Rome, Italy

[shopGirl]

Suggestions for places to go and stay in Rome, Italy.
Planning to go this fall, anyone know of any deals during this time with airlines or hotels?

Thanks in advance.

[b166er1337]

Suggestions for places to go and stay in Rome, Italy.
Planning to go this fall, anyone know of any deals during this time with airlines or hotels?

Thanks in advance.

Read a guidebook first, then ask question here. If everyone asks this question for every city they are going to, nobody will bother to reply.

[pablonutribar]

If you don't mind staying in a hostel, the best one in town is Colors Hostel. I stayed there a month ago. It's clean, friendly, and located right near the Vatican. You could book in advance on Hostelworld.com.

[pablonutribar]

Read a guidebook first, then ask question here. If everyone asks this question for every city they are going to, nobody will bother to reply.

Don't listen to this post. Many of the good places are not in the guidebook - word of mouth is still the best way to find the best place to stay IMO.

[Pete_Coach]

Suggestions for places to go and stay in Rome, Italy.
Planning to go this fall, anyone know of any deals during this time with airlines or hotels?

Thanks in advance.

You have a budget? Do you have any idea of what part of Rome you wish to stay in?
To get a base idea of hotels rates try www.cheapOstay.com or, if you wish to wait till close to when you leave www.wotif.com.

[b166er1337]

Don't listen to this post. Many of the good places are not in the guidebook - word of mouth is still the best way to find the best place to stay IMO.

Whatever, what I meant was that OP should do some BASIC research first.

[markom]

Watch out for thiefs in the subway.

[GangStarr]

Don't listen to this post. Many of the good places are not in the guidebook - word of mouth is still the best way to find the best place to stay IMO.

Too many people these days just post on forums "Going to xxxx, what is there to do?"

Try it on the lonelyplanet forums, instant flame.

If the op had perhaps posted things like budget, interests and areas they would like to stay instead of just "any deals on hotels and flights"

I mean come on, suggestions on places to go? Its Rome... not some small town in northern ontario.

OP should specify what they are into, food, music, dining, clubbing?

Specifying an age range isn't a bad idea either.

Hanging out on the spanish steps at night can be interesting

[aZnRYcEbOi]

Pick up a copy of Rick Steve's guide to Italy or Rome. Or just read this for now
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/italy_menu.htm
http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/destinations/italy/rome3.htm

Or Frommmers http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rome/

If you are in Rome for more than 3 nights, you should consider staying at an apartment instead. Much cheaper than hotels, and only slightly more expensive than hostels. Check them out here: http://sleepinitaly.com/


I do agree with GangStarr though. Basic research/reading should be done first, and then you can ask specific questions on forums.

[shopGirl]

Range, approx 3500 for 2 ppl total for 6-8 days.

I want to see the basic touristy things - colleseum, St. Peters, museums, churchs, etc.
Actually, I don't need suggestions for this stuff because its pretty basic but any HIDDEN GEMS ppl can point out - I would appreciate this.

I don't want to stay in a hostel, if possible. 3 star + hotel preferred.

[Talamasca]

Il Gesu is my favourite of the smaller churches and is my hidden gem. The decor is overwhelming in its beauty and power. It's not far from Piazza Navona. Villa Borghese is a large park and is the only major green area in the city centre so it's a nice break from all the hustle and bustle. There's a small but terrific museum in the park as well (Galeria Borghese).

I had some amazing gelato at Giolitti near Piazza Navona. I wanted to try out San Crispino Gelateria (supposedly the best in the city) near the Trevi Fountain but they were closed the day I was there. The tip is to look at their banana gelato. If it's grey, that's a good thing as it means it's natural and a sign that all their gelato is good.

I'll be there in October and I'm going to try to visit the catacombs if I can. I wasn't able to go there the first time.

[sachit64]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_Crypt

Definitely go there. Entirely made of bones from old monks - its just over whelming. I know its near a major area (kinda where all the upper-end hotels are). There's a ritzy restaurant beside it and its just off a major central block.

Even when right infront of it, many people don't know about it. I know you have to go up a flight of stairs to actually get into the place. There are no signs stating what the place is... so it is easily missed.

One thing I stress is to see Rome on a day when it is bright and sunny.

[tail_duck]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capuchin_Crypt

Definitely go there. Entirely made of bones from old monks - its just over whelming. I know its near a major area (kinda where all the upper-end hotels are). There's a ritzy restaurant beside it and its just off a major central block.

Even when right infront of it, many people don't know about it. I know you have to go up a flight of stairs to actually get into the place. There are no signs stating what the place is... so it is easily missed.

