A whistle stop tour of Rome
Rome really is something else! We spent three nights/ four days there and there’s something to see around practically every corner – ruins, amazing restaurants, quirky bars, sculptures, statues, fountains, and the list goes on. You can’t hope to see everything in just one long weekend, but we gave it a go! So here are my suggestions of things you should try and get in if you can and some general tips for them:
- The Vatican
Whether you’re religous or not, the Vatican is a must see. It’s got so much history and it’s just magnificent. The sculptures, the art, the architecture… you can’t go to Rome and not see the Vatican, you just can’t! But make sure you book ahead to skip the insanely enormous queues. See my post on our Vatican tour.
- Castel Saint’Angelo
You can’t beat a proper castle. It’s cheap entry and it’s great fun wandering around the old passageways, draw bridges and chambers! If views are your thing (who doesn’t like a good view) it’s great to look out across the city, river and St Peter’s Basilica.
- Colosseum & the Roman Forum
Obviously you have to visit the Colosseum. It’s just amazing and, considering it’s 2000 years old, is in such good condition with marble still dotted here and there. If you book ahead and pay extra (we didn’t) you can get a tour to all the hidden bits where the gladiators slept, which looked amazing. But to be fair just being inside the walls is breathtaking enough! Your ticket to the Colosseum also gets you entry to the Roman Forum, which is a series of Roman government ruins sprawled across the hill over the road (main post pic) and is just so impressive.
- Pantheon
The Pantheon is quite tricky to find, you’ll be wandering around narrow cobbled streets and then all of a sudden you’ll find it squeezed in between cafes and shops. It’s a pretty exciting moment when you find it! The scale of the place is just mind blowing, it’s massive and apparently no-one knows how it’s still standing – it’s seriously epic. Look out for the little holes in the floor that drain the rain water away! But be aware that it’s still a practicing Catholic church and is closed on national holidays and at certain times for mass. I’d also recommend grabbing a tasty slice of pizza for a couple of euros from Il Defino just down the road on Via di Torre Argentina.
- Trevi Fountain
Unfortunately the Trevi fountain was undergoing maintenance when we went and had was cordoned off with no damn water in it! But the sculptures were still fantastic to see and we chucked a coin in anyway. It’s definitely worth seeing, just watch out for the polaroid photo/selfie stick/rose pushers, they swarm the place and you literally have to swat them off.
- Spanish Steps
We weren’t especially rolling in luck and the steps were also cordoned off for maintenance! But we enjoyed an ice cream from the nearby and DELICIOUS Fatamorgana and sat by a cute boat shaped fountain at the bottom of the steps – it was still great to see.
- Piazza Navona
This is just round the corner from the Pantheon and is a square made famous by the Bernini Four Rivers fountain. Surrounded by cafes and restaurants and gelato shops, it’s a perfect snapshot of Italy. Get yourself there and just sit back and watch the hustle and bustle of market traders as you enjoy a drink or an ice cream!
- Via Giulia
This is basically just a really pretty street lined with antique shops and cute cafes. The archway spanning across it was also designed by Michelangelo – there’s history everywhere! It’s just nice to enjoy the walk here to be honest. From Piazza Navona you can take a lovely route past the ship shaped Fountana di Piazza Farnese and through the daily (and massive) market on Piazza Campo de’ Fiori, which gives you a glimpse at everyday life for the Romans. It’s also lined with restaurants and cafes so makes a good place to stop and chill out!
Make sure you also read my five survival tips for Rome!
