Five Days In Rome

[March-Hare]

What would your ideal agenda be for the above - only interested in major sites, not art galleries etc - also wondered if the travel cards are worthwhile in your opinions?


Also has anyone used a really good day spa in central Rome?

TIA

[murraymints]

vatican,colleseum,parthenon, senate, trevi fountain, and the catacombs if you have time at quo vadis...

[Khandro]

If you want to go to the Vatican - a must- it is advisable to book online in advance to avoid the enormous queue.

[dannyk13]

Minty, did you mean Pantheon?

[murraymints]

I did Danny xx

[dannyk13]

This may help you.
http://www.historvius.com/what-to-see-in-rome/fr265

[March-Hare]

Faster than a speeding bullet - all of you! Thanks.

Baths of Caracella anyone? Worth seeing? Or if we have seen Bath (UK) is there nothing more to learn?

[dannyk13]

http://www.aviewoncities.com/rome/bathsofcaracalla.htm

[roslyn251254]

Spanish steps. Castelo san angelo.
We went to Rome in Jan and saw all of the above and more - depends how much time you want to spend at each. We just visited most but did go in St Peter's Basilica and up the dome - go early in the morn to avoid queues. Also booked online whilst we were there to go inside Vatican Museum and Sistine chapel.(it was only 1 euro more for the prebooking) No photos allowed in the Sistine Chapel.

How far out of Rome are you staying? We were quite a way out so invested in the 4 day (?) travel pass which allows you to go on buses/trams/underground. Think it was 16 euros?

[Fibonacci]

Transport in Rome is good with trams, metro & buses
Tickets can be eaily purchased at wide variety of sources including vending machines and manned ticket offices at metro stations and many newsstands / tobacconists:
B.I.T. € 1.50. Standard ticket, valid for one Metro ride or 75 minutes on all buses.
B.I.G. € 6.00. Daily ticket, valid for unlimited metro, bus, and train travel within Rome.
B.T.I. €16.50. 3-day tourist ticket, valid for everything listed under the B.I.G ticket.
C.I.S. €24.00. Weekly ticket costs
When you buy any transport ticket it is not stamped with a start date. You have the responsibility to stamp your ticket on machines provided for that purpose before you start your journey.
If you travel with a blank unstamped ticket its no different to travelling without a ticket at all.

[Buenchico]

Ostia Antica is often overlooked:
http://www.ostia-antica.org/
It's just a very short train ride out from central Rome. It's also next door to Lido di Ostia, which is the seaside bit of Rome. (It's a rather dull little town but the beach is nice and there are some good bars and restaurants; it's a good place to cool off on a hot day).

[mikey4444]

I can recommend Ostia. I went there years ago and it was refreshingly free of the crowds in Rome, and plenty to see.

[mikey4444]

Watch the video on Buenchico's link...wonderful Umbrella Pines !

[Khandro]

P.S. Beware of pickpockets and thieves, I always keep valuables secure on my person. A friend and his wife were there not long ago and she had her handbag snatched from her by two youths on a scooter within an hour of arrival.

[boxtops]

That can happen anywhere if one isn't vigilant though, khandro - my purse was stolen from my handbag in Malaga at a bus stop, I'd no idea I'd been dipped until I realised that they had opened the zip and taken it out.

[Khandro]

boxy; I agree, ladies should not go out with handbags. My wife went to Paris with a daughter for the weekend, had her bag lifted from her chair back, while they were sitting outside, it was found down the alley at the side of the restaurant - empty. Decided not to let it spoil her enjoyment, went to the bank and withdrew some more money and in the afternoon it was snatched, (as above) by 2 youths on a motor bike.
She now uses one of those bum-bags. She wears it with the bag at the front though, which gives her an 'expecting' appearance.

[Mosaic]

The bus that runs from Termini station to St Peter's is known as the pickpocket express. And the souvenir stalls that gather along the street leading up to st Peter's are notorious for pickpockets.

[Samuraisan]

Yep, take care with handbags. We have been to Rome a few times and absolutely love it. One of my favorite cities. Paris to me is the worst. I had a gold neckalce ripped off my neck on the metro. Now when I visit any city I don't wear or take valuable jewelry and am very very careful with my handbag. Leave credit cards and things that are a nuisance to replace in the safe and just take cash for the day. These robberies can really spoil otherwise delightful trips.