Heading to Rome the weekend after next for a long weekend. I've been to Italy a number of times, just never Rome. I am not wasting my time renting a car, but will look at using their (supposedly) rather good public transport which consists of a tube and tram network. I know you can buy passes etc.

 

Just wondering if anyone has been and how good this system is? Not planning on doing too much, but would be interested in the main areas...so if anyone can recommend a good shopping district, a few attractions (I know the Colosseum and Vatican etc). Any other info would be of course be most welcome. Gives me a starting point at least.

 

Cheers

I went in July.

You can in fact walk from tourist attraction to tourist attraction as you get to see things on the way.

We bought a 7 day tube pass so hopped on and off at will but you'll need a tube map but it's very straight forward with only 2 x lines, we didn't bother with a car and I wouldn't if I went again.

Book online for St Peters Basilica/Sistine Chapel/Vatican City - all the same thing, either before you go or get your hotel to do it and print off your entrance pass, this way you skip the line, but these may not be obscene this time of year.

Your hotel should supply you with a tourist map showing all the places to visit and for shopping well you'll just come across it on your travels, not far from the Trevi Fountain in the main.

Be very very very aware of pick pockets especially around the Termini Station and be wary all the time of people trying to scam you or on the face of it trying to help you, they offer to take your pic at the Trevi for instance with your camera and then take a pic with their camera and charge you 5 euros for it !!

 

Enjoy though it's a beautiful romantic city.

Awesome! Thanks for that. We're only there for 3 days, so hoping we can cram that lot in without getting too exhausted. Both of us are extremely fit, so walking around is absolutely no problem. It was time in getting to places I was more concerned about.

I went last year end of october. i walked everywhere, as the first warning i got was pickpockets, then you look at the buses and they were rammed!

 

I went for 3 days and saw everything, it was really quite lax other than walking to the Vatican as thats out of Rome itself, but again that was not tiring. You should get a concierge (if thats how its spelt) and they will highlight all the attractions.

 

a given but if you go to the Vatican and your taking your girlfriend or a female make sure they wear skirts that cover their knees.

 

Some really beautiful sights, hope you enjoy yourself :)

 

 

edit- As phutumsch said, dodge anyone wearing the gladiators outfit as they do their best to fleece money out of you

Thanks for the information. So glad everything is walking distance. Was never too sure how compact the centre of Rome actually was. Noted re: clothing in the Vatican. Just looking at hotels at the moment. City centre ones are silly prices, but some are rather nice. Probably look at getting one slightly out of the centre that's on a tube route, or close-to.

I stayed in this hotel - http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187791-d316644-Reviews-Raffaello_Hotel-Rome_Lazio.html

 

 

For a 3 star it's good with decent A/C, and decent breakfast too, and it's really close to the large amount of attractions.

 

Edit: oh and when getting taxis too and from airport try and get the ones with the prices on the side of the taxi as they are bound by law to give that price, and take more underwear than you need cause their driving is bat shit crazy!

Edited September 17, 201312 yr by Hollings

Thanks for the link. Computer says 'no bueno'. They're fully booked for 28th-30th

When are you going? We are in Rome 3rd-7th Oct. Not been beofre and looking forward to it

 

Rich

I'm going on Sunday mate. Can't wait!

Yup - I've also been!! We spent the last few nights of our honeymoon in Rome back in 2000; fantastic city and all the main attractions are in walking distance - it's quite a compact city and you'll love it Si!

 

We stayed in a very nice hotel right in the city centre; although it was still quite peaceful - and the only time we needed transport was to get back to the airport. I had previously hired a car for touring Umbria, but that was collected from the hotel when we arrived back in Rome - and then the hotel laid on their own driver to return us to Davinci Airport when we left!!

 

Richard:chef:

At the airport you can get the Leanardo Express train to Termini Station(center of Rome) and it's about 15 euro each, payable right there and goes every 30 mins, think it takes about an hour, we were asked for our tickets going but not coming back !!

The shops are like the ones down Oxford Street, Guess, H&M, etc and then of course Prada, Gucci, etc and most are on via del corso which is a street name.

We ate fast food mainly but I would recommend having a pizza in a little restaurant - there about 8 euros.

McCafe is good for a cappacino and snack - a bit like Starbucks only much cheaper.

We got a 7 day pass for the underground as there wasn't a 5 day one but I think there is a 3 day one.

As said the Vatican is just a bit far to walk to but is only a few stops at Ottavia station on the underground, inside St Peters will take your breath away.

 

We stopped here which was not expensive and that's because it was not central but 15 mins walk to the Coliseum and roughly the same to Termini Station I don't call too bad and it's just to rest your head anyway as you'll be out all day.

Some reviews say it's not safe but we never felt that one bit, just got to have your wits about you and not be a sucker or a mug !!

 

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g187791-d231286-Reviews-Hotel_Donatello-Rome_Lazio.html

I'm going on Sunday mate. Can't wait!

Rome seems rather popular round here lol!

Been a couple of times - lovely.

 

It'll be better still when they finish it - half finished building everywhere you look !!!

