One day in Rome -- what to do?
 

We will be taking a cruise in November that includes a day trip into Rome. We will have about 8-9 hours and would like to at least tour Vatican City and have time for some shopping. What would be reasonable for us to accomplish in that time? We've looked at the cruiseline tours, but they don't really meet our needs. Thanks!!

I would hit the Vatican in the morning, and then spend the afternoon/evening in the Piazza Navona/Pantheon area. There are tons of cute cafes for drinks, meals, and people watching. I think it is a good taste of Rome for a one-day visit.

Enjoy your trip. Rome is wonderful!

I was giving lectures recently on a cruise and 3 ladies missed the departure at Civitavecchia since there were only half the number of trains between Rome and Civitavecchia on a Sunday.
When they realized they were late, they caught a taxi and said "Port" but the driver took them to the airport! The ship waited for over an hour but they missed it anyway and had to fly to Alghero, Sardinia to pick it up the next day. Wise idea to always have a postcard with the photo of your ship on it to give to taxi drivers and for asking directions.

Having spent 10 days in Rome last easter, I believe that the Vatican Museaum is a must, but that's a long day's worth. If you're not going to do the Vatican museum, then simply walking through the Piazza Navona/Pantheon, and then over to the Coliseum, Constantine's Arch, and the Capitoline Hill area are "must see" spots; For high end shopping, Via del Babuino, leading to the Spanish Steps is your spot; otherwise, Via del Corso

The Vatican includes St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museum.

The museum may take a while (4 hours?), depending on your interest, and is well worth it if you like art. It has an incredible collection of art from all over the world, not to mention the Raphael and Michelangelo work on the walls and ceilings, which includes of course the Sistene Chapel.

St. Peter's inside includes the Pieta by Michelangelo, the alter by Bernini (which bronze was taken from the Pantheon)and below is the crypt where you may visit JP II.

If you decide to do both start in the museum because then at the end, after the Sistene Chapel you can go into St Peter's without a line.

One day in Rome shopping try Via Condotti:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=141

One perfect day in Rome wandering itinerary:

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=255

If you do Vatican musuem in morning then after you can walk across bridge and down Corso Vittorio Emanuele to the Piazza Navona and Campo di Fiori. When you get to Via dell'aquila the Campo di Fiori is on the right and Piazza Navona is on the left. Just cut through some streets and there you will be.

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=180


For lunch near Piazza Navona try either of these, which are both great local restuarants reasonably priced!

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=252

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=187

Both of these restaurants are in the Via Delle pace neighborhood.

http://www.webvisionitaly.com/catego...p;ref_item=250

Also, just a few minutes walk away from this area is the Pantheon...

Buon Viaggio!

You MUST buy tickets for the Vatican ahead of time, otherwise the line could be a few hours long.

For only one day, I would skip the Vatican Museums, and just hit St. Peters Basilica. It is incredible to see. As worldis4travel said, the line to get in the Museums is really long.

BTW, you might want to check what day you will be in Rome, and see if it corresponds with a Papal audience. I'm pretty sure the Basilica is not open until after the audience is completed, around 2:00ish. It might be different at that time of year, when I believe they hold the audience inside the auditorium, rather than outside in the Square.