Tours? Which one should I do in Rome?
 

I have only 4 days in Rome - should I do a tour? and which one is recommended. I am staying right on Via Venuto.

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Very, very good review of some of the tours on this thread:<BR><BR>http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessages.jsp?fid=2&tid=1359549<BR>

scala reale, they have a website, advance reservations are recommended.<BR>Their 4-hour tour of the Forum and Colosseum is fabulous, one of the highlights of my trip. An Orientation hike or walk (2+ hours) is included in their fee and is scheduled in advance also.<BR>I only wish I had taken their Vatican tour.

I enjoyed a tour of the major Centro Storico sites and the Roman Forum with Enjoy Rome. They are considerably cheaper than Scala Reale. They have a website.

By all means, Scala Reale. I used them last summer and they were fantastic. Don't miss the "evening" tour of Rome- it is stupendous.<BR>

I would not recommend a tour in Rome that is organized. Instead do walking tours of areas that interest you. Also tour books give great walking tours, check out a few.

I always recommend Scala Reale. The orientation tour does just that...they will welcome you to Rome and orient you to your new neighborhood.<BR><BR>I'm just the opposite of Elaine. We took the Vatican/Sistine Chapel tour and plan to do their tour of the Colosseum/Forum next time. However, Pam has now added the evening tour as a must-do next time.<BR><BR>Have a great time.

I was in Rome a month ago and on a Monday I had a Scavi tour at 10:30 and a Scala Reale tour called Arte Vaticano at 1 PM. It was an astounding day. If you get to St. Peter's by 9 AM you'll have time to walk up the 600 or so steps to the top of the basilica where an amazing panorama of Rome awaits you and be able to make it to the Scavi tour (underground of St. Peter's..don't miss it). It was an unforgettable day and the tours were wonderful. On another day we did a Scala Reale tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum which was great, but I recommend the Vatican tour first, which includes St. Peter's and the Vatican Museums where you find the Sistine Chapel.

I have just returned from Rome for Easter week, and I concur with the Scala Reale recommendations. The guides I was fortunate to have for 4 different tours (including the Vatican, a MUST) were art/architecture/history/religion experts. All of my guides were American, too. Worth the money, believe me.

Amy,<BR>I will be in rome with my husband and 8 yr old next easter for the weekend. what can we expect for crowds, what's open, etc.? I am nervous about how very crowded it will be. Hope you see this message!<BR>thanks.<BR>Gail

Scale Reale - without a doubt! And yo can use this firm for trapsort to and from the airport. Very reliable, great knowledge - Americans studying in Rome, and they really know their sites.

Another vote for Scala Reale. We loved the Vatican tour and the Orientation hike. If we return to Rome, we'll do their Colosseum/Forum walk and perhaps one of the shorter specialty tours. Yes, they are more expensive. But worth it. The "extra" gets you the packet waiting at your hotel upon your arrival in Rome, and info plus assistance on restaurant recommendations (even reservations), help with tickets to cultural events, some hotel/apartment info, etc. We are very glad we did NOT take the penney wise, pound foolish approach to walking tours in Rome. That's not to say other companies have nothing good to offer; just means the higher price alone argument isn't necessarily as good as it may seem on the surface.

See now that this is an old thread brought back for a pers. message. But, the walking tour questions come up pretty often anyway.....