The Ultimate Guide to Rome, Italy
Rome is my favorite city in the world (even though I got hit by a Fiat on my first visit). It’s historic, colorful, lively, and truly just incredible. There is no where else like it.
I recommend staying in Rome for at least four full days to really experience it. For me, it’s important to spend as much time as possible in a new place so that you can somewhat begin to understand the culture.
“quando a Roma...”
WHEN TO VISIT:
I’ve visited Rome at various times throughout the year—January, April, July, October, December, etc. I would recommend going literally any time besides the summer. Italian summers are unbearably hot. So hot that sometimes it’s hard to even be outside, plus many places in Italy don’t have air conditioning. Rome also is the busiest with tourists during the summer too, so definitely avoid planning your trip for June through August. I think visiting any other time throughout the year is lovely. The weather is very mild because of the Mediterranean climate, so winters are still nice. The week of Easter gets a little chaotic with all the tourists looking to go to the papal masses at the Vatican, but it’s not too bad. I stayed in Rome for that week during April 2017 but took a day trip to Assisi on Easter Sunday.
ARRIVING IN ROME:
Rome's Fiumicino airport is about 45 minutes from the city. You can get a taxi from the airport to your hotel for €50, or you can take the train to the central station, Roma Termini, for €15.
If you choose to take the the train, you can then easily get a taxi to your hotel outside of Termini at the taxi stand, but depending on the time, you may have to wait in line for up to around 25 minutes.
GETTING AROUND ROME:
To put it bluntly, Rome's public transportation is not reliable at all. Walking is definitely the best way to see the city because most of the tourist sights are within walking distance, but when your feet start hurting, you can just get a taxi.
In case you’re not familiar with the taxi system in most European countries—you can’t just flag one down. You have to go to a taxi stand, which are usually easy to find and are close to popular tourist sites.
WHERE TO STAY:
My first time in Rome, I stayed in a small B&B, Little Queen Roma, which is in a building in Largo di Torre Argentina, the square that Julius Caesar was killed. The B&B’s bedrooms are decorated with historic art that really embodies the city, and it also has a cute outdoor patio. The Italian owner is very friendly and helpful.
Another time, I stayed with my family at Hotel Raphael, a historic and very famous five-star hotel just beside Piazza Navona. It’s an iconic hotel in the city and easily identified by its vine-covered facade. It has a rooftop restaurant overlooking the city with beautiful views of the Vatican in the distance.
On another visit I stayed at Palazzo Navona Hotel, a four-star hotel also next to Piazza Navona.
Once, I stayed in a trendy loft Airbnb in Trastevere, my favorite section of the city.
Another Airbnb I’ve stayed at in an amazing location: appartamento moderno nel Ghetto Embraico.
WHERE TO EAT:
Go to Trastevere, a charming area on the west bank of the Tiber River. It's the most charming section of the city and is filled with dozens of small, family-owned restaurants to pick from.
A great place to eat cacio e pepe in Trastevere is at Restaurant Ai Spaghettari. They have lots of outdoor seating on a quiet street. Cacio e pepe (meaning ‘cheese and pepper’) is a traditional Roman dish made from tonnarelli—a long, fresh pasta, pecorino—a cheese made from sheep’s milk, and fresh black pepper.
I finally found a good Mexican place in Italy! Pico’s Taqueria is a super tiny restaurant in Trastevere that serves burritos, quesadillas, tacos, and more. I got a vegetarian burrito with guacamole and spicy salsa.
Palazzo Manfredo Hotel has a new bar overlooking the Colosseum and Roman Forum. The drinks are expensive and it has a smart casual dress code, but it’s so worth it for the unbeatable view.
Go to Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori for really touristy restaurants but with iconic landmarks as views. The food won’t be the best though.
Rome’s oldest coffee bar, Antico Caffè Greco, is located almost at the foot of the Spanish Steps. My Roman cousin took me here for cappuccini and biscotti. Dating back to 1760, the decor is authentic—red velvet and wood furniture, marble floors, and historic oil paintings—it truly feels like you’ve stepped into another century. Due to its fame and prime location, the prices are higher than what you would get at a regular bar, but it’s worth it!
Vegetarian and vegan restaurants are popular in Italy too! There are many new places to try:
Flower Burger Roma—I’ve never been to the Rome location which is near the Vatican, but Flower Burger is an Italian chain restaurant and it’s one of my favorite spots in Milan. Their vegan burgers are the best I’ve ever had!
Il Marguetta—This place is modern and cozy and in a great location near Piazza del Popolo and Borghese Park. I’ve been here a few times and love their set up—a buffet with over 40 different vegetarian choices!
If you’re missing American-style breakfast, go to Bakery House. They have two locations, both of which are not in the city center. My cousin drove me to the Ponte Milvio location in north Rome. They serve pancakes, bagels, waffles, French toast, and more. I got a stack of pancakes with strawberries, banana, and chocolate chips.
WHAT TO DO:
Walk the Eternal City! Piazza Navona, Campo de' Fiori, the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, and Piazza di Spagna can all easily be reached by foot. Walk from Piazza Venezia down through the Roman Forum and finish with a tour of the Colosseum.
You have to visit the Vatican Museum. I took a short guided tour with Walks of Italy, which even lets you enter the Sistine Chapel an hour before it opens to the public.
If you're visiting in the spring or summer, visit Il Roseto Comunale, Rome's rose garden. Off the beaten path, the garden is filled with over 1,100 rose varieties, and it'll make you forget you're in busy Rome.
Wake up and head out to the Trevi Fountain and/or Colosseum at 5 am! This is the best time to take pictures since there will be very few people there!
Go around the back of the Altare della Patria (the big white monument in Piazza Venezia) and ride the elevator to the rooftop to see "Rome From the Sky." For €7, take in impressive panoramic views of the entire city.
Take a tour of Villa Borghese Gallery, a small art museum in the middle of Villa Borghese Park. Works showcased inside the villa include Bernini and Caravaggio. It’s 100% worth it to do a guided tour. The park is massive and is filled with flower gardens, pathways for walking and biking, fountains, carousels, a lake, and much more. It’s one of my favorite places in Rome.
The section of Rome to the west of Villa Borghese Park is centered around Piazza del Popolo, which means the People’s Square. This piazza was the main entrance to the city during the Roman Empire. It’s one of the most lively areas of Rome and has great stores and restaurants.
Go for aperitivo! Aperitivo, a common Italian tradition originating in the north, is when you go for snacks and drinks before dinner. It could be with anyone—friends, family, or colleagues. When I was studying abroad, I even went for apertivo with my Italian class including my professor several times instead of having a formal lesson! Relax at a bar, restaurant, or hotel, snacking on prosciutto, focaccia, and cheese while sipping a Spritz.
For nightlife, there’s hundreds, maybe even thousands of bars to go to. Every neighborhood of the city offers different atmospheres. If you’re looking for a more upscale bar, try around the outskirts of Piazza Navona or hotels. For college nightlife, go to Trastevere where it becomes absolutely packed with students at night. It’s impossible to go to Trastevere and not meet dozens of Americans studying abroad.
