Audio tours on your own in Rome and Venice

[Candymanjim]

Has anyone used any of the MP3 audio tours on you own? I have downloaded the FREE Rome and Venice audio guides from sound-guides dot com. For the Vatican there is the Sister Wendy's sistine Chapel and Vatican Museums Tour which you can get online for about $20. This sure beats paying $80/pp for a guide that may or may not know the history

 

I would rather have my own MP3 player and do the tours on my own and not be part of a 20-30 person group.

 

Thanks!

 

Jim

[agabbymama]

I haven't done the audio tours, but I understand from the website, that the Ho Ho bus has audio on-board. I've been to Rome before, and they didn't have such things, so I'm looking forward to showing my friend Rome on the Ho Ho bus. Plus, we will be staying close to the Vatican, so I will get to see that this time. It was so hot and humid in May '98, we arrived at Termini Station, and after walking to the Colloseum, Forum and Capitol Hill, Trevi Fountain, and searching for The Spanish Steps, we headed back to the train station totally exhausted, so didn't venture to the other side of the River. I'm hoping it won't be as hot and humid in October, but the Ho Ho bus should make it more doable. And if I want to know more about what we are seeing, I'm sure there will be brochures, books or even the Internet to research.

[cruisemom42]

FYI, several places in Rome do have self-guided audio tours available, including the Vatican and the Borghese gallery. I've used those and they are pretty good. I think there may also be one for the Colosseum/Forum area but I didn't use it so can't vouch for it.

 

As you say, it's better than trailing around with a large group.

[MercedMike]

The thing about a DIY tour in Rome is the problem of getting there and getting around. It is a pretty good trip from the port. Some of the sights are sort of spread out. Every place is jam packed with crowds, and sometimes being in a group with a guide is the only way to find the places you want to see. Frankly I think a guide in Rome is well worth it!

 

OTOH, St. Mark's Square in Venice is pretty much self contained. It's not hard to get there from the ship. It would be very easy to tour the Basilica and the Doge's Palace with an audio guide. I think that would work very well.

 

Have a GREAT cruise!