No, I'm not hinting to end this thread! Just saying thanks and getting it back to the top for more advice!

I routinely take a tour my first day in Europe, never mind whether I've managed to sleep on the plane or not. Sunlight and movement outside will help re-set your clock (also make sure you eat normal meals at normal times; foregoing meals is a classic mistake). A tour is great because somebody else is helping you navigate a new place and spoon-feeding you information, perfect for a sort of brain-dead day.

Sleep meds can help you on the plane, and are also very useful the first couple of night you're overseas. You'll go to sleep just fine without it, but will tend to wake up way too early (and hungry to boot). Also good for the first couple of nights after you return.

I'd choose a tour that takes place earlier in the day if possible, as you may be a bit of a zombie by the time twilight rolls around. Plan on a light supper and go to bed at 10:00 (again, going to bed too early is problematic).

I know people say to try not to nap on the first day, but that is impossible for me. After an overnight flight with little or no sleep, I just can't stay awake until evening. So I sleep as long as it takes at the hotel, then get up and am ready to enjoy the late afternoon and evening. I really like staying up late in the new city, eating late like a local, maybe going out afterward. Once I am adjusted to the local time, it's harder for me to do those things.

Lina: Are you more confused than when you asked? Obviously everyone reacts differently, but speaking for myself and my husband, we fly from SFO usually to London and then on to our destination (if it isn't London).

The closest we have come to your situation was a not so great FF trip with a plane change in Toronto and then on to Zurich. We were leaving the next morning for Rome, so had even less time than you will have. We were very tired (even though both of us are usually able to sleep a bit on the plane). We took a hotel provided shuttle from the airport, checked in, went up to the room, washed up a bit and went back down to the desk and had them arrange a bus tour of the city. We had never been in Zurich and I am so grateful we didn't just stay in our room. Part of the tour included a church visit, where there were some gorgeous windows done by M. Chagall.

The only time we have arrived at the hotel and taken a nap, it totally ruined us for a couple of days. The absolute worse jet lag we have ever experienced. So I agree wholeheartedly with those who have suggested staying up, walking and possibly doing a less strenuous tour. At least, that's what works for us.

Some people like me find it imposible to sleep on an overnight plane trip to Europe. If you have never been able to fall asleep while riding in a car on a long trip you probably won't be able to sleep on the plane. If so you will be a walking jombie your first day in Rome. I made the mistake of touring the Roman baths in Bath England my first day and wanted to fall asleep in one of the stone coffins.

Lina- the best advice I can give you is get some good sleeping pills, like Ambian or anxiety medication like Atavan, or Zanex.
No you wont't get addicted...
Take them after dinner is served on the plane & in an hour you will be alseep & stay that way till breakfast is served in the morning.
This will really help with your jet lag.DO NOT TAKE A NAP when you get into Rome.
Take a shower and a walk,have lunch, if your up to it take the eve. tour.
Go to bed between 9-10p.m.You can take another 1/2 of an Ambien or the whole thing, at bed time.
You will wake up the next morning ready to go.This works for me every time & I take at least 2-3 international flights a year.
Have fun
Flufffy
p.s.I'm not a junkie

As an addendum to my earlier post in this thread I'll say that I don't consider it a really terrible thing to take a bit of a nap, particularly if you're really whipped. Just make yourself get up and get going after maybe a two hour break (be sure to shower, as you'll feel much better). This is difficult to do, though (I have to drag my husband out of the bed), and so lots of people just do the shower and keep going.

Am not an experienced traveller but will chip in a word or two (possibly more) and you decide whether it makes sense to you, ya?

After reading the posts right above me, I concluded that for a large part, travellers need to understand their mental and physical limits to react positively to their first day in any cities. And what they want out of their trips too. ;) ..If you're not sure, then the trip might well be a good way to find out something about yourselves (like me!).

Having said that, I will be flying overnight to Rome on 13th May arriving at 6am (or thereof) and get down to a SR Roma Antica tour at 9am straight away. Probably sounds suicidal to some but I think I won't be able to contain my excitement (will be my 1st trip to Italy - solo). In a way, I think the walk with a group will help me to get a feel of the city before I start walking around on my own! Plus I only have 2 days or so in Rome, so I don't want to "waste" the day. Am assuming too that my 20something-year-old body can withstand some mental/physical cardio work-out! :)

If this thread is still active/around by the time I return on 24th May, I will give an account on how well I fared on my 1st day!

Taking a nap doesn't work for me--completely throws off my internal clock--even a nap at home. And I can't really sleep on planes, trains, buses, cars... I can reach a profound rest state where I can still hear sounds around me, though muffled. Eyemasks and earplugs help a bit. However, when I arrive, adrenalin is going and I'm ready for anything, though tired.

