Rome in October
Discussion
Hi all,
In October we'll be going to near Rome for the week. Staying near the airport, about an hour train from Rome. We'll have a car so will be going on a trip to Pompeii.
I'm really clueless about what's in Rome. I thought the Ducati factory would be near but its quite a drive away! We want to do museums and such but can it all fit into one day or will we need 2-3 days there?
Any tips for must sees in Rome, and anything else near Pompeii to see while we are down that way? Any help much appreciated!
In October we'll be going to near Rome for the week. Staying near the airport, about an hour train from Rome. We'll have a car so will be going on a trip to Pompeii.
I'm really clueless about what's in Rome. I thought the Ducati factory would be near but its quite a drive away! We want to do museums and such but can it all fit into one day or will we need 2-3 days there?
Any tips for must sees in Rome, and anything else near Pompeii to see while we are down that way? Any help much appreciated!
Colosseum obviously
And Piazza novona,Trevi fountain,Pantheon are all within walking distance and lots to see around there whilst walking. If you look ingoogle maps at nearby attractions it will ahow all the churches and stuff.
We booked the colosseum through trip advisor and itgot you into theforum and palantine hill but didnt bother.
If anyone says they like your shoes just ignore them and if anyone throws you a bracelet dont catch it either, ask me how i know
Theres the bridge over the river tiber to castel sant'angelo and can walk down to the vatican too.
Id say 2 days dependong on how muchyou want to do.
And Piazza novona,Trevi fountain,Pantheon are all within walking distance and lots to see around there whilst walking. If you look ingoogle maps at nearby attractions it will ahow all the churches and stuff.
We booked the colosseum through trip advisor and itgot you into theforum and palantine hill but didnt bother.
If anyone says they like your shoes just ignore them and if anyone throws you a bracelet dont catch it either, ask me how i know
Theres the bridge over the river tiber to castel sant'angelo and can walk down to the vatican too.
Id say 2 days dependong on how muchyou want to do.
Edited by Ryyy on Monday 11th September 17:32
Edited by Ryyy on Monday 11th September 17:34
P675 said:
Hi all,
I'm really clueless about what's in Rome.
You don't need to know anything - just wander about! It's a living archaelogical wonder. It is all mind blowing.I'm really clueless about what's in Rome.
I do recommend the hop on bus with the audioguide to get a feel for the whole place, but, on my 1s visit I just wandered about from one thing to the next.
Aiport area to Pompeii is around 2.5 hours each way so no big deal. If you are going that far don't miss Herculaneum - equally if not more impressive in terms of detail, just not scale.
Nothing to fear with Italian driving (used to live there) - just accept people will drive on your tail for no reason at all (not angry) and red lights are often ignored if there is no traffic down South, so don't be suprised if someone beeps at you at a red light behind you (Pompeii area - not really in the Rome area)
Thanks for all the replies, we had a look at it again last night and have decided on
Rome day 1 - Cisco Massimo, Palatino, Forum, Colosseo, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and anything else we bump into.
Rome day 2 - Taking the tour bus, Vatican, Villla Borgeuse and then play it by ear.
Trip to Pompeii, want to go up Vesuvius so need to find the bus that goes all the way up. Afternoon in Naples.
Trip to Tivoli
Got a spare day to chill or anything we missed.
Driving, I've driven through France although that was mostly motorways, and driven around Ibiza. Ive booked a Fiat 500 to blend in
, easy to park etc.
Do you think it's worth a phone wrist strap or something for pickpockets? I'm going to have a small over shoulder bag that sits below my chest and avoid keeping anything in clothes pockets.
Rome day 1 - Cisco Massimo, Palatino, Forum, Colosseo, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and anything else we bump into.
Rome day 2 - Taking the tour bus, Vatican, Villla Borgeuse and then play it by ear.
Trip to Pompeii, want to go up Vesuvius so need to find the bus that goes all the way up. Afternoon in Naples.
Trip to Tivoli
Got a spare day to chill or anything we missed.
Driving, I've driven through France although that was mostly motorways, and driven around Ibiza. Ive booked a Fiat 500 to blend in
, easy to park etc. Do you think it's worth a phone wrist strap or something for pickpockets? I'm going to have a small over shoulder bag that sits below my chest and avoid keeping anything in clothes pockets.
Been fortunate to go to Rome loads and love it. Couple of thoughts on top of what others have said:
- a walking tour - we did one for about 3 hours, took in most of the major sites but also took us to some of the lessor visited spots and we really enjoyed it. Rome is relatively compact and you can see a lot on foot but it was nice to have a guide to point things out we'd missed on previous visits, tell us some history etc
- book a tour of the Vatican - we met our guide outside the entrance and avoided the massive queue and also meant we didn't just wonder around aimlessly (like the first time we went). The guide was superb and we got a lot more out of the visit compared to our previous one
- The Capuchin Crypt is worth a visit, and there used to be a few nice restaurants in the vicinity (been a few years since I checked this out though!)
- a walking tour - we did one for about 3 hours, took in most of the major sites but also took us to some of the lessor visited spots and we really enjoyed it. Rome is relatively compact and you can see a lot on foot but it was nice to have a guide to point things out we'd missed on previous visits, tell us some history etc
- book a tour of the Vatican - we met our guide outside the entrance and avoided the massive queue and also meant we didn't just wonder around aimlessly (like the first time we went). The guide was superb and we got a lot more out of the visit compared to our previous one
- The Capuchin Crypt is worth a visit, and there used to be a few nice restaurants in the vicinity (been a few years since I checked this out though!)
P675 said:
Thanks for all the replies, we had a look at it again last night and have decided on
Rome day 1 - Cisco Massimo, Palatino, Forum, Colosseo, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and anything else we bump into.
