I posted more info about my plans in the general Europe forum but I thought I would ask more Rome specific questions in here.


I will be in Europe in February and I was planning to spend 4-5 days in Rome. I'm looking for all of the normal suggestions and tips. Where to stay, where to eat, what to see and do. Also, I will be traveling alone and I'm a somewhat young female so nay safety concerns or etiquite tips you can think of are greatly appreciated.

I'm found a tentative hotel near the Termini station so getting around the city should be very easy. My Italian is virtually non-existent but my French is decent (I should be able to read a good bit of Italian) and I always carry a phrase book.

Weather concerns? It's not raining in Rome in February, is it? I know it won't be warm but as long as I'm comfortable in long pants and a coat, I'll be fine. My trip is not set at all yet so I'm open for suggestions.

Thanks!

If you are a young female traveling alone you will likely not be comfortable staying in the Termini station area. You might look in the area around St. Peters instead.

Its been a very rainy season thus far so it is hard to say how the weather will be in February. You shouldn't expect snow/freezing temps but you'll want to bring a sweater, pants, etc..

Be aware that in off season many museums are only open in the morning so you will want to plan your sight seeing accordingly.

As for what to see/do, where to eat, etc... there are numerous threads in this forum and a search of Rome should provide lots of ideas.

I agree that Termini Station is not the nicest area for a single female to stay. I doubt anything would happen to you but you probably would not feel comfortable walking around in this area at night. There are a lot of sketchy people hanging around.

As for places to stay try Nicolas Inn, Fellini Inn or Gullivers Lodge.

I am not aware of any museums that are only open in the morning during the winter. Most museums are closed on Mondays. The Vatican Museums are open on Mondays but closed on Sundays.

With 4-5 days as a single traveler you will have ample time to tour Rome.

I've stayed in convents on my last 3 Rome visits, including February of this year (there was light rain on and off during the week, and a downpour the day I left for the airport). I just had a PM from an FTer last week who also did the same thing, so don't overlook that. Pretty simple accommodations, and the price was right (think I paid around 55 euro a night this year and that included continental breakfast).

Convent listings:
http://www.santasusanna.org/comingToRome/convents.html

I have quite a few Rome photos linked below, including the convent where I stayed this year. It was about a 15 min walk from St Peters.

Thanks for the info about the Termini area. I considered the area because of a nice hotel review I found on Trip Advisor and the proximity to public transportation.

I will look into the other areas and those hotels linked above look nice. I'm looking for 75-100 euros per night, private bath, wi fi is a must and breakfast included.

I've never thought of staying in a convent. Very interesting. I'll definitely take a look at that site.

I will do some more research on things to see and do. I should be there either Thursday - Sunday or Monday - Sunday.

Any idea on how the weather in Rome in February compares to Athens in February? I'm trying to decide in which city to spend more time.

That's a really tough call b/c both can be lovely in February - but it can rain a lot during February too. It all depends on the weather pattern at that time of year. The differences in weather shouldn't be so great to sway your decision one way or the other, it isn't like comparing Portland to Honolulu in February.

As for public transportation - it is very easy to use, no need to stay near Termini to utilize it.

Rome is a great place, but the sheer volume of tourists can take away from the ambiance sometimes, so February is a great time to go. Rome has a huge difference of price between premises immediately beside the main monuments and the rest of the city, more so than any other place. There is excellent value to be had, but not if you buy from the stalls outside the monuments which can be outrageously expensive. As for etiquette, don't mark yourself as an unsophisticated tourist by ordering a cappuccino in the afternoon or even worse after your dinner. Enjoy.

Sounds similar to other European cities I've visited.. just with a different language. I've done quite well on my own in Paris plenty of times.

I really hope this trip goes through (tentative work trip), I'm looking forward to seeing some new sites.