quick tour of Rome
 

We are flying into Rome about 8:30am and hope to leave out luggage at out hotel. In the hours before checking in we hope to find a tour of some of the city. We leave the next day for Venice so our time in Rome is very short. Any suggestions on a good, reasonable tour? Thanks

I would consider the following:<BR><BR>1. Spanish steps<BR>2. Trevi fountain<BR>3. Roman forum and coliseum<BR>4. Pantheon<BR>5. See Vatican Square and St. Peters<BR><BR>Have a glass of wine and watch the people!<BR><BR>US

Kathleen - The main companies running guided tours by bus are:<BR><BR>Vastours<BR>www.romeguide.it/vastours/<BR>Appian<BR>www.appianline.it/panorama.htm<BR>Carrani<BR>www.romeguide.it/CARRANI/default.htm<BR>Greenline<BR><BR>American Express<BR><BR>Hope this helps ...<BR><BR>Steve

Your day in Rome will be very short indeed. I assume you are arriving from the US. About 6-8 flights arrive at the same time every morning from the US. By the time you get through customs, collect your baggage (can take up to 30 minutes) and get a taxi to your Rome hotel it could easily be 10:30 am. You should advise your hotel of this now and ask that you be permitted to check-in in the morning. (I have never found this to be a problem in Rome.) You will then want to shower after the all-night flight. <BR><BR>The Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain can be done in a nice walk around sunset or in the evening before or after dinner, so I would not do them doing the day. There is an evening walk of the area sponsored by Rome Walks, which lasts about 2 hours, check their website. <BR><BR>As for the &quot;top two&quot; in Rome, I think you will need to decide between the Coliseum/Forum and the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel as I don't think you will be able to do both. I believe the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel close around 4:30, so you will have a limited time there. You can visit the cathedral of St Peter's itself at all hours I believe (check the Vatican website), but the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museum have definite opening hours, as does the elevator/stairs up to the dome on the top of St. Peters. The Coliseum/Forum may be open a little later, but not much beyond 5 or 5:30. <BR><BR>Once you have chosen between these two, I would suggest you arrange for a walking tour of whichever is your choice. I personally would not take a bus tour of these or of Rome generally, as you have already been sitting on a plane all night and with jet lag it will be hard to stay awake during an afternoon bus tour. Scale Reale has excellent 3-4 hour tours of each of the Coliseum/Forum and the Vatican. They are very popular on this site, run a search or check their website. Rome Walks also have walking tours of both places, check their webiste. Rome Walks is less expensive than Scale Reale, but in my experience the Scale Reale tour guides are more informed and the tours are much more comprehensive.<BR>

Great suggestions everyone! Thanks. Now I'll have a clue.