Heading off to Rome at the end of July, Friday till Monday. Staying in the centre - any fellow Clarets give me advice on how best to spend 3 days ? Not been before and wanting to do as much as possible. Any suggestions appreciated

JamesSherbourne wrote:Heading off to Rome at the end of July, Friday till Monday. Staying in the centre - any fellow Clarets give me advice on how best to spend 3 days ? Not been before and wanting to do as much as possible. Any suggestions appreciated

Cricketfield will be along and point you in the right Direction I'm sure.

There might be some useful information on this thread

http://www.uptheclarets.com/messageboar ... =2&t=32425" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

When there do as the locals do and you can't go far wrong.

Watch out for pick pockets especially on the trains

If you go into a cafe for a coffee ask for an estimate first.

Doesn't matter which way you go as "All roads lead to Rome"

Bosscat wrote:Doesn't matter which way you go as "All roads lead to Rome"

It is a beautiful place and you should love it.

As in most major European cities it can be very expensive to eat and drink in the centre.

However we found some cracking restaurants / bars just about half a mile away where we paid normal UK pub prices and the food was excellent.

You must visit the Sistine Chapel which is amazing and the Trevi fountain is a beautiful.

You could nip in and see the Pope if he is around

Do beware of pickpockets everywhere. They were rife when we were there especially on the underground.

The bus service around Rome is great too.

Couple of things to avoid

DONT eat near the main tourist sites , it’s expensive and mainly terrible food . Loads of cracking little places on the backstreets,bars too.

Don’t waste much time with cack like the Spanish steps and Trevi ( Though Trevi worth a quick butchers at night) they’re just rammed with dippy students .July will be roasting ,humid and mental busy so watch your pockets .

The historical sites are fantastic though and it’s a city you can genuinely walk .

Villa Borghese you can see some of the world's most beautiful sculptures close up and personal.

Trastevere area for eating. Good value and superb food. As advised stay out of the main squares at food time. Vastly inflated prices and the foods average. Use the city sightseeing bus for getting around. Two day tickets available, hop on hop off.

Rome is spectacular.

Book tickets for the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum on-line before you go. The queues on the day are ridiculously log and you'd spend all day queuing.

We stayed fairly central near Piazza Navona, 20 min walk to the Vatican/Colosseum, Trevi etc. No need for the underground. Great park at Villa Borghese for an afternoon stroll.

Ditto re the restaurants etc.

HatfieldClaret wrote:Book tickets for the Sistine Chapel and Colosseum on-line before you go. The queues on the day are ridiculously log and you'd spend all day queuing.

Agree wholeheartedly, ideally book the Vatican Museum as soon as it opens and go straight to the Sistine, it's wonderful with few people inside.

ClaretPope wrote:Agree wholeheartedly, ideally book the Vatican Museum as soon as it opens and go straight to the Sistine, it's wonderful with few people inside.

Do you not get a free pass?

Piazza Navona for food. Fantastic large square. Was in Angels and Demons

tybfc wrote:It is a beautiful place and you should love it.

As in most major European cities it can be very expensive to eat and drink in the centre.

However we found some cracking restaurants / bars just about half a mile away where we paid normal UK pub prices and the food was excellent.

You must visit the Sistine Chapel which is amazing and the Trevi fountain is a beautiful.

You could nip in and see the Pope if he is around

Do beware of pickpockets everywhere. They were rife when we were there especially on the underground.

The bus service around Rome is great too.

Don't tell me tell the OP...
I've been to Rome several times.. my favourite was the Pantheon and the Forum....

Great restaurants too but like all European Cities the main problem are the pickpockets busses and trains as well as tourist areas....

ClaretLoup wrote:Villa Borghese you can see some of the world's most beautiful sculptures close up and personal.

Walking around the park's fountains and lakes around Villa Borghese is my favourite part of Rome. The nearby Zoo is surprisingly good, low key and relaxed.

