jsquared

We are going to Rome at the end of May for 8 days and are looking at Scala reale and Rome walks for several walking tours.
we are just interested in opinions on their different tours.
Any stand out as a great walking tour for content, education, fun?

We spent 3 days in Rome in October and just wandered on our own, but feel we missed so much.

The neighborhood walks sound great, Colonna, Farnese, and of course the Vatican and ancient Rome.

Any comments or experience with these anyone would like to share would be greatly appreciated!

sunnygirlwonder

If you've never read Rick Steves book on Rome you might want to check it out. It has several great self-guided walking tours with lots of information on the sights you hit along the way. My friend and I used it over the holidays and it was the best part of our trip. It was also wonderful being able to do the tours at our own pace vs. the pace of a tour group.

ira

Hi JJ,

You might also want to consult the walking tour in the fodor's minguide to Rome at www.fodors.com.

Cicerone

IMO, Scala Reale tours are heads and shoulders above the others and worth every penny. The guides are extremely well informed on their subject and you will learn more in 2 or 3 hours than you can imagine. I have done 4 of their tours and loved them all. Their tour of the Vatican Museum is especially good at picking out the highlights as well as giving an in-depth explanation of the frescos in the Sistine Chapel. The tour of the Coliseum and Palatine Hill is great as well. I have also take Rome Walks tours, and while I enjoyed them, did not think they were of the quality of Scala Reale. I like Rick Steves books generally, but also think that a good guide like Scale Reale is better than any Rick Steves tour you might do yourself.

elaine

HI
If you search here (use the little box above)on Scala Reale you should find lots of recommendations, including mine.
They employ scholars and teachers who know how to inform and also how to entertain. On their 4-hour Colosseum and Forum tour, the time just flew by, not boring for a second, and essential so that in the Forum you're not just seemingly looking at a pile of rocks and ruins.

The 2-hour Orientation Hike (not at all arduous) has a fast pace but packs a lot in, and it will cover a couple of churches that are on many people's sightseeing lists, as well as giving you a general orientation.

I didn't use SR for the Vatican--a big mistake. I WILL use them next time.

jsquared

Thanks for the replies!
Last time we were in Rome, we did use Rick Steves book for walking from the Trevi to Piazza Navonna.

On this trip, we have a little more time and were interested in getting a little more in depth on several of the neighborhoods.
We took the audio tour through the Vatican and found ourselves standing next to several private guides trying to listen to what they were telling their groups-cheating I know, but sounded great.
this trip we are thinking of taking 2 or 3 private walks to get the most out of our time.
Thanks to all for your suggestions, I have done a search but did'nt find any thing on the SR neighborhood walks.