Rome Itinerary - 3 days - did I miss anything?
 

Hi everyone,

Our family of 4 (kids are 11 and almost 15) will be leaving for Rome in late June. We have a very long flight from California with multiple legs and 2 carriers (SAN – LAX – IAD – LHR – FCO)! We have 2 full days, and 2 half days, to enjoy Rome, prior to our 12-night Mediterranean cruise. This is our 1st trip to Europe!

Here is our itinerary:

Tuesday
1:30 p.m. arrive @ FCO, cab to hotel (Stefano, Rome Cabs)
3 p.m. check into Hotel Santa Maria, Trastevere
3:30 p.m. Lunch - Where at this hour?
6-8 p.m. - Heart of Rome tour (Angel Tours – starts at Spanish Steps, ends in Trastevere)
8 p.m. Dinner in Trastevere - Al Fontanone? Elsewhere?

Wednesday
10:45 a.m. Scavi Tour
12 p.m. Lunch - Where? (Would like Dino e Toni if there is time)
2-4 p.m. Vatican Museums / Sistine Chapel tour
4 p.m. St. Peter’s Basilica
5 p.m. climb St. Peter’s dome
7:30 p.m. Dinner – Where?

Thursday
9-11 a.m. Forum / Colosseum Tour (Angel Tours)
12 p.m. Lunch - Where?
3-5 p.m. Borghese Gallery
7:30 p.m. Dinner - Where?

Friday
Walk around Piazza Navona / Pantheon / Campo De Fiori? Elsewhere?
12:30 Transportation to port of Civitavecchia (Stefano, Rome Cabs)

Can you please fill in the gaps with good places to eat, interesting places to wander, or other activities the entire family would enjoy (besides eating gelato, which we plan to do daily!).

Thank you!

Carole

ttt

I might recommend skipping the Borghese Gallery on Thurs. afternoon and instead spend it as free time exploring. I recommend this as I have travelled with kids roughly your kids ages and I think you have enough organized tours and museum stuff - that time might be better spent just exploring the city. I would probably do Pantheon, Piazza Navona, etc. that afternoon rather than the morning before you have to leave. The best part of Rome is just walking, sitting in a cafe, strolling into stores. Especially with teens and tweens the free time will be appreciated.

Good and fun places to eat would be de Pallero (del Largo Pellaro 15), Obika Mozzerlla Bar (In Piazza Firenze, corner of via de Prefetti) and Gusto (Via Corea near Via Frezza NW of Spanish Steps), Da Baffeto for pizza (Via del Governo Vecchio 114)

Hi Carole,

My first concern is whether your luggage will make all the connections with you! Have you prepared a Plan B in case it doesn't? Be absolutely certain to check all the luggage tags with your own eyes to be sure the counter agent has properly labeled each piece. Also, think about mixing up the bags with sets of clothes for everyone, rather than having a bag for Mom, a bag for Dad, etc. That way, if one or two don't make it, everyone still has some clothes from the bags that did! The good news is you will have several days in Rome before your cruise, just in case the luggage has to catch up to you.

I think you should not push yourselves too much the first afternoon/evening. I very much doubt that you will all make it to an 8 pm dinner. With all the stops (and I have flown all the way from LAX 3 times, but non-stop) I don't think you are going to get any significant sleep on the planes.

Do you know what sights your Heart of Rome tour includes? I'm betting it will include the Pantheon & Piazza Navona, so you don't need to plan time later in the visit for those, unless you want to return!

Just a few thoughts for you! Sorry, I can't really help with the restaurants. All mine were not in the Trasevere area, but there are so many! Just check out the menu, check out the other diners (locals is good) and enjoy.

Be sure to try the melone gellato. Buon viaggio!

The Villa Borghese is definitely worth 2-3 hours of your time. The Bernini sculptures are outstanding.

