so I finally got around to planning our Rome trip today, which is in 2 weeks. I was hoping the wife would have taken care of this but just like my Berkeley kid, nothing really gets initiated unless I get involved. Well actually she did book a weekend doing the Amalfi Coast tour a while back, but it left the first 4 days and the last night unbooked. Anyhow, I just took care of the first 4 days in the last few minutes.
Regarding the last night, we have a flight out at 7am the next day from FCO. So I needed to figure out what to do the day before. I think we get back to Rome in the early afternoon, then fly out the next day. I could either stay close to the airport but there’s nothing to do over there, or stay somewhere near Termini, but the trains would not leave early enough in the morning so I’d probably have to spend $60 for some sort of transportation (I think). Any ideas what I should do? Ideally I’d like to stay close to the airport, but still close to where tourists might go (we have no car). The only 2 other times I’ve been in Rome, I’ve come in via train, so never have been to the airport before, so no idea what’s over there.
I think that there is an archeological site sort of near the airport. Maybe you can see that and then stay overnight close to airport.
Personally, I would stay in the Rome the last day, plan some interesting sites, a great dinner and pay for a pre-arranged taxi in the very early morning. The airport is a bit of a drive from the city so leave time! What are you seeing the first 4 nights? Maybe we can help you with the last day
@naviance I think you are right, just staying in the center seems more like the choice for the last day. Probably will bite the bullet and take a cab back to the airport. I’ve always stayed near Termini at somewhat budget 4-star places (including this time also), so maybe that last night I can stay somewhere in a better neighborhood close to somewhere nice.
I haven’t really planned anything other than staying the weekend in Amalfi Coast. I’ve pretty much been everywhere in Rome itself so I was imagining taking a couple of day trips somewhere, so maybe that last night I could stay walkable somewhere between Trevi Fountain and The Panthenon?
Map out a route for your last afternoon! Here is an idea of lesser traveled sites: Start at San Clemente Basilica near the coliseum, then stop by San Pietro en Vincoli. Continue to Trevi Fountain and get gelato there at San Crispino. From end to end a little over a mile walking, several really cool sites to see and excellent gelato! Just check days and times to make sure the churches are open when you will be there.
Whichever sites you see, you are sure to have an excellent trip.
My wife is a pretty devout Catholic so one of the things she loves to do best when her friends are out here is to take them to see all the Mission churches in California. So other than the Vatican I don’t think she’s been in any other church before in Rome, so I’m sure we’ll be visiting a few of them. That sounds like a good itenerary for the last day, thanks!
If you are a Bernini fan don’t forget to visit San Francesco a Ripa in Trastevere, among other churches displaying his work. No matter what, Rome (and Italian) churches, big or small, are spectacular and an extraordinary treat.
Alle Palme near the Pantheon for gelato!
I have a list of lesser known churches and the masterpieces to look for in each. I will search for the list and post some if I find it!! You can stop in some of the churches on your way to other destinations and see masterpieces for free, no lines, no tickets!!
Have a great trip.
We had a very early flight home from Paris last Oct, and we were not sure if we would be able to hail a cab that early We opted to arrange private cab that was listed in the notebook at our vrbo rental. It was expensive, but luckily we were able to split it with another couple (who went to the airport a few hours early in order to share a cab). Under your circumstances, I might have considered a place close to the airport to ease the stress on departure day.
If you get back to Rome in the afternoon of the last day, I’d just hang in whatever neighborhood it is, have a great (but light) dinner, walk around. We always stayed in the Campo de Fiori area, not far from Piazza Navona.
The time to fit in random church visits is in the first days there. (Not like there aren’t plenty, on nearly every corner.) Roman church history was one of DH’s fields, but in Rome, other than some that figured prominently in something, he just wanders in. Not all will have masterpieces, but that’s not always why you want to view them inside. Especially when your faith is important to you.
No way I’d stay by the airport. Not when you have that last chance in an ancient city.
@NYDreammom mentioned Della Palma (not “Alle.”) for gelato. That’s one place I’d be, for sure. Great last night memories. You’ll be home in your own bed soon enough.
After our 2 weeks in Italy I wanted a hotel near Fumicino Airport FCO (Aeroporto Internazionale di Roma–Fiumicino “Leonardo da Vinci”) and wife wanted a hotel with a pool, so the search engine turned up QC Terme Roma. We didn’t realize until we got there it is a luxurious Roman spa. You run around the beautiful grounds in bathrobes - numerous pools, fountains, indoors and out. Really a fantastic place, right next to the airport.
@deb922 my wife (and I) are so excited about this! We had no idea about this until yesterday when you showed us that website. When we made the booking back last October, we had no plans at all, so I’m so glad we lucked into this. Thanks so much!
Stay in Rome and take the taxi. We stayed in a hotel near the airport on one trip, for all intents and purposes you’ve left Italy that afternoon when you check in. For $60 you get another evening to explore & enjoy.
If you’ve seen Rome then instead of day trips I would spend 3-4 days somewhere else instead of spending the time travelling from Rome each day. You already have a coastal visit planned so I’ll suggest some inland destinations. We’ve done this using both just public transit and with a car, either way works (a car can be more convenient since it goes when you want). You could stay in a hilltown such as Perugia (you get off at the base, take a bus to the top) and then can visit other hilltowns in the area doing the bus/train combo; look up train schedules in advance. We’ve found a hilltown in the morning and a different one in the afternoon is easily done by train. Bologna is a beautiful city as a base, from there you can also go to Modena/Parma/Ravenna, etc or even down the coast such as Pesaro. You could go to Florence and do local trips by bus or train.
^^^ edit: I’m not suggesting you do all of these, I’d pick one place (Bologna, Florence, Perugia, etc) as a base for 4 days an do day trips from there. Part of the fun is being in a place, especially a touristy one that can get crowded such as a hilltown, in late evening when the daytrippers have left and you feel like you’ve gone back 5 centuries in time.
Yeah I think I’d rather spend an evening in Rome proper and deal with the super-early wake up call and long drive to the airport. Is there Uber or Lyft in Italy?
https://www.trenitalia.com/ has train schedules. Unfortunately, it seems that the 3-hour advance time for your 7:00 flight (i.e. 4:00) is in the range when express trains from Roma Termini to FCO are not running (last express arrival at FCO for the night is 23:52, earliest in the morning is 5:52, though there is a non-express train arriving at 5:48).
