We're in Rome for 24 hours...should we bother doing anything on the basis that we're sure to return and simply soak up the ambience of the whole place or should we do a round of the sights?

If you think the sights, I'm thinking the basics, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and maybe the Borghese Gallery - is this open on a Sunday too?

Thank you!

Why not do something while there. Given the short time, hire a guide and see the sights.

Don't do museums unless you are a real art person or are looking for a particular work.

Do outdoors stuff - Trevi, Poazza Novana, maybe the Colloseum.

Don't go anyplace you have to stand in line.

Find a great restaurant for lunch and have a leisurely meal outside.

I'd skip the guide - you just don't have time to get any kind of feel for the place otherwise.

The Borghese Gallery requires reservations. Go to St. Peter's for the Pope's Sunday blessing.

What time of year ?

I too wouldn't class the Borghese as a basic - I've been to Rome 5 times & haven't been there yet.

Caroline-about the Galleria Borghese-once you've gone,you may consider it essential.It took four trips for me to get there,and it's one of the most glorious spots in Rome,IMO

For one day in my favorite city, I'd recommend using the hop on hop off sightseeing bus for an overview.I agree that it would be best to see the outdoor sights,but throw in a few wonderful churches(Pantheon,of course,Santa Maria della Vittoria,San Clemente,for example.)Throw your coin the the Fontana di Trevi and immediately begin planning your return!

massagediva; I've read now that it is good, so hope to get there next time. But we are very lazy & don't tend to fit too much in : probably spend most time sitting on the hotel's roof terrace with a bottle of wine !

Tell me more about the hop on/off bus. Sounds like a great idea for our first day, just to get an idea of the city.
Cindy

The Borghese Gallery and surrounding park setting is phenomenal. It really transports you away from the rush and crowds of Rome. A museum that is never "crowded" as they only let in a couple hundred people in every 2 hours. The Bernini's are mindblowing. Oh did I mention the Raphael's and Caravaggio's?

I was in Rome for 48 hours some years ago
I did two things there that I recommend: eat a pizza at "La Sagrestia" (is a little restaurant on the street besides the Pantheon) and buy a gelato at the Spanish Steps and sit on the steps to eat it, even when it's crowded..it's a special feeling I can't forget. And don't forget to see the Trevi fountain All these things are near, you can do it on a few hours.

I would not miss St. Peter's Basilica or Piazza Navona.

That's brilliant. Thanks for your help.

Massagediva - how do I get on the hop on hop off bus?

Also, any restaurants for a large group of 10 outgoing people who will be catching up for the first time in years? After great food, music, special Italian atmosphere.

Thanks!

Did a quick google on the hop on bus, and there's a nice one mentioned here:http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/
product_show.jsp;jsessionid=
aX-I_mOB9uWc?ID=
1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=2390GRESHUTT&
AUID=967

Sorry 'bout the long link.

Another one to try is www.greenlinetours.com.
I did this one and it was fine. Audio seemed to be a bit fuzzy but just sitting on the bus and taking in the sites was a great way to see alot of the city you just would not probably see otherwise.

I know the atac system(Rome's municipal bus system) has a sightseeing bus,but I don't see anything about it on their website.(www.atac.roma.it)

The 110 Tourist Bus leaves from outside the main Rome Termini Station around every 30 minutes and stops at or near all the major sites in Rome at 10 main stops and allows you to hop off and hop on a following service. It always returns to the main Termini Station and is a great way to do Rome on your own. The 110 has a hostess who will take care of the tickets which you can buy on board. Mary the 110 has the standard tourist audio tour which is just about sufficient. It has around 10 stops including the Vatican and the Coliseum but with only 3 hours to spare your schedule is a bit tight. the 110 starts from and returns to right outside the Rome Termini station and it is slightly cheaper if you buy your ticket from the ticket booth than on the bus. Buy at the booth that says "I Bus" near platform D.
I haven't done it yet, but checked it out for October. Good luck!

Author: gemini79
Date: 07/20/2005, 08:33 am
We're in Rome for 24 hours...should we bother doing anything on the basis that we're sure to return and simply soak up the ambience of the whole place or should we do a round of the sights?

If you think the sights, I'm thinking the basics, Trevi Fountain, Colosseum and maybe the Borghese Gallery - is this open on a Sunday too?

Thank you!



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Author: buongiorno
Date: 07/20/2005, 08:45 am
Why not do something while there. Given the short time, hire a guide and see the sights.



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Author: wliwl
Date: 07/20/2005, 09:05 am
Don't do museums unless you are a real art person or are looking for a particular work.

