Rome for Christmas. need some help.

I'll be heading to Rome this Christmas for about 8 days. There are a few things that I'm unsure about and was wondering if anybody could answer any of the following questions:
1. How are the lineups for things like the Colosseum at Christmas time?
2. What time is best to show up for the Christmas day blessing at the Vatican?
3. Do buses run during Christmas day or boxing day?
4. Do buses have normal schedules on Sundays?
5. What is typically open the day after Christmas?
6. Any recommended souvenirs to be found in Rome (vague I know, but what did you /would you buy in Rome)??

Any tips or answers would help a lot.
Cheers

I can't really answer any of your questions (sorry), but I can provide you with some other information:

To visit The Vatican Museum, which includes the Sistine Chapel, I strongly recommend paying for a guided tour. It will save you not only a multi-hour long wait, but also will give you more knowledge regarding what you are viewing. It's too late now to book one of the Vatican's official tours, but they have private tour companies that have the same line-skipping accesses as the official tours.

When visiting St. Peters, don't forget to go all the way up stairs to the top of the dome to see the breathtaking views of Rome. Also, don't miss the Michelangelo's Pieta, which is located to the right when you walk into St. Peter's.

Also check out St. Peter in Chains (San Pietro in Vincoli) which houses the bulk of the statues of the unfinished tomb of Pope Julius II, including the statue of Moses (it's truly unbelievable).

I highly recommend the National Museum of Rome (at the Palazzo Massimo, which is facing the Termini train station), it has amazing artifacts from the entire history of Rome, from ancient times (including spectacular sarcophagi and statues) until the present day; as well as a vault showing coins form the entire history of Italy.

Jon.

Rome pretty much shuts down for Christmas day. You'll have a hard time finding a place to eat. Although it is not the 'high' season, I'd go early for big tourist attractions. Not sure how the Christmas blessing works at St. Peter's Sq., but if you plan to go inside the museum it's worth it to look into a guided tour - you'll get much more out of it and avoid long waits (same goes for the Forum).

Originally Posted by kever

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I'll be heading to Rome this Christmas for about 8 days. There are a few things that I'm unsure about and was wondering if anybody could answer any of the following questions: 1. How are the lineups for things like the Colosseum at Christmas time? 2. What time is best to show up for the Christmas day blessing at the Vatican? 3. Do buses run during Christmas day or boxing day? 4. Do buses have normal schedules on Sundays? 5. What is typically open the day after Christmas? 6. Any recommended souvenirs to be found in Rome (vague I know, but what did you /would you buy in Rome)?? Any tips or answers would help a lot. Cheers
1. You will rarely find a short line at the Colosseum. Rome is busy as all hell up through the 24th, but I don't know how many tourists will be there. 2. No idea. 3. I don't think they do. I know that the Eurostar doesn't run on Xmas. 4. IIRC, yeah. 5. Not a lot, to be honest.

Originally Posted by kever

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I'll be heading to Rome this Christmas for about 8 days. There are a few things that I'm unsure about and was wondering if anybody could answer any of the following questions:
1. How are the lineups for things like the Colosseum at Christmas time?
2. What time is best to show up for the Christmas day blessing at the Vatican?
3. Do buses run during Christmas day or boxing day?
4. Do buses have normal schedules on Sundays?
5. What is typically open the day after Christmas?
6. Any recommended souvenirs to be found in Rome (vague I know, but what did you /would you buy in Rome)??

Any tips or answers would help a lot.
Cheers

1. no idea but i am sure preety long.
2. probalythe night before
3. yes, but they wil probaly every hour or or every 2 hours.
4. no
5. Nothing
6.That is up to you, I usually never buy anything in rome.


Good luck trying to find a place to eat on christmas. I know of a somalian restauraunt that is worth going to in Roma.

I was there two weeks ago and we walked right into the coloseum (in the afternoon) and the Vatican museum (at noon, 90 minutes before they close, on a Wednesday while the Pope spoke outside St. Peter's).

Is a bus necessary? Most of Rome is walkable.

I hate souvenirs. That said, I did bring home a suede belt, a wool tie, and a suit from Eredi Pisano.

Re restaurants, my guess is that the kosher places in the ghetto will be open. I don't know that they'll meet your expectations for holiday festivities, but the food will be better than most hotel kitchens.

Originally Posted by chorse123

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Is a bus necessary? Most of Rome is walkable.
.

I would have to disgree. one needs some form of transportation in Roma, The city is tow large simply to walk around it. Every person from Roma that I know and still lives there insists that a car is needed to live there.

Originally Posted by scarphe

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I would have to disgree. one needs some form of transportation in Roma, The city is tow large simply to walk around it. Every person from Roma that I know and still lives there insists that a car is needed to live there.

I'm sure most Romans don't live where most tourists stay.

I'll be in Rome at the same time (just before til just after Xmas)

-are guided tours available on the fly or is it necessary to book one in advance?

-can your hotel get you into one?

Jason - On Sunday, December 23rd, if you are at all inclined I would highly recommend a trip to the Stadio Olimpico to see A.S. Roma take on Sampdoria (Genoa). This match marks the return to the Olimpico of two former Roma players, one beloved and the other despised. Here's a link w/ info: http://asroma-addict.com/forum/index...ic,1608.0.html Your hotel can help you, too. The stadio is on the west bank of the Tevere, about 15 minutes north of the Vatican.

Even if you are not into soccer, sports, etc., I guarantee you and your wife will enjoy yourselves and witness a truly unique Roman spectacle. It is the closest thing to an afternoon at the Colosseum (almost two thousand years ago) that you can experience....

Romafan, a bit of hometown hooliganism sounds great, but we'll be in Rome on 24th and leaving on 30th so we'll just miss that opportunity

I've been twice, and there's no better city in the world to walk around. There's some architectural or historical wonder to see around every corner. To scarphe's point, if you're not staying downtown, try to stay near a metro stop, as it is a big city.

And the only guided tour that's worth it is St. Peters. Everything else you should walk yourself. This book has some great tips:

http://www.amazon.com/City-Secrets-Rome/dp/1892145049

Enjoy. And try the trippa alla Romana. You'll never eat better intestines.

Originally Posted by scarphe

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I would have to disgree. one needs some form of transportation in Roma, The city is tow large simply to walk around it. Every person from Roma that I know and still lives there insists that a car is needed to live there.

Originally Posted by Get Smart

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I'll be in Rome at the same time (just before til just after Xmas)

-are guided tours available on the fly or is it necessary to book one in advance?

-can your hotel get you into one?

Jason,
We just booked our tour of the vatican, st. peters, etc. and found that they generally want you to book in advance. We're going with a company called Viator. It was 48 euro for 2 people plus 16 euro each for the tickets to get in, and since we're going on a Saturday we get to skip the lines. Some of the tours are really expensive, but the one we went with seems to have recieved good reviews. Which part of the city are you staying in?

Originally Posted by romafan

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Jason - On Sunday, December 23rd, if you are at all inclined I would highly recommend a trip to the Stadio Olimpico to see A.S. Roma take on Sampdoria (Genoa). This match marks the return to the Olimpico of two former Roma players, one beloved and the other despised. Here's a link w/ info: http://asroma-addict.com/forum/index...ic,1608.0.html Your hotel can help you, too. The stadio is on the west bank of the Tevere, about 15 minutes north of the Vatican.

Even if you are not into soccer, sports, etc., I guarantee you and your wife will enjoy yourselves and witness a truly unique Roman spectacle. It is the closest thing to an afternoon at the Colosseum (almost two thousand years ago) that you can experience....



How much would tickets be to the game, and are tickets sold in advance?