The short version of our Rome holiday itinerary. Don’t worry, the detailed day-by-day Rome holiday itineraries are available a bit lower on this page, too!
Day 1 – Colosseum, Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
Early lunch at Mercato Centrale before checking in?
Colosseum (pre-booked ticket, skipped the line)
Roman Forum
Palatine Hill
Teatro Marcello
Bocca della Verita (Santa Maria in Cosmedin)
Passed by Circo Massimo
Roseto Comunale ?
Giardino degli Aranci ?
Giardino Storico di Sant’Alessio
Il Buco di Roma (Buco della Serratura di Roma) in Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta
Dinner at Pizzeria da Remo ?
Piazzale Ostiense with Porta Sao Paulo and Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Colosseum by night
Day 2 – Walking from Vatican City to Trastevere
Early in Vatican City, ate croissants for breakfast while waiting in the short line in St. Peter’s Square ?
St. Peter’s Dome with the elevator
St. Peter’s Cathedral when we came back down
St. Peter’s Square (took our time to see everything now)
Vatican Museums (pre-booked ticket, skipped the line)
Mercato Trionfale (only if you want to see an Italian market)
Quick lunch at Pizzarium Bonci ?
Walk down Via della Conciliazione
Seeing Castel Sant’Angelo on the outside
Crossing the Tiber on Ponte Sant’Angelo, then crossing it back on Ponte Vittorio Emmanuelle II
Passeggiata del Gianicolo (great views over Rome, shaded) with Piazzale Garibaldi
Fontana del’Acqua Paola
Chiesa di San Pietro in Montorio
Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere
Sangria break at Cave Canem ?
Chiesa di San Francisco a Ripa Grande
Chiesa Rettoria di Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
Wandering on the streets of Trastevere: Villa Farnesina on the outside, Open Door Bookshop, Almost Corner Bookshop
Crossed the Tiber over Pons Cestius and had coffee at Gitano ☕️
Isola Tiberina, returned to Trastevere via Ponte Sisto
Dinner at Pizzeria Dar Poeta ?(crazy crowded, but mostly big groups; as a couple, we got a table in 10 mins)
Largo di Torre Argentina
Day 3 – Exploring more of Rome’s historical center
Breakfast by Piazza della Rotonda, at Don Nino ?☕️
Fontana di Trevi before 9 am
The Pantheon
Chiesa di Sant’Ignazio di Loyola (illusion painted dome & big mirror to easily see the ceiling)
Piazza della Minerva with Bernini’s Elephant and Obelisk monument ( Basilica Santa Maria Sopra Minerva was under restoration when we visited)
San Luigi dei Francesi
Chiesa di Sant’Agostino
Palazzo Altemps (4-in-1 ticket)
Wandering on the streets of Rome’s historical center
Campo de’Fiori
Piazza Navona
Pasta and tiramisu at Da Tonino ?
Down Via del Governo Vecchio to Palazzo Massimo alle Colonne
Sant’Andrea della Valle
Back to take a nap ?
Romantic dinner at Verso Sera, next to Campo de’Fiori. There were street performers playing rock music in the square, too.
Day 4 – The (remaining) piazzas of Rome
Piazza del Popolo (made the mistake to have breakfast here; expensive and slow) ?☕️?
Basilica Parrochialle Santa Maria del Popolo (under restoration when we got there)
Twin basilicas Santa Maria in Montesanto and Santa Maria dei Miracoli
Terrazza del Pincio (nice view)
Via del Babuino
Via Margutta, full of artists exposing their works
Spanish Steps with Obelisco Sallustiano and Trinita dei Monti at the top, and Fontana della Barcaccia at the base (didn’t go up this time, too crowded)
Avoided the crowded Via Condotti and chose the parallel, much nicer and less commercial Via Borgogna
Mausoleo di Augusto
Caught our breaths by Fontana del Pianto, then found a place to have a panini
Piazza di San Silvestro and Chiesa di San Silvestro (with a nice lapidarium in its courtyard)
Piazza Colonna with Palazzo Chigi, the home of the Prime Minister
Piazza di Montecitorio, with Palazzo Montecitori, built by Bernini, now Chamber of Duty, and Obelisco di Montecitorio
Piazza di Pietra with the Temple of Hadrian
Galleria Sciarra
Vicus Caprarius – The Water City (by Fontana di Trevi)
Passed by Palazzo del Quirinale (the Presidential Palace) on Via del Quirinale
Le Quattro Fontane
Glass of red wine at Gran Caffè del Passeggero
Palazzo Massimo alle Terme (included in 4-in-1 ticket mentioned above)
Piazza Venezia
Pasta at Il Buco ?
