Hello, five female family members ranging in age from 74 down to 38 are taking part in a European cruise in May. As most of us have been to the destinations we are visiting we have opted in part not to go on the shore-excursions offered in some cities. Rome is one where we are just using a shuttle service to get in to the city and then doing on our own. My question is, what do you think we could comfortably fit into a 9 hours? We are all reasonably fit and will use taxis between point a and point b as necessary. The list of interests include: -

The Colosseum (a must I think, with tour)
St. Peters
Sistine Chapel
Trevi Fountain (probably wouldn't mind if we missed it)
Spanish Steps
The Forum
Villa Borghese
Pantheon

Now, obviously we don't expect to do them all, or do them justice in the time we have, but could anyone advise a doable itinerary taking in as many as possible.....as I'm drumming this out before I leave the office have I missed anything I shouldn't have?

We are not planning on spending a great deal of time on lunch or anything as we will have had a more than adequate breakfast and will have dining on the ship on our return. Maybe a snack and coffee on route.

Last time I was in Rome for well over a week, so it was all seen at a much slower pace - this will be whirlwind to say the least.

Thank you!

Hi Daneille08 - Will you have 9 hrs in town - or does that include travel time to/from the port of Civitavecchia? If the latter, your time in town will be nearer 6 hrs, I suspect.

Either way you will have to be selective. Personally I don't think you'll have time for more than -

- St Peter's
- Colosseum + Forum
- Trevi Fountain + Pantheon (+ Piazza Navona?)

From your list, personally I'd exclude Villa Borghese and the Spanish Steps.

N.B. Be aware that the Sistine Chapel/Vatican museums are very time-consuming. If you include those, that will take up more than half your day along with St Peters, I suspect. Then it becomes a rush ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

The two most time consuming, and geographically far out, are the Vatican Museums (Sistine Chapel) and Villa Borghese. If you skip those you can do everything else. The Colo and Forum are right next to each other and not all that far from the "Heart of Rome" which includes the Trevi - Pantheon - Piazza Navona - Spanish Steps. Those four are all about ten minutes walk from each other, with lots of options for stopping for snacks/gelato/coffee. A couple of hours (or more) for a walk around that area, another couple of hours for the Colo/Forum and that would leave enough time to taxi over to St Peters to see the church/piazza (but probably not the museum).

bookmarking

Hello Isabel and Steve,

We will have 13 hours in total in port in Rome, so I have allowed travel time with 9 hours worth of sightseeing. I have been to all of the places you mentioned so have a good idea of location. Thank you - Both your itineraries sound very good and sounds like those of us who haven't been there will get a nice little taste of Rome. The Colosseum was a must do on everyone's list. Everyone too was happy to skip the Trevi Fountain, but it can be a walk by if necessary. I'd be really disappointed to miss the Sistine Chapel as I was too ill to go there last time we visited and it was closed another time I was there - but oh well.

There's a suggested walking itinerary here, which includes the interior of the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums/Sistine Chapel as options, but with a 74-year-old, you may want to take a taxi or two.
http://www.roninrome.com/%20sites-an...y-for-cruisers

You may want to consider the hop-on hop-off buses. I can't remember the name, but the yellow ones offer an option to purchase a ticket for Sistine Chapel tour. I use that when friends are visiting. It allows you a certain time for a tour of the Chapel. You only have to wait for the tour group to head into the intrance so you can get your ticket. Once you have your ticket, you are free to walk about at your leisure. As an FYI, you will have to move people along in your group because the chapel is the last room, and it can take a while to get there due to the magnificence of all the artwork before you get to that room. I think it is about 40 euro for the ticket. This helps you avoid the hour plus long line.

Also, when you go to the colosseum, listen for someone offering English tours when you get up to the ticket line. Waiting in line will take an hour, but if you go to the guided tour line, it will cost you an extra 4 euro, but you will not have to wait an hour. After about 30 minutes of listening to the guide, you can give the headphones back and wonder around at your leisure. By the way, they have just opened the lower sections where the gladiators stayed and the animals were kept so it will be something new to see.

The bus stops at both places.

Good luck and have fun.

Well I'm thinking it would not be a bad idea to do a ship excursion that hits your must-sees. IMO to do St. Peter's / Sistine Chapel and the ruins (Colosseum and Forum)you will have a full day. It has been several years since we visited these sites but as I remember tours get a "fast entry" which will be esp. valuable at St. Peter's / Sistine Chapel. On your own there may be alot of time waiting in lines. Plus factor in "herding" a group of 5. Probably the best idea may be a private guide hired for the group (cheaper than the ship's deal but more efficient than on your own).

I think I would book either tickets or a tour with the Vatican Museums and do that first. That way, if the weather turns out to be bad that day, you are at least doing something inside and go to plan B if necessary for the rest of your day.

http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html

You didn't mention what day of the week you will be in Rome. The Vatican Museums and Borghese are closed certain days so it matters what day you are planning to visit.

Here's my suggestion for a full day in Rome:

Get a cab to St. Peter's, [the security queues are shorter the earlier you get there] and go straight for the Dome - those who aren't up to the walk all the way to the top can wait at the top of the lifts which get you to roof level where there are loos, a cafe, and wonderful views over the roof of st. peter's.

after the climb to the top, and a wander round, go down and explore st. Peters - all this will take you and hour to 90 mins. when you come out you will see why I said go there first!

then get a cab to the forum, buy your tickets there [cover the forum, palatine hill and colosseum] and go straight to the colosseum where you tickets will let you straight in [you don't want to queue if you only have one day]

from there, walk up to the vittoriana [wedding cake] and if you are very museumy people, do the capitoline museums - otherwise, just look round the church and the statues. [there's also a nice cafe up there if you want a stop here].

from there, you can walk up [or get a cab] to the Pantheon, and from there walk to to the Trevi fountain, Piazza Navona, Spanish steps, etc. stopping and looking whenever and wherever takes your fancy - nearly every church has something interesting and they are good places for a quiet sit.

please don't try to squeeze in the Vatican museums - you will surely regret it - and for a first visit, the Borghese is to far out of your way, IMHO. but the above will give you a good over-view without being too exhausting.

have a great trip!