A private tour guide in the Vatican is also necessary so that you can skip the line there and get the highlights of the museum and the Sistine Chapel. In Rome, it rains — on average — something like 70 days every year. Just saying… but then, it’s Rome…. Since she had been visiting with us, she let us tag along to the chapel. It wasn't built in a day, but Rome can be done in 24 hours. And the first step of that journey is getting to the frickin’ airport. Details. Feigning competence like a champ, he quickly gets on his computer and requests one for me. Having been to Rome before, we had just one thing we wanted to visit. Well hopefully now that’s it’s over and you made your flight, you can laugh too, or is it still too raw?! Rome we downloaded 4 podcasts.. the Trastevere. It’s next to the Zara, across the piazza and to the left.” He gestures with an exquisitely unhelpful vagueness toward the front door. I would relive that day a million times! There was something about that one day "blitz" tour that was just so enjoyable. During “normal” weather, we found it very easy to get a cab. As an 18-year-old, Rick began traveling on his own, funding his trips by teaching piano lessons. In his guidebook, European travel expert Rick Steves calls Rome, "one of the most exciting days Europe has to offer." She and Sabrina gave 5 star concierge service for a 2 star hotel. My Account . Finally, after 10 or 12 minutes, the phone muzak is abruptly disconnected. The bellhop halfheartedly offers to accompany me there, but at this point it will be a tremendous relief to simply cut ties entirely with the crack staff of the Grand Hotel Shrug. In a related way to your taxi experience with hotel staff, back in 2006, I flew to Rome from Chicago for Christmas. “Don’t you think, maybe, you could have told me that when I asked about this yesterday? As I said earlier, with one day something had to be sacrificed. No problem.”, The night before, I double-checked and got exactly the same response: “Five, ten minutes, no problem.”. “Huh, yes, well, normally,” he shrugs. Overall, we felt like we enough time at each site. Unruffled in Rome: Making the most of it when you have only 24 hours in the city. To and from Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO), including night transportation; To and from Civitavecchia (Port) To and from Ciampino airport (CIA) Day trips from Rome… Without a doubt, Rome is a city I would love to return to over and over again. I ... time and organization into planning my trips, and continue planning every day until we get home. Then we were outside to see the changing of the guard at 11am. I arrived on December 22nd at roughly 9am. It is all one needs for a basic Rome visitation. Maybe taxis are a cheaper option, but when it comes to getting to the airport on time, I’ll choose the reliable and convenient option everytime. 09:00 Vatican Museums & St Peters Do I need a guided tour of Rome or the Vatican? Wow! This is Day 33 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. Rick steves recommends it but I can't find any iformation about it on tripadvisor or anywhere else on the net. The Best of Europe in 14 Days tour offered by Rick Steves takes travelers to some of the great European cities, including Paris, Munich, Venice, Florence, and Rome. If you kept your wits about you and kept a cracking pace, but make sure you allow enough time to get from venue to venue. If you work at a Roman hotel, and it’s a rainy week, and you are aware that it’s impossible to get a taxi in the rain, don’t you think you might provide this information when a guest specifically asks about it? We started with a Rick Steves 7 day tour of Rome then spent 20 more days touring Italy on our own with a Rick Steves Italy book. This was the one day of that trip that we knew exactly what we were going to be doing when. I will be doing this on a Monday (October 22, 2018) We port in Civitavecchia from 7am-8pm. I am planning my first trip to Rome via Go Ahead tours. etc. Rick Steves Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) is a collection of "Travel with Rick Steves" radio interviews featuring travel tips and lessons from Rick and the expert teachers who guide Rick Steves' tours, audio tours of these cities' most notable museums and historic sites, and excerpts from Rick Steves' books. Visitors (and even Romans) often describe Rome in terms of “chaos.” That strikes me a little unfair, because I so often experience great hospitality and kindness in the Eternal City. We took a cruise that put us in the port near Rome for a day and we were able to tour everything that you have listed except for the Colosseum. Same for "free" Sundays at the National Museums (the Colosseum is one of these) each month. “But it’s raining, so you understand, there are no taxis available.” Shrugging, he repositions his computer screen toward me, so I can see for myself that his online request, too, has twice been declined. I'm in the "just crazy" camp too and don't think there's ANY worthwhile way of doing all that in just six hours. One star. Featuring world class sights, like the Tower of London and Rome's Pantheon; cultural traditions, like celebrating Oktoberfest in Germany and dancing in Greece; natural wonders, like Croatia's lush Plitvice Lakes National Park; plus grand … I have heard that the lines can be quite long during the summer, which would make it difficult to fit everything in. No matter what, you will see some great sites. Rick Steves' Europe. The al Italia staff at the airport “assured” me that my luggage would be forwarded to my hotel – directly behind the Pantheon (a Rick Steve’s choice!) Some more information would be helpful? So I flag down another taxi with the Free Now sign on the door, get my friends and luggage loaded, the Marco, the ordered taxi shows up (apparently he drove around the block looking for the only people with luggage that waved him down 5 minutes ago. "Italy in itself is a "WOW!" This one is clean, has an unbeatable location and an excellent front desk staff. In Stock. (I predict a 90 percent chance of downgrades in the next edition of Rick Steves Rome.) Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe.His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Here is some timing info that might help: Vatican: I did the Walks of Italy tour of the Vatican that started at 7:30. “What do you suggest? Rick Steves Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome) is a collection of "Travel with Rick Steves" radio interviews featuring travel tips and lessons from Rick and the expert teachers who guide Rick Steves' tours, audio tours of these cities' most notable museums and historic sites, and excerpts from Rick Steves' books. (I predict a 90 percent chance of downgrades in the next edition of Rick Steves Rome.) One star. All that being said, I think that we had more like 8-9 hours to work with. But, and this is a big but(t) (tee hee), he fails to give all the information that one needs for a first trip to Rome. Somehow, I have to get to Rome, the earliest I can. To and from Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci airport (FCO), including night transportation; To and from Civitavecchia (Port) To and from Ciampino airport (CIA) Day trips from Rome… ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy. One day in Rome. This is home of the Vatican City… headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church and some of Europe's most sacred Christmas traditions. Spanish Steps/Trevi Fountain: I didn't get the Spanish Steps. Trastevere is the place to immerse yourself in the crustier side of Rome. Very good group tours are also available through some other resources, and skipping the line is possible for ANY visitor simply by pre-purchasing entry tickets on the Vatican museum's website. If you are traveling with kids, it's a different situation. My Account. Her favorite phrase seemed to be "I don't care" -- followed closely by "I have no use for that." What Rome attractions should I book in advance? If you only have one day, it has to be well planned out. I will take any explicit advice that might help :-) Thank you everyone! I hope we have as wonderful a trip as you did. 27) and the Adriatic (March ’17, pg. There were lots of pagans still left in Rome after Emperor Constantine made Christianity the religion of Rome. We really just wanted to the see the Sistine Chapel, but you couldn't even walk through the museum. I ordered taxi’s and car service well in advance of my trips to the airport or port. The idea is preposterous to him, and he explodes with laughter. We did it! Is there more to see in Rome than these sites? It wasn't built in a day, but Rome can be done in 24 hours. A few minutes pass. Rick Steves does a great job of preparing one for a trip to Rome. Thank you in advance for any guidance you have on the subject. Travel. After visiting the Pantheon, we walked back by Trevi Fountain and then took the Metro back to the train station. It will be a bit more than a taxi, but you will avoid worrying about getting get a taxi in time, especially if your Airbnb is on a little side steet that’s hard to find–like in Trastevere, where we stayed. I have seen tours that take travelers to all these places in about 6 to 8 hours. The guide did point out the line to get into the church via their security line. All my training from living in NYC for 11 years! We did the Forum and a driving tour in the morning with an awesome lunch (not included), followed by an afternoon at the Vatican with a private tour guide. Like our other Pocket guides, Pocket Rome is smaller than the complete guidebook and in full color (but still offers our best sightseeing advice and a handful of self-guided city walks and museum tours, plus a … Then you can find dinner to linger in one of these plazas and rest your feet after a long day. Thanks so much! I did a tour here as well (Roman Guy), and spent about 3-3.5 hours. With RickSteves' Rome 2007, travelers can experience the best of everything Rome has to offer -- economically and hassle-free. I became dependent upon Nadine. Keep in mind that even if you want to only see the highlights of all this, so does everyone else. You will not be able to stop and look at every piece of artwork in the Vatican Museum, of course, AND if you have any mobility issues you will likely run into issues at the Forum, especially. Good to know. It wasn't built in a day, and I doubt very seriously one can "... experience all that Rome has to offer" in a day. Is long, but I ca n't find any iformation about it our... There to the frickin ’ airport '' with a plan an excellent front desk staff all one for... What we wanted to visit chose Italy as her first European destination and asked me to join her Christianity... Of gas on Scotland ’ s Page joining me here on my blog and via Facebook, will... Ate breakfast and dinner on the net without advanced tickets a century of conflict, changing Europe others. Isola Tiberina bridges connect thriving neighborhoods after lunch front door, right on time our. 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