two days in rome
Nov 16th, 2017, 10:34 AM
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two days in rome
we are there in Rome for two days, february end, and we plan to spend a day visiting the vatican city and the colleseum, need you advice if we do need a private guide??? or buy our skip the line tickets??? or just show up at sites??? but, considering how people mentioned that its crazy line ups, but i believe more so during the peak holiday seasons??? please advice, will simply make our visits a much much smoother one.
Nov 16th, 2017, 10:54 AM
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It's hard to know if you'd be advised to get advance reservations at the end of February. If there are cruise ships in the port at Civitavecchia, it doesn't matter what time of year it is.
The Vatican City has two places you can visit: The Basilica of Saint Peter and the Vatican Museums (which includes the Sistine Chapel). The Basilica is free to enter and there are no reservations, but there is a security check, which can entail a long wait. The best way to get in without waiting in a queue is to arrive very early, before 9 AM, and preferably even earlier. The Basilica opens at 6 AM.
The least crowded time at the Vatican Museums is in the afternoon, preferably on a Tuesday or Thursday. The Museums are closed on Sundays, which makes them extra crowded on Saturdays and Mondays. They also tend to be more crowded on Wednesdays. The ticket line can be very long at crowded times, so it might be worth making a reservation.
The Colosseum is probably not terribly crowded in late February, and you can buy your tickets at the nearby Roman Forum or Palatine Hill, where there is not likely to be any queue at all in February. However, there is a security check at the Colosseum, which can get backed up if there are lot of cruise tour buses arriving at once. In addition, there is a maximum of 3000 people allowed in at once, and I was once held up for an hour, even though I had tickets, because there were too many people inside. The best way to avoid that is, again, to arrive very early, before the tour buses get there.
I myself wouldn't consider visiting both the Vatican and the Colosseum on the same day. Both are very tiring visits, and it would be enough to make me wish I hadn't come to Rome. There are so many lovely spots in Rome, great museums, beautiful churches, parks, fountains, piazzas.... It's a pity everyone feels they absolutely must visit the two most tiring and crowded places in the city even if they only have a very short time there.
The Vatican City has two places you can visit: The Basilica of Saint Peter and the Vatican Museums (which includes the Sistine Chapel). The Basilica is free to enter and there are no reservations, but there is a security check, which can entail a long wait. The best way to get in without waiting in a queue is to arrive very early, before 9 AM, and preferably even earlier. The Basilica opens at 6 AM.
The least crowded time at the Vatican Museums is in the afternoon, preferably on a Tuesday or Thursday. The Museums are closed on Sundays, which makes them extra crowded on Saturdays and Mondays. They also tend to be more crowded on Wednesdays. The ticket line can be very long at crowded times, so it might be worth making a reservation.
The Colosseum is probably not terribly crowded in late February, and you can buy your tickets at the nearby Roman Forum or Palatine Hill, where there is not likely to be any queue at all in February. However, there is a security check at the Colosseum, which can get backed up if there are lot of cruise tour buses arriving at once. In addition, there is a maximum of 3000 people allowed in at once, and I was once held up for an hour, even though I had tickets, because there were too many people inside. The best way to avoid that is, again, to arrive very early, before the tour buses get there.
I myself wouldn't consider visiting both the Vatican and the Colosseum on the same day. Both are very tiring visits, and it would be enough to make me wish I hadn't come to Rome. There are so many lovely spots in Rome, great museums, beautiful churches, parks, fountains, piazzas.... It's a pity everyone feels they absolutely must visit the two most tiring and crowded places in the city even if they only have a very short time there.
Nov 16th, 2017, 11:37 AM
#4
While I was in the incredibly long line waiting to get into the Vatican museum someone walked by and asked if anyone wanted to join an English-speaking tour that would get us very quick entry. We joined and it was terrific. The guide was excellent, and not waiting in line was even better. We were glad to have someone explaining what we were looking at.
I crammed a tremendous amount into three days in Rome (before leaving on a cruise). I am very glad that I included the Vatican museum, St. Peter's, and the Colosseum. We also visited the Pantheon, the Forum, several fountains, and Torre Argentina (where the cats live among the ruins), and much more. We walked more than ten miles a day.
Yes, we were tired, but we loved every minute! Have fun.
I crammed a tremendous amount into three days in Rome (before leaving on a cruise). I am very glad that I included the Vatican museum, St. Peter's, and the Colosseum. We also visited the Pantheon, the Forum, several fountains, and Torre Argentina (where the cats live among the ruins), and much more. We walked more than ten miles a day.
Yes, we were tired, but we loved every minute! Have fun.
Nov 16th, 2017, 02:05 PM
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Those people who solicit people from the ticket line at the Vatican are not licensed tour guides. I've heard some of these unofficial "guides" state ridiculously mistaken "facts". If you want to be sure to skip the ticket line, reserve your visit in advance.
I've never taken any tour, just used a good guidebook, but if you want a tour, you can rent an audio tour or take the official Vatican tour. There are also audio tours you can download from the internet.
I've never taken any tour, just used a good guidebook, but if you want a tour, you can rent an audio tour or take the official Vatican tour. There are also audio tours you can download from the internet.
