Rome for a weekend

Hi all,

I'm trying to plan a weekend away in Rome. I've never been to the city before so any tips on places to see and stuff to do?

Thanks in advance.

Hiya
Well, this is what I'd do...
I'd also go to Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (tel 06 687 96 08, fax 06 687 94 72, Corso del Rinascimento 47). There are very few places in the world that sell these products and you could get your gift shopping for the year done here. Their rose perfumes are some of the finest in existance.
If you want to see any of the main touristy things, get up as early as possible.
Enjoy your trip!
Katrina

Just booked a couple of flights to Rome for next week.

Any suggestions for hotels in the center?

Thanks loads.

The Aberdeen is alright - it`s a three star Hotel in Rome, can't remember the street name but you can find it on the net. In general the standard of service in Italy - especially in Rome - is piss poor, however this place was alright and the staff - with the exception of the bumbling dude who reminds me of that actor Robert Pastorelli - are really helpful ... it is also within walking distance of many of the sights like the Colusseum ...
Just watch out for the bloody gypsies!

Lived in Italy for almost two years and went to Roma many times.

I actually suggest going to the central station in Roma.. go directly to the Tourist Information Center, and there are many people there that are selling rooms for hotels. Some can be a little dodgy, but all in all, most hotels around the center that you go with will cost at this time of year between 30 to 40 euros per night.

You mentioned next week? Do you mean during the week? or only weekend? What are the dates cause I can also send you a couple of links that will help out alot.

Ok,

so I'm heading to rome for the weekend. any tourist recommendations?

P

Topics merged by admin

ice cream! The Trevi fountain, spanish steps, colloseum, and walk/travel up the hill above the town where all the locals go for sunset, it's lovely and very lively. I was there about 8 years ago so no clear memories, for me it's one of those cities you just wander through for hours, enjoying the atmosphere. Have fun, lovely place!

(Oh, but watch your belongings like a hawk and never take any ID and stuuf into town with you, pick pockets are world-class there)

Italy are playing Wales on Saturday in the 6-nations, maybe you should check that out pootle.

You can go round on your scooter like Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday.
I'd offer to be your Audrey Hepburn for the weekend, but I'll be in Manchester
It's yonks since I was there, I'd go back to all the art galleries, personally. The Vatican museum is supposed to be quite impressive (no wonder, all the dosh they have, though...)

edit - didn't register the rugby connection
hope your lot win, poots

false, that's why he's going.
BTW size 38 feet I have dear poots.

The Forum...I'd never heard if it before we went, fascinating. Colloseum was disappointing.

As others have said, a lot can be done in Rome just by walking around. Things to see apart from the basics (Vatican, Colosseum, Piazza di Spagna, etc.)…

Traditional working class areas like “Trastevere� and “Testaccio�…

The “Gianicolo� from which you can enjoy an amazing view of Rome.

“Villa Borghese� is a very nice park in the north of the city.

Unless you have access to a car, Via del Corso is acceptable for regular shopping while Via Condotti is where Gucci, Prada, etc., are located.

Check out Santa Maria della Concezione

Off-beat and slightly different to the usual tourist sights.
Other favourites, the Baths of Caracalla, the Circus Maximus (just think Ben Hur) and don't forget to send a postcard from the Vatican Post Office.
Also, why not see Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano (St. John Lateran) , the cathedral of Rome, and not bad, especially the font round the back.

Final tip - eat/drink in the back streets out of sight of the tourist places, it will be cheaper. Yes I know that applies in most places, but very much so in Rome.
Enjoy the weekend, but be aware you will not have anything like enough time to see everything.

went to Rome and had a fab time! in fact going again soon!
next time I'd wear more comfy shoes tho...my knee-length boots looked brill but my feet were in bits...it's very cobble-stoney.

Anyone ever driven to Rome, particularly this time of year? Would I be mad to try it?

I drove in Feb when there was a lot more snow in Austria. But it does not matter as long as you stay on the autobahn/autostrada. Won't find any snow once you cross Villach. A suggestion - its much much cheaper to fly, and faster too and moreover its crazy attempting to drive in Rome. Check out www.blu-express.com for the flights.

is it really faster though? by the time I get to the airport, get checked in (with mini dog), get to the gate, get to Rome (after a flight that would no doubt include screaming children), get from airport to hotel. I can see with gas prices how it might be cheaper though, but unless it's truly significant I'd rather go for comfort...

Rome's got to be at least 6 hours by car, surely? And what? 1 hour flying time? Even with Sbahn, check-in, baggage reclaim, passports etc you're gonna be saving 2 hours I'd think. And flying's much cooler - you might even get another stamp in your passport.

stamps intra-EU?

all right, all right. consensus seems to be fly. was trying to think of some places I've been meaning to see, but was also wanting to drive my car around a bit. sigh.

Rome's around 10 hours by car.

The cheapest flight to Rome (return, per person) is 75 Euros (earliest date: 17th Jan). Its about an hour and 15 minutes flight and add another 2 hours for the airport trips.

