We would love to see everything but with limited time any thoughts on what not to miss? One day will be spent at the Vatican and Scavi tour. Now the other days I am getting confused with what to do and what to leave for another trip. Any ideas, suggestions, or coments? We leave the end of May and I have a bit of a panic in my thoughts.

Thanks ,
Laura

Rome is often overwhleming for people and not just first-timers! I would suggest one day touring by foot around Villa Borghese, Piazza di Spagna, the Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon and finally Piazza Navona (if you look onthe map these are somewhat in an order). The next day soend exploring Ancient Rome: the Closseum, Roman Forum, "Capitol Hill" and Circus Maximus. For the Vatican, go in the morning first thing, then to Saint Peter's. I find the lines are a bit less the way. Have a wonderful trip!

Hopefully this will be the first of many trips to Rome.

The Scavi tour is exceptional, and I'm glad you have that on your list (and that you will have your reservations).

The Vatican Museums are vast and themselves would take days to see. The highlights of the Vatican Museums are the Belvedere courtyard, especially the Apollo and Laocoon, the Raphael Rooms, and of course the Sistine Chapel. If you want to spend more time, the hall of maps and the Renaissance painting gallery also are great. As suggested above, it is best to go early. Hopefully your Scavi tour schedule will accommodate that plan and allow time to visit St. Peter's, with Michelangelo's Pieta and Bernini masterpieces among other things.

The Colosseum also could have a long line to enter, and that would be another site to see first thing in the morning. The forum and the Palatine hill are adjacent. You really would get a lot more out of seeing these ruins with a knowledgeable guide. (Same is true for just about every museum and historical site.)

For example the Borghese gallery is fabulous, but unless you are a student of art history, you will get far more out of it with a guide. (You also need reservations.)

The one point I'd like to make is that Rome is very walkable. If you plan your time well, you can see major sites and then just discover Rome by walking between them. As one example of many, walk up and down several of the streets below the Spanish Steps (with Via Condotti the principal street) and then walk along Via Babuino to Piazza del Popolo. Or from the Circus Maximus walk up to Teatro di Marcellus and you'll go past the Bocca della Verita.

There is an on-off bus tour that makes a circuit around Rome. I like to recommend the Eyewitness guide to plan what to see, and then the Access guide for Rome to carry with me in the city for reference.

You have so many great choices, you can hardly go wrong. Have fun!

Thanks Megan,

Somehow you made my trip very easy! I am so excited that I think my planning was becoming a mess.

Thank you!

ZiaMartina,

Thank you too! I am always amazed by the help I have recieved from this board.

Laura

At the very top of my list would be St. Peter's, the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.

The Vatican and St. Peter's can easily take all day...in fact, several days...there is just so much to see and the collections are so extensive. I found taking a tour helped tremendously. We did not take a tour of the colosseum and forum and wish we did...next time we will!

The Piazza Navona and Pantheon areas are great for the evening...so many restaurants, cafes and artists.