I’m dreaming of the pasta and pizza again already as I type this. Rome was the first stop of many during our last trip through Europe. We flew into Rome for two nights before taking the train for Florence for our wedding weekend festivities. We wanted to be able to spend time adjusting to the time difference and enjoying Italy. Charles and I went to Rome on our last trip, so we did all the big touristy things last time with the exception of one. The Trevi Fountain was under construction last time we were in Rome, so although we saw it, we wanted to go back when it was finished. This Rome travel guide will include tips from both this trip and last, as well as some recommendations we have on our list for next time.
WHERE TO STAY
- The DOM Hotel : a favorite of some of our family who continues to go back and stay there. We stopped by this time for a cocktail and it is gorgeous.
- Relais Guila: located on the same street as the above hotel, this hotel was a favorite of some of our friends this past time. It’s adorable and an amazing price point.
- Marriott Grand Hotel Flora: we stayed here this time, as we had many Marriott points we wanted to put to good use. I loved how classic and charming this hotel was though! It was also in a great location to easily walk almost anywhere we wanted to go. It was a super short walk to the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon early in the morning to beat the crowds.
- Piazza di Spagna 9: a beautiful, small boutique hotel meets art gallery located right by the Spanish Steps.
- Casa Montani: a luxury bed and breakfast in a central location overlooking the Porta del Popolo.
- The Westin Excelsior: a classic, beautiful hotel that is on a popular street close to all the sights.
Travestere is my favorite area of Rome, which each of these hotels is not too far from. Travestere is a working district that isn’t full of the historical sights, so it’s not as overwhelming as many of the other areas. Every corner you turn leads to another adorable shop or charming restaurant!
One thing to look at when you are booking where you stay is whether or not they have A/C, especially in the Summer. Many hotels in Italy do not have air conditioning and it can get HOT without it. If you are someone who likes it cold when you sleep, I’d pick one that has A/C in all the rooms!
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WHERE TO EAT
- Pizzeria da Remo: the best pizza ever. This place was recommended to us by our BnB host last time we went to Rome and we loved it so much we had to return. We’ve since seen it on tons of lists as one of the ‘best pizza places in the world.’ This place is full of locals! You may wait a little bit for a table, but its so fun to stand outside with the locals while you do and it’s worth every minute. You can’t go wrong with any pizza and the best part is that its oh so affordable!
- Ristorante Roma Sparita: we saw Anthony Bourdain mention this restaurant somewhere and immediately added it to our list once we saw photos of the food. They serve the most amazing cacio e pepe in a baked parmesan cheese bowl. It’s so cute and quaint inside, too. Everyone around us was ordering their famous cacio e pepe and no one left a bite. Its delicious.
- Marzapane: a splurge-worthy dinner spot that has some of the best rated carbonara in the city. It’s a Michelin guide restaurant and the whole thing was a wonderful experience! Perfect for a nice a date night in the Eternal City.
- Ristorante Maccheroni: delicious, classic Roman style Italian that is homemade and served in such a charming atmosphere.
- Santa Lucia: located just behind the Piazza Navona with a beautiful terrace, this restaurant is a great place for delicious, fresh food in an amazing atmosphere.
- Assunta Madre: located in the heart of Rome, this restaurant is very well known and highly rated. It has fresh fish delivered daily, which is then prepared in traditional Italian dishes.
- Pane e Salame: delicious street-style Italian food that is quick, easy, and insanely delicious.
- Glass Hostaria: this restaurant is another on the Michelin guide and is an ultra-modern gem located in the heart of Travestere. Another great option for a nice date night.
- Alfredo alla Scrofa: home the original fettuccini alfredo. Enough said.
- Pasta Chef: unpretentious, street-style pasta.
- Tonnarello: located in Travestere, this is a consistently busy restaurant with classic dishes, all of which are amazing.
You have to have cacio e pepe and carbonara in Rome. It’s what the region is known for and it’s amazing. You can go with either white or red wine here. Order the house wine when possible! It’s always delicious and is often cheaper than water. Try nonna betta aka Roman artichokes. Also, be sure to eat lots of gelato and pizza and drink an Aperol spritz, but this goes for anywhere in Italy!
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WHAT TO SEE
There are SO many historical sights in Rome. I really think we could go back ten times and not see them all. We prioritized the big ones and visited those, which I’ve listed below. Some we just saw the outside of (like Capitoline Hill and the Pantheon) and others we went inside. Things like the Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain are more just things to see and don’t take as long as something like The Vatican and Saint Peter’s Basilica. As much as I love taking in all the history of the big sights, I also just love sitting on a Piazza and people watching with a glass of wine to get a real sense of the city and the culture.
- The Vatican
- The Colosseum
- Saint Peter’s Basilica
- The Pantheon
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Roman Forum
- Villa Borghese
- Capitoline Hill
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TRAVEL TIPS
- Pay to skip the lines: whether you do this with a guided tour or just pay for a tour guide or certified person to stand in line for you, this will save you tons of time. We don’t personally like guided tours, but our friends did them for both the Vatican and Colosseum and loved them. We like to go at our own pace and take in what info we want, so guided tours just aren’t usually for us.
- Don’t do it all in one day. Your feet will hate you if you do and you’ll be oh so tired. Spread out the big sights. I’d recommend doing the Vatican and Colosseum on separate days, as those seem to take the longest.
- Consider a segway tour. One of my friends did this with her family a few years ago and they loved it! They got to see everything, but without making everything a huge ordeal and having to walk for miles on end.
- See some of the smaller sights first thing in the morning. We used our jet lag to our advantage and walked over to the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon around 8:00 when there weren’t many people around. I prefer to see the big sights this way if possible. The Spanish Steps also get insanely crowded, so I’d recommend going there first thing one morning, too.
- Change your shoes and make sure you pack comfortable ones. You walk a lot in Rome and the streets are uneven cobblestone, which just kills your feet. I’d just go ahead and back blister bandaids, as they seem to inevitable. Last time we went we were being practical and walked instead of taking Ubers or cabs (and ended up walking 26 miles one day), but this time we used Uber or took the trains, which are super easy to navigate!
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Hopefully you find this helpful when planning a trip to Rome. Feel free to reach out with any questions and I am happy to help how I can! Also, if you have any favorite places in Rome for when we visit the next time that I can add to our ‘to do’ (or more importantly our ‘to eat’) list, please let me know. XO
