Rome, Italy – the eternal history, gladiator fights for survival, toga-dressed emperors and their beautiful women, floating wine at parties, intrigues, ancient architecture – all give me a tremendous, tingling feeling of awe. This is Rome, the eternal city not built in one day.
But the wine, food, fountains, churches and basilicas, dazzling young vibe, and football (soccer) are also Rome. Add the new and the old with a beautiful climate, and you will have ROME as we know it today.
So, when is the best time to visit Rome in Italy? We all assume it is during the high season – the summer months. But that would probably depend on many things. If you have a fixed vacation time in summer, you have little choice but to visit Rome during the summer. The high season in Rome starts in May and lasts through August. The shoulder season is between cold and warm seasons, usually from March to May and September to December. The off-season for Rome is from December to March. It is so much easier to pick a quieter time to travel to Rome than, for example, Venice.
Visiting Rome in winter
If you have flexible vacation time, you should consider visiting Rome during the shoulder- or off-season. This rule will apply to many places and not only to Rome. Low and shoulder seasons are the seasons you will have the best chance to interact with the locals, and the queues to the attractions are much shorter than during the high season. The weather can be rather good, and it is not as hot as during summer. There are some exceptions to the shoulder and off seasons, such as Easter and Christmas. Rome has strong ties to Christianity and is a popular destination during Easter and Christmas. The Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica are especially crowded. Easter is the most packed out of the two holidays.
Rome in winter weather
The weather is not as hot as during the summer. During winter, it can rain and be cold. If you come from a country with a cold winter, you will not find winter in Rome cold. C’mon, +10 to +15C at the end of December is not cold! We arrived on the second day of Christmas and had +15C and beautiful sunshine. Our second day in Rome was stormy with hail and +10C. We got soaked wet on our way back from Vatican City. It was only 30 minutes to walk back to our hotel, and I had to twist my boots and socks to get rid of the water when we returned. So check the weather forecast before your trip. You can do it here.
What to do in Rome in winter
If you visit Rome in winter, you can do the same things as in summer. Again, check the weather before arriving. Rome has so many beautiful and exciting attractions and is a huge city so you won’t be able to see everything during your 2 or 3 days stay. Christmas markets are the only things you will see in winter that you won’t see in summer. There was a Christmas Market on Piazza Navona, a 5-minute walk from our hotel, but there are several Christmas Markets around Rome.
So, what should you do in Rome if it rains? Visit churches and museums. You can easily spend a few hours in significant museums in Rome. Vatican City can take a whole day if you use your time. All the museums in Rome are closed on Christmas Day (25th of December) and St. Stephen’s Day (26th of December), and St. Peter’s Basilica is also closed on Wednesdays between 08 am and 11 am, so plan your visit accordingly.
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Interesting facts about Rome
Rome is an ancient city with a long, exciting, rich, and intriguing history. Some of the architecture in Rome is as old as the city itself. Ancient Rome was known for the Colosseum and gladiator fights, emperors and intrigues, and the knowledge and authority of the Romans. Today’s Rome is known for its ancient roots, ancient architecture, many fountains, churches and basilicas, pasta, wine, football, and the city’s seaside.
- Romans were the first to discover concrete and started using it 2,000 years ago
- Romans believed that the early Christians were cannibals because they misunderstood the Christian practice of taking communion.
- Have you heard the saying “All roads lead to Rome”? Romans were good at building roads, and during the Roman Empire, for approximately 1000 years, they made 53,000 miles of roads leading to and out of the city.
- Ancient Romans often went to communal toilets, where they combined the tasks of relieving themselves and having a chat
– There are about 280 fountains in Rome and more than 900 churches.
-The Trevi fountain is emptied for coins every evening, and the coins are donated to charity.
If you are a fan of piazzas, I dare you to find at least one piazza in Rome you will love
Where to stay in Rome, Italy
I always recommend picking an area next to a few attractions. This way, you can walk between attractions and see more than if you stay close to one site. If you are in Rome for only 2-3 days, decide what you want to see and book your accommodation nearby. We booked our hotel at a friend’s recommendation next to Pantheon. The hotel was very friendly, not expensive, and close to many popular attractions. When you are in a city like Rome for only two days, you won’t be able to see all the landmarks without running around like a headless chicken. So I recommend you save yourself from trouble, pick a few sites to see, chill, and have a fantastic time.