One thing I stress is to see Rome on a day when it is bright and sunny.

Yup it's at Barberini Station as soon as you step outside, across the street. It's beneath a basillica and the entrance hours are located right on the door.

I suggest to OP and anyone else considering europe to look into Eyewitness books in your cities of interest.

[tail_duck]

Suggestions for places to go and stay in Rome, Italy.
Planning to go this fall, anyone know of any deals during this time with airlines or hotels?

Thanks in advance.

Examples are given according to the area's they're in, so there is less walking to do between destinations.

*buy a metropass, if you're there for a week there's a 7 day pass for 16 euro, dirt cheap for unlimited subway/bus travel! Keep in mind subway closes at 10:30pm I believe so depend on busses after that.

Day: Vatican City (museum + duomo climb + basillica interior)
Night: Piazza Navona

Day: Piazza Navona/Pantheon (careful on the Pantheon's open hours)
Night: Trevi Fountain

Day: Roman Forum/Colleseum/Arch of Constantine/Vittorio Emmanuel Monument
Night: Eat around there, go to Spanish steps area as well

There are hundreds of basillicas in Rome, among them:
- St. Peters (Vatican)
- San Andrea Al Quirinale (oval interior due to space restrictions in architecture)
- Santa Maria Maggiore (fascinating!)
- Pantheon

Use this Rome travel wiki for dummies: http://wikitravel.org/en/Rome

I never needed any of that, I STRONGLY suggest eyewitness Rome as all you'll need ;)

[robster77]

Range, approx 3500 for 2 ppl total for 6-8 days.

I want to see the basic touristy things - colleseum, St. Peters, museums, churchs, etc.
Actually, I don't need suggestions for this stuff because its pretty basic but any HIDDEN GEMS ppl can point out - I would appreciate this.

I don't want to stay in a hostel, if possible. 3 star + hotel preferred.

Been to Rome a couple of times. My favourite "hidden gem" is the Roman catacombs. Not as many tourists go there because it's a bit of a trek in the burbs. You can take a bus, but we walked. Maybe took an 60-75 from our hotel, which was around the Colleseum. But the walk was nice becasue for a spell you're walking along the old Roman walls. Anyway, the catacombs were used by early Christians, Jews and pagens as meeting places and as a burial sites. There are thousands of burial plots there where you can still see the bones. Since it's a religious site, a nun or preist will give you a tour for free. Lots of cool frescos and drawings on the walls, and if I'm not mistaken, it's the site of the earliest known Christian cross symbol (from what I recall it was a small cross painted on a ceiling). It was a pretty cool experience. Wiki or google it to find out more.

[shopGirl]

thank u so much everybody!
i'm super excited! :)

[b166er1337]

thank u so much everybody!
i'm super excited! :)

If you are going to be in Rome for 6 to 8 days, you can do a daytrip to Blue Grotto from Rome. It's quite a sight from what I heard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Grotto

[go leafs]

I took a half-day trip to Orvieto in Italy... pretty cool little town on top of a hill.

[GemInite]

Hanging out on the spanish steps at night can be interesting


Hey GangStarr, can you elaborate on this?

I've read that the Spanish steps is one of the biggest disappointments in Rome. Is the people watching just fun?

When I was in Barcelona one of the best things I did was just people watching while sitting on the steps of the cathedral/

[Talamasca]

Hey GangStarr, can you elaborate on this?

I've read that the Spanish steps is one of the biggest disappointments in Rome. Is the people watching just fun?

When I was in Barcelona one of the best things I did was just people watching while sitting on the steps of the cathedral

It's a big set of stairs, usually packed with people sitting on them. It's not disappointing and it's not phenomenal either. It's just a set of stairs. I wouldn't spend a lot of time there as there's much more to see and do in Rome than to sit on some stairs.

[robster77]

It's a big set of stairs, usually packed with people sitting on them. It's not disappointing and it's not phenomenal either. It's just a set of stairs. I wouldn't spend a lot of time there as there's much more to see and do in Rome than to sit on some stairs.

Agreed. Nothing spectacular about them. I find people-watching in Rome is better while sitting in an outdoor cafe while slugging back countless beers.

[Pete_Coach]

Hey GangStarr, can you elaborate on this?

I've read that the Spanish steps is one of the biggest disappointments in Rome. Is the people watching just fun?

When I was in Barcelona one of the best things I did was just people watching while sitting on the steps of the cathedral/

It is like people hanging around in a Mall except it is on a ton of steps. It is a meeting place because it is easily identifies so really, just a hangout.

[GangStarr]

It is like people hanging around in a Mall except it is on a ton of steps. It is a meeting place because it is easily identifies so really, just a hangout.

