Our two week trip through northern Italy ended with 5 days in the Italian capital city of Rome. I love how present-day Rome has integrated the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire into the fabric of the modern capital. Pretty much every step you take throughout the city will lead you past some kind of historical landmark!
There is so much to see in Rome, Italy that I think it could be overwhelming to try to fit everything into just a 2 or 3 day trip. Five may have been a bit overkill, but I loved being able to spend time each day exploring without any kind of strict schedule or game plan. Like in the other cities we visited in Italy, our daily Rome itinerary consisted of one or two planned sightseeing attractions, plus a dinner reservation, and the rest of the day was open. Keep scrolling to check out everything we did, saw, and ate during our 5 day stay in Rome!
Interested in how we spent the rest of our trip? Check out my other Italy posts here!
Useful Apps
To make your trip to Rome, Italy a little bit easier, I’d recommend downloading some of these apps before you go!
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Directions: I’ve used Google Maps without a problem, but CityMapper is an alternative.
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Translation: Again I used Google Translate, because I like the option to take photos of menus. But I’ve also heard good things about DeepL.
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Find Water Fountains: Acea Waidy WOW
Attractions
Since we’re not religious people, we didn’t feel the draw to explore the Vatican. Instead, we just took some pictures of the Sistine Chapel from afar while wandering around the city! From what I’ve read, you should plan for at least 3 hours to tour the whole area. Also make sure to wear clothing covering your shoulders and knees, or they won’t let you in.
Now I’m not going to lie, the Pantheon was somehow both overwhelming AND underwhelming at the same time. It’s a beautiful building, no doubt about it. We arrived half an hour before our ticket time, because we heard the lines get a bit out of hand. Oh boy was that true, it almost felt like a cattle chute trying to get inside. Don’t expect to spend much time inside, as they allow a lot of people in at once. I personally don’t do well in enclosed spaces with large crowds, so we just took a few pictures and left.
The Colosseum is so much larger in person than I imagined. Seriously, it is MASSIVE. I couldn’t get over how well preserved it is, considering its almost 2,000 years old. Prepare for crowds, as the amphitheater sees over 6 million yearly visitors. We bought tickets that include access to the arena floor, and I highly recommend it. Make sure to avoid all the random people selling tickets outside and buy yours online in advance.
What we do in life… echoes in eternity.
Maximus, ‘Gladiator’
Also included in your Colosseum ticket is access to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, which are located nearby. Walking through the ruins of ancient Rome really reminds you of how little of the world’s history you’ve truly experienced.
The Borghese Gallery is a former private villa turned art museum. Here you’ll find sculptures, antiquities, and (my personal favorite) some GORGEOUS ceiling paintings. Entrance to the gallery is based on timed tickets. In order to keep the crowds low, you’re only given 2 hours to tour the space. Its free to walk through the Villa Borghese Gardens which surrounds the gallery. The almost 200 acre park made for a great time killer while we waited for our gallery ticket time.
I cannot stress this enough: timing is key when you go to see the Trevi Fountain. There are significantly smaller crowds late at night or very early in the morning. We stopped by at three different times (evening, early morning, and midday) and midday crowds were crazy. Keep in mind if you go on a weekday morning before 10am, there’s a chance the fountain will be off for cleaning. Just a block or so away from the fountain, you’ll find Vicus Caprarius, the City of Water. The water flowing through this archeological site feeds into the Trevi Fountain. Surprisingly, this hidden gem wasn’t discovered until the late 1990’s! Space is limited, so make sure to buy your tickets in advance over the phone/WhatsApp.
Making your own Rome, Italy trip itinerary?
Check out these exciting options:
Food and Drinks
Rome is known for its freshly prepared seasonal dishes, as well as handmade pasta and pizzas. Some popular Roman dishes you’ll find on restaurant menus include:
- Cacio e pepe (pecorino romano and pepper pasta)
- Carbonara (pasta with guanciale or pancetta, pecorino romano, eggs and black pepper)
- Bucatini all’Amatriciana (pasta in a red sauce made with guanciale and pecorino romano)
- Suppli (rice ball snacks, similar to arancini)
- Coda alla vaccinara (ox tail stew)
- Pizza al Taglio (rectangular pizza “by the cut”)
Restaurants
Roma Sparita – Piazza di Santa Cecilia, 24, 00153 Roma.
