Things to do in Rome
Ancient, Baroque and neighbourhood Rome: three cities in one, to be taken slowly.
You never finish Rome. Those who try to see it all in three days go home tired and feeling they have rushed. Those who choose a few things and do them well come back.
Here you will find where to start. The details that make the difference, where to eat without ending up in tourist traps and where to stand for photos, are in our free guides.
What to see in Rome
The Colosseum, the Forum and the Palatine
The heart of ancient Rome, side by side. From the Palatine you understand how the city was laid out.
St Peter’s and the Vatican Museums
The basilica, the dome and the Sistine Chapel. On their own they are worth a whole morning.
The centre on foot
The Pantheon, Piazza Navona, the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps: a single walk links them, and the best part is what you find in between.
Trastevere and the Janiculum
The alleys, the evening squares and, at the top of the climb, the widest view over Rome.
Where to stand for the photo, the hour with the right light and how crowded it gets: it is in the free guide Photo spots.
Notify me when it is out →Day trips from Rome
Ostia Antica
An entire Roman town, with its streets, theatre and mosaics. Less famous than Pompeii, and much closer.
Tivoli
Villa d’Este with its fountains and Hadrian’s Villa, the residence of an emperor.
The Castelli Romani
The volcanic lakes, the wine and the fraschette, south of the city. We talk about them in Things to do in the Castelli Romani.
The Appian Way
The Romans’ road among pines, tombs and countryside. On foot or by bike.
How far it is, how to get there and how long you need: it is in the free guide Day trips.
Notify me when it is out →What to eat in Rome
The pasta dishes
Carbonara, cacio e pepe, amatriciana, gricia. Four dishes, a thousand versions: you can tell the right ones.
Artichokes
Roman style or Jewish style, fried whole. In season they are something else.
Supplì
The fried snack Romans eat before pizza, or in the street.
The maritozzo
The Roman breakfast: a sweet bun and whipped cream.
The places we recommend, what to order and how much you spend: it is in the free guide Where to eat.
Notify me when it is out →Things to do in Rome, chosen by us
The best time for Rome
Spring and autumn
The best weather for walking, which in Rome is the only way to see it.
Summer
Hot. You go out early, stop in the middle of the day and head out again in the evening. In August the city is emptier.
Winter
Mild compared with the rest of Italy, with shorter queues everywhere.
Our homes in Rome
Rome: the questions travellers ask
How many days do you need for Rome?
Three for the essentials, without rushing. For two days we wrote A weekend in Rome.
Do you need a car in Rome?
No. The centre is closed to non-residents’ traffic and you get around on foot and by metro.
What should be booked in advance?
The Colosseum and the Vatican Museums, especially from spring to autumn.
Which area is best to stay in?
Near a metro stop: in a few minutes you are in the centre and in the evening you return to a quiet neighbourhood. Our homes in Rome are chosen that way.
Where can you eat well in Rome without ending up in tourist traps?
It is the question we get most. The neighbourhood trattorias we recommend are in the free guide “Where to eat in Rome”.
Worth reading: A weekend in Rome.
Things to do also in: Florence, Turin, Cuneo, Lurisia and the Pesio Valley, Sestola, Laigueglia, Alassio, Castelli Romani. All destinations.
The rest is in the Rome guides
Three guides in PDF, free: where to eat, photo spots and day trips, with all the details you will not find here. They are on their way: leave us your details and we will send them as soon as they are out.
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