I visited Rome in 2015 on my first trip to Europe and I’m ashamed to say I didn’t love it the first time around. However, after spending a long weekend in the city recently, I’m happy to report that this beautiful city has now well and truly redeemed itself in my eyes! Overflowing with ancient ruins, awe-inspiring architecture and a vibrant street life, Rome has a little something for every type of traveler. To make sure you fall in love with Rome as much as I now have, keep reading for The Ultimate Travel Guide to Rome, Italy.
Top left: shadows on building / Top right: fountain in Piazza Navona / Bottom left: Trevi Fountain / Bottom right: some of the many Roman ruins dotted throughout the city.
Top travel tips
- Getting there – If you’re planning to fly into Rome, you’ll arrive at either Leonardo da Vinci Airport (at Fiumicino) or Ciampino Airport. Leonardo da Vinci is used by most major airlines, with budget airlines such as Easyjet and Ryanair flying into Ciampino! The most affordable way to get into the city centre from either airport is to book a Terravision bus to Termini station.
- Cash or card – I would recommend having some cash on you when visiting Rome, for things like bus tickets and espressos, but you’ll be able to pay with card at most shops and restaurants!
- Getting around – Despite all the cobble stones, Rome is actually surprisingly walkable, with ancient ruins to discover and alleys to wander down at every turn! Rome does have its fair share of hills (fun fact: the city was built atop 7 hills), so if/when you’re all walked out, a bus ride will set you back €1.50. You can’t buy tickets on the bus so make sure you stop by one of the many tabacchi shops or news stands dotted around the city. You also have to validate your ticket when you first get on the bus (or else risk a hefty fine when the ticket inspectors hop on)!
- A few handy phrases – I love trying my hand at a few handy phrases in different languages, although admittedly not very well! A few that are sure to come in handy when visiting Rome include…per favore (please), grazie (thank you), prego (you’re welcome), and of course salute (cheers)!
- Where to stay – if you can, try and stay as centrally as possible so that you can really soak up all that the city has to offer. I stayed in Trevi during my stay which was the perfect base as so many of Rome’s highlights were within easy walking distance. I loved going for an early morning walk to beat the crowds that gather during the day.
Top left: view of Rome skyline from Ponte Sant’Angelo / Top right: one of the many tabacchi shops in the city / Bottom left: Italian nonna street art / Bottom right: street-side seating at a cafe near Piazza Navona.
Where to wine & dine
- Mercato Centrale Roma – a food hall located right next to Termini station, a perfect place for a bite to eat when you first get off the bus from the airport. I had the most amazing amatriciana pizza from one of the food stalls here!
- La Casetta a Monti – a beautiful cafe/bar which is covered top to bottom in the most beautiful green foliage.
- Pasta Imperiale – a low key spot to grab a homemade take away pasta, delish!
- L’Antico Forno Di Piazza Trevi – a great spot for a coffee that’s right next to the Trevi Fountain
- 9Hotel Cesari – a hidden rooftop bar, connected to a hotel, that’s really reasonably priced and right in the middle of town
- Giolitto – amazing gelato!
- Sant’Eustachio Il Caffe – a bustling coffee shop right by Piazza Navona that roast their own coffee beans onsite!
- Caffè Ciampini di Marco Ciampini – a really beautiful dining spot with rooftop views, located right near Villa Borghese. It’s opening hours change depending on the season but would be a lovely spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
- Gino Sorbillo Roma – the best Napoli-style pizza in town, as recommended by a local!
- Ciampini Roma – is there such a thing as too much gelato? I think not!
- Casa & Bottega – a great spot to stop for a street-side espresso before wandering around the narrow alleys
- Il Pastaio di Roma – another great place to nab a takeaway pasta, and for just €4 a pop you really can’t go wrong!
- Tiberino Ristorante Bar – perched smack bang in the middle of Tiber Island, this is the perfect spot for an aperol while soaking up some sun
- Pimm’s Good – although it’s might at first look like just another bustling bar in Trastevere, we also had one of the best dinners of the trip here! The vibe, service and pasta were all top notch.
- VinAllegro – a cute wine bar in Trastevere.
- Trapizzino Trastevere – a Trastevere institution, this local takeaway pizza spot will beat those late night carb cravings!
