Rome, Italy

[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
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.

[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/bestwest...tels=undefined

It comes highly rated through TripAdvisor, too: http://rome-hotels.tripadvisor.com/H...ome_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!