Vatican/Rome sightseeing tips?
- Thread starter TPD
- Start date
meddauna
Member
When we went, we arrived at the Vatican around 9am during a weekday, we avoided the weekend for obvious reasons. we stood in line for no more than 45min to get in. There are a lot of tour guides walking up and down the line. These tour guides charge more than a standard ticket, but you get to walk almost right into the Vatican and they give a guided tour. I forget exactly how much it was, but I want to say it was somewhere between $30 and $50 per person.
Since you're in the vatican area, a quick jaunt behind the vatican over to Pizzarium is highly recommended. They were also featured on the Travel Channel show Layover with Anthony Bordain (check out the segment on youtube)
Then on the way back hit up Old Bridge Gelateria for dessert.
Since you're in the vatican area, a quick jaunt behind the vatican over to Pizzarium is highly recommended. They were also featured on the Travel Channel show Layover with Anthony Bordain (check out the segment on youtube)
Then on the way back hit up Old Bridge Gelateria for dessert.
TPD
the poor dad
thanks for the info. I read something about getting tickets online for the museum and then using the exit of the museum to enter the basilica and avoiding the lines. Since my time is limited in Rome, $30 extra for a tour guide and no waiting in line may be worth it.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Go to CruiseCritic.com
They can lead you to private (non-cruise line affiliated) tours and tour guides as well as reviews of the same..
You can even go to forums like this one (On CruiseCritic) to chat with people going on the same cruise as you. We met a group of "chatters" the night before departure for dinner and drinks.. and it paid dividends in finding people to hang with the rest of the cruise.
We found an AWESOME tour guide in the Azores this way. We had the best tour, and went to places the ship's tour either didn't include or couldn't get too..
TPD
the poor dad
I love cruise critic - lots of good info there. Even some characters in their forums....
libertytyranny
Dream Stealer
keep all of your valuables in an inside, zipped pocket. leave wallets and purses on the ship.
terbear1225
Well-Known Member
definitely go to the museum store. you can get rosaries that have been blessed by the pope (wish I'd gotten one for myself instead of just gifts for other people)
If you will be touring the vatican with other people consider bringing a cane with a scarf tied to it. sounds weird but its a great trick for keeping the group together, just hold up the cane (or some people use the stick from an umbrella) and your group can find you much more easily.
If you will be touring the vatican with other people consider bringing a cane with a scarf tied to it. sounds weird but its a great trick for keeping the group together, just hold up the cane (or some people use the stick from an umbrella) and your group can find you much more easily.
Take a good sized mirror for viewing the sistine chapel. You hold the mirror and look down into it. You can't look up for that long a time before your neck will start to hurt.
When you are there look around and see how many other people are using a mirror.
Don't drink more than 1 espresso drink in an 8 hour period.
Keep a good distance from groups of grubby looking children.
Cross the street in the middle of a large crowd.
Don't make a hand gesture similar to the texas hook 'em horns
Give a verbal greeting, Buon giorno, buona sera, etc. each time you walk into a store
Don't wash your feet in the little bathroom sink
I hope this helps
When you are there look around and see how many other people are using a mirror.
Don't drink more than 1 espresso drink in an 8 hour period.
Keep a good distance from groups of grubby looking children.
Cross the street in the middle of a large crowd.
Don't make a hand gesture similar to the texas hook 'em horns
Give a verbal greeting, Buon giorno, buona sera, etc. each time you walk into a store
Don't wash your feet in the little bathroom sink
I hope this helps
TPD
the poor dad
Great tips - thanks! Now the only question I have is what is the maximum size mirror TSA will allow in a carry-on......things tha make ME go hmmmmm......
acommondisaster
Active Member
Was lucky enough to be there on a Wednesday when Pope JP was presiding (or whatever it's called). We didn't realize it was happening, but went through all the metal detectors and wound up being about 15 feet from where he walked past. Once in a lifetime experience - I believe if we had tried to plan something like that, it would never have worked out! I will say that most of the vatican was a great disappointment, with all of the tour groups, it's more like a fairground atmosphere.
Good tip about the Sistine Chapel - wish I would have had the mirror. They're very very strict about taking pictures - dont even try. Sistine Chapel was amazing.
