fwiw, I found the best way to do the sightseeing around Rome tour was on a Segway with a tour guide. Most of it is at street level and viewable, you can do 5 miles without taking a step, all while hitting the Forum, Palatine hill, Colosseum, emperor’s palace, circus maximus etc. Staying near Termini, be sure to check out the National Museum that’s now in the renovated palace right across the street from the station - the frescos and mosaics and marble work are an amazing collection. Termini then gives you access to the whole country - you can be in Milan in 2 hrs, switch to a local train and ride through the Alps for the afternoon, and you never need a car. Depends what you are looking to do.
Re the Italian trains: they were less punctual than the Swiss trains. Not bad, just 12 to 15 minutes late here or there.
@shuffle1 good idea. Do they have Lime scooters or facsimile there also? I wouldn’t mind riding one of those.
@ProfessorPlum168 Vespas, scooters, electric bikes (for help with the hills) are all available for rental or for tours. Check tripadvisor. Lime is coming but hasn’t opened yet.
Oh, one more thing - check for news regarding upcoming transit/train strikes. They had a transit strike about a month ago that shut down the metro, local train systems, and the airport taxis for a day.
@ProfessorPlum168 Not connected to the airport, not walkable (but very close - the airport itself is huge and spread out) The front desk called for a taxi which was supposedly a special rate but wasn’t cheap 25 or 30 euros - I don’t recall.
so a question on getting tickets from FCO to Termini. Probably going to just go with the Leonardo Express since it’s my first time flying into Rome (the other times I came in via train from Venice). Is it easy to just get tickets on the spot, or should I book in advance? Reading the fine print it looks like the ticket is only good for 90 minutes from ticket time if I book in advance. I’d prefer to book in advance, but worried about delays which may cause the ticket to expire.
Also, are the tickets for pre-assigned seats, or you just grab whatever is available?
no need to buy a ticket in advance, and you can’t guarantee your flight won’t be late (or early). Follow the signs in the airport to the train station. They have a staffed booth or automated kiosks. Not all US credit cards will work in the kiosks, at the booth they all are accepted. Be sure to stamp your ticket before boarding. The seats are first-come first-served on this line. I think there is a train every 30 minutes, more often during peak hours.
Thanks @mikemac! Is there anything else worth getting in advance ticket-wise other than the obvious? (Hotels, airfare). I don’t think we’re going to the Vatican this time. We’re leaving in the next few days.
So planning on doing the rushed day trip from Rome to Pisa and Florence. I notice that tickets to go up the tower in Pisa is only for the evening. Is it worth it at night (which is the only time that is available)? Are there scalpers out there with early tickets? I was thinking of taking an early train to Pisa, go over to the Tower, walk around and take a few pictures, and then head to Florence for the day for the Duomo and pizza.
Personally, I preferred the view from the ground. My travel companion hit her head on a bell(!) and needed pain meds!
When I visited, it was picture post card perfect (luck of the draw). I hope you get a beautiful clear day with blue sky when the cathedral and tower are particularly striking and very photogenic.
I definitely wouldn’t try to include the tower at the expense of time in Florence where there are so many wonderful options. (my opinion only, of course!) Some sites in Florence need advance tickets - you probably know this, but just mentioning.
@Momofadult actually I’m doing planning now even though it’s literally a couple of days away. (Dont get me started on the spouse who was supposed to be planning all this, nothing got done as usual). What parts of Florence need advance tickets that you would recommend?
ok, I read up on Florence now. Got individual tickets for skip-ahead for Accademia Galleria and the Duomo Dome. Definitely sounded like I need more than one day, but oh well. It’ll be brutal haha, 6am train from Rome to Pisa, 2 hours in Pisa, then to Florence for the rest of the day. She better not complain.
^^ Sounds like you’re set! Have a great trip!
If you decide to visit the Uffizi, which I recommend, buy your ticket in advance. You will avoid a long line and see some beautiful art. I think I spent 20 minutes gazing at Boticelli’s Birth of Venus.
Hi @JazzyTXMom, my sched has Accademia Galleria at 1pm and the Duomo booking at 4:30. I see that Uffizi closes at around 6:45pm. Do you think I could squeeze the time in there? I really would like to go. I know it’s rushed but oh well.
so sorry for being so frustrated, but yep, my spouse booked a waterfront hotel at Amalfi Coast for 2 nights but without any plans whatsoever on how to get there or back or to go anywhere else, so as usual I’m left cleaning up her mess again. I wanted to see Pompeii and Naples but from initial looks, it looks pretty difficult to take public transportation to go anywhere - I would have been better off just doing a day trip, even 2 day trips from Rome. All tours from Amalfi Coast seem to be booked. I’ve not much of a beach person so I have no clue as to how to proceed. I’m not going to drive when I’m there. Any ideas?
Forget the beach. You can take a ferry to many pretty towns on the Amalfi coast and I think a bus to some towns higher up. Walk the Path of the Gods for beautiful views.
^^^ Private driver for Amalfi Coast??? I don’t blame you on not wanting to drive it. Have you asked this question on Tripadvisor? Someone may have a driver they have used or can give you suggestions. I have received very good suggestions for drivers through Tripadvisor for three different SE Asia trips. I remember drivers being mentioned on the Rome forum last time I was planning a Rome trip. That trip was in 2010, however. I don’t know who is posting on Tripadvisor these days.
It is possible to get to Pompeii from Rome via Naples - train, bus/taxi, etc. (Not sure if you were looking for advice on that journey - I understand that all has become frustrating for you.) Check on Tripadvisor, I suspect someone will have detailed current information for public transport if you are searching.
You could also try the FlyerTalk forums for Italy. They don’t get the fast responses that Tripadvisor does, but occasionally there is someone who has very good advice about a particular destination. Maybe you will get lucky.
Also contact the hotel on the Amalfi Coast. They may be able to advise you on transport. I have booked transport through my hotel on more than one occasion in Asia, Europe and Australia. (It likely won’t be cheap…)._
At this late in the game, you are at the mercy of your hotel on the Amalfi Coast to try to get a tour to Pompeii
@ProfessorPlum168 although my visit was many years ago, I don’t think we spent more than an hour at L’Accademia. I would allow for at least two hours at the Uffizi, however. Can you change your reservationat the Duomo to an earlier time to allow a visit to the Uffizi?
If it were me, I would not try to visit Pisa and Florence in the same day. There is so much to see in Florence that it is difficult to do that in a single day.
In any museum, you can get the gist of the main exhibits quickly, if needed, can appreciate highlights. I’ve been in the Uffizi near closing, but it wasn’t my first visit and I knew just what I wanted to see. Fine. But they were closing some galleries early, for a function.
To me, the 3 must do things are Uffizi, Duomo, and plenty of just walking around time. Agree, not sure I’d short Florence for Pisa.
Also check the weather at each site.