1) 3ed. We started from London Gatwick Airport and reached Rome around 10.30
I made earlier hotel reservation around Vatican . So i at the airport, we are walking towards bus station. However, on the way, i nice shuttle operator stopped me and explains, i will offer $10 Euro ride to Vatican which cheaper than the train option. So i took Shuttle service for $40 ( family of 4)
We reached our apartment place. After quick refresh/baths and quick lunch ( yummy Pizza) we headed to Vatican Museums
( i made reservation when i was USA, Following is the website. https://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do_
Since, i have reservation, i simply walked directly to the entrance.
( if you dont plan a head, then you will struck in long lines for 2+ hours. Lines under direct sun light.
Outside, i noticed lot's of people advertising, no lines. direct check etc for extra $)
Lot's of rush but we managed to enter the Museum by 2.30 PM. ( my actual timing was 3PM. But no one care. So many people, all they care is the entrance ticket)
Few advice to family folks. ( before entrance, eat a lot. + carry lot's of liquids. Water etc.
During our visit time, temperature is around 33 degree C)
We stayed 3 hours in the ( there is a short cut to reach Vatican Basilica by skipping 40% of museum. But we choose to watch all rooms as much as possible.)
around 7PM we reached our hotel room. this 10 minutes walk to Vatican/Vatican Basilica)
After some refresh, we went to dinner. Again pizza/ drinks for dinner.)
We wrapped our first day like this
2ed Day:
by 7.30 we finished our breakfast and walked to St. Peter's Basilica)
No many people even on Wednesday 7.30 AM.
We did spend quality time in the St. Peter's Basilica and outside. Nearly two hour gone just like that.
Later we walked to nearby but-stop and tourist center to purchase Roma passes. ( these centers are open from 9.30 AM. Caution: they will not accept Cash So you have use Credit card only. For parent we bought Roma passes and for kids, i took 3 day bus passes only. Kids under 18 are free for most of the attractions in our list. So we choose Roma passes for parents only.)
After that we picked a bus to Termi station and later one bus to catch Triva fountain. (Initially finding bus numbers/stop is little tricky. But my older son cracked the code. Will write more on that topic later.)
