and lets someone else do the navigating, organizing, etc. -- in essence, dragging us around even if we sleep on the bus from stop to stop. We then have an idea of what we'd like to return to investigate more in depth once we've acclimated to the local time zone.

I get horrible jet lag, so I let myself go with that... relax, explore the area around my hotel, have a nice meal, drink some wine, have a nap. If I push it that first day, I am a basket case the entire trip. If I recoup a day or two, the rest of the time is much more enjoyable.

Where is your hotel?

It would be easier to give you specific advice if we knew that. In general, I think you should identify on a map a few nearby sights -- outdoor and indoor, to account for the possibility of rain, and preferably inexpensive -- that you can wander by to see. You will probably want to return to your hotel as soon as you are allowed to unpack, lock your valuables in the room safe, etc. or even take a nap. (I generally do.) After lunch you can go further afield and begin some of your sightseeing if you've got more energy than you expect.

(Trevi Fountain is best seen at night, by the way.)

Hi C,

Our first day we don't do anything that requires thinking.

We just orient ourselves to the neighborhood, walk around and soak up atmosphere.

What about a day ticket on the open-top bus where you can hop on and off wherever you fancy? Costs 13e pp includes headphone and map. It runs every 15 mins.
Red open top bus 110 for monuments
White open top bus 110 for religious stuff.

defintetly make it a leisure day. take in the borghese gardens and stroll around. have a nice dinner in any of the cafes around the pantheon

I've been looking at airfares/schedules, and it looks like we wouldn't arrive at FCO until 4 PM on a Friday. By the time we get to our apt. in Trastevere, will there be any shops open to get basic provisions/snacks etc.? I'm sure we'll head for a pizza place for dinner, but would like to have something to drink and maybe coffee for the next AM, anyway. Any suggestions?

Stroll around the centre. Perhaps choose one destination to have a first look at - Fontana di Trevi, perhaps, or St. Peter's - whatever is the first picture that appears in your mind when thinking of Rome. Or just set out from your accommodation. Then keep wandering, get lost in narrow streets, explore and discover without a fixed destination. Stop for a coffee or cappuccino at a nice cafe, or sit down on a bench for a while and observe people. Or enter a church, rest in there. Maybe you'll come across places you have heard of and recognize. Maybe you'll find pretty, interesting, astonishing... little things you never thought of. Just be there and try to get a feeling for the city. Give your soul enough time to arrive and reach you (the soul walks on foot, no matter how fast you travel).

Quokka, I disgree with your "wander around and just get lost" advice, because if it was me, after being up about 36 hours, I WOULD get lost. I always make sure I'm heading to my "own neighborhood" by about 6 or 7 pm, because after that I can't concentrate and easily get lost. On our first night in Paris with the kids,it was about 6:30 pm and I THOUGHT I was going the right way, but the street we were on went diagonally instead of straight and we walked way out of our way and were sort of feeling sick at the thought of the long walk home. I'd save "getting lost" for when you're more rested.

missypie- That's why I always grab a business card from my hotel, and make sure I have money for cab fare back!!

In addition to knowing where you are staying would be useful to know whether you will have kids with you or not.

Caramia,

On a Friday night you shouldn't have any trouble finding some stores open until 7pm or so. And Trastevere is one of Rome's great eating destinations. You will be surrounded by cafes, gelaterias, bars, enotecas and yummies of all sorts.

And more good news: One of Rome's most gorgeous churches -- the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere -- stays open in the evenings and its mosaics, inside and outside, are a sight to behold. It is central in Trastevere, so wherever your apartment is, you'll easily find it.

The piazza in front of Santa Maria is one of the most charming in Rome, filled with children playing ball. It is surrounded by cafes. Sit down and have a drink. After dinner, if you're too wired to sleep, you can also take a 15-minute walk across the river to the Jewish Quarter and the atmospheric ruins of the ancient Portico d'Ottavia, which is beautifully lit up at night.

If you are feeling super-energetic, you can walk up to St. Peter's, also lit up to the heavens.

Basically you won't get lost if you orient your walking around to the piazza Santa maria and the river. Stick to that side of Trastevere and you'll be fine. (don't wander into the hilly park.)

Can you ask the person you're renting the apartment from to leave you some coffee, and that you'll pay for it? Isn't someone meeting you with the key? They should be able to point out where to buy whatever you need. Even if that doesn't work out, don't worry. You will be able to find fantastic coffee just outside your doorstep in the morning (probably better than you can make).

Last suggestion: If you are taking the train from FCO to get into Roma, there is a station stop in Trastevere BEFORE the last stop in central Roma (Termini). Ask the person you are renting the apartment from if you can get a TAXI from that Trastevere station to your apartment. I don't know if there are lots of taxis by that station.

Enjoy the good life in Roma. Trastevere is the place to do it.

Nessumdorma,
Thanks So much for all of your helpful information. We will be staying at Vicolo del Cinque 5, which I think must be in the heart of the action, no?

Any recommendations for good pizza to feed two teenage boys? It sounds like we've chosen well, and I'm looking forward to being in Trastevere.
I'm thinking we might just hire a limo to pick us up at FCO, since it would be about the same amount for 4 on the train plus taxi. I know we'll be exhausted, but can't wait to show our grandsons the wonders of Europe!

I think getting a limo from FCO is a great idea.

I believe your apartment is just a stone's throw from piazza Santa Maria.

I don't have a recommendation for pizza in Trastevere but surely such a place exists. You might try looking at the restaurant reviews on the Slow Travel website or asking on its message board if you don't get an answer here.

Have a great time!