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Thread: Weekend in Rome - Tips and Suggestions please

  1. #1
    Master vagabond's Avatar
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    Weekend in Rome - Tips and Suggestions please

    My wife and I have booked flights for a weekend in Rome towards the end of March - a city that neither of us have visited before. Unfortunately we're only going for the weekend (land Ciampino around 10am Sat and leave 8pm Sun) - so time is relatively limited.

    I still need to book a hotel (cheap & cheerful is fine) for the Sat night and we have the obvious tourist spots on our list - Vatican/St Peters, Sistine Chapel, Colosseum etc. and was hoping that the TZ-UK collective would be able to provide some tips and suggestions on how best to go about it (and feasibility).

    Doing some research on Tripadvisor etc. - there seems to be a variety of organised tours for various prices and durations.

    Thank you.

    P.S. If we like it (and I'm sure we will), I doubt this will be our only visit.

  2. #2
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    A long time ago but my wife and I stayed in Hotel Mozart. Very central and a lovely roof terrace. Staff were great in recommending restaurants near by. If returning we would definitely consider it again.

    Wonderful city. Enjoy.

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  3. #3
    I literally just got back. Really busy with tourists even though it was January. Definitely try and pre book the Vatican museum and Colosseum. Trastevere - see pic - in the evening was really charming, but we didn’t get enough time there sadly. We also went to Florence for a couple of days and personally, if I go back that way, it will be Florence.




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  4. #4
    Master
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    We went late Feb a couple of years ago and booking the tours to the Vatican and Colosseum last minute was quite tough. So I suggest you try and do it asap. We had to do the more expensive tour to the Colosseum that include access to the arena floor but it was well worth it.

  5. #5
    Master brigant's Avatar
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    For the best mosaics (by far) visit Museo Nazionale Romano Palazzo Massimo which is almost across the road from main bus and rail station in Rome. Also Campo di Fiori in evening, plenty of eateries and life. Piazza Navona is a must. You'll find the Colleseum, St. Peters etc exceptionally crowded and often with very long queues.
    Great city though. Pop into almost any church and there will be some masterpiece to see.

  6. #6
    Grand Master Mr Curta's Avatar
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    The Pantheon is an astonishing feat of engineering.
    Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH

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    Grand Master Mr Curta's Avatar
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    Oh, and there's a magnificent Michelangelo in the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva just around the corner.
    Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH

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    Master Wolfie's Avatar
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    The Trevor fountains

    I had a very confusing trip with my son the colosseum…. We were waved through with a tour party and before I knew it, we were in the colosseum without having booked…. It was totally inadvertent, but once we were in it seemed rude not to have a mooch about…

  9. #9
    Master
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    Beware the scammers at all the tourist hot-spots, throwing things for you to catch etc, then charging you money when you catch them

    If anyone tries to speak to me it's an automatic 'no thanks'

    Same for any big tourist city I suppose

    That said, probably my favorite European city to visit

  10. #10
    Master vagabond's Avatar
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    Thanks for the swift responses - lot's to digest and research but booking the tours early seems to be a common theme - will get on to that pronto.

    Thanks again.

  11. #11
    Craftsman Linocut's Avatar
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    Another vote for Trastavere, unless it has changed drastically it has a genuine atmosphere, for all its treasures Rome can feel a bit empty sometimes.


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    Grand Master Saint-Just's Avatar
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    For such a short time I would suggest to avoid the Coliseum, the Vatican and all the other attractions where tourists arrive by the coach load.
    Just pick among the suggestions above those places where you will get to enjoy the atmosphere. You will still get to see wonderful history and arts but without the exhaustion that you would remember from your experience of Rome. A whole week would barely be enough to see and enjoy the city.
    The same could be said of London, Madrid or Paris, mind.
    Those cities are a stone’s throw away (and a cheap plane ticket), so it’s not like you’re unlikely to come back. The above will make you want to.
    'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.

  14. #14
    Master Kaffe's Avatar
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    Try and fit a stroll through the Forum if you have time.

  15. #15
    A visit to the crypt at Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini perhaps?

    https://museoecriptacappuccini.it/en/

    "What you are now, we used to be; what we are now, you will be"

  16. #16
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    I suspect if you go to the Vatican City, that will wipe out most of a day.

    We weren't particularly interested in it and, like the OP on a schedule, so we just walked through St Peter's square and down to Castel Sant'Angelo, which I would 100% recommend (we like Castles more than churches).

    Trastevere gets a vote from us too, we wandered through and ate an excellent late lunch one day. It's also an easy and pleasant walk along the river from the Castel (actually I may have confused two days there...)

    The Collusium, of course, is well worth a visit as well as the Forum next door.

    The 'Trevor' fountain () was being restored and covered in scaffolding when we visited, we stayed in a little hotel just around the corner and close to the Spanish Steps.

    We spent our last day in Rome visiting Ostia Antica, which is a large ruined Roman port and was well worth a few hours, but if you're only there for a day and half, effectively, it'll probably be too far out of the centre and too large to include.

