In Rome, for which sites should we have guided tours?
Jan 23rd, 2010, 07:30 AM
#22
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I'm not usually a guided tour person but took several tours while in Rome and am glad that I did.
As you mentioned, the Forum would look like a maze of scattered ruins to me if I had gone without a guide, so I took a tour. I went with Context and enjoyed it. I did change the day I took the tour and Context had no trouble with that, so you might be able to reschedule if it rains, assuming that they have another tour with openings available.
I visited the Vatican Museums twice, once with a guide and once without. I got a lot out of the guided tour but that was because 1) the guide was excellent - very knowledgeable and passionate about art (she was better than the Context tour guide) and 2) there were only two other people in the tour. But the tour wouldn't have been worth it if it had been a larger group and/or a less qualified guide. You could have a fine visit on your own especially if you prepare ahead of time.
As you mentioned, the Forum would look like a maze of scattered ruins to me if I had gone without a guide, so I took a tour. I went with Context and enjoyed it. I did change the day I took the tour and Context had no trouble with that, so you might be able to reschedule if it rains, assuming that they have another tour with openings available.
I visited the Vatican Museums twice, once with a guide and once without. I got a lot out of the guided tour but that was because 1) the guide was excellent - very knowledgeable and passionate about art (she was better than the Context tour guide) and 2) there were only two other people in the tour. But the tour wouldn't have been worth it if it had been a larger group and/or a less qualified guide. You could have a fine visit on your own especially if you prepare ahead of time.
Mar 10th, 2011, 07:21 AM
#23
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Living in Rome, working in tourism, I would recommend taking a tour especially for the:
- Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - without a guide you looking at rocks, a good guide will truly make a world of difference!
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica - if only to help navigate the gigantic museum complex, one could spend an entire lifetime inside the museums, a guide helps you use your time efficiently and be less overwhelmed by the Vatican.
The MOST IMPORTANT is picking the right tour company/guide. I recommend spending a little more money and booking with a non Italian private company, not directly with the venues (Italians do not have the same concept of tour quality, they don't understand the importance of having a "Fun" guide not a university lecturer and often the level of English is poor)
Here are a few things to look out for:
- Skip the Line reservations (you can do this yourself on the official websites of the venues if you prefer to visit on your own)
- Early morning start to avoid most of the crowds (and the summer heat in the Roman Forum)
- Small groups - which mean a MAX of 15 people, any more and its just not worth spending the money on a tour
- Single language tours: lots of operators offer multi language tours (they don't tell you until after you pay) say in English, French, Spanish and Italian! Awful!
- Make sure your Vatican guide takes you into St. Peter's Basilica. Many operators include the Basilica in their sale pitch but then leave their group on the Basilica terrace instead of doing the tour inside (where michelangelo's pieta' is!!)
DO NOT, whatever you do, buy a tour on the street, especially around the Vatican and Colosseum area!!!
Other cool tours to take would be a City Center Orientation tour, a Borghese Gallery tour and an Ostia Antica tour - Ostia is REALLY worth the visit!
High quality tours can be found on walksofitaly.com
hope this helps!!
- Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill - without a guide you looking at rocks, a good guide will truly make a world of difference!
- Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's Basilica - if only to help navigate the gigantic museum complex, one could spend an entire lifetime inside the museums, a guide helps you use your time efficiently and be less overwhelmed by the Vatican.
The MOST IMPORTANT is picking the right tour company/guide. I recommend spending a little more money and booking with a non Italian private company, not directly with the venues (Italians do not have the same concept of tour quality, they don't understand the importance of having a "Fun" guide not a university lecturer and often the level of English is poor)
Here are a few things to look out for:
- Skip the Line reservations (you can do this yourself on the official websites of the venues if you prefer to visit on your own)
- Early morning start to avoid most of the crowds (and the summer heat in the Roman Forum)
- Small groups - which mean a MAX of 15 people, any more and its just not worth spending the money on a tour
- Single language tours: lots of operators offer multi language tours (they don't tell you until after you pay) say in English, French, Spanish and Italian! Awful!
