Rome, Italy

BEAT

So I am going to Rome this year,
anyone been there that can offer any touring advice?

Are there tour buses you can hop on like in London that tour the whole city making stops?

I am sorted with accomodation just need some tips on seeing the sites

Thanks

p~b

are u staying within the city centre

OY

I can only say one thing..... WALK!
The underground is good to get across the city but the best thing i got from Rome was walking around. The side streets are so cool and you will find the coolest restaurants, where you can get a nice quiet bottle of wine and watch the world go by.

Also, the Collesseum costs money to get into and is not all that great once on the inside. So just be aware so that you are not too disappointed, i was.

Just a few of the musts:
Roman Forum
Il Vittoriano (there is a great museums nearby... the Capitoline Museums, piazza di compligiano i think, the spelling is wrong but it is something like that! At the top of a flight of stone steps, two museums one on either side and a tunnel that connects the two. Halfway down that tunnel there is a cut off leading to an amazing view of the Roman Forum, try not to miss it!)
Piazza Navona
Spanish Steps
Vatican city even if you are not catholic
Sistene chapel but beware of queues!
Trevi Fountain in early morning if you can!
Pantheon

The list goes on and on and on. But seriously, WALK because it is the greatest city and you will experience so much on foot. Eat good food, drink good wine and explore.

PS The city is not that difficult to find your way around if you have a good map. I bought the lonely planet travel guide and the maps in the back are well worth it. Also you are not carrying around an enormous map and looking like a twat!

Ciderboy

looking for Accommodation in Rome for later this month what would you recommend

dearg_doom

One book ye should read to get an idea for touristy things worth seeing is 'Angels and Demons' by Dan Brown, it's the prequel to The 'DaVinci Code', so it's not exactly high literature, but it's set in and around Rome.

My ex found it more helpful to her than her rough guide ook when she was there a couple year ago!

BEAT

huh, ya know I read that book recently and I didnt think of that thanks

I still didnt hear if there were quick hop on and off tour buses in the city? anyone know?
or if there is a place I can get on a tour bus that goes to another part of italy and back to rome?
and of that type of info would be appreciated too

thanks everyone

Beruthiel

nevernev wrote:

I Also, the Collesseum costs money to get into and is not all that great once on the inside. So just be aware so that you are not too disappointed, i was

:eek:
I was awe struck by the collesseum
but I do agree with the walking thingie, Beat don't be such a lazy wagon, start your walking training now!! it's the only way to see any city!

also don't miss the Sistene chapel

Trevi Fountain in early morning if you can

yup
cos by the afternoon it will be so black with people, you see nothing!

Pantheon

agreed
Beat
I was in Rome last year for 5 days, I walked everywhere!

Travestere is brilliant at night time (it's like a Roman Temple Bar)
loads of resturants, pubs, loads of people out on the little narrow streets, don't miss that.

BEAT

wow so you can see everything without a bus, didnt realise everything was is such close proximity,
thanks!
I htink walking around would be fun, am carting around my mother though so hopefully she wont mind first time travelling with someone, I usually travel alone so it should be an experience anyway ...it was my b-day gift to her.
thanks for the advice though!

OY

BEAT wrote:

I still didnt hear if there were quick hop on and off tour buses in the city? anyone know?

I do not remember even seeing any buses period. I would not want to be on one though as they drive like they are on crack over there. Just because the light is red does not mean that they stop!!!

How good are you at dodging mopeds? You will see what i mean when you are there!

Victor

Beruthiel wrote:

but I do agree with the walking thingie, Beat don't be such a lazy wagon, start your walking training now!! it's the only way to see any city!

She lost a stone* on her first day around Dublin, but repalced that with beer

* claims

Beruthiel

stop telling lies victor!

BEAT wrote:

didnt realise everything was is such close proximity,
thanks!

I didn't say they were close, I said I walked to them....

I htink walking around would be fun, am carting around my mother though so hopefully she wont mind

hmmm
is she a very fit auld wan?
there are public buses for sure, you can buy tickets at kiosks which you will find all over the place, tickets for around 1 euro which will cover a 75mins period and you can hop on and off as many times as you like in that time. When you get to Rome, buy a map at one of those kiosks, get one with the bus stops on it, they are very useful (when I stayed in Rome, my B&B was 20mins bus ride to the centre, so of course I used the bus for that - the driver never checks to see if you put your ticket in the machine so half the time we didn't, or it didn't work for us, so we used them again for the next trip.... bold of us I know...

/edit
DO NOT leave Rome without having a pizza!

BEAT

silly Victor, it wasnt the first day I lost a stone, in the first 2 weeks there I did though! and I did fill up on beer hehehe

My mom is actually pretty young and fit so she shouldnt have trouble...she is just a bit lazy is all it will be more walking than she is used to I'd imagine but I will try and take it easy on her.