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7 top tips for a weekend trip to Rome
Rental in Rome has a great selection of holiday apartments in central locations, ranging from good value studio apartments near the Vatican to luxurious penthouses overlooking Piazza Navona.
Get to grips with the public transport
Although the centre of Rome is fairly compact for a capital city, youre going to need to use public transport at some point. A 48 hour metro pass costs only 12, and gives you unlimited access to the metro and buses. Take the time to study the metro map and a couple of useful bus routes, and youll save yourself valuable time and energy.
See the city on a scooter
Whizzing around on a motorino is an even more efficient way to see Rome, and its much more fun. There are numerous companies that offer scooter tours, and Scooterino is a useful app for an Uber-esque scooter taxi service. Alternatively, if youre feeling brave, rent a scooter from Bici & Baci.
Book in advance
You dont need to book in advance for every attraction, but planning definitely pays off for the Vatican. You dont want to waste half of your weekend waiting in line to enter the Vatican Museums, so book your tickets in advance, or, even better, book a guided tour designed to maximise your time. Rather than wandering aimlessly through endless galleries, go with an expert who can show you the highlights and provide valuable context.
The Borghese Gallery also needs to be booked in advance. There are a limited number of tickets, and if you wait till the last minute to book tickets for a weekend visit, you may be disappointed.
Consider alternatives to the must-see sights
No one would deny that a visit to the Vatican, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum are essential. But if its not your first time in Rome, or youre only in the city for a couple of days, why not visit some other attractions instead? The Borghese Gallery and Palazzo Barberini have stunning art collections, while Palazzo Massimo, Palazzo Altemps, Centrale Montemartini and Villa Giulia are highly recommended for history lovers. Trajans Market and the Baths of Caracalla could be good alternatives to the Roman Forum. These sites may be less famous, but theyre also smaller and more manageable. 3 hours in the Vatican Museums or 1.5 hours in the Borghese Gallery? Whichever you choose, its time well-spent, but if youre only in Rome for a short weekend you may want to opt for the latter.
Remember to refuel
Sightseeing is tiring, and even the most ambitious tourist can be worn out by a day in Rome, especially when its hot. Make time for quick coffee breaks – take it standing up at the counter like a local – and gelato stops. The tradition of aperitivo could also be used to the weary tourists advantage. Its perfectly acceptable to have a drink or two with an assortment of food at about 6pm. A cocktail accompanied by crisps, nuts and pizzette will give you some energy, and keep you going till dinner.
Research your restaurants
One of the great pleasures of a trip to Rome is the food. If youre only visiting for a short time, you dont want to waste valuable dining opportunities in tourist traps near the Trevi Fountain. Before you arrive in Rome, find some recommendations online and make a note of suggestions by Rome-based bloggers and food writers such as Katie Parla and Elizabeth Minchilli. There are plenty of excellent restaurants in the centre of Rome, but you need to know where to go, as its not always easy to identify a top quality restaurant when youre inspecting the menu from the street. Reliable restaurants in Rome include Armando al Pantheon, La Carbonara (Monti) and Flavio al Velavevodetto (Testaccio).
Rosario Gorgone is Co-Founder of Through Eternity Tours.
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Rome wasnt built in a day, and it cant be seen in one either. Many tourists find it frustrating only having a day or two at their disposal, but if thats all youve got, heres how to make the most of your time during a quick trip to Rome.
Stay centrally
You could choose to base yourself near Termini (the main train station) for the sake of convenience, but its not the most attractive part of Rome. Look out for hotels or apartments in Monti, which is a beautiful, historic neighbourhood with good transport connections, just round the corner from the Colosseum. Did you enjoy this article?
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Rosario, you are so right about sight-seeing being tiring. I really tire easily. Maybe museums should have snack points inside in addition to the seats you get!