I'm going to Rome (Roma), Italy, for a week at the end of June. Any tips or advice? thanks.?

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memorex

1 week is sufficient time to visit Rome. Remeber that many places are closed on mondays (Coloseum, Roman Forum, Caracalla's Therme).

When visiting the Coloseum & the Roman Forum, take a walk north from the Coloseum to a church on a small hill, inside you'll see Michelangelo's Moises.

I recomend to buy a Lonely Planet book about ITALY. I'll tell you everything you want to know about places and prices.

On a monday (most museums and places are closed) you can take a long walk from the Coloseum to Ciscus Maximus, La Bocca de la Verita, thru the Jewish neighborhood, the Piazza Argentina, the Indian neighborhood up to Piazza Navona.

Take an expresso and try a Corretto (grappa + expresso) as romans do at least once a day!

If you want to buy a book at good price, go to the book store in the train central station (stazione centrale)

Garonne D

Advices? You should be careful because in Italy there is too much beauty and it can fulminate you!
Rome is the most beautiful city of the world...Have a good time (it won't be hard!)

lion of judah

if you've never been before you'll be amazed.. just walking out of the metro station and seeing the colloseum is incredible.. enjoy.. buon viaggio

Guybrush Threepwood

benvenuta a Roma...

welcome to Rome...

Anna

just enjoy yourself! i go to italy alot,im half italian and i love it!

goldrake75

1) when at fiumicino airport, there's no need to take a taxi: take the train, just outside of the airport, connected to Rome Termini or Rome Tiburtina. Both these train stations are also underground stations.

You'll avoid traffic, it's cheaper and it's very comfortable.

2) take an organized sightseeing: this is my favourite: http://www.siteseeings.com/tour_91.html

janus

I was in Italy several Years ago, and I found Rome Boiling Hot. I went around the 4th of June thinking it would not be so Hot but it was. Normally you do not see Pigeons Drinking Water in Ireland or Britain,but in Rome they really drink the Water.July ,August is the Hottest Months. Beware of Pickpockets, I had a Nikon Camera Spare Lenses , Spectacles in a Camera Bag Stolen. Take care your Passport does not get Stolen. I was left going around with Prescription Sunglasses on my Holiday, so if you wear Specks make sure they are not with the stuff that gets stolen. In a way I was glad I didnt have the Weight of a Camera Bag with me. I just bought a Compact Camera with a Zoom Lense on it which was great, I should have done that in the first place instead of toting a Heavy Bag around with me. Keep plenty of Water with you,this is easy enough as they sell it everywhere, and you can get it from Drinking Fountains that says on them , Aqua Potabile. I have seen locals and Tourists filling their empty Bottles from them in the Roma Antica Area around the Collisseum and Foro Romana and Capitoline Areas. Get out early in the Morning, Relaxe around 11.30 - 3.00 in the Cafes or in the Parks with a Bagette and Coffee or a Soft Drink and then do a bit of Sightseeing. I went on a Day Tour to Pompei and Naples, the Coach was supposed to go to Sorrento as well but didnt because of a Festival and Traffic was Bad. You can get an Extended tour of Two Days if you like.Most Hotels and B+B'S have an arrangement with the Tour Operators and Book your Ticket for you and give you a call in Morning, But make sure you are up and ready to go before the call you.Good Luck on your Holiday, Italy is a Great Country everywhere you go in it.

rondy

check the weather forecast before you go.
here in italy we're having weird weather: scattered showers and then the sun comes out. right now it's not so hot...i mean not like august!

everything u want Rome has it! art, beautiful architecture, culture, food, shops....u feel great just walking in the centre!

public trasport is not so bad like in the rest of the country: bus or metrÃ².

maria

in all seriousness learn how their bus works. you will be sorry if you dont. and do it before you go. have fun

Michael A

When in Rome, please pray for me.

You have not told us why you are going there.

Many pretty ladies there. Don't compete.
Don't do what I won't do!

BAGOFSWAGS

Expect to wait 4 hours in line to enter the Vatican Museum, or get ther at 5AM and beat the rush.

Tavimama

Plenty of water - it gets SERIOUSLY hot!! Dress appropriately if you are going anywhere near the Vatican - imagine you are having tea with your Granny and you'll get the dress code. Try and speak the language - it is always appreciated if you make the effort - even if your accent sucks big time!! Keep your valuables in a safe place and be discrete about money/wallets - there are gangs of pickpockets who work the crowds so be careful.

