Introduction: Rome Travel Guide
In December 2021 we made a 5 days trip to Rome, the Italian capital. With this we had quite enough time to visit most of the main landmarks of Rome and got to do more than enough things to do in Rome.
In 5 days, we actually spent 4 nights there and had a total of 4 days of visiting as we needed one day to travel there. We arrived in the late afternoon the first day and left in the evening the last day. We stayed in the city center near Campo de’ Fiori which was perfect as we could reach everything walking. Vatican was up north 25min, Coliseum was south, 20min and so on.
In December, the weather was enjoyable and with the sun up everyday it was even sometimes quite hot and we were in t-short 😊 but as soon as the shade arrived, it was cold but still far from back home, east of France.
We modify a bit the itinerary in the end
Table of Contents
Mapping the day
Getting there
The easiest way to each Rome is to fly directly to it. Rome has 2 airports:
- Leonardo da Vinci International Airport
- Rome Ciampino
From both the airport, you best option is to get to Termini, the central train station of Rome. From Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, you can take the Express train directly there. From Rome Ciampino, you can take the Ciampino AirLink which is made a 5min bus ride then a 15min train ride.
Here are some informations about the AirLink.
From both airports, you can check ticket from Trenitalia, the Italian railway company.
Moving Around
Once you are in Rome, you can either walk everywhere or take city buses depending on the area you are staying. If you stay near Campo de’ Fiori, you can use the bus 40 or 63 to reach the train station Termini.
When to Visit
Rome can be visited all year round. In December the weather can still be enjoyable and sunny and in summer it’s quite hot.
The best time to visit would be May/June and September/October. We visited it in December, and it was also quite great.
Where to Stay
What to Eat
Well, as they said, in Rome do as Romans. And to do, well there are tons of super yummy Italian food to try. Pizza and Pasta can be found everywhere and one of the best meals to eat quickly for cheap is a pizza slice from a bakery.
Also, traditional Italian meals are made of starter, followed by pastas, then main dish and finally the dessert.
We found 2 amazing vegan restaurants near Campo di Fiori:
- Origano Campo De’ Fiori
- Buddy Veggy Restaurant Cafè
The Rome Travel Guide
Churches and Basilicas
There are just tons and tons of churches and basilica in Rome. In fact, there are around 900 churches in Rome. There are pretty amazing with great architecture, breath taking interiors…. Along your way, stop at some of them. We really liked:
- Chiesa del Gesù
- Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola
- Sant’Agnese in Agone
- Sant’Andrea della Valle
Piazza Venezia
Piazza Venezia is one of the main squares of Rome. Though the square itself is only marvellous because of the sight you get on the Altar of the Fatherland. Apart from that, it is mainly a roundabout.
Altar of the Fatherland
This large monument was built in 1935 to honour Victor Emmanuel II, the first king of a unified Italy. The monument can be visited or simply admire from outside.
Trajan Forum
On your way to the Colosseum, you will walk along the Trajan Forum and was the was the last of the Imperial fora to be constructed in ancient Rome. The ruins are simply amazing and super big. If you have some free time, you can even visit its museum and walk within the ruins.
Arch of Constantine
Right next to the Colosseum is the the Arch of Constantine, a triumphal arch dedicated to the emperor Constantine the Great. The arch was commissioned by the Roman Senate to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312
Colosseum
The Colosseum is the most emblematic monument in Rome and with a capacity of more than 50,000 spectators, it was the largest amphitheatre of the Roman empire. Over the year it had many upgrades and over the year was used for other purpose than the one it was made to be: Entertainment with gladiator battles with all types of animals and other games of that era.
In order to visit it, you need to buy a ticket online. We bought the “Full Experience ticket” for 22€ that gives access to some additional parts of the Colosseum, as well as the Roman forum, the Palatine and other attractions made by the Parco archeologico del Colosseo that manage all those sites.
Roman Forum
Next to the Colosseum, you will be able to access the Roman forum which is a huge archaeological complex. The complex is actually made of a Roman forum as well as several important ancient government buildings. This place was the center of the ancient Rome and the place where trade, business, politics, religions… were taking place.
Palatine Hill
Within the same complex of the Roman forum, you can access the Palatine hill, one of the 7 hills of Rome. Historically, it is there that the city was founded by Romulus et Remus, the twin founder of Rome suckled by a wolf in a cave.
The Palatine hill is made of several other ruins of palaces and Roman buildings. It also offers an incredible view of the complex.
There you can also visit the Museo Palatino that regroups pieces from found on the hill.
Campidoglio
Also knows as Capitol square, it is a smaller square of Rome that can be access by a broad staircase. The square was design by Michelangelo himself and was formerly the political and religious heart of Rome. Around the square you can see the Senatorial palace, the Palace of the conservators and the new palace (Capitol Museum).
Capitoline Museums
The capitol Museums is one of many museums of Rome. The building where the museum is quite nice and what makes this one more famous than others is that it houses the statue of Romulus & Remus suckling the she-wolf. The picture of the statue can be found in all history books.
St. Angelo Bridge
Originally called the Aelian Bridge, it is a Romain Bridge completed in 134 AD by Roman Emperor Hadrian, to span the Tiber from the city centre to his newly constructed mausoleum (Castel Sant’Angelo).
The bridge is the perfect place for a beautiful picture of Castel Sant’Angelo
Castel Sant'Angelo
Previously known as The Mausoleum of Hadrian, it was commissioned by the Roman Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family. But the building was later used by the popes as a fortress and castle and is now a museum. While it was once the tallest structure of Rome. It’s an interesting place to visit where you can see the location of the tombs, the pope’s apartment as well as some nice views of Rome.