Rome is not crowded in Jan so you can get a decent deal in some of the pensions with bed and breakfast. Could be around 30 Euros per person.

Have a nice trip.

But is it still ten hours by car with snow?

I'd say its more like 8 hrs

more with snow of course, but autobahn almost all the way so should be no probs

Myself and two others drove to Rome (stopping in Venice) this past summer.

If you plan to drive then you should definitely make plans for your hotel ahead or time-- we spent most of a day looking around for a hotel and had no luck, ended up driving back out north of the city to a Holiday Inn I believe next to the highway. They offered a free shuttle to the train station, which would bring us right to the main train station in Rome.

One heads up-- we were there on a saturday, and the cistene chapel closes early! It was 3:30 for us, and we didnt have time to go inside.

Overall, be sure to check out the colluseum, forums, trevi fountain, and vatican. You can pick up tourist maps at a little kiosk near the main train station. Also the famous discuss thrower is located in a building near the main train station, and it's pretty cheapt to get in. You can ask at any information booth, which can be very helpful in planning how you will make it through the city.

Also they have tourist busses that take you around the city (if there's room on the busses!-- often there isnt, especially on weekends). Our experience was that with a little planning we could navigate the city on foot, probably faster that waiting for the busses.

Hope that helps!
Brad

Check out this site for cheap hotels Hotels in Rome

Road distance to Rome is 920 km (all the way by autobahns). No matter what you do it will take you at least 9 hours with the Austrian tunnels (speed limit 80 kmph) and the quality of Austrian autobahns put a natural speed limit. Moreover, you got to pay about 10-12 Euros each time you use one of their tunnels. And the Italian autostradas too are tolled.

All the hotels in Rome give you a one-page map indicating all the important places to see. You can cover all of them by foot. Apart from other places that people already mentioned, do see the "Time Elevator".

the stretch through Austria is only about 50km (if you go via Garmisch) and a little tunnel at Brenner. Total €8

Italian roads are quite pricey though

Thanks samy! more of an expensive hotel girl, but thanks for all the other info!

Ah, I should have taken a hint when someone did mention about the possibility of 3* hotel in Rome. Wish you a fun-filled trip.

Anyone fancy a trip to Rome Thursday April 20 thru Sunday April 23?

Doh! I was actually planning to go at this time to Rome as well! But decided to go on 31st May - 3rd June

How are you planning to go there Daisy? And do you know where your staying?

I aint got anything sorted out yet except flights

Change to go my weekend instead!
I am going to fly. But have not thought about where to stay yet. I figured it would be cheaper to sleep and more fun in general if I didn't go alone.

Aww I wish I could now! But booked my flights and they are non-refundable

Your welcome to join me if you want though

I have found hotels but they are about 80EUR a night

Good idea Daisy, Rome is definitely worth a visit

end of May- start Jun is Pfingst isn't it? Not sure if thats a good or bad time to go.

I won't be here for Pfings weekend.
The dates I put are the dates I am going.
It is the weekend after easter so the Vatican crowd will have cleared out by then.

yes, sorry, I was talking to SBE (although I guess his dates are fixed already anyway).


good. For what its worth, I'd deffo recommend Vatican, Colisseum, Pantheon and Spanish Steps. You should have time to cover most stuff though in 3-4 days I reckon

What, you mean you aren't coming with me?

have to check my diary!

@boomtown_rat - what is Pfings?

Have I chosen a crap time to go then?

@Daisy - If you had said those dates a few weeks ago I would have definetly have gone as this was meant to be for my bday in April as well

whitsun (sp?) In Germany at least the Monday (4th) is a holiday


I don't know really if that means there will be more or less people than usual (maybe all the Romans will clear off somewhere else for the long weekend??)

Aww, well I will celebrate your birthday in Rome then. without you. Had I known it was your birthday I would definitely have posted my wishes to go to Rome last week.

Actually, I wouldn't have. Cause I just decided on this earlier today.

come on BTR, you know you want to!

Anyone fancy a trip to Rome Thursday April 20 thru Sunday April 23?

Anyone... Anyone?

would love to in theory Daisy but can't make it. Hope you find someone Rome in April should be very nice

I may be down there during that time. I am heading for a week with some friends to Tuscany and a friend of mine from Rome is expecting his first child during that time and has asked me to come on down to see her. I don't know for certain as I will be pressed for time, but the probability is high.

oooh. Well, you will be there with another agenda... but would you be willing to meet up for some sightseeing?

Does anyone have a Rome Travel Book that I could borrow? It would be greatly appreciated.

I would be willing to meet up somewhere to get it.
Thank you!

there was a really good link I got from TT for finding hotels in Europe, but can't find it any more doh!
taking boyfie to Rome in Nov, can anyone recommend any sites for finding hotels?

www.hrs.com is a pretty good hotel site. Not specific to Rome however.

www.hrs.com is a pretty good hotel site. Not specific to Rome however.

i like this site http://www.venere.com

Venere.com are great for hotels in general and particularly good for Italy as they are an Italian company. The site is pretty intuitive and also they capture feedback of the hotels that were booked.

HTH

brilliant thanks you guys