A strange phenomenon I've noticed: once I get past the hours I would have been asleep at home (1 PM Rome), I'm more awake. It's as if my body clock has said it's OK to be awake now.

It depends on how your body works. My wife and I are always so excited on arrival that we hit the ground running and it carries us through the day. We'll crash that night at what by the clock would be our normal bedtime back home, and wake up the next day pretty much over any jet lag.

For those who deal with sleeping on a flight by taking some kind of sleep aid -- a cautionary tale from a doctor friend. He took the red-eye back from LA to CT. Several passengers took something to help them sleep, and were all sound asleep when the plane had to turn round and return to LA for some mechanical problem. They were still sleeping soundly when the plane landed...

My preference for flying transatlantic: Set my watch to arrival time and eat at the airport before takeoff (plenty of time for that these days). Once on board, on with the eyemask and earplugs, and tell myself I'm sleeping. I've even managed to sleep through that yucky breakfast pre-landing. Once in London, I eat a good breakfast at the terminal restaurant and head out for the day. Stay active and outside as long as possible, and get to bed by 10 or so. By next day, I'm usually fine.

Transition to Europe is not too bad. But one day I'm going to New Zealand, and that will be a much bigger challenge!

y'all give great advice, along with a laugh or two (jor wanting to nap in the stone coffin!). I have used Tylenol PM before & that helps me sleep on the plane...is Ambien something different? Also, what is the typical amount of time it will take us to get from the Rome airport to our hotel near the Pantheon?

It all depends on what mode of transport you decide on!

Last time we were in Rome, our limo driver had us from our hotel in Pza. de Popolo into the check-in lane at FCo in under 25 minutes. Of course, I spent the ride with my head between my kness and my eyes closed and my husband tried to sign him on to drive the Nascar circuit!!!!

I envy anyone, like S B Travlr, who can arrive reasonably still together. We fly from the west coast US, so its around a 20 hour ordeal. And I sleep badly, no, don't usually sleep at all. Tried all the prescription muscle relaxants, medicines, herbs, etc. No luck. We now never schedule anything for arrival day. Use the afternoon to crash. Make ourselves get up and out about 4 or 5, for dinner and whatever sites are close (like the Pantheon and the piazza Navonna(?)nearby in your case, but on your schedule.). Whatever energy levels allow us. Then, like others above, 9 -10, hit the hay.
Last year, our first scheduled event was the next morning for the half day city tour (Prague).

Let me add another vote for no bus tour the first afternoon. I took one the second day after I arrived in London, and by the end my husband and I were both struggling to stay awake - even though we got off the bus at various sights. If we had taken one on the first day, we probably would have napped in the aisle!

Lina - When I arrived in Rome from NYC, I took a 2pm walking tour of the Old City with EnjoyRome. This was in the end of January and there were very few people on the tour and it lasted quite a while as everyone got along well and we stopped at a cafe since it was raining. After the tour I found an internet cafe, then had an early dinner and went to bed. Personally I wouldn't take an evening tour but I have always made some plan for my arrival day as my trips are fairly short and I do not want to spend time napping! Have a great time in Rome - two days in not nearly enough.
Mara

Flew from Seattle to Rome last summer and took an Ambien on the plane. I think I caught a few winks on the plane but I usually don't get any sleep. Arrived in Rome the next morning and walked around St. Peter's Square. It was over 100 degrees and very humid but we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and first gelato! Took a night bus tour of the city and were falling asleep but got a good perspective of the city. Took another Ambien before going to bed around 11 PM but still woke up around 4 AM. If you can get an afternoon bus tour you might have more energy than later in the evening. Have fun.

People respond so differently to jet lag your question is really impossible to answer. Personally (because jet lag really slams me) I don't plan anything except getting checked into my hotel, a shower and change of clothes, a nap (or not), a glass of wine, and a walk around the immediate neighborhood to get my bearings, then a good dinner at a nearby restaurant that catches my eye or my hotel front desk recommends to me.

I never sleep on planes, but always have enough energy for several miles of walking after an overnight flight. After spending 7 hours in a sitting position, the last thing I want to do is more "relaxing".

If you arrive at noon, it may be about 2 pm by the time you arrive at your hotel. Even if you are tired, try to stay awake a few hours more. Otherwise you will be off-kilter for several more days, due to jet lag. I suggest spending this time just walking around your hotel's neighborhood, getting a feeling for your surroundings.

Do not plan any walks for nighttime. If you go to sleep at about 7 PM, this will let you catch up on jet lag. The next morning you will arise refreshed, having had a complete night's sleep.

I appreciate hearing your advice and personal experiences. We will definitely try to sleep on the plane and walk about Rome in the daylight in the afternoon. I am booking a private guide for a full-day tour the next day. IF we want to delve into something that first afternoon, can we find a guide at major sites (seems to be common in other places)?