jr281
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Joined: 4/23/2009
Msg: 1 | |
| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 5/2/2009 8:43:43 AM | | I'm going to be traveling to Rome for the first time this Summer. I know there are plenty of traditional things to do, but are there any unique suggestions you have? I'll be spending roughly 2 weeks in Rome with possible trips to Paris and Amsterdam. Any good travel tips would be greatly appreciated too. :) I'm interested in viewing any kind of museum and just awe dropping sites. I'm thinking about doing the Angels and Demons book tour too. | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 5/2/2009 10:23:54 AM | very first thing to do is take the city bus tour. not sure how much it cost but its a hop on hop off as many times as u like in the day. Gives u a better understanding of the layout of the city and also will let you find the places u wud like to visit on foot. Trevi fountain is a must!!!
buses and trains are fantastic always on time and resonabley priced
hope this gives u a starter :)  | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/1/2009 11:42:35 PM | Rome is fantastic, I was there earlier in the year. There are so many sights to see its hard to know where to start. All the tourist traps are pretty cool, although didn't quite see what was so special about the spanish steps. but besides that everywhere you go is something fantastic to see. I'm not really into art but all the churches have amazing artwork, and they are all open unless there's mass on. we found that if you just wandered into the ones on the streets, not necessarily those on the tourist guides, they were equally good. If you go in the collosseum should definitely get a guide (they do tours or audio guides) otherwise its just a load of ruins but the guides bring it to life. And you absolutely must not miss the vatican museums. We went to St Peter's basilica on fri late afternoon and it was really quiet, but we weren't in the tourist season so this might not apply all year round.
Not many travellers tips cos being from the UK its a short hop for me. You can get the train from the airport for about 10 Euro I think, goes right into middle of the city. Its easy enough to walk round although they do have an underground metro but its only small. we didn't brave the buses, just walked everywhere, but they do have several tour buses. can get reasonably cheap fixed price menus especially off the beaten track and wine is cheapish but all other drinks (including soft drinks/coffee etc) are expensive.
HOpe you have a good time. If you've never been to Italy before their trains are quite cheap so its worth considering trips out of rome to venice, verona, milan, sorrento too. Have fun! | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/2/2009 10:45:28 AM | I wnt to Rome in June,
As any capital city there is lots to do in and around. I would not do a hop on hop off as you seem quite young and fit (havnet read your profile, plus im not hitting on you lol). Rome is quite a small city easy to walk it.
Take a look on www.virtualtourist.com and www.couchsurfing.com for more specialised info if i was you.. join the Rome group and ask the questions on VT rome forum, fantastic help etc.
RB i have jsut read your profile and you should definatly join both sites, I have been to South America and SE Asia and they both gave me lots of help! | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/4/2009 6:11:05 AM | | Check out St. Clements chruch near the Colliseum. The current church is 12th Century, you walk down to the basement and you find a 4th century church, then you walk down a further level and find a Roman temple. Gives you an idea how much Rome has been built up over the centuries. | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/4/2009 8:00:09 AM | | Travel to other parts of Italy while you are there. Start in Venice and work your way down to Pompeii. That was my best trip ever, and I am doing it again next summer. Have fun. | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/4/2009 4:19:09 PM | Ok so I've lived about an hour train ride away from Rome for 2 years now & go there about every weekend. So I'll throw a few things out there.
Rome is a nice city with lots to see. It is a very small city and easy to walk. So I recommend that's what you do. Because one of the best things about Rome is the local atmosphere which you can only find by walking around. There are enough trendy touristy things to do to keep you busy for more than 2 weeks. But if all your looking for is main attractions then you can see those rather fast plus hit a train to Naples (2 1/2 hours) and hit Pompeii, Almafi Coast, Capri, etc.
A few basic things to know about Rome itself:
-Don't use a Taxi that does have a meter (If someone approaches you for a taxi it most likely isn't a real taxi) There are designated spots for taxis and getting a real one compared to a fake one is a 20 Euro difference.
-For a change of pace & local experience hit the side streets. If you know at least some basic Italian before you go all the better. Most Italians know some English but if they see you putting effort in to speak the local Lang they tend to be more friendly.
-Nightlife, your there during the summer. There are beaches in Rome but on the outskirts of town. They are booming in the summer & the town of Rome is pretty much vacant in AUG. Most shops, clubs, etc close in AUG because that is when most Italians take vacations.
-If you want to party & meet mostly tourists/students there is an area called "Campo De Fiori" or a pub crawl (Spanish steps or coliseum, these start at 9pm) Mostly bars and stuff there. For clubs go to "Testaccio" area, 15 euro cab ride. However unless you go with a female most clubs will not let you in, dress to impress also.
-I found this really wicked church in Rome. If your in to extreme displays of the weird go to The Capuchin Crypt. Small space comprising several tiny chapels located beneath the church of Santa Maria Della Concezione dei Cappuccini on the Via Veneto near Piazza Barberini in Rome, Italy.
-A really good guide that helped me at first & I still use is "Italy (Eyewitness Travel Guides) or Rome (EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE) by DK Publishing". Very good info on many different places and even has the little secret things you won't find otherwise. Also for quick reference on Italian Lang I use Lonely Planet books. Very small detailed books with even some slang in it.
-Also there are some places not far from Rome to the north to visit. If your interested in towns that look almost untouched since the 15th century. Very unique, brilliant, and friendly. Here are the names of some popular ones that are still very unique:
Civita di Bagnoregio
Calcata
Civita Castellana
Nerola
Tivoli
Hope this helps and I'm sure no matter what you decide Italy will be an amazing trip! | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/6/2009 12:06:19 PM | | Be carefull when crossing the street!! Seriously I herd the romanian drivers are very impatiant and not very careful to pedestrians. | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/7/2009 7:09:00 AM | Rome is very rich in classical history and art as you know. The hop on/off bus is always a necessity in a great city and there are two tours worth your monetary investment:
Tour of Vatican Museum: done very professinally and entertaining half day tour of incredible artworks including Sistine Chapel and history of Vatican, and good tour strategy for entering St. Pete's too.
Tour of Coliseum: Just grab a tour guide off the street (no, not one of the gladiators who charge to have your picture taken with them) and get an amazing insiders guide to this Wonder of the World.
If you haven't already done so, please do lots of research using TripAdvisor.com -- it's firsthand reporting from tourists about EVERYTHING to expect at a destination...will save you a lot of money and aggravation.
Lastly, please set aside extra time for Paris, if you love art and architecture and food!
Maureen | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/10/2009 5:24:55 PM | | Take a good pair of walking shoes.. and enjoy yourself.. their is so much to see and do. Between the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, The spanish steps, The Vatican, St Peters Basilica .. I could go on, and on.. then there's just the other things that are in surrounding areas.. bah.. wow I wish I could go back.. Not including shopping, and food, and culture, art, the people, I think the people that live there are my favorite.. beside the Colosseum :) And you have to try Gelato.. you will be hooked.. I promise. Hope you have an awesome time! | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/11/2009 11:37:13 AM | No tips to add as I haven't been but will watch this thread with interest. I'm in UK and my boyfriend and I are going in Feb and going to be staying in the 4* Baileys Hotel which has fantastic reviews on tripadvisor.
I'm in UK so we are flying. | |
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| Heading to Rome, any suggestions?
Posted: 7/13/2009 8:03:24 PM | | Rome is beatiful, pack light or else your going to throw your luggages down the stairs lol!Go to the restaurants on the beach!! Great seafood! If you have time, go to Sorrento, South of Itlay. Take the Almafi Coast tour,breath taking views of the mediterranean sea! | |
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