judders Loc: Rugby, United Kingdom

Going for a weekend break to Rome. Looking for tips on photographing this much photographed city.
Staying couple of miles from Vatican City. I plan to use my Nikon D5100 with 55-200 lens so long shots of architecture etc.
Will be somewhat limited over two days so need to hit the ground running and looking for some guidance please on best viewpoints.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

I would plan to visit the Amphitheatre, St Peter's Square and The Spanish Steps, get a decent map and walk between them.
This way you will pass many other famous places in Rome, you may find ever where very crowded so you won't be getting many people free shots.
Rome is a very compact place and it's very easy to get around on foot or on the Metro, keep your kit secure in crowded spots and do not bother with a tripod.
I don't know when you are going but it can be very warm in the summer so don't carry too much equipment.
Have good trip.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

The 55-200 lens could be longer than you will really need. If you have the 18-55 VR I am sure it will suit you better.

Satman Loc: Indy

We stayed in City Center, walked less than 2 blocks to most attractions. 7D with 24-105 served me well, also took a Canon S110, and the iPhone.

Get up early, and watch the city come alive, we would often go back to the room to eat in the afternoon, had a kitchen and a courtyard,

Have a great time, stay at an airport Hotel last night, we used the Hilton, much less hassle for the departure

snfapm1983

Inside St. Peter's is unbelievable...Sistine chapel too, if you can pull it off. Trevi fountain, the fountain of the four rivers (Fontana del Quattro Fiumi, Piazza Navona), and the Pantheon just to name a few. The city is rich with photo ops.

tscali

We lived in Rome for two years in the early 1990s. Get a good map before you leave. You can walk to almost all of the sights from the Spanish Steps. (Goto Google Search and type in Sights of Rome. They hit the key sights.) After you get the map try to determine what you most want to see and then make a plan to do it. Tip: there are no street signs. The name of the street is usually on the first building on the street in blockletters. If you want to see inside St. Peter's you may need to purchase a ticket. Please check this out. Wouldn't want you to go there and find out you cannot get in. Another tip you cannot bring a tripod into St. Peter's. They consider a tripod a potential weapon at least back the they did. If you are in good health and can walk briskly you will have no problem seeing most of the key sights. You can see all of Rome in two days; but IMHO you won't really see it. Take some time before you go and determine what's important to you. Then at those few sights spend some time and really enjoy them. Hope you have a great trip and please share some of your pictures.

catia

If you get up VERY EARLY you can get some fantastic shots of the pedestrian bridge over the Tiber conncecting Rome to Vatican. Bernini's angels are incredible. Then continue on to St Peters Square to capture it before it is overrun with Tourists. In the evening the colloseum, Pantheon and the collonades of the vatican are lit and provide good photo ops. If you are going to the Vatican Museum be sure to get a photo of the spiral staircase.

HallowedHill Loc: Chattanooga, TN

We were there last August. The Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Navona (the streets around it are full of small cafes to grab lunch), Church of San Lugie dei Francesie ( full of Caravaggio master pieces) and Basilica di Santa Maria Sopra are all close together and easily within walking distance. Another grouping is the area with the Roman Ruins( Collossum, Circus Maximus, etc.) and very close by the center of the Italian government including Mussolini's famous balcony. The last area is Vatican City(you could spend the entire day in the Vatican Museum alone) but also worth while is the Trastevere district ( lots of place to eat dinner. Decide what you want to see before you go, get a good map and organize your day. I took my Nikon 55-300 and 17 -55 lens. I used the 17-55 more than 90% of the time. If you have it, take a very fast wide angle prime as most of the museums and churches will let you shot, but not with a flash. Hope this helps and have fun.

judders Loc: Rugby, United Kingdom

Thank you all for these notes, really helpful. I will print out and take with me. Arrive there Friday evening 3rd March and return to UK on Monday afternoon, so a flying visit. I've heard it said that Rome is a city that is possible to see on foot, but looking at a map it seems daunting. Your comments are most reassuring.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

The fountains at night time can be fun and make good subjects, tripod required.

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

There are always Taxis, but they may try to rip you off.

alliebess Loc: suburban Philadelphia

On my last trip to Italy I found the 18-55 lens much more useful than my 55-200. Rome is interesting and as already said a good place to walk. Sometimes walking down narrow streets leads to unexpected sights. Enjoy the trip!

davids999 Loc: Edinburgh, UK

A wide lens if you have one will be much more use. Get a good city map and mark the places you want to see and think about a logical route. The city is really very 'walkable'. You can photograph in most places but not in St Peter's Basilica. Forget the Trevi Fountain other than for a must see. It is just always too crowded for shooting, unless you go during the night. Bridges over the Tiber, The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps, Colosseum, The Forum and the National Monument at the foot of the Via del Corso. If you want something a bit quirky and macabre go to the Capuchin Crypt inside the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini on the Via Veneto near Piazza Barberini. It contains displays of the skeletal remains of 3,700 bodies believed to be Capuchin friars. You pay 6 Euros to go through their museum and the crypt but there is a stunning Caravaggio painting Saint Francis in Meditation. Its worth the 6 Euros just to see that. Photography is not allowed in the museum or crypt.

Enjoy your trip. You will love it!

elliott937 Loc: St. Louis

There are excellent suggestions here. We've been to Rome several times. There IS one sight I'd like to recommend, and should you capture a great image, I'd love to see it. What would that be? The Spanish Steps. Very simplistic perhaps, but a gorgeous setting.

judders Loc: Rugby, United Kingdom

Had a great visit to Rome. Could have been a more central hotel and the weather could have been better. There were masses of tourists everywhere, so photo opportunities were difficult. Anyway it was an adventure and I recorded it as best I could. Thanks for your advice.