We stayed at the Antico Albergo del Sole Pantheon. Our room was spacious, with a view of the Pantheon, beautifully decorated, and a spacious bathroom with a small bathtub. The breakfast was served in a backyard in a summer tent, set up during winter to protect guests from rain and cold. It was very cozy, and you could see the plants through the plastic walls. It was a typical Southern European breakfast with baguettes, ham and cheese, tomatoes and olives, jam, yogurt, pastries, orange juice, and coffee – and it was delicious. Several famous Rome attractions were located near the hotel – Piazza Navona and Neptune fountain, Spanish steps, the bridge of Engels, and Vatican City. Check out the availability and prices for Antico Albergo del Sole Pantheon.
Things to see in Rome in 2 days
As always, on our day of arrival, we don’t make huge plans. We like to stroll around and get familiar with the area we stay in. Rome is a safe city, except for petty crime, but that is the curse of every large tourist magnet, so keep an eye on your belongings. We felt safe at all times and didn’t experience anything inconvenient. If you want to do a guided walking tour or get a Rome Pass, there is no need for that. You will find most of the attractions close to each other, but it is also easy to find a taxi if you need one. However, I strongly recommend you get skip-the-line tickets for popular attractions like the Colosseum, The Roman Forum, the Vatican City, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Free things to do in Rome, Italy
There are many free things you can do in Rome in Italy. Rome is known for its many fountains and Piazza, and its architecture is impressive.
The Piazza Navona and the Fountain of Four Rivers
I told you we watched the movie “Angels and Demons” before we came to Rome, so Piazza Navona was on our list. Speaking of the movie, you can book a walking tour to the places from the scenes in the film.
Piazza is a lovely square with two fountains – the Fountain of the Four Rivers and the Neptune Fountain. Piazza Navona is known as Rome’s most elegant and cheerful piazza. Here you can visit the church of Sant Agnese in Agone. The church has a free entrance, but you can donate money.
Piazza has gorgeous surrounding architecture, restaurants, open-air bars, and a Christmas market during winter. As you can imagine, it is crowded throughout the year but still charming. We drifted off to one of the side alleys and sat down outside for some ham and cheese, a glass or two of red wine, and did some people-watching.
The Pantheon
The Pantheon in Rome was earlier stated to be a Roman temple, but recent research shows it might have had a different purpose. Many modern historians question the Pantheon’s history. Now, The Pantheon serves as a church. This architectonic landmark is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Pantheon’s construction and architecture show excellent skills and knowledge of Roman engineering.
One of the theories about the Pantheon goes like this – “The dome’s coffers (inset panels) are divided into 28 sections, equaling the number of large columns below. 28 is a “perfect number,” a whole number whose summed factors equal it (thus, 1 + 2 + 4 + 7 + 14 = 28). Only four perfect numbers were known in antiquity (6, 28, 496, and 8128) and were sometimes held to have mystical, religious meaning in connection with the cosmos by Pythagoras and his followers, for instance. The oculus (open window) at the top of the dome was the interior’s only direct light source. The sunbeam streaming through the oculus traced an ever-changing daily path across the wall and floor of the building. Perhaps the sunbeam marked solar and lunar events or simply time.”
The opening hours at the Pantheon Rome are:
Monday-Saturday: 8.30 -19.30
Sunday: 9.00 – 18.00
Public holiday on a weekday: 9:00 – 13:00 (last admission at 12:45)
Closed: January 1, December 25
Last entry 15 minutes before closing time
The Pantheon has free entrance.
The Spanish Steps – The Trinità dei Monti steps
The Spanish steps once linked two parts of the city, where the French occupied one side, and a colony of Spaniards held the other. Most importantly, the steps provided a place to meet, relax, and enjoy the surroundings. The Spanish steps are located on Piazza di Spagna.