Rome day 2 - Taking the tour bus, Vatican, Villla Borgeuse and then play it by ear.
Trip to Pompeii, want to go up Vesuvius so need to find the bus that goes all the way up. Afternoon in Naples.
Trip to Tivoli
Got a spare day to chill or anything we missed.
Driving, I've driven through France although that was mostly motorways, and driven around Ibiza. Ive booked a Fiat 500 to blend in , easy to park etc.
Do you think it's worth a phone wrist strap or something for pickpockets? I'm going to have a small over shoulder bag that sits below my chest and avoid keeping anything in clothes pockets.
Sounds great!Rome day 1 - Cisco Massimo, Palatino, Forum, Colosseo, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, and anything else we bump into.
Rome day 2 - Taking the tour bus, Vatican, Villla Borgeuse and then play it by ear.
Trip to Pompeii, want to go up Vesuvius so need to find the bus that goes all the way up. Afternoon in Naples.
Trip to Tivoli
Got a spare day to chill or anything we missed.
Driving, I've driven through France although that was mostly motorways, and driven around Ibiza. Ive booked a Fiat 500 to blend in
, easy to park etc. Do you think it's worth a phone wrist strap or something for pickpockets? I'm going to have a small over shoulder bag that sits below my chest and avoid keeping anything in clothes pockets.
Pickpockets? I dunno, maybe some people are careless/victims but in all my extensive travels I've never been pickpocketed,. and I've been to Las Ramblas, and Rome, and Naples, and lived in London... Just don't put your phone in your back pocket, and put cash and cards also in a front pocket. If it's really busy I occasionally tap my pockets to check everything is where it should be. If I'm carrying my man-bag (yeah yeah, I lived in Italy) then I always have my hand over the top in crowds.
Vesuvious - I think we drove up the main car park, then a cable car up, then a bus/truck thing. Great fun
P675 said:
Trip to Pompeii, want to go up Vesuvius so need to find the bus that goes all the way up. Afternoon in Naples.
This is an awful lot to do in one day from Rome. The drive from Rome to Pompei is probably 2.5 hours just to start. Maybe skip the afternoon in Naples and just do Pompei & Versuvius and maybe Herculaneum if you had time.
Naples is nice (some people will disagree) but not essential.
I’d say just stay in the centre near pantheon, get comfy trainers on and get out walking everyday, there’s history around pretty much every corner. Go to the Coliseum, forum, pantheon, Vatican/st peters, Vatican museum is good. Don’t be scared to put head in the churches that litter the centre, some of them are very impressive. Go for a coffee in the morning at tazza d’oro, see how the locals do it. Walk around the grounds at castle st angelo too. So much to see and do. Enjoy!
Boom78 said:
I’d say just stay in the centre near pantheon, get comfy trainers on and get out walking everyday, there’s history around pretty much every corner. Go to the Coliseum, forum, pantheon, Vatican/st peters, Vatican museum is good. Don’t be scared to put head in the churches that litter the centre, some of them are very impressive. Go for a coffee in the morning at tazza d’oro, see how the locals do it. Walk around the grounds at castle st angelo too. So much to see and do. Enjoy!
I'd second the churches. They can be a welcome break in the heat and are a good place to have a sit down.The Chiesa del Gesù should be on everyones visit list. It is mind blowing! https://maps.app.goo.gl/udoLzvAhm2be2M2k6
I've just come back from Rome, definetly try to book the colesseum at night. Book through their page directly cooptravel, tickets are released 30 days before the day you want to go and allows you to skip the line.
There is an amazing view of the forum if you go up to piazza campidoglio. As you look at the statue of marcus aurelius take the path to the right of the city Hall, under the arch and down a few steps.
For a great pic if the trevi fountain go to the second floor of the Benetton building and look out the window.
There is a brilliant website called romewise that had so much information.
There is an amazing view of the forum if you go up to piazza campidoglio. As you look at the statue of marcus aurelius take the path to the right of the city Hall, under the arch and down a few steps.
For a great pic if the trevi fountain go to the second floor of the Benetton building and look out the window.
There is a brilliant website called romewise that had so much information.
It seems funny to me that people do a beach holiday for one or two weeks, but try to fit in an entire city in a couple of days.
I did a week in Rome including Vatican City, and a few years later a week in Naples with visits to Sorrento, Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plenty to see without having to rush around.
I did a week in Rome including Vatican City, and a few years later a week in Naples with visits to Sorrento, Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plenty to see without having to rush around.
Edited by AlexC1981 on Friday 22 September 23:54
AlexC1981 said:
It seems funny to me that people do a beach holiday for one or two weeks, but try to fit in an entire city in a couple of days.
I did a week in Rome including Vatican City, and a few years later a week in Naples with visits to Sorrento, Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plenty to see without having to rush around.
Nothing "funny" about it. Most people have limited holiday time, prioritise relaxing by the sea, and don't have a great interest in history or cities , so, they squeeze in what they can as a compromise. Passing curiosity, if you will. I did a week in Rome including Vatican City, and a few years later a week in Naples with visits to Sorrento, Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Plenty to see without having to rush around.
Edited by AlexC1981 on Friday 22 September 23:54
I love history and cities but a couple of days in Rome was enough for me. After that I want to escape the crowds. Angkor Watt on the other hand was serenely peaceful and I spent three whole days exploring all the key temples, with a guide for one of the days.
AlexC1981 said:
It seems funny to me that people do a beach holiday for one or two weeks, but try to fit in an entire city in a couple of days.
Probably why I've been back 3 times, one of those times for a week. 
and planning on popping in again on an Italian tour next year. Did the best of both worlds, had a hotel with a rooftop pool, half the day sightseeing, then when it got too hot back to the pool, similar with Barcelona but there's a beach there.
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