Comprehensive frommers guide rome serial travel

To walk the Roman Forum , to view the Colosseum , the Pantheon , and the Appian Way —these are among the most memorable, instructive, and illuminating experiences in all of travel.

To see evidence of a once-great civilization that no longer exists is a humbling experience that everyone should have. Take the time to get away from the crowds to explore the intimate piazzas and lesser basilicas in the back streets of Trastevere and the centro storico.

Indulge in eno-gastronomic pursuits at coffee bars, trattorias, enotecas and gelaterias. Have a picnic in Villa Borghese or climb to the top of the Gianicolo for million-dollar views. Walk the streets of Rome, and the city will be yours. With so many sights to see in Rome and so many people trying to see them, you need to plan your days efficiently in order to save time, avoid long lines, and get the most for your money.

These insider tips will help you spend your time in Rome wisely and well. Bypass the lines. Advance tickets are sold online for the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, and are required for the Galleria Borghese. Absolutely buy ahead. An Omnia card also includes skip-the-line privileges for the Vatican Museums. Avoid ancient overload.

Take advantage of the 2-day window your ticket allows. These insider tips will help you spend your time in Rome wisely and well. Bypass the lines. Advance tickets are sold online for the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, and are required for the Galleria Borghese.

Absolutely buy ahead. An Omnia card also includes skip-the-line privileges for the Vatican Museums. Avoid ancient overload. Take advantage of the 2-day window your ticket allows. See the Forum and Palatine on your first day, then on the second day hit the Colosseum right when it opens, before the crowds pile in. Be sure to buy your timed-entry tickets well in advance of your visit.

Pick a less popular time slot. Or consider seeing the Vatican Museums on a Friday night or on an early-bird tour, which includes breakfast. Walk the side streets. You can cover the same ground much more pleasantly if you navigate along the side streets and alleys that take you to the same place.

Just keep your map or GPS handy. Plan around Sunday closures.