Centro Storico (Historic Center): Perfect for first-time visitors, this area is close to major attractions like the Pantheon and Piazza Navona. You’ll find boutique hotels and charming apartments within walking distance of iconic landmarks. See all hotel options in Centro Storico. Trastevere: This lively neighborhood is full of character with its cobblestone streets and colorful facades. It’s an excellent choice for Instagram-worthy photos and a vibrant nightlife scene. See all hotel options in Trastevere. Monti: Known for its trendy vibe, Monti is ideal for travelers seeking unique boutiques, hip cafes, and a local atmosphere. It’s also close to the Colosseum and Roman Forum. See all hotel options in Monti. No matter where you stay, Rome’s public transportation and walkable streets make it easy to navigate arount the city. Start your trip to Rome with a stroll around the city center. With most of the tourist attractions located within walking distance of each other, and cute streets being attractions in themselves, Rome is a perfect city for walking. After a solid breakfast (probably containing nothing but white bread and espresso) you should head to Campo de’ Fiori – the field of flowers. Campo de’ Fiori is a market that is open daily and houses dozens of vendors selling everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to cheese, herbs, and even clothes. The Pantheon is a former ancient Roman temple, but now a Catholic church, that was built in 125 B.C. The building consists of a rectangular vestibule that leads you to the magnificent rotunda. The real glory is the coffered concrete dome with a height of 58 meters. The dome has a central opening to the sky that gives a spectacular ray of light inside. When it’s raining you can see the raindrops fall peacefully like a grand shower. There’s no admission fee to go inside the Pantheon, but there can be a big line of people waiting to go inside as it is one of the most popular sights in Rome. Did you know? Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon’s dome is still the largest unsupported dome in the world. Today Pantheon has the informal title as the church of Santa Maria Rotonda. Then, continue walking towards the famous fountain Fontana di Trevi. This is probably the most rushed place in Rome, with thousands of tourists visiting every day. Fontana di Trevi is beautiful, but also done in a few minutes. Go there, be aware of pickpockets, take a photo and leave. And don’t buy anything nearby since everything is ridiculously overpriced. Tips! Do you want to experience a more relaxed side of Rome, without so many tourists? Get up really early and walk the streets all by yourself. Rome is at its best at 7 am. Continue north to Piazza di Spagna and the Spanish steps. This is a rather fancy area of Rome, with many brand stores to enter if you are interested in that. If not, I suggest you walk up the Spanish steps to Trinità dei Monti church which is located at the top. From here you have a stunning view of Rome. Since you walked all the way up you might as well sit down for an aperol spritz at Il Palazzetto, a restaurant with a sunny terrace overlooking the steps. Tips! Make sure to visit at least one of the many grand churches while walking around in the old parts of Rome. They might not look so spectacular from the outside, but the inside is often beautiful. A great option would be Santa Maria Maggiore. While in the Vatican City you must at least visit Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, where Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel is located. Many people think that the Basilica and Vatican Museums are the same things. The fact is, they are actually different sights that have separate entrances, even though they are very close to each other. There’s a lot to see and do in both Saint Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums. Make sure you have enough time and energy to handle the crowds. Tips! Here’s a free audio guide to Saint Peter’s Basilica To enter the Vatican Museums you must have a ticket. The best way to avoid the huge line is to buy a small group tour ticket. If you don’t have a ticket before you go, you risk spending your whole day in line. We paid 66 € for two tickets to a group tour, with an entrance ticket, guide and earphones included. The perks of booking a guided tour, besides not standing in line, is that you get an expert telling you the history behind the building and the art inside. Without the guide, it might be hard to understand what wonders you are actually looking at. With a group tour ticket, you have a specific time slot and can enter the building without queuing. You just walk past the line and present your voucher to the customer care staff outside the entrance. ➳ Read more: Buy a ticket to the Vatican Museums here Pro tip: If you are planning to visit the Vatican Museums, you can go directly to St. Peter’s Basilica via the museum and skip the line. I wish I knew this before my trip to the Vatican City. If you are not fed up with historical sites, I suggest you spend a day visiting Colosseum. Colosseum is probably the most popular sight in Rome, and well worth a visit. Again, this site requires pre-booked tickets. The best option is to buy your ticket from the official Colosseum website. The ticket to Colosseum also includes entrance to Roman Forum (in Italian Foro Romano). Roman Forum is a plaza surrounded by ruins of several important ancient government buildings. Both Colosseum and Roman Forum date back to ancient Rome and hold a great deal of history. In my opinion, Roman Forum is actually more interesting than the Colosseum, so don’t miss this one! Spend at least half a day visiting these two sights. Note: Don’t forget to bring water, and make sure to eat before you enter. You can’t buy any food inside, besides questionable plastic-wrapped cakes from vending machines. ➳ Read more: Buy your skip-the-line ticket to Colosseum here After lunch: Strolling around the Monti area Take a stroll around Monti. Monti is a trendy area with many second-hand shops and restaurants. There are not as many tourist attractions in this area as in the rest of the city center, meaning fewer tourists and more locals. If you suddenly get a craving for gelato while you’re here, you should pay a visit to Fatamorgana. They serve great gelato! Before ending your evening at one of the many great restaurants in Trastevere you might want to stop by Aventine Hill. Rome is a city of many hills, and Aventine is one of them. Here you can visit the beautiful Orange Garden, a park filled with orange trees and umbrella pines. From Orange Garden, you have a beautiful view of the city. For an even more unusual view, follow the road to find the secret keyhole – one of the most beautiful hidden sights in the city. From the keyhole, you can see the entire dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica from a perfect angle. Be prepared for the huge line to the keyhole!
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