Rome - Step by Step

Must see in Rome

Coliseum

Together with the Forum and Palatino.

Coliseo - https://colosseo.it/
- https://ticketing.colosseo.it/en/eventi/24h-colosseo-foro-romano-palatino/

You can buy them up to 30d in advance! and this is the new website from May 2024 at 18eur

https://ticketing.colosseo.it/es/eventi/full-experience-attico/

With this one you can go 2 days later anytime

Pantheon

Panteón. Mucho ojo porque a partir de julio 2024 lo han hecho de pago (antes eran gratis y las entradas se sacan en http://www.museiitaliani.it/).

Tickets are here - https://portale.museiitaliani.it/b2c/buyTicketless/33f77159-0acd-40c4-8524-701f33aae108

https://www.museiitaliani.it/musei/33f77159-0acd-40c4-8524-701f33aae108

Pantheon e Basilica di Santa Maria ad Martyres - its 5eur at the time of writing

https://portale.museiitaliani.it/b2c/buyTicketless/33f77159-0acd-40c4-8524-701f33aae108

Las colas para sacar las entradas allí eran de 1 hora.

Pero si las compras online entras enseguida, sin cola.

Imprescindible comprarlas antes, porque encima da todo el sol mientras haces la cola…

Forum

Others

In summary, entry to Vatican City and the basilica is free.

However, there is an admission fee for the museum and the private palaces.

Santa Maria Maggiore
Monumento a Víctor Manuel

Museo Vaticano

To visit the Sistine Chapel, you’ll need to purchase a ticket for the Vatican Museums, as the chapel is part of this museum complex.

Vatican Museums Tickets

Entrance to the museums usually has a fee, and it’s advisable to buy tickets in advance online to avoid the long lines that typically form, especially during peak season.

As for St. Peter’s Basilica, entry is free.

However, as you mentioned, there are often long queues to enter, especially on holidays and weekends.

Arriving early in the morning can help mitigate some of the crowds.

Te recomiendo que visites también el castillo de Sant’Angelo, esta pegado al vaticano.

The recommendation here is to consider purchasing tickets directly from the official Vatican Museums website well in advance (at least a month before your visit, if possible) as tickets can be hard to get closer to the date.

The entry ticket costs about 17€, while a tour can cost around 57€. If you prefer to explore at your own pace and spend as much time as you want in the Sistine Chapel, going on your own might be a better option.

However, the advantage of taking a guided tour is that if the entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica is open, being with a guide allows you to bypass the long queues.

If you go on your own, you would need to exit and join the queue for the Basilica, which is impressive and well worth a visit. Entry to the Basilica is free, but it’s closed on Wednesdays for papal audiences, though this is not always certain.

Additionally, climbing up to the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica is highly recommended.

It costs 8€ to climb all 520 steps, or 10€ to take an elevator for the first part, reducing the number of steps to 320.

The views of Rome, the Vatican Gardens, and St. Peter’s Square from the top are stunning.

The final part of the climb, even if you take the elevator, involves some inclined steps but is relatively short and manageable compared to climbing all the way.

Overall, the recommendation is to weigh the benefits of a guided tour against the flexibility and potential savings of a self-guided visit, and to consider making the effort to climb the dome for its spectacular views.

Rome during the night

It was surprising that during the nights there was not so much lights in the streets.

Fortunately, having a walk in Rome during night is totally worth it.

plaza España+ navona + Trevi

Fontana

My Conclusions on Rome

If you want to see the historical landmarks without any work going on…

Probably is worth to go the year after some big events are happening, like jubileo.

There is something special about simmetry, and Rome has tons of it.

How have I made this trip possible?

Stories During These Vacations

Albanian Coincidence

I met someone at the airport.

We were talking on our way to Rome, with the train.

She was from ALbania, but left the country as a refugee with 12 years old.

That was a long time ago, in the 90’s and she lived first in Italy, currently in France.

Albania - Discovering the unexpected

Exploring Albania. Sunsets and history like I havent seen in a While

Adventure 20-09-2024

She’s already planning how to retire on her home country, as it has been developing quite a lot in the recent years.

Cuba in Italy

FAQ

You can get from Fiumiccino Airport to Rome by Train (they work up to mid night).

You can check schedules at - https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

If you are later than that, you can get a Taxi for ~60euros one way.

Tickets for Rome

Coliseo - https://colosseo.it/
- https://ticketing.colosseo.it/en/eventi/24h-colosseo-foro-romano-palatino/

You can buy them up to 30d in advance!

With the url /24h-colosseum-roman-forum-and-palatine/

Tips for Rome

Some recommendations if you want to visit Rome:

Bus Tickets:
- Buses in Rome often allow entry through the back doors, and many locals don’t validate their tickets.
- It’s advisable to buy a ticket (costs 1.5€ and valid for 100 minutes after validation), but you might choose not to validate it immediately. Having a ticket on hand is useful in case it’s checked.
- For Trains, see also: https://www.italiarail.com/
Termini Area:
- While not the best neighborhood, the Termini area is not as bad as some might suggest in online comments.
Footwear:
- Wear comfortable, sturdy shoes. The cobblestones are uneven and can cause trips or ankle sprains.
Trastevere:
- Trastevere has a vibrant nightlife atmosphere, making it a great spot for drinks and possibly partying. Highly recommended.
Taxi Costs:
- A taxi from Trastevere to a hotel near Plaza de España cost 13€ at night, while a similar daytime fare was quoted at 25€. Be aware of price fluctuations during peak hours or in certain locations.
Weather:
- The weather wasn’t excessively hot, but it was noticeably warmer in the mornings. Walking in the shade was comfortable.
Crowds:
- Considering it’s Rome, the crowds weren’t overwhelming. Streets were navigable, and while museums and tourist sites were busier, they weren’t unbearable.
Drinking Water:
- There are drinking fountains with fresh potable water every few streets, ideal for refilling bottles.