Known for serving the late great Anthony Bourdain’s favorite cacio e pepe in all of Rome, served in a crispy parmesan bowl.
Ristorante Roof Garden – Via Tor de’ Conti, 25, 00184 Roma.
This slightly more formal restaurant is located on the top floor of the Hotel Forum di Roma – perfect for a special occasion. During the warmer months it’s open to the elements!
La Taverna Madonna Dei Monti – Via della Madonna dei Monti, 16, 00184 Roma.
A casual lunch spot with handmade pasta, outdoor seating (great for people watching!), and Aperol spritzes.
Pizza
Pizzeria alle Carrette – Via della Madonna dei Monti, 95, 00184 Roma.
This spot’s location near the Roman Forum makes it the perfect stop after doing some sightseeing. Just be prepared to cut your pizza yourself!
Pizza Florida – 00186, Via Florida, 25, 00186 Roma.
Grab a few slices to-go from this pizzeria right across the street from a cat sanctuary!
Mami – Via della Pace, 27A, 00186 Roma.
Another by-the-slice spot where you pay by the weight. I can’t say whether I like Florida or Mami better – so just try both!
Breakfast & Snacks
Antico Forno Serpenti – Via dei Serpenti, 122/123, 00184 Roma.
Cozy bakery serving pastries and coffee for breakfast. We only stopped in during the morning, but they also offer breads, pizza and sandwiches for lunch and dinner.
Flor Gelato –
Via Cavour, 337, 00184 Roma.
This modern gelato shop is located near the Colosseum and Roman Forum, and is known for its variety of flavors.
Bars
Ai Tre Scalini – Via Panisperna, 251, 00184 Roma.
This cozy bottiglieria (wine bar) has been around since 1895 and is a great place for dinner, drinks, or both!
Drink Kong – Piazza di S. Martino Ai Monti, 8, 00184 Roma.
A 1980’s and Japanese-inspired bar that is consistently ranked as one of the top 50 best bars in the world.
Looking for a more in-depth overview of each spot? Check out Where to Eat & Drink in Rome!
Hotels
Since we were in Italy for two weeks, we didn’t necessarily want to spend an arm and a leg on where we were staying. This meant guest houses/bed and breakfasts instead of traditional hotels. We’ve since realized we much prefer hotels and would rather splurge a little here and save money somewhere else!
Where We Stayed
Monti Panisperna Suites
261 Via Panisperna, Rione Monti, 00184 Roma
We ended up picking this guest house because of three things: its central location (a 10 min walk from both the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain), the private bathroom, and it was cheaper than nearby hotel alternatives. It had only been open for about a year when we went in early 2022. While it had a decent rating at the time, they’ve since gone down (2.9 on Google and 7.6 on Expedia). While it wasn’t a terrible experience, I wouldn’t necessarily stay here again. It has a shared communal kitchen/living space, and while not the fault of the Suites, the other people staying there made us feel pretty unwelcome. It was also difficult to get into the Suites themselves, as the door knob was semi-broken and only worked if you used it a specific way.
Other Nearby Options to Consider
I always use Booking.com and Expedia to research where to stay for any trip we take. We haven’t personally stayed in any of these hotels below, but they are ones we originally considered and will likely use for our next trip to Rome, Italy. They are all located in a similar central location and highly rated!
Hotel Virgilio
Via Palermo 30, Rione Monti, 00184 Roma
Hotel Colosseum
Via Sforza, 10, 00184 Roma
Nerva Boutique Hotel
Via Tor de’ Conti, 3, 00184 Roma
What should I add to my itinerary for my next trip to Rome, Italy?
Let me know in the comments!
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