Pretty much sums it up, it gets a bit more interesting at night. A lot of pub crawls start there so lots of young people around.

To the OP, yes it's just a set of steps.

[heymikey]

It is like people hanging around in a Mall except it is on a ton of steps. It is a meeting place because it is easily identifies so really, just a hangout.
Yeah, it's like any other plaza or square. But just like any famous square in Europe, it has some pretty interesting architecture surrounding it. And it really is all about the people. It has that kind of buzz and vibrancy that can be comparable to Leicester Square in London for example.

[Pete_Coach]

Yeah, it's like any other plaza or square. But just like any famous square in Europe, it has some pretty interesting architecture surrounding it. And it really is all about the people. It has that kind of buzz and vibrancy that can be comparable to Leicester Square in London for example.

Picadilly Circus and Leicster Square at least have activity around them :lol:
You are very right, with the proper folk around you, you can have fun anywhere.
Anyway, there are lots of piazzas far more entertaining than the steps. Campo de Fiorio for one, changes from a busy fruit and vegetable market during the day to restaurants, trattorias, cafes, pubs and, clubs at night. A very busy, active and fun piazza.

[Howlader]

I went to Rome in January for four days, some more time would have been (as it always is) better - but I didn't feel that I missed out on that much.

I would totally recommend going to Pompeii. It can be done as a day trip:
Take a really early morning train from Termini Station in Rome to Naples. We took a Eurostar train, which had assigned seating, was much prettier and took an hour and twenty minutes on the way there. On the route back, we didn't. The fare difference was probably double, but the route back took over three hours. So I figured it was worth it for the more expensive and quicker train to Naples, but not back to Rome.


Once you arrive at Naples (Napoli Centrale) take the Circumvesuviana, which is the regional/commuter train to Pompei Scavi station - which is located right outside the dig site.

[skeletor]

I went to Rome in January for four days, some more time would have been (as it always is) better - but I didn't feel that I missed out on that much.

I would totally recommend going to Pompeii. It can be done as a day trip:
Take a really early morning train from Termini Station in Rome to Naples. We took a Eurostar train, which had assigned seating, was much prettier and took an hour and twenty minutes on the way there. On the route back, we didn't. The fare difference was probably double, but the route back took over three hours. So I figured it was worth it for the more expensive and quicker train to Naples, but not back to Rome.


Once you arrive at Naples (Napoli Centrale) take the Circumvesuviana, which is the regional/commuter train to Pompei Scavi station - which is located right outside the dig site.



after 4 hours pompeii gets very boring.. I recommend heading to at the end of that train (20 minutes away) to Sorrento then taking a SITA bus along the amalfi coast to see Positano and amalfi.. Whatever you do, GTFO of Naples, it is a dirty place like the slums of NYC. The Mountainous Amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful in Italy. If you plan it right this can all be done a day.


http://www.espositocarservice.com/fotoescursioni/positano/Positano.jpg

[Just thinking]

Loved Rome! I am sure you will too.

Get a Roma Pass. The first two or three museums are free and then a discount on each one after that.

Book in advance a tour of the Vatican. You will get in at 9:30 (doors to the public open at 10:00) and not have to stand in lines that can be literally hours long. A cheap "tour" actually does not include a tour, just advanced entrance and a quick overview of the place. Well worth the $$$.

As for hotels, why not try booking.com? Lots of deals and you can cross reference with trip advisor. I would not recommend around the train station (kinda scuzzy) or along Via Vittorio Veneto (nice hotels but a big pain to walk up yet another hill to get to your hotel at the end of the day, and a bit generic).

[jakeer]

I've been to Rome a few times and one "hidden gem" hotel that I've found is called the Best Western Hotel Canada (ironically enough).
http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?&srcPage=SelectHotel&isMapOpen=true&selectedHotels=undefined

It comes highly rated through TripAdvisor, too: http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g187791-d203130-Reviews-Best_Western_Hotel_Canada-Rome_Lazio.html

It's in an area of town that guide books usually discourage you from staying in (just east of Termini station) because the area can appear a little bit shady and there are a lot of cheap hotels in the vicinity, but this one is really a standout. It's maybe a 5-10 minute walk from Termini and right around the corner from the Castro Pretorio subway station, so its location is quite convenient. Also, the staff is incredibly friendly and helpful (and all speak English), and they have a great daily breakfast included, too. Wireless internet is free, and the hotel itself is very elegant in an old-world way, too. And it has some of the most reasonable room rates in Rome for a hotel that offers all this. Read some of the TripAdvisor reviews for more info!