Rome
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According to legend, Ancient Rome was founded in 753 BCE by Romulus and Remus, two brothers and demigods. The ancient city’s history therefore makes it the perfect destination for lovers of classical architecture, stories, and ideas. Yet, a mix of modern culture, exciting nightlife, and delicious food will make you want to stay in this sprawling metropolis for an eternity.
Travel tip #1: Rome is the capital of Italy, and one of the most-visited capital cities throughout the world. Be sure to plan ahead when visiting, as museums and historical sites can reach daily capacity rather quickly, even during off-season.
Places of Interest
Colosseum: Regarded as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the Colosseum is the world’s largest amphitheater which is nearly 2,000 years old. You can marvel at the 5 different levels, all built in varying styles, where spectators sat according to their social rank. Once inside the Colosseum, budget 1-2 hours to read about the history, take photos, and really get a feel for this ancient structure.
Forum: Roman Forum (“Forum Romanum” in Latin) was the most important forum in Ancient Rome. It is located between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, serving as the scene of public meetings, law courts, and gladiatorial combats as well as was lined with shops and markets during republican times.
Palatine Hill: The Palatine is the most famous of Rome’s seven hills. In Ancient Rome, it was considered one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city, being home to many aristocrats and emperors. It is largely an archeological site and is fairly spread-out, making it crucial to give yourself adequate time to walk-through its entirety.
Pantheon: This is one of the best-preserved monuments in Rome, with its original construction dating between AD 118 and 128. It features a rotunda with a massive domed ceiling, which was the largest of its kind when built. The Pantheon’s extremely risky yet innovative dome structure was—and still is—an architectural marvel.
Piazza Navona: Piazza Navona is one of the most beautiful and famous squares in the center of Rome. It is home to famous fountains, like the Fountain of the Four Rivers and the Fountain of Neptune. This is a great place to walk through, admire Baroque-style architecture, and stop for a photo.
Ponte Sant’Angelo: There are several famous bridges in Rome, connecting neighborhoods across the River Tiber. Ponte Sant’Angelo (St. Angelo Bridge) is one of them, where you can find picaresque golden hour-views and musicians serenading crowds.
Trevi Fountain: The Trevi Fountain is one of Rome’s greatest attractions and must be visited when in Rome. Its famous for its intricate, Baroque-style artwork and beautiful teal water. Many people throw a coin with their back turned to the fountain, hoping to return to Rome in the future and find love. The money collected from Trevi Fountain is donated to various Catholic charities.
Spanish Steps: These beautiful set of steps are located on a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, in which the Trinità dei Monti church sits at the top. The Spanish Steps are longest and widest steps in Europe, serving as an important landmark in the city.
Trastevere: Located on the opposite bank of the River Tiber is this laidback yet traditional working-class neighborhood that is lined with narrow alleyways and medieval houses. During the day, pop into the shops and do an art crawl. Make your way over to enjoy dinner and drinks at many of the area’s popular restaurants, trattorias, and pizzerias as night falls.
Belvedere del Gianicolo: Belvedere del Gianicolo is a park on top of a hill southeast of the Vatican in western Rome. It is the perfect place to look over all of the churches and buildings. Also, a wonderful photo spot on a clear day.
Vatican City: Vatican City is the smallest country in the world and is highly accessible if you’re already in Rome. Dedicate a half day or full day to visiting Vatican City, depending on how much you enjoy museums and religious history. Click here for my Vatican City Travel Guide for what to see and do.
Travel tip #2: For places like the Colosseum, Forum, and Palatine Hill, reserve tickets online for guaranteed access on the day of your choosing. Ticket lines can become lengthy very quickly throughout Rome, which can disrupt travel itineraries. Ensure you book through your accommodation or via a legitimate website to avoid scams.
Food & Drink
Cappuccino & cornetto: This popular espresso-based coffee drink originated in Austria and later became a fan-favorite in Italy. Paired with a cornetto—a sweeter and softer pastry compared to a croissant—this is the best way to start your day at a Roman coffee shop or snack bar. However, don’t try ordering a cappuccino after noon, as that’s just not something typically done.
Il Maritozzaro: Found in the Trastevere neighbordhood, this little corner shop is known for their maritozzo. The maritozzo is a classic sweet pastry that is traditionally filled with fluffy whipped cream. This bun has satisfied Romans for centuries, whether in the morning as a breakfast food, as an afternoon snack, or after dinner for dessert. Cash preferred.
Pasticceria Regoli: If you’re looking for a family-owned bakery and pastry shop in Rome, stop by Pasticceria Regoli. This century-old shop continues to sell delicious classic pastries, tarts, and cakes. Try their cannoli—you won’t be disappointed! Cash only.
Gelato: Get your gelato-fix when in Rome. Compared to ice cream, gelato is lower in fat because it contains less cream and more milk. It is also churned slower, resulting in less air and a richer flavor. Two places to try are Frigidarium and Giolitti, but almost any gelateria in Rome will be amazing.
Suppli Roma: Stop by Suppli Roma in Trastevere to try this popular street food and appetizer that consists of deep-fried rice coated with eggs and breadcrumbs then filled with tomato ragu and mozzarella cheese. A perfect on-the-go snack while wandering Rome. These are similar to their Sicilian cousin, the arancini, but do not usually have meat and peas inside. Cash preferred.
