Rome Pre or Post Tour Suggestions
Rome Pre or Post Tour Suggestions
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Since many of our tours start and end in Rome, you may choose to stay a couple of nights in the city to explore the Eternal City (see suggestions below for things to do and where to stay).
If your chosen tour is in another area, it's easy to reach Rome by train or with a very inexpensive flight. Use the Google Flights tool to find the best option, and be sure to open an incognito window to ensure you are shown the best offers (insider tip!).
MAPS, Audio Guides and Public Transportation
MAPS, Audio Guides and Public Transportation
My Personal Printable Map of Rome
Rome audio tours with maps by Rick Steves' see here
Public Transportation
Public Transportation
Here is a really good article on how to use the Tram Lines. Line 8 (the lime green one) will connect you from Trastevere to Largo Argentina near Piazza Venezia (right in the center of Rome).
How to pay for public transport, see here.
You can walk directly to one of the many taxi stands: Map of taxi stands, or book one using a taxi apps. The best taxi app for Rome is Free Now.
Transfer to/from Rome Airport (FCO)
Transfer to/from Rome Airport (FCO)
To go from Rome to the FCO airport (or viceversa) you have the following options:
Direct Train from Termini Station to FCO airport - travel time 30 min. cost EUR 14 per person
Taxi from Hotel to FCO airport - travel time about 40 min. Cost EUR 55 fixed price per taxi (can take 3 people, possibly 4).
Limo chauffeur service from Hotel to FCO cost varies from number of people: from EUR 130 (3 people) to EUR 190 (8 people)
Drinking Water
Drinking Water
Rome has probably the best city water I know of, which is accessible via the drinking fountains: i Nasoni. Here is an app for them, as well as a map
VATICAN (how to)
VATICAN (how to)
Entering the Vatican without advanced reservation (skip the lines ticks) requires long standing time and is not suggested.
Basilica Of St Peter (in my opinion the most beautiful part of the vatican), can be visited at different times as long as there are no masses. Sunday entrance times may also be available. Note that tickets may run out. They cost EUR 7 and they include an audio guide. See here to purchase Basilica and cupola tickets.
Going to the Papal Mass: Papal Masses require free tickets, which can be requested by emailing the Vatican’s Prefecture at prefettura@pontificalisdomus.va. Please note that attending a Papal Mass or General Audience is not a way to visit St. Peter’s Basilica. In fact, it can make visiting much more difficult due to the large crowds. Entry to the Basilica is limited and would require arriving several hours in advance.
Sistine Chapel: surprisingly it is impossible to visit just the Sistine Chapel, as it is located inside the Vatican Museums. Vatican Museums are closed on Sundays. To visit the Vatican Museums and the Sistine chapel skip the lines tickets are absolutely necessary. For those that absolutely wish to enter them, you would have to arrive a day earlier. Official tickets are already sold-out, but resellers still have them. Let me know if you need to arrange for such visit.
Tickets are sold at the official Vatican site six months in advance. In case they are not available you can try a reputable reseller.
Sites That Require Entrance Tickets
Sites That Require Entrance Tickets
Vatican: see above
Colosseum: tickets become available exactly 30 days before the intended visit date, the timing applies individually for each time slot. Official web site (often unavailable as they sell out very fast). Trusted reseller see here.
Pantheon: requires EUR 5 per person entrance tickets. It appears that this year it is faster to go through the entrance with cash. For advance purchase see official site here. Note: advance purchase tickets for the Pantheon are only available for the current month.
Palazzo Colonna only available on Friday and Saturday morning (9:15 to 1:15). See here for info and tickets.
Galleria Borghese: official site here (look at the buy tickets button), additional information here
Altare della Patria or Il Vittoriano: From Monday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm (last entry at 6:45 pm). Free first Sunday of the month. No need to pre-purchase tickets.
Open daily 9:30 AM–7:30 PM, Enter from Piazza Venezia or Capitoline Hill. Official Web site.
In September, the Vittoriano will extend its opening hours every Friday evening until 11:30 PM (last admission at 10:45 PM).
Elevators to rooftop are at the rear (€12, free on Sunday Sept 7) for sweeping views of Colosseum and Roman forums as well as a Rooftop café
Castel Sant’Angelo Tuesday to Sunday 9:00am - 7:30pm (last admission 6:30pm). Entrance is Free on the first Sunday of the Month. Otherwise it costs €16 and can be purchased here.
Rome Hidden Gems (click on the names to see videos)
Rome Hidden Gems (click on the names to see videos)
Palazzo Colonna only available on Friday and Saturday morning (9:15 to 1:15). See here for info and tickets.
Chiostro del Bramante ( a hidden Renaissance gem with elegant frescoed cloisters, a curated bookshop, and a stylish café)
Grand Hotel Plaza Roma (one of the most elegant locations for an afternoon tea)
Basilica di San Clemente—aka The Lasagna Church!
Below Piazza Navona find the Stadium of Domitian, an ancient Roman stadium buried underground! More info on Piazza Navona in this video.
Il Vittoriano (Altare della Patria) see video (one of my favourite locations in Rome)
Open daily 9:30 AM–7:30 PM, Enter from Piazza Venezia or Capitoline Hill. Official Web site.
In September, the Vittoriano will extend its opening hours every Friday evening until 11:30 PM (last admission at 10:45 PM).
Elevators to rooftop are at the rear (€12, free on Sunday Sept 7) for sweeping views of Colosseum and Roman forums as well as a Rooftop café
- Stunning optical Illusions:
Church of Sant’Ignazio di Loyola with it's mesmerizing optical illusion ceiling
Rooms of Sant’Ignazio and the corridor of Andrea Pozzo from Monday to Saturday from 4PM to 6PM and on Sundays from 10AM to 12PM.
San Callisto Catacombs (official web site) found along the Appia Antica road, the 2300 yo Roman Road you can walk, bike or drive on.
Capuchin Crypt (just next to our hotel) hauntingly beautiful underground chapel decorated with the bones of over 3,700 friars.
Rome street food: what not to miss, starting with Supplì, the city’s signature fried rice ball, or the unforgettable Venchi gelato and chocolate paradise. And my favourite Maritozzo con la panna
HOTELS IN ROME
HOTELS IN ROME
Right next to Barberini Metro stop: Casa I Cappuccini www.casacappucciniroma.it +39 06 8880 3600
Hotel in Trastevere
PROS: easy to use tram line (Number 8) can take you from the hotel to the center of Trastevere or Largo Argentina (really close to the absolute center and next to "the Wedding Cake: or Altare della Patria.
Tram n.8 (green/yellow color line): 1 min walk from B&B hotel to tram stop (T. Pascarella). Map showing the Tram and Metro (subway) lines.
Hotel Centrally Located
PROS: great shopping street with good restaurants on side streets. Relatively walking distance to historical center
PROS: Great location between Trastevere and the Historic Center. Beautiful rooftop area
PROS: Great location between Trastevere and the Historic Center. Beautiful rooftop area
PROS: Good compromise between central location and access to Termini station
PROS: Conveniently located between the historical center and the Vatican
Hotel near FCO (Rome airport) additional charges may apply to be dropped off at near the airport on the return date.
PROS: very good price, very safe area near the airport. Has a shuttle. Is in front of a really good outdoor mall with great restaurants and shopping. Good to spend n easy evening. I can have the driver take you there at the end of the tour to Orvieto
PROS: at the airport. I can have the driver take you there at the end of the tour to Orvieto
5* QC Termeroma
PROS: thermal resort, large villa style right across from the airport. I can have the driver take you there at the end of the tour to Orvieto
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