Flat comfortable shoes are a must - a decent camera - buy guide books over here if you can - and make them small.

Have fun, don't blink (cos you'll miss something!!) - oh yeah, one of those little hand-held fans are REALLY handy if you are going to the Vatican - the air-con is rubbish and they pack as many people in as they possible can to make sure everyone gets a shot at the sights.

Don't speak too loudly in the Sistine Chapel - they shout 'Silencio' at you!! Don't paddle in the Trevi Fountain - you could be arrested!! Don't forget to HAVE FUN!!

Neo

When in Rome, do what the romans do!

J K

Hi, be very care ful of the taxi drivers, if they try to pick u up, go to a proper rank, and make sure, you know how much you pay, they very clever make some of the fare disappear and demand more money, it happened to me and my friend,, while i was getting the cases out of the rear, she went to pay him. then he did the con, take care.
Joe the trucker.

junglecat

I spent a week in Rome in February. The advice I would offer is to plan the week in advance. The city has 5 or 6 centers of activity.

One or two days spent in Vatican City depending if you are catholic or not. If you are plan two days using one for Wednesday the papal audience day. Go to St. Peter's Basilica in the afternoon - the lines are shorter. Spend the time and considerable effort to go to the Cupola of the basilica - it is a tremendous view of the city but very difficult, spend the extra 4 euro for the elevator trip half way up.

Another day in the north part of the city - Trevi fountain, Spanish steps, Via Veneto, and the Borghese park and musuem, baths of Diocletian

Another day in the Central part - Pantheon, Piazza Navonne, Trajans column, Churches of St. Maria Maggiorre, San Giovanni Laterno

Another day is the Southern part of the city - Colosseum, Palatine Hill, Roman Forum

See the Trevi fountain in the day and the night.

Buy Rick Steve's 2008 Rome book. It is great for finding lower cost, higher value dining places along with historical info - worth 3 times what you would pay for it.

People will say not to use the metro but I found it very useful and quick to get to the vatican and the coloseum. It takes you right to the coloseum.

Plan to walk alot. I bought a great european walking shoe from Born - they really helped.

We took a day trip to Pompei and Sorrento - we liked it, but was costly.

Take up the roman tradition and eat gelato everyday.

Learn a little italian before you go, some speak english but not everywhere.

Have a great trip

lisapizza1992

Be careful of pickpockets. Visit the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain and the Colosseum they are must sees for a trip to rome. In bocca al lupo.

xxx

Just Tom

Just play it by ear and enjoy yourself. Your hotel concierge will be able to tell you where to go and where not to go. Make sure you have a lot of dollars in your ATM account. The Euro is out of sight..Make sure you let your bank know that you will be in Italy. When you withdraw money from the ATM, take the maximum allowed because the service charge is the same.

Claudio C

Some tips:
- from the airports to the city don't take taxis, they are slow and expensive. If you land in Ciampino, take the shuttle to the subway station Anagnina and then the subway to the centre (1,20 euros + 1 euro); from Fiumicino, the regional train to Orte or Fara Sabina which stops at Ostiense, Trastevere and Tiburtina, in the center of Rome (5,50 euros).
- besides Coliseum and Forum, visit the archaelogical site of Torre Argentina (in the centre, near Piazza Venezia) and the areas of Appia Antica and Ostia Antica, both far from the centre but very interesting and not so crowded.
- visit many churches: they are wonderful and totally free.
- to have dinner, the best quarter is Trastevere: it is a charming quarter, there are plenty of typical restaurants and pizzerias and it is relative cheap.
- you dont need to buy water: mineral water sold near the most touristic places is very expensive. But in Rome there are many little fountains that give a lot of excellent fresh water totally free. You can go around with a plastic bottle and fill it at these fountains.
- beware of pickpockets, who are often in crowded buses. Dont make purchases by hawkers: the stuff is usually fake and very bad quality.
- if you want to relax you could enjoy the parks. Many are very beautiful, large, not crowded and perfect for a break, especially Villa Pamphili and Villa Ada. In sunny days you can sunbathe like on the seaside (and naturally you can also reach the seaside, which in summer is much less still, however!)
- dont forget that June the 29th is a holiday in Rome.

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