Thanks everyone!

jgg - I keep going back and forth as to whether we should go to the Borghese Gallery, or just hang out. Everytime I think we'll just spend time walking around, I hear how great the BG is - just like Fibonacci just stated!

Der Pallaro is definitely on my list from reading about it here on Fodor's!! I'll check out the others, which I've heard about as well.

By the way, jgg, I loved, loved, loved your trip report of Italy that I read a while back.

Dayle - I'm nervous too about the luggage issue! As a result, we're going to TRY to make it with 4 carry-ons (difficult for a cruise since we'll also have dress clothing)! There's a lady that is leaving on the 5/31 sailing of the same cruise we'll be taking.... I just read on another travel board that she has been in Rome for 2 days now and still hasn't received her luggage!!

Yes, our Heart of Rome tour on the 1st night covers the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Campo De Fiori, etc. If we're too pooped the 1st night, we'll have to do this type of tour on night #2. I'm bringing eye shades for myself and the kids to help us sleep on the airplane, so we can try to get some sleep... we'll see what happens in reality!

Any other ideas?

Carole

Hi again Carole,

I agree that you should NOT skip the Borghese. It was really a highlight for me! I had the same reaction to the Apollo and Daphne sculpture as I did to Michelangelo's David. Jaw dropping. I enjoyed the upstairs paintings, but the Bernini sculptures were the real attraction. I used the audioguide and thought it was great.

You do have to check ALL purses, bags so be prepared. Keep everything that is valuable to you on your bod. I had my expensive sunglasses stolen out of the bag check.

My only other thought on the luggage - is there a way you could ship the cruise luggage straight to the ship? Maybe check with the cruise company. I would probably cost dearly, but might be worth it!

Carole,

Just want to clarify that my comment about the Borghese was because of the kids. I would encourage you to keep it on the itinerary and then just be prepared that if the kids would rather explore, to be flexible. To be honest I have not been to the Borghese Gallery (but we leave in less than 2 weeks for a return trip to Italy and it is on the itinerary this time!), however I have been to Rome, Venice, Florence, London and Paris with my kids and I know that they love just exploring and being in a city and sometimes get tired of my list of things we HAVE to see.

So, keep it on the list and then roll with the punches. Either way you will have a great trip. Enjoy! Interested in hearing about the Mediterranean cruise when you return.

By, the way we packed for two weeks in Paris & London all carryon. Of course we did not have the dress clothing for the cruise. Don't forget to check with the airlines on their carryon requirements. Some have weight as well as size restrictions. We were lucky as United has no weight restriction on their carryons so we each had a 21" rollaboard as well as a carryon tote that could fit under the seat. We were able to carry them both on and you can fit quite a bit in those bags. However, it is always the shoes that makes it hard to pack light - so pick them carefully!!

Hello Everyone--can someone help us out?--We will be travelling from Venice to Civitavecchia by train (travel is in Oct) and haven't purchased train tickets yet. Any tips on purchasing the tickets and changing trains as we will be carting our own luggage. Also, once we arrive in Civitavecchia--what is the best way to the cruise port? THANKS

BRIALL: You have tacked your question onto a thread that has nothing to do w/ the same topic. Well - they are both about Italy, but that's about it. I'd start a new thread asking your questions about the train from Venice.

I agree with the thought that you may be tired when you arrive and the first day may be a little long. Our restaurant recommendations are as follows: Best neighborhood restaurants: "da Olimpia", Via degli Avignonesi, 37-38 and "Gioia Mia" Pisciapiano, Via degli Avignonesi, 34. Reservations are needed at the later, esp. We have travelled with our kids and they love museums and BG is incredible, but they may just need some down time and exploring at that point, so I would keep that flexible.
Have fun!

The kids might enjoy the zoo in the Borghese gardens , very close to the Galleria Borghese. I was there with my kids a couple of years ago when they were 10 and 15 and they really enjoyed it. They also enjoyed Galleria Borghese very much. They still talk about the sculptures! If you can can , keep Galleria Borghese in your plans!