Rome is a sprawling city with nearly 3,000 years of history and countless displays of art, architecture and culture. With a vibrant street life, gorgeous little neighborhoods, delicious food and views for days, Rome is up there as one of the most romantic cities in the world! We were lucky enough to get to experience it during a recent trip to Europe and so I wanted to share our top finds with you!
HOW WE GOT THERE:
We took a train from Lucerne, Switzerland directly to the Roma Termini. The cost was around $60 per person and it took about 8 hours. There are multiple trains per day and the cost ranges, so make sure you book early to get the best deal! It was definitely a long ride, but the view of the Swiss and Italian countryside did not disappoint. If you’re starting your journey somewhere else in Europe, definitely check out the train schedule and see if that’s an option. If not, you can fly directly into Rome Fiumicino International Airport through a main airline or a budget one like Easy Jet or Ryan Air.
WHERE WE STAYED:
We rented an Airbnb in Rome which I would definitely recommend if you’re traveling on a budget. Our unit was located in a cute little residential area about 10 minutes from the Colosseum. Primo location.
The building itself was very very old {I mean, no surprise there, it’s Rome!} but once you were inside you were instantly surrounded with chic modern decor that gave off a very homey feel. There was a also a teeny tiny elevator that Ben and I had fun squeezing into and riding up and down after a few glasses of wine lol. The apartment was $80 a night {such a steal} and here is a link to it if you wanted to check it out!
WHERE WE ATE AND DRANK:
There are so many places to eat and drink in Rome that it can be a little overwhelming. We did a lot of grab and go which I would say is the best way to eat your way through the city, but we also sought out some specific spots as well! In the end, I’m all about ambiance, and so if I see somewhere with a fun an authentic vibe, I’m sold. Since we did a lot of grab and go, I don’t have a ton of suggestions, but below were a few of our favorites.
BREAKFAST:
Breakfast was provided by our Airbnb, so instead of grabbing a meal we would start our morning off at a local shop for coffee. Depending on where we were going, we would just find a little cafe along the way. Ben and I have always been coffee drinkers, but he was dying to get an espresso in Rome-he talked about it for days leading up to the trip! He had heard about the ordering technique {go up to the counter-order your espresso-it arrives in a small cup-drink it at the counter {this part is key} and leave}. He was so excited to get his espresso and stand up at the counter like the locals do.
Ps. One other note on coffee. I tried to order a latte and ended up with a cup of warm milk. Oops. If you want a standard latte then make sure you ask for a Cafè Latte. The “Cafè” part is v important.
LUNCH:
Pane e Salme: A friend recommended this place to us and we surprisingly just stumbled upon it when we were leaving the Trevi Fountain. The restaurant is small and typically packed with a line out the door and down the street, but it’s so worth the wait. You can either wait for a table and sit down {if you do that then order drinks and a charcuterie board}, or you can go the quick route and order a sandwich to go. We ordered two to go and popped a squat on the sidewalk to eat them. They were so delicious and the spot was very affordable!
DINNER:
Trastevere Neighborhood: This might just be one of my favorite little neighborhoods ever. Everything just felt so quintessential Rome. The neighborhood was funky, artistic and bohemian and it was buzzing with locals and tourists alike. The area is known for its craft beer pubs, shops and restaurants and I instantly fell in love with it. On any night you’ll find friends and families sitting outside, drinking wine and listening to music. We loved this area so much that we ended up there two nights in a row. These were our top two stops:
Donne Aristocampo: This spot is a must! It’s a quaint little restaurant with outdoor seating that’s perfect for people watching. Everything was homemade, the staff was sweet and attentive and it was just the perfect spot for seafood, pasta and a bottle of wine.
Dar Poeta: Perfect if you’re looking for a casual dinner and a piece of pizza. We learned quickly that pizza is ordered by weight and not by the slice–what!? So order yourself ½ pound, they’ll cut it with a legit pair of scissors and then find a spot to sit down, relax and enjoy it!
Other then that, there are a ton of places to grab a quick drink and an aperitivo in Trastevere and beyond. Most of the restaurants will serve snacks {free of charge with the purchase of a drink} during happy hour, so definitely take advantage! We ended up sampling some pretty fun dishes, my favorite being homemade bruschetta from a restaurant called Antilia! This was the same night that we witnessed a free magic show on the street…and by “magic show” I mean we watched a guy that looked eerily like Jon Lovitz pull objects out of a hat for 30 minutes. Ah, classic.
If you’re looking to try a little bit of everything, check out the Rome Food Tour. You can choose which location you’d like to explore and try everything from pizza and pasta, to meats and cheese, to truffles and 30 year aged balsamic vinegar. Yum!
WHAT TO DO:
This portion of the post could easily be 10 pages long, but I won’t do that to you! Rome just has so much history and there’s so much to see. Since we were only there for two full days, we made sure to hit the big spots and then we peppered in some other attractions as well. Below is our general itinerary for the two days along with some tips and tricks!
Day One Sites:
Stop 1: The Colosseum and Roman Forum: We didn’t go into the Colosseum, but we did walk around it and then went into the Roman Forum. You can buy tickets for both sites here. Note: The first Sunday of every month is free admission to many of the sites and museums, so check that before you buy tickets through any 3rd party vendors!
Stop 2: The Trevi Fountain: I’ve wanted to see The Trevi Fountain since I was a little kid. I would love to say I saw it in history class and my textbook had me dreaming about of throwing a coin in the fountain, but in reality Lizzie McGuire did it and so I wanted to too. Note: Get here early if you want to get a good photo or if you just want to get close to the fountain–it gets crazy packed.
Stop 3: Spanish Steps: The Spanish steps are a set of stairs with Piazza di Spagna at the base and Trinità dei Monti church at the top. Climb up the 138 steps and admire the view from the top.
Stop 4: The Pantheon: This is a former Roman temple {now a church} that has been around for over 2000 years. Admission is free and the interior is gorgeous. Note: The line to get in will seem daunting, especially in the middle of the day, but it moves very quickly!
Day Two Sites:
I would dedicate a full day to Vatican City if you can. If you’re not familiar, Vatican City is a city-state surrounded by Rome. It’s home to the Pope and the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. If you go, make sure that you’re wearing pants/skirt that covers your knees and that your shoulders are covered when you’re inside any of the buildings.
We decided to walk to Vatican City from our Airbnb which was a bit of a trek, but we were able to stop at some little markets along the way and even walk down by the water. Ben bought a fedora from one of the vendors and for the rest of the trip I referred to him as his alter ego, “Italian Ben.” If the walk is a little too far for you then grab a cab-they’re surprisingly much cheaper than ubers in Rome!
Once you make it to Vatican City, there are a few main things you’ll want to check out; St. Peter’s Square, St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. You can see all of those things on your own, or do a tour if you wanted the day to be a little more structured. We did two tours there; one of the catacombs {former underground burial grounds and the home to Peter’s burial} and one of the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
Here is a link to the Vatican tour we did {about $55 per person} and then here is a link to the catacomb tour (about $12 per person}. I will say that the catacomb tour was amazing–it was so informative and definitely worth checking out. The Vatican tour was interesting and it allowed us to skip the line at all of the sites, but we could have easily done the tour ourselves and saved some money!
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Rome is an incredible city filled with so much history and culture. If you’re going to be in Italy, it’s definitely worth a stop so that you can see the sites. Three nights is a good amount of time if you’re just making a stop, but you could easily dedicate a week or more to truly soak everything in!