- Freni e Frizioni – if you’re looking for a busy local spot to grab a drink after dinner, this is the bar for you!
- hostaria del roody – a delicious dinner spot in Trastevere that’s a bit off the busy tourist path, the cacio e pepe is a must try!
Top left: La Casetta a Monto / Top right: VinAllegro in Trastevere / Bottom left: an ice cream and snack truck in Villa Borghese / Bottom right: alfresco cafe seating.
The must-see spots
- Trevi Fountain – surely no trip to Rome is complete without visiting the Trevi Fountain! My main tip would be to go for an early morning stroll to take it all in without the crowds.
- The Colosseum – another must-see on a trip to Rome is the Colosseum! You can opt for a guided tour if you want to see this impressive amphitheater from the inside, or take a stroll around the area to take it all in from the outside.
- Vatican City, Sistine Chapel & St Peter’s Basilica – if you’re wanting to see more that the outside of these iconic destinations, I’d highly recommend either getting up extremely early to line up for free entry (I’m talking like 5am early!) or to buy a skip the line ticket in advance. Fun fact: you can tick another country off your list by visiting Vatican City as it’s technically a separate country to Italy.
- Pantheon – the Pantheon is one of the best preserved ancient Roman buildings and is also the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome! I’d also recommend heading here early if you’re wanting to avoid a massive queue.
- Elephant and Obelisk – right around the corner from the Pantheon, this unique statue was created by Italian artist Bernini in the 1600’s.
- Spanish Steps – connecting Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, the Spanish Steps are a true icon of the city. Grab a gelato and take a seat on the steps for some quality people watching.
- Trastevere – a really funky suburb of Rome, filled to the brim with cool cafes, restaurants and bars. It’s two main piazza’s, Piazza di San Calisto and Piazza Santa Maria, are always buzzing with people and you could easily spend hours wandering through the narrow streets.
- Tiber Island – situated at the bend of the River Tiber right near Trastevere, you can wander around the whole of Tiber Island in under half an hour. There are some trendy bars near the bridge that crosses over the island and it’s a lovely spot to sit for a break during the day.
- Triumphs and Laments – a mural showing the rises and falls of Rome’s history that stretches for 500m on the walls along the River Tiber. The artwork was created by cleaning off parts of the build up of dirt on the walls and is designed to fade over time…make sure you catch it before it disappears!
- Piazza Navona – one of the most beautiful and bustling squares in the city that dates back to the 1st century AD, known for it’s three iconic water fountains that stand in a line through the square.
- Piazza del Popolo – another of the cities many squares, located beneath Villa Borghese, Piazza del Popolo is home to the oldest of Rome’s thirteen obelisks.
- Villa Borghese – a huge park right in the middle of Rome that neighbours both Piazza del Popolo and the Spanish Steps, a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Be sure to stop by Caffè Ciampini di Marco Ciampini for an espresso or lunch if you’re in the area.
- Giardino degli Aranci – also known as The Orange Tree Garden, come here for an amazing view over the whole city!
- Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta – just a few hundred metres from the Giardino degli Aranci, you’ll find a large green door leading into the Piazza di Cavalieri di Malta. Take a peek through the doors’ keyhole to see the most unique view of St Paul’s Basilica (but be warned, it’s very hard to take a picture of the view)!
- Piazza Campo de’ Fiori – a lively square with a famous daily market, where you get pick up anything from fruit and veg to homewares (and a delicious fresh orange juice)
Top left: view of the city from Villa Borghese / Top right: market stalls in Piazza Campo de’ Fioro / Bottom left: view through the keyhole at Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta (I told you it was hard to take a photo of!) /Bottom right: St. Peter’s Basilica.
I’ve put all my recommendations into a handy Google map that will hopefully help you pack in as much as possible during your visit to Rome! I hope this guide helps you fall in love with Rome as much as I have! I’d love to know if you visit any of my recommendations or have any of your own to add, so please leave a comment or get in touch. Arrivederci!
Top left: the Spanish Steps / Top right: another beautiful view of the city from Villa Borghese / Middle left: the Colosseum from the outside / Middle right: view of Tiber Island / Bottom: Dan and I watching the sunset on Ponte Garibaldi.
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