- Make sure your Vatican guide takes you into St. Peter's Basilica. Many operators include the Basilica in their sale pitch but then leave their group on the Basilica terrace instead of doing the tour inside (where michelangelo's pieta' is!!)
DO NOT, whatever you do, buy a tour on the street, especially around the Vatican and Colosseum area!!!
Other cool tours to take would be a City Center Orientation tour, a Borghese Gallery tour and an Ostia Antica tour - Ostia is REALLY worth the visit!
High quality tours can be found on walksofitaly.com
hope this helps!!
Jun 3rd, 2016, 02:48 PM
#24
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I did a private Colosseum tour with my parents and it was the best tour that we all went on in the whole 4 weeks that we were in Europe.
Our guide was excellent. Alfredo had such a wealth of knowledge and was so enthusiastic about everything he definitely loves Rome and his job.
We learned so much in the three hours and got to skip the line, which was great as it was extremely crowded that day. Alfredo knew how to get the most out of the three-hour tour and for us to see the best pieces of artwork I totally recommend www.edenwalks.com
Our guide was excellent. Alfredo had such a wealth of knowledge and was so enthusiastic about everything he definitely loves Rome and his job.
We learned so much in the three hours and got to skip the line, which was great as it was extremely crowded that day. Alfredo knew how to get the most out of the three-hour tour and for us to see the best pieces of artwork I totally recommend www.edenwalks.com
Jun 3rd, 2016, 02:56 PM
#25
How nice of you to join fodors, Mary, just to tell us about edenwalks. Perhaps you could tell us a a bit more about your trip, where you're from, what other tours you did with which to compare edenwalks, etc. etc.
[you do know that advertising is not allowed her, don't you?]
[you do know that advertising is not allowed her, don't you?]
Jun 4th, 2016, 11:59 AM
#26
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Thats the only tour I did with my parents. I actually live here and know Rome well but I had heard that Eden Walks did a nice Colosseum tour so we all went on it. My folks did other stuff but on their own. My parents (and I) really enjoyed it so I thought it deserved a good comment. I often read Fodors forum for general advice about Rome as it's a really useful forum. Good work!
Jun 4th, 2016, 02:41 PM
#28
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I'm glad Ann asked, because, cynic that I am, I certainly thought the same thing. If you ever do think of advertising something, I suggest you don't mention the name of the guide (or the waiter, or the B&B owner, as appropriate) because it really makes an honest appraisal look like an advertisement.
Anyway, having a guide doesn't let you skip all the lines at the Colosseum. There is a ticket line which you can skip simply by buying your ticket in advance, either online, or at the nearby Palatine Hill or Roman Forum entrances, or at the Museum of the Baths of Diocletian.
Even if you have a ticket, you may still have to wait a long time to get into the Colosseum. I waited almost an hour with some American cousins to get into the Colosseum last June. Guides with their groups were waiting as well; there was a group in front of me whose guide took the opportunity to explain the history of the arena. The problem was that there were too many people inside at that time and they couldn't let anyone else in.
Since then, security has been greatly beefed up because of the Jubilee year, because of terrorist attacks elsewhere in Europe, and because there were specific threats made against the Colosseum and the Vatican. Now, the waits are even longer. If you live in Rome, you must have read some of the articles about the long waits to get into the Colosseum in local papers.
Anyway, having a guide doesn't let you skip all the lines at the Colosseum. There is a ticket line which you can skip simply by buying your ticket in advance, either online, or at the nearby Palatine Hill or Roman Forum entrances, or at the Museum of the Baths of Diocletian.
Even if you have a ticket, you may still have to wait a long time to get into the Colosseum. I waited almost an hour with some American cousins to get into the Colosseum last June. Guides with their groups were waiting as well; there was a group in front of me whose guide took the opportunity to explain the history of the arena. The problem was that there were too many people inside at that time and they couldn't let anyone else in.
Since then, security has been greatly beefed up because of the Jubilee year, because of terrorist attacks elsewhere in Europe, and because there were specific threats made against the Colosseum and the Vatican. Now, the waits are even longer. If you live in Rome, you must have read some of the articles about the long waits to get into the Colosseum in local papers.
