Highlights

• Colosseum
• Roman Forum
• Vatican City including the Sistine Chapel and St Peter’s Basilica
• Trevi Fountain
• Pantheon
• Villa Medici and Gardens tour
• Villa and Galleria Borghese
• Spanish steps and Piazza
• Piazza Navona
• Largo di Torre Argentina ruins
• Castel Sant’Angelo and bridge
• Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II
• Sala Santa Cecilia for a classical concert
• Clubbing at the Sanctuary
• Walk through the beautiful old streets such as Via dei Coronari
• Nearby Tivoli gardens and fountains

Before you go

• If you want to visit the Sistine Chapel, Colosseum or other popular attractions, check websites to book tickets months in advance
• Summertime is very hot and busy, so it’s my least recommended time to visit
• Watch your belongings carefully as there are pickpockets, especially in crowded areas
• Most places take credit cards so cash is rarely needed except for a few taxis
• Rush hour is later and longer than in some cities. In the morning it can be from 6:30-10 and in the evening from 16:30-20:30
• Hotels charge a city tax and as of June 2024, it was 7.50 euros per person per night
• Uber doesn’t really exist separately and the app calls itTaxi

Transport

• There are two international airports, Leonardo da Vinci Airport (Fiumicino) to the west and Ciampino Airport to the south of the city centre. Fiumicino serves most larger airlines and Ciampino is mostly for budget airlines
• Rome Termini is the central rail station and there is a quick and reliable train between Termini and Fiumicino. Schedules can be found on Trenitalia
• Taxis from airports are on fixed rates so be sure to agree this with your driver when you leave
• Within the city, the main taxi app is itTaxi, however during rush hour it is very difficult to find a taxi
• Lime bikes and scooters are a good way to get around, but be careful of drivers
• There are a number of open-top bus tours that take you to the main sights
• Finally, Rome is quite walkable in the centre

Accommodation

• During my two most recent trips to Rome I stayed at Hotel Quirinale and Golden Tulip Rome Piram. I have also attended a gala at the beautiful 5-star Parco dei Principi hotel and spa, where a friend was staying
• Both Hotel Quirinale and Golden Tulip are located within walking distance of the Termini rail station, and they are 4-star hotels
• Rooms are comfortable and the hotels are elegant
• Breakfast may or may not be included, but there are many cafes around
• If your room faces the street, you may need earplugs
• During the summer, it is more comfortable to choose hotels with air conditioning
• As usual I recommend checking reviews on Booking.com or using AirBnB

Food

The food in Rome can be incredible! However, there are also a lot of tourist traps. Even then, I don’t think the food is bad, but maybe just expensive for what you get. One can find most Italian favourites including pizza, pasta and gelato. Also, the Italian wine selection is excellent, and comes from many regions around the country.

Snacks and Desserts

On a hot day, there is nothing better than a cold gelato. Some of my favourite gelato spots include Il Gelato di San Crispino, Il gelato di Costanza, Gelateria Madame, Gran Caffe Rossetti and Gelateria dell’ Angeletto. My favourite flavours are usually pistachio and coconut, but sometimes the unusual flavours are also surprisingly good (e.g. basil and lime).

Also for something sweet, there are many bakeries with delicious tortas (cakes), biscotti (cookies), and more. Some bakeries I visited include Panificio Biscotteria Roscioni and Don Nino

For a quick snack in Italy, why not have freshly baked pizza? Sfizio Pizzeria near Termini had a great selection. I tried the truffle one and it was a good-sized slice with delicious flavour! My top tip for buying pizza by the slice is to look at the topping and if they look dried out, the pizza may have been sitting around for awhile.

In addition, there are cafes with delicious sandwiches. I like Mioara Food – Paninoteca for their porchetta sandwiches.

And if you want to take some ingredients home, then find a local market such as Valeri Alimentari. This place had a huge selection of gourmet pastas, sauces, biscuits and more. It was also a deli with fresh meats and cheeses.

Restaurants

San Baylon Ristorante & Cocktail Bar is a beautiful restaurant with outdoor seating in a peaceful courtyard. Service is very attentive and the dishes are inventive and delicious.

By chance I found Contrario. Vineria con Cucina. very near the Colosseum. In addition to the huge selection of wines, they have an extensive menu. The lobster with giant macaroni was the special and one of my favourite dishes of the trip.

Although I didn’t get to try it, Ristorante Il Fellini was highly recommended by local friends. Prices are reasonable and ingredients are fresh. However, pay attention to opening times because they are not always open during the day.

Piazza Navona is a beautiful area with a lot of tourists. I tried Ristorante Tucci and it was good, but the main attraction was the view while dining al fresco.

I also had a chance to try the food at the luxurious Parco dei Principi Hotel when I was invited for the Prix Galien dinner and gala. It was delicious and beautifully presented Italian food.

Finally, if you enjoy wine then I recommend trying one of the many Italian wines available at local bars and restaurants. The Lazio wine region is closest to Rome. However, there are many varieties and I really enjoyed a Cesari Valpolicella Ripasso from Verona.