Rome for a week

bingham67

bingham67

bingham67

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I booked Rome for a week including a day trip to Florence what do people recommend the most to see and do?

Anything worth booking in advance I read about the Colosseum has an underground you can book tickets for I love archictecture and also very much into Photography so looking for nice spots.

I think I have room for another day trip from Rome where else to travel?
 
The Vatican is inside Rome. Do not eat in tourist locations, if you see no Italians there don't eat there. A frozen Chicago town pizza would taste 10x nicer and cheaper.
 
We had an impromptu long weekend there some 12-14 years ago, I saw some blinding shirts in a store on Via Di Campo Marzio, but they were a tad expensive, so as my birthday was around the corner, my wife said, "Get what you like, I'll go down the middle with you."
I bought seven, they came to just under £500, but they were the business.
I checked the exchange rate today for my brother-in-law, the € was at €1.10 to the £ !! **** Star it out fully next time that!
Go in EAT'S on Via Cola di Rienzo and get a pack of Angel Hair pasta, that won't break the bank.
 
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bingham67 said:
I booked Rome for a week including a day trip to Florence what do people recommend the most to see and do?

Anything worth booking in advance I read about the Colosseum has an underground you can book tickets for I love archictecture and also very much into Photography so looking for nice spots.

I think I have room for another day trip from Rome where else to travel?
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I did this trip quite recently but on a shorter time scale :)

I'd suggest doing an Ancient Rome tour but I'm not too sure on the Vatican tours - you don't get time to look at the stuff you really want. Saw some artwork by Francis Bacon that we whizzed passed :(

If you do both, try and spread them out. It's a bit draining to do two big tours two days in a row.

As for Florence, make sure you book in advance to go in the Basilica and be sure to climb the dome itself (which you also have to book in advance but it doesn't cost extra IIRC). That was the best bit of the whole trip. It's a little claustrophobic but the painting is astonishing and frightening!
 
Can highly recommend doing the 'VIP' tour of the Colosseum. We did it and they limit the group sizes to around 15 from memory. You get to queue jump through the main entrance and visit the dungeon areas, the 'main' arena and the 3rd floor. They only allow one group at a time in the areas which made it quite special. Our guide spoke perfect English and the history of the place is just amazing. The package also included a tour around the near-by ruins (which I forget the name of). The tour lasted a couple of hours so recommend taking water / food!

We visited Ostia Antica on our last full day which was also amazing. It's a short (I think around 1 hour from memory) metro / train journey from Rome.
 
Book tickets for the Vatican museum, if you plan on visiting st peters straight after, there's a door at the rear right of the sistine chapel that will lead you to the tombs and st peters. It's for tour groups, but we tagged onto the back of one last time lol. Saves you an hour que.

For a half decent view, climb the Spanish steps and turn left, along there you will get some half decent views. Will bring you to the top of Piazza del Popolo.

Enjoy.
 
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Thanks for the suggestions everyone now any restaurants that are recommended I read as above to stay away from the tourist spots and go down side streets although I have read Piazza Navona is a good place for a meal and people watch.

Dynix said:
Can highly recommend doing the 'VIP' tour of the Colosseum.
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What VIP tour did you go with just had a google and there is loads? unfortunately one I just read says need to have two people.
 
Went there for a couple of days a good few years back, made the mistake of trying to see the Colosseum and the Vatican on the same day. The Colosseum was ok (looks the same on the inside as it does from the streets on the outside) opposed to the Vatican which was fantastic, wish I had spent the whole day there as there is so much to see.
 
Vatican for a day, do a guide tour, Colosseum for half a day, just do the audio tour, and half a day for walking round various spots.

The new from the roof of St Peters.

NUcmIRn.jpg


I would spend overnight in Florence, great place.

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Been to Rome twice. Loved it. So much to see.

Definitely go to the top of the Vatican. View is amazing. Book things in advance if you can, we did otherwise MASSIVE lines of people!

I want to go back again.

Last time we took the train from Rome and visited a few different places too.
 
Wow stunning photos Raymond where did you take the first shot on a tour? where did you take the second photo in Florence also.

Just looking at the Colosseum stuff I want to do the arena floor on the tour just feels like your heading in like a gladiator.
 
bingham67 said:
Wow stunning photos Raymond where did you take the first shot on a tour? where did you take the second photo in Florence also.

Just looking at the Colosseum stuff I want to do the arena floor on the tour just feels like your heading in like a gladiator.
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You walk up inside the cathedral, then within the dome itself will take you to a little roof.

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The Florence pic is taken from a place call Piazzele Michelangelo.
 
bingham67 said:
I booked Rome for a week including a day trip to Florence what do people recommend the most to see and do?

Anything worth booking in advance I read about the Colosseum has an underground you can book tickets for I love archictecture and also very much into Photography so looking for nice spots.

I think I have room for another day trip from Rome where else to travel?
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Pick pockets are rife. Make sure you have nothing of value on you.
 
Thanks for information guys looks superb I have been looking for Vatican tour but I dont really like art is it still worth booking?

kitch9 said:
Pick pockets are rife. Make sure you have nothing of value on you.
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I have also read this is a problem in Rome I usually wear jeans and keep wallet and phone in front pockets never had a problem everywhere I have been in Europe so far.

What the score with carrying your passport I keep reading this but I dont like the idea of having to carry my passport on me all the time?

Edit: Usually would just carry a copy of my passport on me
 
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To be fair, it's only really a problem in Rome when using the metro system or in Termini station.

Going back in October (4th visit).

Florence it isn't an issue at all, very laid back in Florence.

As for carrying your passport, what is it you have heard? Never ever been asked for my passport other than airport and hotel reception.
 
ZG002 said:
To be fair, it's only really a problem in Rome when using the metro system or in Termini station.

Going back in October (4th visit).

Florence it isn't an issue at all, very laid back in Florence.

As for carrying your passport, what is it you have heard? Never ever been asked for my passport other than airport and hotel reception.
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Reading on the tripadvisor forums people saying you have to carry passport with you at all times Police wont accept anything else if you are stopped.

As usually case I doubt you will ever be stopped I kow this is same other places in Europe I just kept a copy of passport on me.
 
The coliseum tour you want is one that goes into the underground part and the third floor tier. I used 'Walls of Italy' tours.

The basilica in Florence is much more interesting visually than St Peters IMO. St. Peter's feels like St. Paul's in London if it had been revamped in the 60s - the corridors and ramps are 'dated modern' in look.
 
My wallet was picked in the metro in Rome, I had it getting a coffee then we took the metro back to the hotel and then no wallet. Luckily only lost some cash of about £70, replace the cards and it was the last night before leaving next morning so didn't impact on he trip.

Florence seems more laid back and this trip I went by myself and the city as a whole felt safer too.
 
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