Da Bucatino: This trattoria encompasses features of old-school Roman dining with its brick arches and wooden walls. Plus, the food here is quite tasty. Best to come with one or two other people to share more dishes, but definitely try the Bucatini all’Amatriciana.
Hostaria Romana: Popular amongst locals and tourists alike, this Trevi-area trattoria has friendly staff and excellent food. Their pastas are known to be delightful, but try their traditional Roman dishes, such as saltimbocca (pan-fried, prosciutto-wrapped veal escalopes), trippa (tripe), and carciofo alla romana (artichokes). It can get crowded here during both lunch and dinner hours, thus be prepared to wait for a table.
Tonnarello: Located in the Trastevere area of Rome, this casual eatery is known for their meatballs, pastas, and other simple Italian dishes. Their cacio e pepe pairs very well with the Montepulciano wine they offer.
Da Enzo al 29: Also in Trastevere, Da Enzo al 29 is a small, simple trattoria serving classic Roman dishes, like fried artichokes. The line can get very long, as they do not take reservations. Worth eating here if the line is short (less than a 30-minute wait), but go elsewhere if you don’t have the time or patience to wait to eat—there are plenty more viable options!
Antico Forno Roscioli & Roscioli Salumeria con Cucina: These places are owned by the same people, but serve different food and have different atmospheres. Antico Forno Roscioli offers amazing thin-crust pizza while Salumeria con Cucina is a combination deli-restaurant-market with yummy carbonara.
Emma Pizzeria: A great place to enjoy a crispy, thin Roman-style pizza, as well as fiori di zucca (fried zucchini flowers filled with mozzarella). This is a nice spot for a classy dinner yet is not too expensive. Their wine selection is phenomenal.
Er Buchetto: An old sandwich shop near Rome Termini Station that serves porchetta sandwiches. Their well-seasoned porchetta is piled on warm, crusty bread. Stop here on your way to or from the station for a quick bite to eat.
Travel tip #3: Similar to Spain and Japan, Italian restaurants (and some shops) typically have a break between lunch and dinner. This time varies by establishment, but is usually between 4-7 pm.
Transportation & Accommodation
Getting around Rome is a bit challenging as a tourist, especially if you opt to do things yourself rather than rely on tour guides or companies to coordinate. Most people will do a fair amount of walking in the city. However, metro, trams, and buses are frequently used to traverse Rome. The metro is small and does not connect too many major tourist attractions, but does connect to Roma Termini, the main train station. Similarly, trams are not very tourist-friendly and have stops mainly along the outskirts of the city center. Bus is the best mode of public transportation throughout Rome, but can be difficult to pinpoint to non-locals due to inconsistent bus times. Taxis are common and can be hailed throughout the city or by using the FreeNow App.
A combination of walking plus using buses and the metro will most likely be the easiest way to navigate Rome, with a 7 EUR day-pass being your best friend. The pass is activated upon first use and is good for 24-hours afterward. It can be purchased from metro station machines using cash. You can tap-in and out of the bus, metro, and tram using this one-day card, which makes it incredibly easy and affordable to explore the city.
If arriving in Rome by airplane via the Leonardo Da Vinci/ Fiumicino Airport, the Leonardo Express Train will take you directly into the city center and drop you off at Roma Termini. As of 2022, the price for a one-way 30-minute trip was 14 EUR. Although there are cheaper options, this is the most feasible for travelers and locals alike.
For those arriving in Rome via train, Roma Termini will more than likely be your arrival point. Tren Italia is Italy’s main railway company that connects major cities, such as Florence and Naples, throughout the country. You can either book train tickets in advance through the Tren Italia website or purchase tickets in Roma Termini Station. It is best to purchase tickets ahead of time during peak seasons, as trains have limited space and prices do increase with demand. During off-season, you can usually get your first-choice in time when purchasing tickets the day-of.
Regarding accommodation in Rome, hostels and hotels are plentiful. There are various options for all travelers depending on your preferences and budget. Staying close to Roma Termini, in the Trevi area, and the Colosseum are all viable options. As a solo female traveler, I opted to stay in larger hostels in all-female dorms. Free Hostels Roma is a little less-central (near a metro station, though) and provided activities in addition to nightly low-price meal options for all guests. The RomeHello is closer to more tourist sites yet had a higher price-point. The rooms and facilities are incredibly new—this place feels more like a hotel than a hostel!
Travel tip #4: Rome is a sprawling metropolis, making it challenging to see and do everything in a single trip. To make the most of your time in Rome, plan your itinerary based on area to avoid wasting precious exploration time walking or taking public transportation across the city.
Climate
Like Los Angeles and parts of Spain, Rome has a Mediterranean climate; cool winters and hot summers means that any time of year is good for visiting. Yet, summers can get more humid than other places with similar climates, as occasional summer thunderstorms do pass through. Over the course of the year, the temperature varies from 30°F to 90°F (-1°C to 32°C). It rarely falls below 28°F (-2°C) or reaches above 95°F (35°C), even though it may feel colder or hotter based on humidity levels. June through August are peak tourist season, and are also the hottest, most humid months. Additionally, many Italians and Europeans use August as a vacation month, which makes places more crowded. Spring and autumn are arguably great seasons to visit Rome, with fewer crowds and milder weather.