    M
    Last edited by snowman; 10th February 2025 at 10:58.
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    https://www.palazzovalentini.it/en/


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    Grand Master jwg663's Avatar
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    34hrs in Rome? Time is the enemy.

    You'll lose 4 hours or so doing the inward & outward airport shuffle & transfer, so you're down to 30 hrs.

    Hotel time (sleep, washing, changing, check-in & check-out) will be another 8 hours or so. You're down to 22 hours.

    You'll want to have something nice to eat & drink on the Saturday night. 5 hours for a pre-meal drink, a nosebag & a couple of cocktails after dining? 17 hours to sightsee.

    Frankly, on that timescale, I wouldn't be doing any organised tours.

    I'd be picking a central starting point for Saturday to walk & explore the city. It's unlikely that you'll be able to check in to your hotel before 3pm, possibly 4pm, so you'll have whatever luggage you take with you (unless you use one of the 'baggage drop' companies).

    You've a bit more time on the Sunday, particularly if you start early & really want to see the Borghese Gardens, the Colosseum, visit the markets, etc., etc.. Again, to maximise your time, you'll likely have your overnight bag with you.
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  20. #20
    Master vagabond's Avatar
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    Thanks again for all the replies - yes, time is a constraint but working on the something is better than nothing principle. Also we're flying Ryanair - so we'll be lucky to be able to take the shirts on our back, luggage-wise ;-)

    P.S. Florence is a great shout - a few years back we did a 3 week family Summer holiday; Milan (Lakes, 1 week)->Venice (4 days)->Tuscany (mainly Florence & Pisa area, 10 days)-> Milan - we had a hire car and had a fabulous holiday, though we thought trying to do Rome in the same trip was stretching it a bit too far.

  21. #21
    Small city, largely walkable, taxis cheap.

    We stayed at Kolbe Hotel, quiet part of town but close to foodie area and attractions.
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  22. #22
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    OP whatever you choose to do there I wish that you enjoy Rome, a beautiful & fascinating city, but, sorry to say from my perspective, a real waste in your timeframe. How can you possibly enjoy somewhere with so much to savour be done in less than 2 days. Very stressful trying to get so much out of so little time. I get stressed going into London by train with overnight accommodation to see a show now & then and I'm only an hour away by car.
    Don't wish to put the 'mockers' on, but just my take.


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  23. #23
    Master Ruggertech's Avatar
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    I can fully recommend The Forum, no huge crowds and you can amble around for as long as you like. But use the gate further up the street to enter (top arrow on the map), not the one by the Colosseum due to a vast difference in the queues when we went last July.

  24. #24
    Master Robertf's Avatar
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    Agree about a visit to the forum well worth a couple of hours. And if you get your ticket at the far gate it should be valid for the coliseum as well so no need to join the long queue at the coliseum itself.

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  25. #25
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    Some great insights here, it is one on our list for this / next year.


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  26. #26
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    We love Italy and Rome and have been a quite a bit. Time is against you on this but you can still see an incredible amount with a bit of planning.

    Firstly I’d do all the straight forward stuff - the Spanish steps, pantheon and trevi fountain etc. Amazing thing about Rome is you can just wander about and randomly come across ancient streets with amazing things to look at.

    Secondly I’d probably do either the Vatican, or the colosseum and forum. Attempting to do both in your time is probably too exhausting. I’ve done all of these on guided tours and on my own. Others may disagree here but I’d probably go for the guided tour as you learn so much more than doing it by yourself. I agree the forum is fascinating and I tied that in with a colosseum tour once and found them very insightful. I think that would be my pick over the Vatican this time.

    Thirdly the food is amazing - wander a couple of hundred metres or so away from the main tourist areas and pick restaurants where the diners are Italians! They know where to eat and it’s not in the tourist traps (where you’ll pay the price!). Oh and the house Red is as good as you’ll need.

    Finally enjoy - it’s an amazing place and once ruled the world. It’s incredible to look at what they built back when we were practically still living in mud huts.

    Randomly my favourite ever tour in Rome was a food tour in the Trastevere area where all the 10 places we visited had to be at least 3rd generation establishments. Food was incredible and the knowledge gained was amazing - I mean who knew as we wandered through an ancient cemetery that John Keats and Percy Shelley would be buried there?
    Last edited by Devonian; 4th February 2025 at 21:58.

  27. #27
    Master vagabond's Avatar
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    Thanks again for all the tips and suggestions - really appreciated.

    As said, time is against us on this trip but this may be the first of many.... :-)

  28. #28
    Grand Master Velorum's Avatar
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    Ive been many times.

    I like the fact that it is such a compact city and you can get to most places on foot.

    As mentioned the forum is wonderful.

    (And as with most popular destinations these days you need to stay alert to pick pockets and people trying to flog things. I find the dodgy characters hanging around train / metro ticket machines very annoying!)

  29. #29
    Grand Master TheFlyingBanana's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Wolfie View Post
    The Trevor fountains

    I must have missed those. Are they next to the Colinsseum?

