Rome is one of my favorite European cities. Travel Rome by metro, by bus or on foot. We walked 27km in one day in Rome and loved every kilometer! We stayed at the Best Western Ars Hotel, which had lovely rooms and a great breakfast.
I didn’t expect much aside from the Colosseum and some ruins, but man was I surprised! Around every corner there’s another gorgeous piazza (square) or church. The most famous piazzas are Piazza del Popolo, Santa Maria in Trastevere, Campo de’ Fiori and Piazza Navona. Any church you enter might surprise you with its decorations. Well-known churches are the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and the San Giovanni in Laterano.
If you want to watch my Rome Travel Guide in video format, HERE it is.
1. Colosseum
If there is one thing people think about when hearing “Rome”, it’s the Colosseum! It takes you back in time unlike anything else on the planet! Little is left to the imagination. The theatre is almost exactly the way it was all those decades ago. No matter how great it looks from the outside, I do recommend going inside as well. It is so big, a lot like a modern stadium. Although this is the number one sight to see in Rome, it has a lot more to offer.
2. Fountains
I love the fountains in Rome, especially at night! Don’t just see the sights by day but go back by night to see everything lit up beautifully. I would dare to say I prefer seeing sights by night to by day anywhere in the world. The most famous fountain is the Trevi fountain. It consists of huge mythological sculptures designed by the famous Italian artist Bernini. Don’t forget to throw a coin into the fountain if you want to return to Rome one day. Other fountains you can’t miss are Bernini’s Fountain of the Four Rivers, the Fontana del Moro and the Fontana di Nettuno on the beautiful Piazza Navona.
3. Vatican City
Does Vatican City count as Rome? Technically not, since it is completely independent, but it would be rude not to visit it when in Rome, right? Eyecatchers are the St. Peter’s Basilica and the obelisk on the Saint Peter’s Square. We visited the Vatican Museum to see Michelangelo’s famous paintings on the ceiling of the Sisitine Chapel. They are some of my all-time favorite paintings, but it was not a great experience at all.
The line to get in is so long, you need a couple of precious hours to queue. Once inside it was so crowded that we were pushed through the halls like a flock of sheep. Finally, you reach the Sistine Chapel and are told you can’t stand still, the flock has to keep moving. No pictures allowed and no time to properly take it all in. Now that travel is restricted, it might be the ideal time to tick off this bucket list item.
4. Pantheon
Another gorgeous building in Rome. To be fair, there are countless beautiful buildings in Rome and many are more beautiful on the outside than this one, though the entrance is impressive. But hey, it’s the inside that counts, right? The ceiling is the building’s main feature. It’s almost magical how the natural light falls through the hole in the ceiling. The building is also blissfully symmetrical, like all classical buildings. It is one of the best-preserved Roman buildings in the world.
5. Spanish Steps
Not only are these steps leading to a French church a must-see, but they are also located near all the best luxury stores in Rome. If you have some extra cash to spend, this is the place to be. If you have never bought a luxury product but would like to invest in a piece, you can buy it here and instead of having only a price tag attached, it’ll also have the beautiful memories of your trip attached.
6. Roman history
You probably won’t know I studied Latin for 6 years in high school. I grew up listening to the tales that were written down by Romans. Many of them took place in Rome. I loved visiting the leftover Roman sites where these stories come to life, like the Roman Forum, the Palatine Hill, Ostia Antica and the Baths of Caracalla. Do you know the saying “All roads lead to Rome.”? Well, the Appian Way was one of the roads that connected Rome with the rest of the Roman Empire.
7. Castel Sant’Angelo
This is the Mausoleum of Roman Emperor Hadrian. Later it was used by the popes as a fortress and a castle and is now a museum that you can visit. Because of the beautiful bridge with statues crossing the Tiber River, it is a popular sight to see. It was once the tallest building in the city.
8. Galleria Borghese
Believe it or not, Rome is a city with a lot of green areas. The Villa Borghese gardens are the perfect place to have a picknick or to navigate a little boat on one of the lakes. Inside the Galleria Borghese you can find paintings by Titian, sculptures by Bernini, and the National Museum of Musical Instruments.
9. Victor Emmanuel II Monument
This monument was built in honor of Victor Emmanuel, the first king of modern Italy. Although it looks like a parliament or a very important building, it just houses a couple of museums. From the top of the building, you can enjoy a great view over the city.
10. Food
If there is anything people associate with Rome as much as the Colosseum, it’s probably Italian food! For a foodie to travel Rome is an absolute delight. I won’t even tell you where to eat in the city, because around every corner you can have an amazing fresh pizza or pasta dish. The best way to explore Rome is to get lost in all the streets and eat wherever you end up. After pizza and pasta, you’ll probably want dessert. Enjoy an incredible gelato ice cream, a tiramisu or anything pistachio flavored, my fave! End the day with a delicious Aperol Spritz on one of the beautiful Piazzas.
I hope you found this Rome Travel Guide handy. Thank you for reading it. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments. If you’re interested in travel in Italy, you might also like my Venice Travel Guide or my Firenze/Florence Travel Guide that is coming soon.