Piazza di Spagna & Spanish Steps
One of the super famous places in Rome is the Spanish Steps, a 135 steps stairway built in Rococo style between 1723 and 1726. There are 135 steps and three different terraces, referring to the Holy Trinity and was actually made by the French and are famous for being a place to chill and relax in Rome.
Piazza del Popolo
Also called People’s square, it is one of the largest squares of Rome. And is the end of the old city center located between it and the Spanish steps. It contains a obelisk as well as 3 churches.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is a former Roman temple and since the year 609 a Catholic church. This monument is the best-preserved building from the ancient Rome. You can visit its interior for free and admire the Oculus (the opening on the dome). The Oculus brings light in the building but not the rains due to its architectural wonder.
The pantheon is also the resting place of Raphael and Victor Emmanuel II.
Trevi Fountain
The world known Trevi fountains was designed by Italian architect Nicola Salvi and completed by Giuseppe Pannini and several others. Standing 26.3 metres high and 49.15 metres wide, it is the largest Baroque fountain in the city and one of the most famous fountains in the world.
Within the fountains, numerous statues are representing an allegory of the Sea with the god Neptune in its center. Tradition has it that you should throw 2 coins in the fountain: one to make a wish and the other one to be sure to return to Rome.
Quirinal Palace
Along your way, you can make a quick stop at the Quirinal Palace which is one of the three current official residences of the President of the Italian Republic, together with Villa Rosebery in Naples and the Tenuta di Castelporziano, an estate on the outskirts of Rome, some 25 km from the centre of the city.
Campo di Fiori
Campo di Fiori is the right place to go (except on Sunday) for some grocery. Every day a flea market takes place on the square.
Piazza Navona
Our favourite square in Rome. It is one of the only squares in Rome that doesn’t have a road (so no cars in it!!!). The long square holds 3 magnificent fountains as well as a beath-taking church: Sant’Agnese in Agone
Smaller streets
One of the things we preferred in Rome was walking within the smaller streets of the city. It took us a while to find them but once in them there are gorgeous. Our favourite is the Via dei Coronari.
Villa Borghese
North of the historical city center, you can find the Villa Borghese Garden, one of the nicest parts in Rome and a great place to take some fresh air. Within the garden you can also find the Borghese Gallery and Museum showcasing paintings and sculptures.
Things to do The Vatican
St. Peter’s Square
You just step in and you changed country and are now in Vatican city. At the centre of the square is an ancient Egyptian obelisk, erected at the current site in 1586.
But it is only 100 years later than Gian Lorenzo Bernini designed the square, two colonnades surround the square, made of 280 columns and 145 saints’ statues, which embrace visitors in “the maternal arms of Mother Church”.
St. Peter's Basilica & its dome
St. Peter’s Basilica is simply the largest church in the world and was built in 1626 with a Renaissance style to replace the previous monument. St. Peter’s is regarded as one of the holiest Catholic shrines. Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, chief among Jesus’s apostles and also the first Bishop of Rome (Pope). Saint Peter’s tomb is supposedly directly below the high altar of the basilica, also known as the Altar of the Confession
But before entering the huge Basilica, you can get to its dome to get the best view of St Peter’s square. To access the rooftop, you can either take the stairs or an elevator and then walk some stairs. While going up, it gets pretty tight in there.
St. Peter’s Basilica entrance is free, but the dome is 8 or 10€.
Vatican Museums
Once in the Vatican, the most famous things to do is to visit its museums. There are a total of 13 museums and the collections in them are just amazing. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of the most renowned Roman sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world. The museums contain roughly 70,000 works, of which 20,000 are on display.
To get to the museum, you actually need to walk around the Vaticans to get to them from behind.
Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel is the last stop of the museums before the exist. It’s the most famous chapel in the world and hold the papal conclave. The fame of the Sistine Chapel lies mainly in the frescoes that decorate the interior, most particularly the Sistine Chapel ceiling and The Last Judgment, both by Michelangelo.
Castel Gandolfo
Located 25km south of Rome on a hill with a beautiful lake, it is a small village of 9 000 inhabitants. It is known for holding the Papal Garden and summer residence. But it is worth getting there for lunch before the visit.
Papal Garden
Open since 2015, it is now possible to visit the Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo. It is there that the pope rest but also work when staying in its summer residence. The garden is also the place where all the food for the Vatican is produced.
And if you want to buy some, you can 😊
Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
Once out of the garden, you can visit the huge 17th century villa that was used as a summer residence and vacation retreat for the pope.
4 days Itinerary Rome
Day 1:
- Chiesa del Gesù
- Piazza Venezia
- Altar of the Fatherland
- Trajan Forum
- Arch of Constantine
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Palatine Hill
- Museo Palatino
- Campidoglio
- Capitoline Museums
Day 2:
- Angelo Bridge
- Castel Sant’Angelo
- Peter’s Basilica
- Peter’s Square
- Vatican Museums
- Sistine Chapel
- Piazza di Spagna
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza del Popolo
Day 3:
- Pantheon
- Chiesa di Sant’ Ignazio di Loyola
- Trevi Fountain
- Quirinal Palace
- Castel Gandolfo
- Papal Garden
- Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo
Day 4:
- Campo de’ Fiori
- Piazza Navona
- Smaller streets
- Villa Borghese
- Borghese Gallery and Museum
Il Mattino Ha l’Oro in Bocca – “The Early Bird Catches the Worm”