Piazza Foro Traiano
Day 5 – More things to do in Rome
Vatican City to visit Museo Leonardo da Vinci Experience
Piazza Cavour
Corte Suprema di Cassazione in Piazza dei Tribunali
Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore
Via Urbana
Lasagna & tiramisu lunch at Urbana 47
Via degli Zingari
Via del Boschetto
Piazza Venezia
Coffee at Le Lanterne ☕️ on Via della Pilotta
Up the stairs to Basilica di Santa Maria in Ara Coeli
Pizza for dinner at La Cuccuma ? in Rione Esquilino
Day 6 – Surprising places in Rome
Diocletian’s Baths (included in 4-in-1 ticket mentioned above)
Walking in Villa Borghese?
Lunch at Cantina Cantarini?, a lovely restaurant born in 1903
Walking in the romantic Quartiere Coppedè
Dinner at Vecchia Roma with Bucatini Amatriciana Flambé and Spaghetti Parmigiana Flambé? ?
Day 7 – Arrividerci, Roma!
Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano
Last glass of wine and gnocchi for lunch at Le foodie Cafe Bistrot.
Rome is a city full of unexpected discoveries and hidden beauties at every turn. There are so many sites in the Eternal City that are worth exploring, from secret museums and gardens to breathtaking rooftop vistas and underground ruins. So why stick to the typical tourist route when you can check out some of the less-known sights in the city? This post will expose you to 7 unexpected locations in Rome that will leave you speechless. Your journey to the Italian city will be even more memorable thanks to these undiscovered gems! How did we get here? Well, it was …
As we were getting closer to the end of our Rome holiday, we had more time to spare for unplanned things. And we ended up wondering what is there to do in Rome after all the places we had already been to. So on Monday morning, we were back on the subway, heading to Ottaviano once again. When we visited the Vatican, we walked by Museo Leonardo Da Vinci Experience, and I promised Mathieu we’d go back to visit it before we go back home. So come on, let’s jump in and show you what are the other things to …
Rome is a city that is abundant in culture and history, and its lovely piazzas are the ideal expression of this lively ambiance. Each square, from the famous Piazza di Spagna to the quaint Piazza di San Silvestro, has its own special charm and personality. Rome piazzas must be explored, whether you’re a history enthusiast, a culture vulture, or just a traveler hoping to get a feel for the real Rome. Join us as we explore the wonders of Rome’s beautiful squares and learn why they play such a significant role in the city’s rich history. We began our morning …
Although we started the third day of our Rome holiday early, it was less intense than our second day. However, it was every bit as wonderful. After all, we were about to explore some more of Rome’s historical center! The historic center of Rome is also known as the Centro Storico. Ancient history and cultural legacy are abundant in Rome’s historic center. The Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain are just a few of the famous sites in Rome that are located in the historical centre of Rome. The old center of Rome offers more than just a collection …
If you thought we covered a lot on the first day, think again! The second day of our Rome holiday was probably the toughest, but also the most amazing. We walked from Vatican City to Trastevere, starting early in the morning, and finishing after nightfall. However, we took plenty of breaks to enjoy Rome’s beautiful views, grab a bite or have a drink. I feel like I have to warn you in advance, though. If you plan to go walking from Vatican City to Trastevere it will take you more than 12 hours to cover everything we’ve done. And while …