The Trevi Fountain
One of the most famous fountains in Rome. The Trevi fountain is another Rome attraction that has appeared in a movie – “La Dolce Vita.” The fountain is sculptured against the backdrop of Palazzo Poli. The theme of the Trevi Fountain is Triton taming Oceanus’ shell-shaped chariot drawn by sea horses. The fountain has new lighting system makes it a popular evening attraction for picture-taking. Don’t forget to toss a coin before you leave the fountain. The money gathered from the fountain goes to charity. The Trevi Fountain is located on Piazza de Trevi.
The Capitol Hill Rome
Campidoglio was the center of the government of ancient Rome. Michelangelo designed Campidoglio – The Capitol Hill. Three palaces – the Palazzo Nuovo, the Palazzo Senatorio, and the Palazzo dei Conservatori border Campidoglio. Capitol Hill is a must-visit at night from where you can admire Rome. You can look down on the Forum from the two lookouts they have up there. There is a museum and a church if you want to do more sightseeing. Mount the slow staircase uphill behind the Vittorio Emanuele II monument, and let Michelangelo impress you.
Campo de Fiori
Campo dè Fiori is a picturesque market that comes alive at night when the streets are filled with restaurants and bars. For centuries, Camp dè Fiori was the stage for public executions. The statue of Bruno Giordano, Dominican Friar, Philosopher, Mathematician, and Astronomer, indicates the exact point of his burning alive killing. Visit the nearby historical streets, such as Via dei Baullari, Via dei Cappellari, or Via dei Giubbonari, which are lined with several small shops still bearing the names of artisans who once worked there.
Places to visit in Rome in 2 days
Although you can do Rome on a budget and spend your time sightseeing for free, there are a few must-sees in Rome that you have to pay for. And they are worth paying for.
The Vatican City and the St. Peter’s Basilica
Get your tickets online before you arrive. You will meet your guide and the rest of the group at the stated location on the ticket. We had an English guide, who was difficult to understand, but he guided us through the security gates, X-rays, and ticket gates. The security line was long, but not as long as the line for people without the tickets. It took us about 45 minutes to get inside. I strongly recommend you get the combination of skip-the-line tickets for the Vatican Museums and the Basilica. It is not possible to only visit the Dome.
You must get entrance tickets for the Vatican Museums or the St. Peter’s Basilica. You will still have to purchase entrance tickets for the Dome; this tour is not guided.
You can wander independently once you get to the Vatican Museums. There is a dress code in the museums and Basilica – you must cover your shoulders and knees. The dress code means you cannot wear a singlet or an open-shoulders dress or top, and if you wear a skirt, shorts, or dress, it must cover your knees; you can otherwise be denied entrance.
The Vatican Museums are a must-visit even if you are not interested in art or religion. There is an extensive collection of fascinating and beautiful artifacts, and if you manage to understand your guide, you will learn some interesting stories.
The Sistine Chapel is a world-known chapel where the conclave – the election of the Pope- is being held. The famous Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel. In addition to the Sistine Chapel, you will find five more pieces of his art in the Vatican. His work in the Sistine Chapel is incredibly detailed and colorful. It is forbidden to take pictures in the Chapel, and it must always be quiet. But it is difficult to get a room full of people tranquil, so there is a constant buzzing noise. People are also taking photos with their phones. Some do it very discretely, like I tried, while others do it more openly.
After you are done with the museums, you can enter St. Peter’s Basilica or go to the Dome. We went to the Dome first. It is logistically more convenient to choose this direction because when you exit the Dome, you end up in the Basilica. The entrance to the Dome is 10 euros for the elevator and 8 euros for the stairs, cash only. An elevator will take you up to the roof level, but after that, you will have to climb 300+ steps to get to the top. But if you do that, you will be rewarded with the epic views of St. Peter’s Square. The stairway is narrow, and you should be in OK shape for the climb. It can also feel claustrophobic. If you don’t want to go to the top, you can go out to the roof on the first level. Here, you will see the statues of Jesus and the apostles.
