Help with Rome Trip
 

Towards the end of a business trip I have scheduled some time in Rome. I will be arriving at FCO on Saturday Oct 26 around 4:00 pm and my flight leaves Monday at 10:30 AM.

Ill likely have some questions before the trip so I wanted to start a thread to begin asking.

I will be alone for this trip with minimal baggage.

1. Given the short period of time I'm there would it be better to book an airport hotel and just spend Sunday in the city or should I spend the nights in the city? Price isn't a factor here but convenience is.

2. Is the Leonardo Express train from FCO to the Termini easy to use?

3. Is there an area or hotel within walking distance from the termini that you would suggest? I'm preferred at Hilton's and best westerns.

4. Is the termini a central place to stay to see sights? I'm thinking with one day I may do a hop on hop off bus.

5. Are there any major sites I can see Saturday night? Like the Colosseum maybe?

6. What main tourist attractions should I buy a ticket for to avoid lines or are ere any tips? Anything closed or have restrictions due to it being a Sunday?

Thanks for any help anyone can provide!

Definitely go into the city. Romans eat late (at least by US standards) so you'll have dinner Saturday, all day Sunday, and be back at the airport Monday am

Yes, its clearly marked at the terminals, the only problems can arise w/the ticketing machine, in which case you have to wait in line at the ticket booth

The Hiltons in Rome are not centrally located; there are best western affiliates throughout the city

I would not stay close to Termini; There are several hop on/hop off bus options, you'll certainly be able to find one that stops close to your hotel w/o staying near Termini

You can certainly see it from the outside; on Sat pm I would walk around the Trevi Fountain are, the Corso, etc..

Vatican museums are closed on most Sundays, churches will have limited hours

Where would you recommend staying? I just thought that would be most convenient for me. I can always take a cab from the airport.

Sounds like I should do some research into what I want to see as my options will be limited. I assume the sites you mentioned don't require a ticket or anything and would be good to see at night.

A cab from the airport will be 45 minutes to an hour, and costs 40EU (I believe - its a set rate, it may have been raised recently). Or if you stay at the FCO Hilton, they have a free shuttle.

Rome is a big city w/lots of hotel options, but staying near Termini would be like going to NYC and staying near the Port Authority, it isn't terrible but there are lots of other more interesting areas to stay. There are lots of threads in this forum re: Rome hotel suggestions.

Definitely go into the city.

Leonardo express train is easy enough to use -- good signage from the airport. But then you'd have to take a cab from Termini to your hotel.

An airport cab direct to your hotel is the easiest option. Some hotels will arrange an airport pickup if you ask.

As others have said, don't stay near Termini. Lots of options in the centeral old city.

Satruday night sights/walk could include Corso, Piazza Navona, Piazza Popolo, Spanish Steps, Trevi Foundation.

Borghese Gallery tickets can be purchased in advance.

Evening in Rome
 

You can see some splendid things in Rome even if you are just there for a day and a half.

http://www.italymagazine.com/feature...one-night-rome

http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/10/10...anted=all&_r=0

I agree, definitely don't stay at the airport. There's nothing out by FCO. If you've never been to Rome you'll be missing a lot. If convenience not price is your major consideration, I'd just take a cab. The fixed taxi rate is now up to E48. In my opinion the Leonardo Express can be a little challenging if you don't speak any Italian.

I second the opinion that staying near the Termini is not a good idea, especially for a short stay. It's not a nice part of town, and it's over a mile walk to any of the main sites that you'll be wanting to visit. At least the Port Authority in NYC is centrally located just off of Times Square.

For a short trip I'd recommend a hotel as close to the Pantheon as possible. This would put you within a 3-6 minute walk to most of the main sites you'd want to see, e.g., Pantheon itself, Fountain of Trevi, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, and 20 minutes to the Coliseum and Forum. The only long walk, but doable, would be to the Vatican.

On a short trip I'd lean more towards sightseeing than going to places that require a ticket.

