Need help planning which day to do Vatican/Colosseum

[leesataxprep]

We will arrive in Rome on a Thursday morning, our cruise leave the following Monday. My original plan was to do a Walking Tour (short, 2.5 hours) on the afternoon we arrive (Thursday), then the Colosseum Friday, the Vatican on Saturday and then maybe a food tour on Sunday or maybe take a tour of the Catacombs. Is this a good plan? Should I swap the Colosseum and the Vatican?

[cruisemom42]

Both the Colosseum and the Vatican museum are likely to be more crowded on a Saturday than on a weekday, so it's a bit of a toss-up. If you plan to pre-reserve a ticket and get to the Vatican early, then Saturday is probably fine.

 

I hope your planned walking tour will take in the central Rome sites like the Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Campo dei Fiori, etc. Also, hope you'll also visit the Forum when you go to the Colosseum; it is part of the same ticket and worth it, though it can be somewhat confusing. If possible, bring a map or some notes.

 

Sunday is an excellent time to visit the Appia Antica and the catacombs on it. The ancient road is closed to most motorized traffic on Sundays and you can walk along a stretch of the ancient road, with the original rutted paving stones. In addition to the catacombs, the ancient Roman tomb of Cecilia Metella is also right there and is worth a look.

 

Edited to add: There is a very nice restaurant also located near the catacombs and the tomb of Cecilia Metella. It's not a food tour, but it is a fun way to fit some good food into your day. :)

Edited November 14, 2016 by cruisemom42

[leesataxprep]

Thank you! And yes, the walking tour goes to all of those places.