Chefs kiss!
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Rome, the incredible capital city of Italy, is a destination that is only growing in popularity! It’s a vibrant, bustling city packed with history. We found ourselves saying the word “wow” every time we turned a new corner whilst in this amazing city.
To be honest, I’ve never really been particularly interested in history, so the fact that the heritage and stories behind every building in Rome fascinated me, and only made me want to learn more, really says a lot! There is something for everyone in this city, and it’s one of those places that no matter how many times you revisit, you’ll never explore every single street, and always find a new gem that you hadn’t come across before.
It’s difficult to know where to start with Rome as there are so many sights that you just have to experience while you’re there. First on our list was The Colosseum, as it’s one of the seven wonders of the world, and immediately you can understand why. This amphitheatre is the largest in the world, and still stands tall and strong, despite its construction beginning in the year 69 AD. Nearby the Colosseum stands the Roman Forum, another incredible area to explore. You do have to pay to enter, it’s €18 for a ticket if you buy direct, but it includes the colosseum, roman forum, and palatine. It's definitely worth the visit in our opinion.
Free sights in Rome are common, though! It’s completely free to enter the Vatican City and go inside of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican is the smallest country in the world, but the biggest cathedral in the world! The Romans love to break a record, apparently. The exterior of St Peter’s Basilica is incredible, but the interior is truly breathtaking. The walls are decorated intricately with gold from floor to ceiling across the entire, very vast space.
Just make sure you arrive early in the day to beat some of the crowds. You can also pay for a guided tour of the Vatican City if this is something you'd be interested in.
You can also visit the Trevi Fountain, Pantheon and Spanish Steps completely free! Just, again, be aware that these attractions become incredibly busy.
There are also lots of companies in Rome that offer free walking tours across the city to explore and learn more about the history and culture! It’s a great place to start if you’re a first time visitor. It might sound too good to be true, and it kind of is. The tours aren’t completely free, they’re “tip-based” so you’re expected to tip your guide. We found that our guide regularly brought this up, and we struggled to know how much we were expected to leave.
If you’re looking for more free ways to spend your time in Rome, there are lots of incredible parks that you could genuinely explore for hours on end. Villa Borghese is a vast green space with sculptures and even a lake with pedalos!
And Parco Savello is a great hidden gem, it’s a small park with gorgeous orange trees and a stunning view!
We couldn’t do a summary of Rome without covering the amazing food and drink scene! We have some amazing recommendations for you. If you love a bargain and a really busy, exciting atmosphere, Bar San Calisto is the “cheapest bar in Rome”. It’s always very, very busy but the atmosphere is amazing and you can get beers for a euro and glasses of prosecco for two!!
You obviously need to try pizza and pasta when you’re in Rome, and there’s no shortage of restaurants. If you don’t mind paying a bit extra, there are some beautiful spots with views of the Colosseum, Trevi fountain and other famous landmarks. If you want to avoid paying that “tourist tax”, just wander a few streets down and you’ll find much more reasonable prices. We have a post about tourist traps and how to avoid them if you're interested.
We highly recommend heading to Pastaciutta and trying the Carbonara or Amatricana pasta (which both originate from Rome). Pastaciutta is a budget option where you receive fresh pasta in a few minutes to sit in their pasta bar or take away. It does get busy so it may be easier to take it away and sit in a beautiful square or park, rather than squeezing into a seat there.
And don’t forget about trying other, sometimes forgotten about Italian specialities like gelato, cannoli, espresso and panzerotti. You can even book a food tour around Rome if you'd like a guided experience, or take a cooking class and learn to make your own Italian foods!
This city really does have so much to offer. From heritage and history to nights out that you’ll never forget, mouth-watering food and lush parks, you will never be bored in Rome!
Additional information:
How do I get to Rome?
Rome is easily accessible by air, as the airport is close to the city centre and there are direct flights from many major cities around the UK. The flight time from the UK varies, but is normally within the region of 2 and a half hours.
Where should I stay in Rome?
We stayed in this guesthouse and had a really good experience. It's a budget option but the location is good, it's only a short walk to the Colosseum and the rooms are big enough for a short stay. You have your own bathroom included - the only is that the check in instructions weren't particularly clear but the reviews suggest that this has improved.
If you don't fancy this one, don't worry, there are plenty of other options for accommodation in Rome. Have a look for something that will suit your group size and budget on booking.com.
Do I need a visa to visit Rome?
Citizens of most countries do not need a visa to visit Italy for a stay of up to 90 days. Read our Schengen Agreement post to find out more details about this rule.
What's the currency in Rome?
The currency of Italy is the Euro. You can change money when you arrive or withdraw from ATMs, but be aware of high conversion fees! Some ATMs may charge you to withdraw money, even if your bank doesn't. It's always best to pay in local currency when you can. We had no issues paying by card in Rome, it's a huge city and major tourist destination so almost everywhere accepts card payments.
What languages are spoken in Rome?
The official language of Italy is Italian, but English is widely spoken in Rome as it is a major tourist destination. It's always polite to learn a few phrases, though!
What's the weather like in Rome?
Rome has a warm climate, and does have quite a bit of rain in spring time. For example, on average there are 12 days of rain in the month of May. It does get pretty cold in Winter, too.
Here's the average high / low temperatures for each season in Rome:
Spring: 17°C / 10°C
Summer: 30°C / 18°C
Autumn: 22°C / 12°C
Winter: 13°C / 4°C
What's the time zone in Rome?
Italy is in the Central European Time Zone. The time is usually the same as most of mainland Europe, but an hour ahead of the UK.
What are the best things to do in Rome?
We always try and give you a few great recommendations of things to do on our Sightseekr Inspiration posts. If you're looking to fill your itinerary, have a look for the best activities, excursions and other things to do in Rome on GetYourGuide here.
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