It will be my first time in Rome and will only be there for a weekend later this month (arrive Friday afternoon and leave on a Sunday), so just have 1.5 days.
I plan to make Saturday a jammed pack day seeing/doing as much as possible but could use some suggestions on where/where not to go. I definitely plan to go to the Vatican first thing saturday morning and see the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica etc., which will eat up a chunk of the day.
A couple questions:
- I want to avoid waiting on lines as much as possible and was told to buy tickets to the Vatican advance (there's apparently a option to pay more to cut the line). How/where do I do so? Is there a website I should use?
- What other Roman sites/attractions should I be sure to see/do with my limited time? Colosseum (day or night?), Circus Maximus, Pantheon, Forum, Spanish Steps, Churches, Trevi Fountain?
- Equally important would be recommendations on where to avoid or what's "overrated" etc.
FYI - I will be staying in the center/western part of the city a couple blocks from the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, and Museum of Rome, if that helps.
Thanks in advance!
type in Rome and look at there 2 day itineraries. It is interactive map that will highlight all the attractions you need to plan on seeing.
Book your colosseum tickets and Vatican guided museum tour now.
Colosseum (underground, third ring and belvedere tours) is the best, as it allows you to see the newly opened top level and take some amazing pics from there.
Guided Vatican tour allows you to skip the long ass lines and get through the whole thing in about 2 hours.
Coliseum tix link - ( New Window )
I enjoyed the Borghese Gallery and you can see the whole thing in 1.5 hours. Last scheduled entrance time is 7pm, whichi s nice.
Check out the local churches and eat/drink once in Trastevere.
Bring comfortable shoes.
After the Vatican Museum tour, they will lead you through the backdoor to land directly into St Peters Basilica, so you dont have to wait in line again to get in. The lines are crazy in high season, so you have to visit it this way.
Vatican link for guided tours of St Peters basilica and Vatican Museum - ( New Window )
Pantheon closes at 6pm. Its a short 15-30 min visit max.
So i enter through exit....did the entire tour backwards....giving excuses like "my wife stayed behind....trying to find her" everytime someone tried to stop us.
My daughter and i still laugh about that...
Pantheon, Spanish steps and trevi at night....plenty of places to eat and drink between stops
ALSO you must try TODAY to book the ‘VATICAN NECROPOLIS” . Some of the better tours combine the Necropolis with Sistine Chapel/Vatican. Necropolis requires advanced booking because the want passport information to clear you. They fear terroisim as its literally underneath the Vatican. Very cool and try your best - they book up a year in advance thru normal channels. A private tour might get you in.....
Also in evening maybe sure to swing by “Piazza Navona”. Great setting for evening desert or drinks.... Get those full access Colosseum passes today too. Best times book up.
You can do it all in 1.5 days... Just hussell 6am to 1am... Its awesome. I took taxis everywhere to save time...
Good luck...
Lots of other good recomms above but you will be kicking yourself that you didnt have more time. One I will mention is Piazza del Fiore. Great market to walk around and grab lunch.
And brace yourself for the crowds. We went last year in mid-Sep and we could barely get to the Trevi Fountain but I would try anyway.
Most other sites will be packed as well but dont let that stop you.
But Vatican/ Sistine chapel is must. Colisseum definitely and check out the Spanish steps and Trevi Fountain at night. Very doable for the weekend.