I’m leaving for Rome in about two weeks, and I’m trying to loosely plan my visit. I have sent requests for both the Scavi tour, and the Vatican tour, and haven’t heard back yet, so I’m trying to plan in case I don’t get either. I’m a wanderer, which is how I would define my travel style. I’m traveling on my own, so I really haven’t planned restaurants, and I’m on more of a budget than usual, so I really haven’t accounted for “shopping days”. If anyone can offer any suggestions on things I shouldn’t miss, or that can be deleted or otherwise moved around, please let me know.

Wed – arrive 6pm – hotel check in, Trevi Fountain (comments here suggest seeing it at night)

Thurs – Palatine Hill, Colliseum, Forum

Fri – Florence (it’s my favourite city in Italy, so it’s a must to fit in somewhere!)

Sat – Vatican

Sun – Orvieto, or maybe Pompeii – suggestions please!

Mon – Pantheon and?

Tues – Borghese Gallery (am – not yet booked, but will take care of this week ), Ostia Antica (moving to a hotel nearer to the airport for the night, so I’ll be in the area (I think!)

Wed – Departure

Thanks in advance!

Truffles:

Others Fodorites will tell you in detail why going from Rome to Florence for a day and then bouncing back to Rome is far too hectic.

Thanks Wanderful - I realize it may be a little hectic, but since it's less than two hours each way, and I love the city, for me it's worth it.

Any other comments Fodorites? I could really use the help...

Truffles,

My wife and I just came back from Italy and Oriveto was our favorite little town. You should not go to Florence, back to Rome and then back up to Orvieto, too much crossing back and forth. The Underground tour in Orvieto was really cool. Only plan a half a day for the Vatican, and the Cappucin crypt near the Trevi Fountain is very eerie also. Also the catacombs out the Appian Way was so much fun. We did San Callisto but there is more than one.

Hi

My wife and I went to Rome a couple of years back. I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy.htm and maybe you can find some useful info there. Also check out my interactive Google map: http://gardkarlsen.com/rome_italy_map.htm . It shows you where some attractions and restaurants are located. Have a great trip

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

Truffles - Your plan looks good to me. Seems like you have shopping time and wandering time. About going to Florence for a day trip. I've done it many times and it's a breeze. Go early, come back late. Florence center is so small that a day trip is fine - just have reservtions for Davide and Uffizi. About the Vatican, Saturday is quite busy because the museums are closed Sunday. Museums are open and free last Sunday in the month and VERY busy. Looks like you'll have a great time.

You describe yourself as "a wanderer", so I don't know why you think you "could really use the help..."

Why not grab a good guide book and map and enjoy the city by just walking around - wandering?

I agree with others that you should stick to Rome itself - you certainly don't need to add Pompeii!

I just came back from Rome and did a day trip to Florence...just wlaked into Termini bought my ticket early in the morning, I was in Florence before I knew it and had a wonderful time...came back on the 7:53pm train back to Rome was admiring the Trevi fountain by 10:30pm,ahhh...can't wait to go back!

Looks very good to me. Since you've been to Flornce before, you'll have no trouble with a day trip--no learning curve or time wasted getting oriented.

My only issue: I would probably not do the Vatican on a Saturday especially if you mean the Vatican Museums. I'd probably do it on Thursday to get it done, since it will proabably be the most crowded and trying part of your itinerary, if any part is.

Mon - Pantheon and? is a natural time to continue wandering in the ancient center. Visit any church with an open door. Stop for coffee and gelato. Shop.

We went to Rome last year for a week, and our day trip to Pompeii was definitely worth it for us-my oldest son's favorite part. Of course, it is also a full day, so decide if you want to pack two of those into your trip. I've seen great things on this forum about Orvieto and Ostia Antica which are closer and therefore not full day trips.

You guys are awesome!

ellenem - thanks for the tip about the Vatican on Saturday - I did mean the museums, and I'll definitely shift to another day!

Truffles, be sure when you are at the Pantheon, have a gelato at the gelateria on the corner of the piazza, and then wander to the nearby Piazza Navona for all kinds of goings-ons and vendors and street artists and beautiful statues and churches - then cross the main street , called Vittorio Emanuele and you will be in the Campo di Fiore, where you can find anything and everything! Have a great time, and make sure to get in your day trip to Florence - Godspeed
Leslie

Another note about Vatican museums. Took me many visits to figure out the crowds. Sunday closed (except the free last, as most know - VERY crowded). Monday most other museums closed so VERY busy. Tuesday is very good. Wednesday is good IN museum during Pope's noon general audience. St Peter's square and church are PACKED. Thursday - many large tour companies are getting into town and some members head right for the Vatican.
Friday - most tour companies are in town and have tours set for Friday for their people. Quite busy. Saturday is VERY busy because of tour companies and it being closed on Sunday. Tues. is your best bet. Thurs. is ok too. Wed is the most interesting day to go.

When you go to the Vatican museums, get there early! The line gets really long fairly early and if you don't want to wait the whole day in line, I would suggest getting up early and getting in line (the museums usually don't open til about 9AM). Pompeii is a lot to do in one day. You have to generally go down to Naples and then take another train, so I would suggest either going down and staying a night in Naples or something (not my favorite place) and then going to Pompeii the next day. Another place you might want to check out is the Amalfi coast...it's gorgeous! You should definitely go to Piazza Navona, Trastevere is a great place for restaurants and small markets, you should also stop y Piazza Venezia and look at the "Wedding Cake" (Victor Emmanuel Monument). And you can walk down Via del Corso for shopping (it's right across from the monument). Tons of stuff to do in Rome, you'll never run out of things to do...

OK, so Pompeii is out (this trip!), Vatican is moved to Thursday or possibly Tuesday and I'll be having gelato before heading to Piazza Navona!

One question about the Vatican museums - I had the impression that only tour groups get in early, and individuals have to wait longer to get in - is that accurate?

Thank you all for the great suggestions - they are much appreciated

I was there a little over a month ago(Vatican Museum). My group was 9 people but it was leader-led. We met up when the musuem opened but we waited in the same security line as everyone else. from what i understand, groups aren't exempt from the security line. Was about 2 hours of wait time.

Once past security, the ticket line wasn't that long. There was a group line, which was shorter though.

Tours of individual or groups made directly with the Vatican don't have to queue. They use a different entrance. Some special private tours with specific reservations can jump the queue. Everyone else, tour groups included wait in the same line.