Do outdoors stuff - Trevi, Poazza Novana, maybe the Colloseum.

Don't go anyplace you have to stand in line.

Find a great restaurant for lunch and have a leisurely meal outside.

I'd skip the guide - you just don't have time to get any kind of feel for the place otherwise.




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Author: kybourbon
Date: 07/20/2005, 09:09 am
The Borghese Gallery requires reservations. Go to St. Peter's for the Pope's Sunday blessing.



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Author: caroline_edinburgh
Date: 07/20/2005, 09:54 am
What time of year ?

I too wouldn't class the Borghese as a basic - I've been to Rome 5 times & haven't been there yet.



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Author: massagediva
Date: 07/20/2005, 10:20 am
Caroline-about the Galleria Borghese-once you've gone,you may consider it essential.It took four trips for me to get there,and it's one of the most glorious spots in Rome,IMO

For one day in my favorite city, I'd recommend using the hop on hop off sightseeing bus for an overview.I agree that it would be best to see the outdoor sights,but throw in a few wonderful churches(Pantheon,of course,Santa Maria della Vittoria,San Clemente,for example.)Throw your coin the the Fontana di Trevi and immediately begin planning your return!



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Author: caroline_edinburgh
Date: 07/20/2005, 11:29 am
massagediva; I've read now that it is good, so hope to get there next time. But we are very lazy & don't tend to fit too much in : probably spend most time sitting on the hotel's roof terrace with a bottle of wine !



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Author: cindyma
Date: 07/20/2005, 11:43 am
Tell me more about the hop on/off bus. Sounds like a great idea for our first day, just to get an idea of the city.
Cindy



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Author: OpusX
Date: 07/20/2005, 11:53 am
The Borghese Gallery and surrounding park setting is phenomenal. It really transports you away from the rush and crowds of Rome. A museum that is never "crowded" as they only let in a couple hundred people in every 2 hours. The Bernini's are mindblowing. Oh did I mention the Raphael's and Caravaggio's?



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Author: kenderina
Date: 07/20/2005, 12:05 pm
I was in Rome for 48 hours some years ago
I did two things there that I recommend: eat a pizza at "La Sagrestia" (is a little restaurant on the street besides the Pantheon) and buy a gelato at the Spanish Steps and sit on the steps to eat it, even when it's crowded..it's a special feeling I can't forget. And don't forget to see the Trevi fountain All these things are near, you can do it on a few hours.



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Author: WanderingTexan
Date: 07/20/2005, 01:30 pm
I would not miss St. Peter's Basilica or Piazza Navona.




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Author: gemini79
Date: 07/21/2005, 04:04 am
That's brilliant. Thanks for your help.

Massagediva - how do I get on the hop on hop off bus?

Also, any restaurants for a large group of 10 outgoing people who will be catching up for the first time in years? After great food, music, special Italian atmosphere.

Thanks!



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Author: sunscreen202 ([email protected])
Date: 07/21/2005, 05:28 am
Did a quick google on the hop on bus, and there's a nice one mentioned here:http://www.affiliate.viator.com/brochure/
product_show.jsp;jsessionid=
aX-I_mOB9uWc?ID=
1010&PRODUCTID=1016&CODE=2390GRESHUTT&
AUID=967

Sorry 'bout the long link.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Author: lvitaly
Date: 07/21/2005, 10:42 am
Another one to try is www.greenlinetours.com.
I did this one and it was fine. Audio seemed to be a bit fuzzy but just sitting on the bus and taking in the sites was a great way to see alot of the city you just would not probably see otherwise.



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Author: massagediva
Date: 07/21/2005, 11:06 am
I know the atac system(Rome's municipal bus system) has a sightseeing bus,but I don't see anything about it on their website.(www.atac.roma.it)



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Author: jeno
Date: 07/23/2005, 06:42 pm
Sorry about the last post- didn't proof read. This is the city bus- the 110. The 110 Tourist Bus leaves from outside the main Rome Termini Station around every 30 minutes and stops at or near all the major sites in Rome at 10 main stops and allows you to hop off and hop on a following service. It always returns to the main Termini Station and is a great way to do Rome on your own. The 110 has a hostess who will take care of the tickets which you can buy on board. The 110 has the standard tourist audio tour which is just about sufficient. It has around 10 stops including the Vatican and the Coliseum. The 110 starts from and returns to right outside the Rome Termini station and it is slightly cheaper if you buy your ticket from the ticket booth than on the bus. Buy at the booth that says "I Bus" near platform D. It cost about 7 Euro. Buying from the booth is a little cheaper than on the bus. I haven't done it yet, but checked it out for October. Good luck!