cms238

We will be in Tuscany in October and will only have 1 day in Rome before flying home.
If you only had one day, what are the things we absolutely have to do and what can we save until next time?

Leely

Walk everywhere to see the city, preferably including Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, then to the Coliseum--spend longer wandering around the Forum. The fountains in Rome are incredible. Stop and have your espressos in view of one (or two...)

If you have time, rush through the Vatican and see the Sistine chapel. Phenomenal. Whatever you do, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Leely

p.s. Didn't mean that you should RUSH through the Vatican. It's just that it's entirely possible to spend hours and hours there and if you only have one day...I don't know. I guess I would just try to see the outside parts of the city.

frankc

I would recommend that you see St Peters even if you do not go thru the museum Sistin Chapel etc. It is the most amazing church I have ever seen. If you do that you can probably cut your time there to an hour or so. Will leave you time to go to some of the Plaza's. I would recommend Navona. Food, fountians and art.

bardo

Definately save the Vatican for a much longer visit (you can easily spend 2 days just seeing the Vatican and the Vatican Museum - not to mention the long lines)

Leely's advice is good: concentrate on the historic center and - walk, walk, walk.

In addition:

Skip the Spanish steps.

Swing by the Pantheon during your walking.

Poke your head in the churches (big and small) as you wander around - you're likely to see great sculpture, Raphael ceilings, etc.

dan_woodlief

With one whole day, I would start with the Colloseum and Roman Forum first thing in the morning. Get to the Colloseum before opening to save time. If I was making good time, I would catch the subway at the Colloseum to take me over to the Vatican to see St. Peters on a quick visit. I wouldn't try to see any of the Vatican Museums with that much time. Then I would take the subway back and spend the late afternoon, evening, and night wondering from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Campo dei Fiori. If the ancient area took me past around noon that time of year, I might content myself with seeing ancient Rome and the city center and leave St. Peters for another trip.

Melissajoy

Make seeing St. Peter's your highest priority. On our family's first trip to Italy in June, this was the #1 favorite for the whole family, including my teens, who thought it was awesome. St. Peter's is stunning. Plan to spend 1 hour enjoying this magnificent cathedral, and then add more time if you plan to climb the dome. I would do this first to make sure you don't run out of time for it! You don't need a guide. St. Peter's for the first time will just take your breath away. Take your favorite guidebook with you and read about it. Or just tear out the appropriate pages from your guidebook.

You just can't hurry through the Vatican Museums, therefore I would skip it. We spent 3 and a half hours in the VAtican Museums and even that was a rushed pace. But if it's a rainy day head into the VAtican Museums after St. Peter's BAsilica.

If it's a nice sunny day, see St. Peter's and then head over to see the Pantheon. The Pantheon only takes a few minutes to see and it's beautiful. From the Pantheon you can walk to see the Trevi fountain, a delightful sight, and walk to nearby Piazza Navona. This area of Rome is very walkable and has a lot of good restaurants.

You won't have time to see the Colosseum unless you skip the VAtican Museums. (Don't skip St. Peter's!) Best way to fit in the colosseum is to hire a licensed guide in advance to take you on a private walking tour...a licensed guide can skip the line at the colosseum. You won't appreciate the Colosseum without a good licensed guide.

With only one day, I'd see St. Peter's and spend time wandering around the Pantheon and the Trevi fountain area.

kakalena

Hi cms238,

If you have the inclination to move fairly quickly, one person could get in line early before the tour groups arrive to wait for the Vatican museum to open. (around the corner from St. Peter's main entrance). Go through as quickly as you can although you will be unbelievably distracted along the way. Research anything you'd like to see there in particular beforehand.

See the Sistine Chapel. It is magnificent!

Tour St. Peter's - also magnificent

Pantheon - impressive

Colosseum - awesome

Have fun!!!!!!

kakalena

JennieH

It is essential that you walk everywhere. I would suggest a walking tour. I have been on this one about 4 times and I still enjoy it: http://www.enjoyrome.com/walking/ancient.html. The tours are often run by American students so there is no language barrier!

jabez

If you start early you can do a tour of the forum and see the colosseum before noon. Then cab to the Vatican.
You can then walk through the museum and finish with a free tour of St. Peter's.
In Oct. it will be close to dark when yo head over to the Pantheon area and walk to different piazza's. Then plan on eating near the Spanish steps.
Is this too much for a day? Yes, but it can be done.
Will you have a full day?
Another option is do the morning as I listed and the take a off-and-on tour bus in the afternoon. Get off at a few spots (including St. Peter's) and get a few pictures of what you want to return to.

bardo

cms,
How soon after your 1-day visit are you planning to return to Rome?

cms238

Thanks everyone, I guess we'll be really busy that day. Oh well... it just means we'll have to come back sooner rather than later to really explore all of Rome...darn it!

tcreath

I think you could do most things mentioned above if you get up early and spend the whole day wandering. St. Peters is stunning and definitely worth visiting. I personally would skip the Vatican museums because of the time restrains, but St. Peters is beautiful and could be done in under an hour.

I disagree above; if you go to Rome, the Colliseum should be a must! Even without a guide, its easy to appreciate what you are looking at. We had a guide but he had such a thick accent that we couldn't understand half of what he was saying anyways. The Forum and Palentine Hill are both right next to the Colliseum.

By using the Metro system, you should be able to do both of these and still have some time to wander and explore.

ssachida

St.Peter's opens at 7am. Go there first. Book a tour of the forum, colliseum, etc. at around 10am (it only opens around 9-9:30 anyway). I've heard that you can skip the lines if part of a tour, but am not sure about that. The tour should be 2-3 hrs. After lunch, if you can get a reservation to the Borghese Gallery at say 3pm, go there. You'll have to leave the Borghese gallery at 5. Most churches stay open till around 7pm. So if there's a particular one you want to visit, do it first. Then do the Rome walk everyone suggested. Most of the piazzas and fountains are supposed to be spectacular after dark.

I've never been to Rome, but have been doing a lot of research for my trip in November. So take the above with a pinch of salt . This is what I would have done, if it was me. I wouldn't mind one hectic day after relaxing in Tuscany.
Have fun and let us know what happens!

jabez

The plan I outlined will work,if you have a full day and want to hit these things.
The ONLY way you can plan on a plan like mine (or some others)and go to the Vatican museum, is if you arrive there around 12-1pm.
You don't have time for the long lines.
You can skip the colosseum lines if you buy your ticket at the Forum. If you go there first, get your reservation for your forum tour (I believe mine was at 9am this year) and go up to Palatine Hill while you wait for your group to gather. Bring a good guide book about this area,it's quite interesting.
You don't need a tour group at the colosseum, but really need one at the Forum.
Bottom line, there's way too much to see and do.
We spent 7 nights there this May and plan on another 7 next year. There's still plenty we have not seen.
Enjoy your planning!

kakalena

Just in case you were considering a bus sightseeing tour.

In some cities a quick bus tour can be very informative and can help you orient yourself in the city. You can also discover places that you hadn't considered.

We took a bus tour of Rome starting at the Vatican and it wasn't very good. The guide talked to the driver and filed her nails and said the name of a building in several languauges as we rode by. They also stopped for a coffee break. We were anxious to get off and thought it was a waste of time.
They also take siesta mid-day for a couple of hours.

I think there were two companies. Maybe the other one is better.

kakalena