Monello gave you some good advice. Be VERY careful about the gypsies. They'll feel you up and leave you without your wallet and you won't even know it. Watch for women with babies in their arms, or anyone carrying a piece of cardboard - as well as the grubby little kids. Don't take anything with you in Rome that you don't have to take, or dont mind losing. If you must take a purse it should be zipped closed at all times and held tight to the body with both hands when you're on the streets. I took the money that I needed for the day and kept it in my front pocket with my hand in the pocket the entire time I was in Rome. Luckily, they're just thieves; not violent.
Enjoy your trip!
Good tip about the Sistine Chapel - wish I would have had the mirror. They're very very strict about taking pictures - dont even try. Sistine Chapel was amazing.
Monello gave you some good advice. Be VERY careful about the gypsies. They'll feel you up and leave you without your wallet and you won't even know it. Watch for women with babies in their arms, or anyone carrying a piece of cardboard - as well as the grubby little kids. Don't take anything with you in Rome that you don't have to take, or dont mind losing. If you must take a purse it should be zipped closed at all times and held tight to the body with both hands when you're on the streets. I took the money that I needed for the day and kept it in my front pocket with my hand in the pocket the entire time I was in Rome. Luckily, they're just thieves; not violent.
Enjoy your trip!
itsbob
I bowl overhand
Don't bet on it.
Throughout Europe the gypsies prey on the tourists (less likely for the locals to put up much fuss if the auslanders are the ones robbed).. EVERYWHERE you see a gypsy there are at least 5 that you don't see.
I saw it for myself I believe in Mallorca.. The thief, or pickpocket gypsies are fairly recognizable by dress and the way they act.. their "security" is much less recognizable, and actually look well groomed, well dressed, and more like tourists.. They REALLY blend in well, posing as couples enjoying the morning or afternoon for example.
When approaching the cathedral one of our group was approached by a gypsy (actually two or three) selling twigs.. She cleaned out his front pocket of a few hundred Euros. He took about three steps and realized what had happened turned to confront her, and by the time he took two steps towards her he was surrounded by at least 3 of her "security team" that were casually sitting on the steps, and over on the wall.
What was worrisome is we realized it as we were about 50 - 100 feet back from the group, we saw them, where they came from and what they were doing.. NOBODY in the group realized the security had infiltrated the group, and the 'victim' was totally unaware that he had been surrounded. (have to wonder how many onlookers were pickpocketed at that point too)
He verbally confronted her, she gave him back his money and everyone went on their way. No telling what would have happened if it he had tried to physically confront her, but I'm betting he wouldn't have been getting back on the boat with us.
acommondisaster
Active Member
Paranoid? No - I've travelled all over the world, and not always to places as nice as Rome or Paris - being in a big foreign city is fun and interesting, not intimidating. I felt exactly the opposite as you. I never felt I had to be especially careful of my wallet in Paris (other than when I went into the perfume shops, but that was my own fault.) But Rome, no matter where I went, there were gypsies. They were easy to identify and we would sit and watch them at "work". I do believe you need to take extra precautions and be more aware of your belongings in Rome than you are in NYC or Seattle (for instance). It would never keep me from going to Rome, or discouraging others from going, only give a caution.
Bean Machine
Member
My wife and I are going next April. I've been there twice before but she has not. I used the USO last time I went and they were very helpful. Cheaper than other "tourist" sites. They have an airport pickup service too. I got ripped off the first time I went by a taxi driver who took me to a "5 star" hotel that was a dump!!! He was gone before the bags were all the way out of the car!!!!
http://rome.uso.it/
http://rome.uso.it/Default.aspx?SID=26823777&IID=741&MID=741 (gives you good tips too)
http://rome.uso.it/
http://rome.uso.it/Default.aspx?SID=26823777&IID=741&MID=741 (gives you good tips too)
meddauna
Member
Ill clarify, I never felt unsafe in either city, but i always felt safer and more welcome in Rome. We did see the gypsies but for the most part with a few exceptions they were there just to sell their crap, many times very rude and very pushy.
I haven't been to as many places as you seem to have, and I agree traveling is thrilling.
Perhaps we weren't bothered much because we try hard to speak the local language and dress and act like the locals. Maybe once we start getting to places where it's obvious from looking at us we're not from there that we'll be bigger targets.
C
czygvtwkr
Guest
A camera that is either very good as high iso or has a fast lens, preferebly both.
TPD
the poor dad
Just bought a new lens for my Nikon for this trip!