Rome

BigBearKris

So I nearly strated a thread on here couple weeks ago - things to do when in Rome. 
Somehow - I didn't... and I just got here today. Rome for 5 days and then one week in Pescara - east coast.

I wanted to ask for best places to eat, what is worth seeing, what not necessarily so... 

But blimey! I've just went for a quick stroll and got myself a kebab as I've eaten airport salads until then - damn... that was proper! I never thought I'll appreciate that kind of street food.
The whole city smells of garlic and in general within a hundred yards from my hotel there is so many restaurants that I won't be able to visit even 10% of then during my stay...

It's stupidly hot in here too...

John_P

I’d recommend you check out Dark Rome for their tours - I took a couple last year after someone here recommended them. and was very impressed.
I’m heading to Florence tomorrow if anyone had recommendations?

BigBearKris

Thanks - will look into that... 

I will happily just walk the streets and get some of that vibrant feel from the city. I'll visit few "must sees" like Colosseum etc.

Winny_Pooh

Do a tour of the palace grounds and the Forum, cheap and brilliant. Then go walk on the blank spot where the chariot races were:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KNqUmQeQMkbSDNs98

Ice cream here is awesome and you can walk along the riverside after 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/71RkQnU1N2xzxpT46

This is a popular spot and nice in the evening with diners

Piazza Navona

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbnSgDB7kqKaP62u5

BigBearKris

Winny_Pooh said:

Do a tour of the palace grounds and the Forum, cheap and brilliant. Then go walk on the blank spot where the chariot races were:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/KNqUmQeQMkbSDNs98

Ice cream here is awesome and you can walk along the riverside after 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/71RkQnU1N2xzxpT46

This is a popular spot and nice in the evening with diners

Piazza Navona

https://maps.app.goo.gl/vbnSgDB7kqKaP62u5

Lovely. Exactly my kinda thing - thank you.

DiscoStu

I did the Colosseum tour via an independent agent, they have access to the underground level and the arena itself which you don't get with the normal entry ticket.

Do a Segway tour as well! Bloody brilliant. We used Rex Tours who were ace.

octatonic

I've been to Rome about a dozen or so times- it is my favourite city- but I'll never go again in August.
Way too hot.
October is my favourite month, or April/May.

Do all the tourist stuff first, 5 days is just enough to get a taste, do more on your second trip.
St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps etc.

On your 3rd trip come back and ask for recommendations, but a few less common things to explore are Basilica de San Pietro in Vincoli, Basilica Santa Pudenziana Rome, Via Urbana, Keyhole to the cupola Aventine Hill, Piramide di Caio Cestio, Ostia Antica are all worth checking out.

Grunfeld

BigBearKris said:

So I nearly strated a thread on here couple weeks ago - things to do when in Rome. 

I think you're just supposed to do what the Romans....

I've already got me coat..

simonk

Rome is my favourite city too. I’d just wander round if I were you... it’s a pretty compact place and you’re never far from the next thing. Set aside at least a day for the Vatican and definitely pre book. Enjoy!

thumpingrug

Rome is great.  We asked the staff at the hotel where they ate and was recommended a tiny backstreet restaurant a few streets away.  Very unimposing and ordinary.  food was stunning.    Take a trip to teh catacombs if you get a chance  - We did St Sebastian's,  very interesting, though we did go february and it was reasonably quite.

mrkb

We did a Segway tour from near the forum around the sites, great fun and a great way to quickly get your bearings and see what’s worth spending more time at.

MattBanshee

Visit the ossurary underneath the Capuchin monk museum, the "English Cemetary" (the pyramid is real, and take coins for the cats), and look through the keyhole in the Knights of Malta doorway.

Never pay more than 1.2 Euro for a coffee.

BigBearKris

Thanks for the tips @MattBanshee ; - I will have a look at the pyramid tomorrow. 
Heat is immense though - 36°C when I was queuing up in Vatican- I went for a morning run too and the crowds at 8am were already intense - along with the temperature... I prefer to be hot rather than cold - but I don't think I boiled so much even in Tobago or Cuba... I like the city though. 
...but its dirty. 

stickyfiddle

We'll be there next week. It's absolutely brilliant.

Also went a few years ago. Highlights were catacombs, via appia antica and surrounding area (we were staying out in that direction), baths of caracalla plus the obvious central stuff - colosseum, pantheon, trevi fountain, spanish steps, etc. And go to the Vatican to marvel at a collection so valuable they could have a good stab at solving world poverty just selling the stuff on the floor and in dusty cupboards.

Mostly it's about the food though. I highly recommend the guys at romanfoodtour.com if you want a guided evening at some awesome places. 

ToneControl

do you plan to visit the Vatican museum?
If so there's a sneaky trick to bail out from the Sistine chapel straight to St Peter's without having to queue 

ToneControl

most unexpected pleasures:

Garden Room Fresco

they have restored all 4 walls of this, it's amazing to sit in the middle and think how old these paintings are:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villa_of_Livia#/media/File:Villa_di_livia,_affreschi_di_giardino,_parete_corta_meridionale_01.jpg
, they have been reinstalled in the Palazzo Massimo.


Underground tour:
https://www.palazzovalentini.it/domus-romane/index-en.html#visita ;

littlegreenman

John_P said:

I’d recommend you check out Dark Rome for their tours - I took a couple last year after someone here recommended them. and was very impressed.
I’m heading to Florence tomorrow if anyone had recommendations?

Yep, certainly check out Dark Rome's Crypts and Catacombs tour if you have time, very impressive and educational.

I found it quite odd when visiting the Forum, thinking "This is actually where Julius Caesar was murdered!"

Loved my visit and certainly plan to go back soon.

BigBearKris

All visited and great tips here guys. Loving my stat here and yes... in a foodie so enjoying that very much. 
I went to Travestere tonight and dined in one of the lovely side street restaurants... our food was great, so was the service and surrounding night time displays etc... loved the vibe. At 11pm it's still over 25°C but I love it...