Thinking about Rome?

I recently visited Rome with my family, so I wanted to share some insight into my visit. I hope it will help you one day!

Rome has always been on our bucket list, and we finally made it happen by spending a few unforgettable days wandering the streets, visiting stunning landmarks, and eating far too much pizza (no regrets).

Rome is a city where the past and present walk side by side. Like many European cities, it has such a rich history, and we had three days to absorb as much of that as we could!

Where to stay?

There are many great areas of Rome, and it's worth researching, but we stayed at Hotel Dei Borgognoni (https://www.hotelborgognoni.com/). This hotel is in the Trevi area of the city, situated between the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain, both just a 3-4 minute walk away. I recommend it, but as mentioned, pick out the main landmarks you want to visit, and you can always look for hotels closer to those, too! Getting around

When we arrived in Rome, a taxi took us directly to our hotel. This was the best way to take advantage of the little time we had.

It can be quite overwhelming when you look at a map and try to work out how to get from A to B. What bus can you catch? Which metro station do I need to get to? Should I just get a taxi?

All I will say is, walk as much as possible. Rome is a walker's paradise! Many of the landmarks, like the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, The Pantheon and the Colosseum, are surprisingly close to each other. It's free, and you can uncover corners of the city you would miss using any form of transport. It felt like we didn't leave any stones unturned; just make sure you have some comfortable shoes :-)

We had pre-booked an open-top bus tour for day 2, and as good as that was for resting our legs, the traffic made me feel like time was being wasted!

Rome has a small metro system consisting of just three lines. By all accounts, it's quite efficient, but while you're on the metro, just think about what you could be missing! It also doesn't get to some historic areas because there are ruins everywhere, so you will still have to do some walking anyway. We never had to use it.

So, Walk! Get your steps in.

Places to eat

There is an endless supply of fresh Pizza, Pasta and Gelato at every turn in the city, and you won't be disappointed! It's better to find somewhere off the beaten track because the restaurants next to a tourist spot, i.e. Trevi Fountain, will charge over the odds, but if you venture just that little bit further, it's so much more reasonable.

Again, the taxi driver gave us the best local restaurant for freshly made pasta, but I cannot remember the name; when I find it, I will update this! SORRY :-/

I do want to call out one restaurant, though, because it was amazing - IL Chianti (https://www.chiantiosteriatoscana.it/en/) in the Trevi area. We had Steak and Red wine! It was fantastic. Best to book, but if not, you can turn up at 7 pm and, you guessed it, queue.

Wanting to get that perfect photo?

If you are like me, getting up early to grab the perfect photo is always on the agenda. Of course, the 2 most important people in my life are happy to let me go alone at 6 a.m.! Don't worry, though. Rome is one of the safest cities I think I've been to; the Pope lives there!

The Colosseum

You cannot visit Rome and not go to the Colosseum! FACT.

You guessed it; this photo was taken on my early morning walk just as the sun had started to rise at about 6:25 a.m. because, like all of the major landmarks, you are surrounded by tour groups, people with selfie sticks, and crowds! We all went back later that day, and my 10-year-old assured me it was a great experience.

Make sure you pre book - https://www.colosseumdiroma-tickets.com/

Victor Emmanuel II Monument

We didn't know anything about this until our taxi driver from the airport mentioned it to us on the way to the hotel; we were so grateful to him for that!

It's free to enter, but there is a small charge to use the rooftop elevator! What can I say, a rooftop bar and some incredible city views? Do not miss this.

View towards the Vatican City

Stunning view of the Colosseum

Trevi Fountain

Trevi Fountain is always busy, I walked past at 6 am, and there was already a crowd forming, and ill be honest, it stays like that until well into the evening! If a photo in front of the fountain is important, it is relatively well organised so you don't miss out, so join the queue!

Yes, I was a little gutted about the scaffolding :-(

The Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps (Scalinata di Trinità dei Monti) are a grand, sweeping staircase of 135 steps connecting the Piazza di Spagna (below) with the Trinità dei Monti church (above). It is worth swinging by, but again, expect crowds unless, like me, you swing by at 6 am ;-) Going early in the morning also stops you from falling into the luxury shops!

The Vatican City

St. Peter's Square (Piazza San Pietro) is not just a square; it's the grand entrance to one of the most iconic religious sites in the world: St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. St. Peter's Square is a massive, open space designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the 1600s, intended to embrace visitors like a pair of open arms. It can hold up to 300,000 people, which, as you can imagine, comes in handy during religious events.

As we visited at Easter, we were restricted in what we could do; just being in the square was enough, but there is St. Peter's Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the Vatican museums to visit, which you will probably need 3 to 4 hours. If these are on your list, you will need to book in advance (https://www.museivaticanitickets.com/)

The Pantheon

The Pantheon in Rome is one of the most remarkable and best-preserved buildings from ancient Rome.

Today, the Pantheon is a church (officially called the Basilica of St. Mary and the Martyrs), and it's also the resting place of famous figures like the artist Raphael and several Italian kings.

It's located at Piazza della Rotonda. It's nestled among narrow cobblestone streets, surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and gelaterias, and it appears out of nowhere. Again, this is another part of the city worth stopping by.

We know all too well that we have only scratched the surface, but if you haven't been to Rome and are planning to, I hope this helps. I look forward to hearing your stories, too!

Enjoy!