    - - - Updated - - -

    PS - be very careful of using taxis - they are notorious for ripping you off, trying to charge extra for luggage, circuitous routes etc. Use Uber only.
    So clever my foot fell off.

  30. #30
    Never been but as others have suggested with so little time I’d avoid the obvious attractions and just wander around taking in the atmosphere. Will just be exhausting, not enjoyable - return for a longer trip another time if it takes your fancy.

    As for scammers and scoundrels, never noticed them at other European cities!

  31. #31
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Saint-Just View Post
    For such a short time I would suggest to avoid the Coliseum, the Vatican and all the other attractions where tourists arrive by the coach load.
    I would emphatically agree with that. As others have said, taking in some of the obvious atmospheric quarters would the best way to spend a short time there.

  32. #32
    You could spend a whole day in the watch shops at the bottom of the Spanish steps

  33. #33
    Master vagabond's Avatar
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    Thanks again - going to take some time this weekend to properly review feedback and at least get a hotel booked for Sat night, if nothing else and see what sights we can fit in, and when.

  34. #34
    Master
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    FWIW our hotel was not far from the Trevi Fountain and we were able to walk to all the sights. Some fairly long days for some parts though. I you are pushed for time just focus on an area of the city. The Pantheon is no booking and queues were ok this time of year. Piazza Navona is worth a look but is a quick to do. Castel Sant'Angelo was an interesting place with a cafe at the top that gives you views down to St Marks. Then there is St Marks itself which once you get in is as long as you want. The Vatican you are kind of stuck at the pace the place runs at. Things like the Trevi and Spanish steps are crowded a lot of the time but there are some nice bars off the latter for a leisurely Aperol if that is your thing.

  35. #35
    Grand Master zelig's Avatar
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    Would recommend the Trastavere too.

    Great eateries and atmosphere... & some 'older characters' around ...



    z

  36. #36
    Master thegoat's Avatar
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    Slightly OT but I’ve heard that if you renew your wedding vows at the Vatican on a certain day , you’ll be given a personal blessing by the main man.

  37. #37
    Journeyman
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    If you want inexpensive,maybe book a hotel by termini station,yes it's not the best area but it's easy to go around from that point,you can even walk around from that point (and easy to find food even late at night)


    The main tourist hotspot are typically trevi fountain,Vatican (and the other 3 basilicas with porta Santa as we're in the jubilee),Colloseum,pantheon and the numerous piazza (piazza Navona came to mind)

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  38. #38
    Master brigant's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by zelig View Post
    Would recommend the Trastavere too.

    Great eateries and atmosphere... & some 'older characters' around ...



    z
    What's Keiith Richards doing in Rome?

  39. #39
    Craftsman Kris's Avatar
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    I was lucky enough to spend 17 years working in and visiting Rome, my favourite city in Europe

    All the above advice is great and accurate

    My advice would be to start at the typewriter / Piazza Venizia and then just walk, just get lost, walk the streets, explore the city. You'll stumble accross the tourist attractions without realising it, you'll find true italian trattoria and great places to eat, you'll walk the same streets as the Roman legions did, you'll experience Rome.
    Last edited by Kris; 8th February 2025 at 00:09.

  40. #40
    Craftsman
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    We just concluded 2 days in Rome yesterday as I was in Florence for work. Stayed in an Airbnb near the station (Monti district). Lots of walking but we saw a lot in 2 days. Main day was the full middle day. Walked to Colosseum, then Forum (thanks for the tip on the upper gate!). Walked to Trastevere, Spanish steps. Vatican Trevi Fountains and Pantheon. All kind of fitted in one loop of 28,000 steps. Couple of stops for drinks and snacks along the way then dinner not far from Airbnb. I quite enjoyed the trip even given the shortness and definitely worth going. Lots of Welsh folks arriving for the Rugby but we left before the match!


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  41. #41
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by reecie View Post
    Castel Sant'Angelo was an interesting place with a cafe at the top that gives you views down to St Marks. Then there is St Marks itself which once you get in is as long as you want.
    St Peter's?

  42. #42
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom-P View Post
    St Peter's?
    Ooops correct 😀

  43. #43
    Grand Master snowman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by jwg663 View Post
    ...It's unlikely that you'll be able to check in to your hotel before 3pm, possibly 4pm, so you'll have whatever luggage you take with you (unless you use one of the 'baggage drop' companies)...
    In my experience, most hotels will store luggage for you before your room is ready.

    You don't want to lug suitcases around Rome!

    Quote Originally Posted by brigant View Post
    What's Keiith Richards doing in Rome?
    Don't be daft, that's his grandson!

    M
    Last edited by snowman; 10th February 2025 at 11:00.
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  44. #44
    Master vagabond's Avatar
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    As we're only there for 1 night (and we're flying Ryanair) we'll only have a small bag* each, so wouldn't be a big issue to carry it around.

    We're going to try "Reacher" mode and just carry our toothbrushes and passports! ;-)

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