Great City, however a friend of mine was harassed by beggars and attempts at pickpocketing is quite common so you need to be quite alert.

Colosseam is a must

brilliant city been three times now,,,

impossible to do everything in 3 days , book online beforehand for the Vatican is a must get your slot time and just turn up.

expect to do circa 20k steps a day if your trying to cram forum coliseum vatican etc into your itinerary in your visit.

if you love it next time visit april / may or sept / oct...less crowded still nice weather, though a bit chillier at night

Thanks for all the comments - Appreciated

We caught the tube to the Coliseum which is a must and you will get the “wow” factor when you see it. The Trevi fountain and Pantheon are within reasonable walking distance.
However watch out for guys coming up to you making conversation and then trying to put a bracelet on you.

TheOriginalLongsider wrote:Piazza Navona for food. Fantastic large square. Was in Angels and Demons

Agree. We had a late evening meal directly opposite the main fountain in the centre a few weeks ago. Food and service was excellent.

JamesSherbourne wrote:Heading off to Rome at the end of July, Friday till Monday. Staying in the centre - any fellow Clarets give me advice on how best to spend 3 days ? Not been before and wanting to do as much as possible. Any suggestions appreciated

You could try to do sites like Trevi, Spanish Steps, Pantheon either very early in the morning or after 8;30pm because the streets are quieter and you aren't pushing your way past hundreds on students taking selfies.

The Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars is an interesting place and very central.

Beware of the lads trying to give you a high-five, they'll grab your wrist and put a band on there - I saw a few people caught out and they quickly get surrounded by other big fellas asking for money. Keep yourself to yourself.

The Roman Forum is fascinating, make your way right to the very top (take plenty of water) and rest up at the top and admire the views, well worth it.

A guided tour of the Coliseum covering all the levels is well worth the money, the lower and upper levels are only accessible with a guide .

Above all, take your time, don't rush around, enjoy it - you can always go back another time if you miss something.

Have a lovely time.

I was there a couple of weekends ago. Trastevere is definitely the place for nightlife with good bars and traditional restaurants. There's something fancy if you want to look for it but otherwise a good range of trattorias. We were on borrowed time as we only had 2 nights but still managed to see all of the main sights; Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon via a casual walk through the city on the first day. On the second day we got fast track tickets to the Colosseum and Roman Forum in the morning and then a guided tour around the Vatican in the afternoon.

The second day was understandably hectic and we had to rush through the Roman Forum which was a shame as it's spectacular. The guided tour around the Vatican was definitely worth it as you get a good education whilst being taken to the highlights. It's so vast that otherwise you could spend weeks wandering around the place.

If I had three days I would have done a tour of the Colosseum/Roman Forum one day, the vatican on another and left another day for casual strolling.

Enjoy!

If you’re going to the Sistine etc - don’t do what we did and go on a Sunday - they use it for religious purposes!

Bosscat wrote:....

...like all European Cities the main problem are the pickpockets busses and trains as well as tourist areas....

Don't disagree that it happens everywhere but Rome is worse than average. Not worse than Barcelona but worse than average.

SalisburyClaret wrote:If you’re going to the Sistine etc - don’t do what we did and go on a Sunday - they use it for religious purposes!

Bloody catholics.

If you go online and get a Roma Pass, it entitles you to free bus and metro travel for 3 days, it also gives you 50% discount on the first 2 attractions you visit excluding the Vatican City. So if you use it for the colosseum which is one off the most expensive it’s half price

thatdberight wrote:Don't disagree that it happens everywhere but Rome is worse than average. Not worse than Barcelona but worse than average.

Don't go to Naples then. Though it is my favourite City.

The worst place for petty crime, by some distance, is Florence.

dougcollins wrote:Don't go to Naples then. Though it is my favourite City.

The worst place for petty crime, by some distance, is Florence.

I thought Naples was a dump near some great stuff but each to his own.

Indeed.