Free Time Tour: Rome

[Guest]

Going on the Globus Italy at Leisure Tour September 1st. (Husband + 13 year old daughter). . The tour does not start until 6:00pm that night. Suggestions what to do from 9:00am - 3:00pm? I thought about a short walking tour - but I don't want to tour the same places Globus will take us on.

I am not sure I want to try a self-tour. Suggestions?? Scott House tours looks interesting but I can find no reviews.

[nyer]

I did the Best of Italy in July and our family (self, wife, 16 yo daughter) stayed an extra day in Rome to see things that the tour did not cover. Since you have 6 hours may I suggest that you look into some of the following sights that may not be covered in your tour:
Roman Forum (if this is covered in the tour, it will only include a small part of the Forum)
Imperial Forum & Trajan's Market
Palatine Hills, Circus Maximus
Boca della Verita in Santa Maria in Cosmedin

All of the above (with the exception of the last) are from the Imperial Roman era, and all of these can be seen well within the available time. Take a taxi from the hotel and ask to be dropped off near the Victor Immanuel monument. Make sure you have a good map and guide book (so that you know what you are looking at). . All three of us wore hats and we carried a bottle of water (and purchased more near the Coliseum). . By the way, I have not listed the Coliseum since that is very likely to be on the regular tour. If you are not into ruins, then you can visit one of the many museums. Keep in mind that Rome will be very hot from about noon to 3 pm and an airconditioned museum might suit your daughter.

[Susan Gale]

Sorry I can't help with an answer, but please let me know how your trip goes. My husband and I are taking this same tour from November 3-13.

[sohara28]

I lived in Rome as a student in 1977, and I took my 10 year old niece there 7 years ago. There are plenty of things to do with kids.

My niece's favorite day was spent at the Villa Borghese, which is conveniently located off one of the subway lines (I forget the stop, but it will be in any guide book.) There's a (small) museum that has many excellent Renaissance sculptures and paintings, and beautiful grounds. My niece and I rented a row boat and spent an hour or so paddling around the small lake. It was quiet and shaded and quite lovely. There were also food stands, but I would recommend bringing a picnic.

I second the Boca del verita, and the Forum, which was my niece's second favorite day. (She did get tired of walking, but enjoyed just sitting and looking at the view.)

Another suggestion, if you have more than 3 hours, go to Ostia Antica. It's a recovered ruin outside of Rome. Ostia was Rome's seaport, and Ostia Antica is fascinating - sort of Rome's answer to Pompei. It does require both a subway and train ride, but it only takes (IIRC) about an hour to get there and it's almost like travelling back in time.

And a final suggestion from my student days, EUR. It's a complex that was built to celebrate Mussolini and fascism, but it's got a bunch of cool museums and scale models of Rome in it's empiric heyday. The photo opportunities are many, and it's an attractive campus.

Enjoy Rome. I've travelled all over the world, and it's one of my very favorite places. You can round a corner virtually anywhere and discover something beautiful. (And I love the many, many fountains, both decorative and drinking, still running after 2000 years, with cool, clean water.)