Nov 17th, 2017, 02:04 AM
#7
I don't think that there is any downside to prebooking your Vatican museum tickets; you can do it on line. Whether you take a guide as well is up to you of course:
http://www.museivaticani.va/content/...biglietti.html
you can also prebook entry to the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill - the tickets allow one entry per site but are valid for 2 days so you can split up your visit if you like. You can also book a colosseum tour that takes in the basement and the upper levels:
https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm
[these are I believe are the official websites though I am open to being corrected; beware imitations].
http://www.museivaticani.va/content/...biglietti.html
you can also prebook entry to the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine Hill - the tickets allow one entry per site but are valid for 2 days so you can split up your visit if you like. You can also book a colosseum tour that takes in the basement and the upper levels:
https://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm
[these are I believe are the official websites though I am open to being corrected; beware imitations].
Nov 17th, 2017, 03:57 AM
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Those are the official websites, Annhig!
The main downside of reserving in advance, especially for those with very little time, is that it reduces your flexibility. A person who's in Rome for only one or two days may decide after visiting the Colosseum that they don't have the energy to tackle the Vatican as well.
At least the Colosseum ticket is good for the whole calendar year, but the Vatican Museums reservation is for a specific day and hour.
In addition, there's the reservation fee, which for the Vatican Museums is a hefty €4 per ticket. If I were going in high season, I would definitely reserve, but in February, especially midweek, I would probably just show up. If the queue is long, visit one of the other uncrowded museums in Rome: the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, the Capitoline Museums, and Palazzo Massimo alle Terme are all great choices.
Annhig mentioned the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, which are included in the same ticket as the Colosseum. It's a shame to hurry away without visiting these as well. I actually enjoy them more than the Colosseum.
The main downside of reserving in advance, especially for those with very little time, is that it reduces your flexibility. A person who's in Rome for only one or two days may decide after visiting the Colosseum that they don't have the energy to tackle the Vatican as well.
At least the Colosseum ticket is good for the whole calendar year, but the Vatican Museums reservation is for a specific day and hour.
In addition, there's the reservation fee, which for the Vatican Museums is a hefty €4 per ticket. If I were going in high season, I would definitely reserve, but in February, especially midweek, I would probably just show up. If the queue is long, visit one of the other uncrowded museums in Rome: the Doria Pamphilj Gallery, the Capitoline Museums, and Palazzo Massimo alle Terme are all great choices.
Annhig mentioned the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, which are included in the same ticket as the Colosseum. It's a shame to hurry away without visiting these as well. I actually enjoy them more than the Colosseum.
Nov 17th, 2017, 08:35 AM
#10
lian - I'll second the Doria Pamphilij as an alternative to the Vatican Musems if you want to see some art; it doesn't have the huge amount of works of the Vatican of course but in Feb it is unlikely to have the crowds and you also get the chance to enjoy the family rooms before the art gallery which adds an extra dimension. There is an excellent audio guide to the rooms which is narrated by one of the family with a most proper english public school accent, if you like that sort of thing.
There is also a very chic tea shop on the ground floor; the entrance to the palazzo is on the Corso and can be quite difficult to find if you aren't looking carefully for it. it would make a good match with the Colsseum as it's quite close - unlike the Vatican of course.
There is also a very chic tea shop on the ground floor; the entrance to the palazzo is on the Corso and can be quite difficult to find if you aren't looking carefully for it. it would make a good match with the Colsseum as it's quite close - unlike the Vatican of course.
Nov 17th, 2017, 08:38 AM
#11
Like Songdoc, I was approached with an offer of an inexpensive tour as I stood in St. Peter's Square and figured I'd give it a try. We skipped the line and since I can't listen & look at the same time it didn't matter to me what she was saying. I just enjoyed all the beauty. It included the Sistine Chapel & St. Peter's and was not very long, so you could go to the Colosseum the same day if you want to. Just stand and look clueless as I did in the big piazza in front and they'll find you.
The ticket for the Colosseum does include, as mentioned, the Forum and if I recall correctly from when I was there last week, it's good for 2 consecutive days (check to be sure). So you could spend as much or as little time wandering there next day, a large area packed with interesting things. There was no line at all at the Forum ticket office, none, I walked right up and bought the combined ticket. I wasn't planning to enter the Colosseum this visit but it still might save you a bit of time buying your ticket there.
The ticket for the Colosseum does include, as mentioned, the Forum and if I recall correctly from when I was there last week, it's good for 2 consecutive days (check to be sure). So you could spend as much or as little time wandering there next day, a large area packed with interesting things. There was no line at all at the Forum ticket office, none, I walked right up and bought the combined ticket. I wasn't planning to enter the Colosseum this visit but it still might save you a bit of time buying your ticket there.
Nov 17th, 2017, 09:05 AM
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Yes, the ticket for the Colosseum/Forum/Palatine is good for two consecutive days. I really wouldn't reserve this one in advance. As MmePerdu says, and as I said in my first post, there is almost never a queue at the entrances of the other two sites, and you could almost guarantee that in February.
Tickets to the Vatican Museums always include the Sistine Chapel, as it's part of the museums. St. Peter's Basilica is free to enter. If you're on a tour, you can go directly from the Sistine Chapel to the Basilica through a door "for tours only". I've often used that door even though I wasn't on a tour, but you can't count on the guards letting you through. Otherwise, you have to go back to the entrance (where you have to go anyway if you've rented the audio tour), and walk around the Vatican walls to St. Peter's Square.
Tickets to the Vatican Museums always include the Sistine Chapel, as it's part of the museums. St. Peter's Basilica is free to enter. If you're on a tour, you can go directly from the Sistine Chapel to the Basilica through a door "for tours only". I've often used that door even though I wasn't on a tour, but you can't count on the guards letting you through. Otherwise, you have to go back to the entrance (where you have to go anyway if you've rented the audio tour), and walk around the Vatican walls to St. Peter's Square.