I was in Rome this past Saturday arrived at 4 PM, with a flight out at 10 AM the next day, so I just had an evening. My stroll went from the Pantheon, to Piazza Navona, Piazza di Popolo, Spanish Steps, a great dinner in Monti, Piazza Venezia, Coliseum, Forum, then back to the hotel. I would recommend those as the sites to visit during a short stay. BTW, I think it's worth seeing the Coliseum and Forum both during the day and at night. Very different perspectives.

Wow some great info. I think a cab from the airport will be easiest for me. It's on my company's dime.

I may be able to see quite a bit on Saturday night. What are the musts with the Vatican area? I am very unfamiliar. I also read that it is free since I'm there the last Sunday of the month. Is this a good thing?

You can see the Forum, Colisseum from the outside on Sat pm, you will not be able to walk around inside.

As for the Vatican museums: yes they are free last Sunday of the month, which means *really* and I mean *really* long lines to get in. If you are not interested in ancient and Renaissance art, then it probably isn't the place for you.

Honestly, I'm not that into art and really just want to be in the Vatican area and see some of the sites I know. I would think this would mean the square and maybe the Sistine Chapel if possible. I guess I'll go sometime Sunday afternoon and walk around.

Thanks again for some great info. Any other tips are appreciated.

Sistine Chapel, No Lines
 

The Square is great. Going into the Basilica is also worthwhile because Michelangelo's Pieta is inside on the right. The Sistine Chapel is worth seeing. The long lines are primarily due to a need to buy tickets. Once you wait hours to get a ticket you shuffle in with a pack of people. They time your stay in side, maybe 15-30 minutes as I recall.

However, there are several ways to get, "skip the line" access to the Chapel by means of tours that are reasonably priced, or even free. Given that you will be seeing one of the greatest masterpieces of all time and having an unforgettable experience, in my opinion it's worth it.

http://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33...peter-s-t9241/

http://www.romeandvaticanpass.com/ro...FQHZQgod8RUAXQ

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...ity_Lazio.html

http://www.viator.com/tours/Rome/Ski...d511-2390GRET3

http://www.getyourguide.com/rome-l33...peter-s-t1103/

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/italy/ro...p-line-vatican

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...or-6-hours.cfm

Best Western Spring House is a 2 minute walk from the Vatican museum entrance. We were quite comfortable there for a week. It's on the edge between a touristy area and more residential neighborhood, but an easy walk to lots of attractions and the Cipri metro station. From it you can get to the main tourist areas in just a couple minutes.

Saturday I would check into the hotel, dump whatever luggage you have, get a walking map and head toward the Piazza Navonna. Stroll around that area, have a drink at a sidewalk cafe, then head across a bridge into the Trastevere and find somewhere for dinner. That area seems to have a lot going on after dark.

I'm going with one poster's advice and staying near the Pantheon. I've done some research and seem to have narrowed down my hotel choice to these 4 hotels. Does anyone have any feedback on them? Also, Wi-Fi is important to me as I want to be able to communicate with my wife and child. Thanks!

Hotel Regno,
Pantheon Inn
Hotel Navona
Hotel Smeraldo

Planning a trip early April 2015. Cheapest rates 100e a night for 1 person at present- obviously not Waldorf!
Is this a good rate does anyone know or will I do considerably better in Jan Sale?

If it was open and water was flowing, the Trevi Fountain is stunning.

However, they just (as in last Monday, we were there) completely drained it, and it is surrounded by a chicken-wire-ish fence, and are doing repairs and restoration work, so it's not accessible, nor is it really stunning right now.

I have no idea of completion timeframe, but it appeared they were going to do a lot of work on it so I wouldn't expect any time soon.

It's great that we are all different, I was in Rome earlier this year and the Trevi Fountain did nothing for me, tiny square, thousands of people and yes, a fountain but....

The Pantheon, Collosseum, The Forum, Spanish Steps, Various Piazzas, Sistine Chapel on the other hand!

ETA Sorry, just realised this is an old thread.