Been a couple of times - lovely.

 

It'll be better still when they finish it - half finished building everywhere you look !!!

 

Heh heh - very good mate!!

 

Richard:wink:

Furthermore, I booked with Jet2holidays and currently if you book with them you can get an extra £50.00 off.

 

Just enter SAVE50 at checkout :wink:.

I've been a couple of times Si and as has been said, everything you'd want to see is within walking distance though the tube and buses are pretty good.

 

My golden tip though, and it's one that I use in every city I go to if I can, is to get yourself a hop on/off bus ticket. They have maps of all the key tourist sights and will take you to all of them. Divide up the routes into 2 sections (for 2 days) and jump on board. They have audio guides so you learn a lot about the city, especially in Rome, as you drive around between sights and you can jump off for the ones you want to see close up. Plus once you have the pass you can use the buses as a taxi service throughout the day. Perfect.

 

For the 3rd day, head to the Vatican - and yes, I'd suggest blocking out a good 5hrs at least for the place. People always underestimate how much there is to see there - it's not just the front facade you see on pictures! The art galleries, the crypts, climbing up into the dome, the inside of the chapel itself, etc...best part of a day with all the queuing inside too. And if you haven't bought tickets beforehand (which you don't really have to), just make sure you get there early.

 

I've stayed right next to the Trevi as well as next to Termini. Trevi was better as Termini attracts the not so nice sorts - watch out for pickpockets but to be fair, I think you'll be fine. I had no issues whatsoever.

 

I always find my room on http://www.laterooms.com - they have everything from hostels to apartments and I almost always get an absolute gem on there for peanuts.

 

The last time I was in Rome was for 3days to celebrate New Years 2011/12..great place but in my opinion, one of the worst nightlife scenes I've ever come across. But largely because their cafe culture is just not my thing for a night out!

 

HTH

 

EDIT: Forgot to add, don't bother with the guided tours except for the Colosseum and Forum. You'll have people approach you at the Colosseum and offer a joint tour - take it. I did it both times I went and it's worth the money. Otherwise you're just wondering around aimlessly staring blankly at rocks.

I have been to Rome, but to be honest it's that long ago the Colosseum was still open for business.....lmao

No!

EDIT: Forgot to add, don't bother with the guided tours except for the Colosseum and Forum. You'll have people approach you at the Colosseum and offer a joint tour - take it. I did it both times I went and it's worth the money. Otherwise you're just wondering around aimlessly staring blankly at rocks.

 

Agreed this is what we did, coliseum and then meet later in the day for a trip across the road at the forum and we got a totally crazy guide from Liverpool, she was good though although I couldn't tell what she was saying - would of understood an Italian better !!!

I have been to Rome, but to be honest it's that long ago the Colosseum was still open for business.....lmao

 

They didn't think of your needs Ian when they built the Coliseum - my golly there are some steep flights of stairs.

There are buddy, I was a school kid when I went.....lol. Didn't need my chair then.

Just got back from Rome. What a great city but be prepared to walk & queue up a lot! We waited for 2hours to get to the top of st Peters basilica. The views were worth it in the end.

Thanks guys. Well I'm off this Saturday, should be fun! Flights and accommodation sorted. I've managed to get a place pretty central which is cool. The only thing I think we won't do will be the visit to the Sistine Chapel; apparently you have to queue for hours to get into the Vatican Museum which you HAVE to enter through first before you even get to the Sistine Chapel. When you've only got 3 days, it's safe to say, we'll leave that for another day! St Peter's square and St. Peter's Basilica however we will do (the Pope will be giving the Angelus at noon on the Sunday) as well as the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps as she's a big Audrey Hepburn fan and a famous scene was filmed there in 'Holiday in Rome'. Will also do the Colosseum and the Forum and if we have time maybe the Pantheon.

When I went the queue wasn't that bad at all... i'd advise checking while you are there. Its something you really shouldn't miss!

 

And, as mentioned, almost everything is walking distance, beware pickpockets everywhere (even if you are vigilant, you might find one with his/her hand in your bag), and take care of gladiators posing in your photos and charging you after.

 

Most importantly, have fun, its a great place to wander and wonder! :-)

 

Thanks guys. Well I'm off this Saturday, should be fun! Flights and accommodation sorted. I've managed to get a place pretty central which is cool. The only thing I think we won't do will be the visit to the Sistine Chapel; apparently you have to queue for hours to get into the Vatican Museum which you HAVE to enter through first before you even get to the Sistine Chapel. When you've only got 3 days, it's safe to say, we'll leave that for another day! St Peter's square and St. Peter's Basilica however we will do (the Pope will be giving the Angelus at noon on the Sunday) as well as the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps as she's a big Audrey Hepburn fan and a famous scene was filmed there in 'Holiday in Rome'. Will also do the Colosseum and the Forum and if we have time maybe the Pantheon.

yeah going in the vatican was pretty impressive and worth the wait i thought, and the queue i was in was horrendous...germans everywhere!

..germans everywhere!

 

Well hopefully they'll all be in Munich now for the start of Oktoberfest!