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QWe are a group of four adults who want to stop in Rome en route from Dubai to the United Kingdom. We’ve allowed three days. Can we explore Rome on foot in one day, or would we be better off to take an organised tour? Then we want to go to Pompeii, once again is it best to self tour, or take an organised tour? There are two-day tours that take in Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast, is that good use of our time?
AThis is a lot to fit in to three days so definitely take some tours to maximise your time. Select tours that will provide you with priority access, bypassing the staggeringly long queues in peak season!
The content of any tour needs to reflect your interests. For example – the Vatican and associated museums could easily take a day or more but a three-hour tour will take in the highlights. This will allow you time to also visit imperial Rome and the Colosseum, another three-hour tour skipping the queues.
There are several other options in Rome including an interesting three-hour journey in the Trastevere area mapping Rome’s architectural development from the Roman period through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque. The choices are numerous so collaborate with your travel consultant to piece a plan together.
Heading south to Pompeii, I would encourage you to try to also take in Herculaneum if the Roman past is a focus of your visit.
It is small enough to visit alone. Pompeii is vast so take a tour to maximise your time and ensure you take in the highlights.
The Amalfi Coast is best absorbed so visit Pompeii and Herculaneum before settling into accommodation with a view in Sorrento, Ravello, or Positano. Spend the next day at leisure visiting Capri, sipping limoncello or simply take a bus from village to village enjoying their unique ambience. – Antony Boomer, retail manager, House of Travel Balclutha