Rome is so full of history, culture, architecture and art. We spent four nights here to explore and experience as much of this beautiful city as possible. If you’re looking for a travel guide for Rome, read on as there is a lot to do in this bustling metropolis!
HOW TO GET THERE
Similar to ‘Spending 48 hours in Florence’, we used the train to get directly to Rome. Through Omio it cost €25 per person and only took an hour and a half. Would definitely suggest using the trains if you’re travelling from the main metropolitan areas. It’s super fast, affordable and a little more environmentally friendly than flying! If busing, still check out Omio as they have bus options as well.
If needing to fly from another part of Europe you can also check out Skyscanner.
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed within the neighbourhood of Municipio I, close to Piazza Navona and within walking distance to The Roman Forums, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, etc. Airbnb included everything that we needed and was much more low-cost and comfortable than hotels.
AirBnB is a great option if travelling within a family but there are also some great hotels and hostels if traveling solo or in a couple.
HOW TO TRAVEL WITHIN ROME:
We explored the majority of Rome on foot as our accommodation was so central. The only times we used alternative transport was to and from the airport and Vatican City. Taxi stands are easy to spot at the airport but be careful as some are known to take a long route in order to charge you extra. I find that by knowing your route and making it plain that you are aware of the direction to the driver you can avoid this. Taxi stands are also quite frequent within the city, similar to bus stops. If in doubt type into Google “closest taxi stand to me” and it should come up with a few options.
Of course, there is also Uber and buses.
TO DO’S:
– Street food tour: My word, this was amazing! It was very casual and a small group of about 15, so easy enough to ask questions and hear the guide. No ear piece needed! It was small dishes but plenty to share around and loads of stops so you definitely won’t need to eat after. I learnt a ton, not only about the local food but the history of Rome. If you are interested in doing something similar Walks of Italy is a company that I highly recommend. Amazing food, amazing guide and a great introduction to Roman history. I would also recommend doing this on your first night as it gives you a great feel for many little neighbourhoods and is a great introduction to this fantastic city.
– Visit all the main sites: Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Altar of the Fatherland (get the elevator up the National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II for a 360 view of the city), Spanish Steps, Roman Forums, Colosseum, Piazza del Popolo. We managed to see all of these sites in just one day! With an early start of course.
– Attend a Pasta Making Class: What an experience! We learnt how to make two different kinds of pasta, Fettuccine and Ravioli, all from scratch. Drinking Prosecco and eating appetisers through out, all of on a rooftop terrace in the middle of Rome. It was such an eye opener into how passionate the Italians are about their food! And not to mention, incredibly tasty! I booked this through Walks of Italy and again, I highly rate this company.
– Vatican City Tour: Included in our tour was the main sites, most famous rooms, art and architecture within the Museum. We were also taken to the Sistine Chapel and able to explore St Peters Basilica on our own. I could go on about this all day because I love art, architecture and history but this is a definitely must-do when in Rome. However, keep in mind that it can get very busy and crowded.
– Places that we didn’t get to visit but I heard great things about: Trastevere: picturesque town with great restaurants, Coppede: a whimsical district known for being “fairytale like” and Janiculum (Gianicolo in Italian) Hill: a perfect viewpoint for sunset.
PLACES TO EAT:
– Da Francesco: Just wow. Food was amazing. Service was amazing. The ravioli stuffed with Cabonara sauce.. Drool. Make sure that you make a reservation before you go as it gets full very quickly.
– Nonna Betta: While you’re in Rome you need to try the traditional fried artichokes. We tried these at Nonna Betta and even though I’m not a big artichoke fan they were tasty!
– Trapizzino: I heard great things about the street food here! Unfortunately didn’t get to make it but this is definitely a stop I will be making next time!
HINTS AND TIPS:
– When at a restaurant all bread and tips are usually included in the final bill however if you received really good service I always tipped extra as a thank you, even if only a couple of euro.
– As mentioned above, visit all of the main monuments early! Ideally before 8am. This way you will be see everything without the crowds. And take some amazing photos while you’re at it.
– When booking accommodation consider who you’re travelling with, how long you plan on being there for and what kind of traveller you are as to what kind of stay is best for you. For the majority of our trip through Italy we wanted to have a home with two bedrooms and a kitchen so we could have the option of cooking. Airbnb was our main preference for long stays and booking.com for short stays. With AirBnB we found that between the four of us it was more affordable.
– There is fresh water fountains through-out most of the city wide areas so if you’re on a day trip take a reusable water bottle. It’s much more environmentally friendly than buying plastic and will save you a few euro. It’s also fresh so you can’t go wrong.
– Learn a few basic Italian phrases and download the Google Translate app. Here you can load onto your phone different languages that will work even if you’re offline. Definitely helpful if you get lost or need some help and don’t have access to WiFi.
– As most parts of Europe you will need to pay tourist tax. This all depends on the area as to the cost but it’s worth looking into before you go so you know what to expect when it comes to paying your bill at the end or start of a stay.
– When in Europe Skyscanner is the main website I use to book flights as there is a large range of options covering a lot of European airlines. They also cater for buses and trains which is handy if you’re trying to compare all three options.
– Make sure you do your cuisine research before you arrive, then you know you’ll be tasting the best. All delicacies are based on the region that you are in. For example Rome is well known for its Carbonara and Florence for its Florentine steak.
– Always have cash handy. You are able to use your card in most restaurants but for smaller purchases and markets cash is more accepted.
– Avoid eating next to the main sites / monuments. Take a walk for another five minutes and you’ll find places that have much nicer food, less crowded and a lot more affordable.
– If you plan on using the trains to get from city to city, I would suggest to book these online and in advance. Omio I found easy to navigate and you don’t have to print out a ticket as you can access everything on the app. Trenitalia and Italio are two main train companies within Italy. In terms of comfort, punctuality and friendliness they were very similar so if you’re wondering whether to book one or the other you can’t really go wrong.
ADDITIONAL TIP:
Definitely recommend taking an organised tour of The Vatican rather than waiting in line on the day. Even though there is still a line for the “skip the line” tours, you get through a lot quicker! After looking at forums and blogs some have said that you can expect to wait four hours just to get in, Whereas you can easily do a tour in the same amount of time. Also we learnt much more than if we were to go on our own. Just a warning through, the museum is always fairly crowded, no matter what the time of day or year.
Rome, what a vibe! I could have spent a lot more time here exploring the city but in four days we definitely got a feel for the culture and its amazing history. Hopefully when you visit, you will have the same experience!