The St. Peter’s Basilica is stunning. It is enormous, with beautiful decorations, which are the works of art of some of history’s most mystical and famous artists, such as Michelangelo, Raphael, and Bernini.
The tour to the Vatican Museums may take you half a day or as long as you want, depending on your interest in history, architecture, art, religion, and reconciliation. Bring some water, maybe a snack, and wear good walking shoes, no matter the season.
TWO TIPS:
– Do not wear high heels!
– The Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel have free entrance on the last Sunday of each month.
The Colosseum
Who has not heard of the Colosseum in Rome? It is, along with the Vatican City (which is its state and not Rome), the symbol of the eternal city of Rome. The Colosseum is almost 2,000 years old and could accommodate more than 50,000 people. It was used for exhibitions of exotic animals, executions of prisoners, recreations of battles and gladiator fights, and was active for over 500 years. I recommend you go there early to get a head start and get your tickets online. Children under the age of 17 and seniors age 65 or older have free entrance. The tickets to the Colosseum are combined with the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill tickets.
The Roman Forum
The Roman Forum was where religious and public life in ancient Rome took place. Several magnificent temples are located in the Forum, Saturn, and Venus, among others. Besides the temples, there are other things of worth, such as several arches, a basilica, a column of Phocas, and Via Sacra, the main street.
The Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is located just above the Roman Forum, is one of the city’s oldest parts, and is the most central of the Seven Hills of Rome. Although the Palatine Hill is all impressive, there are a few things you might want to focus on, such as Domus Flavia, Farnese Gardens – the first botanical gardens to be created in Europe, and Hippodrome of Domitian.
The Borghese Gallery
The Borghese Gallery, or Galleria Borghese, is located in Villa Borghese and is one of the most renowned art museums in the world. The Gallery houses the works of some of the world’s most well-known artists, like Raphael, Rubens, Bernini, and Botticelli. Don’t know what to do in Rome when it rains? Visit the Borghese Gallery.
Basilica of St. John Lateran
There are four major Basilicas of Rome – St. Peter’s, St. Paul outside the walls, St. Mary Major, and St. John Lateran. St. Peter’s might be the most known, but St. John Lateran is the most important of the four major Basilicas. The St. John Lateran Basilica is the Cathedral of Rome and is called Archbasilica, as it is considered the mother church of Roman Catholics. It was here that all popes were enthroned up until 1870.
2 or 3 days in Rome itinerary
If you are doing a round trip to Italy, you can use this itinerary for a 2/3-day trip to Rome. Otherwise, don’t forget to put the best places to visit in Tuscany on your itinerary.
Day 1
Stroll around and get familiar with the area around you. Feel the atmosphere and vibes of Rome. If this is your first full day in Rome, I suggest you start with a morning tour of the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. You can easily spend 3-4 hours here.
From the Colosseum, you can walk to Trevi Fountain – it will only take you 20 minutes. You will meet Trajan’s Column and the Palazzo Colonna art gallery on your way. Remember to have some lunch between all the sightseeing – low blood sugar and excursion are not a good combination.
Now would be the perfect time to have lunch. On your way from the Colosseum, you can stop at Fuorinorma restaurant – the best place in the neighbourhood, vegetarian-friendly, and you won’t break the bank. If you are into Italian cuisine (who isn’t?), check Kasia’s post on its history and why it is so diverse.
Check reviews for Fuorinorma here
From Trevi Fountain, you can take a walk to the Spanish Steps – it is an 8-10 minute walk. When you finish the day’s sightseeing, find a place to take a glass of wine, watch people, relax, and let the impression sink in.
I recommend you try Origano Campo de Fiori for dinner – great pizza, salads, pasta, and wine.
Day 2
Visit the Vatican City, St. Peter’s Basilica, and St. Peter’s Dome. Take an early tour to get it out of the way while you have lots of energy. Depending on your interests, you can easily spend 4-5 hours there. Bring water and some snacks to help with your blood sugar.
Viator provides guided tours to the Vatican, and I suggest you book your trip in advance
On your way back from Vatican City, head to Castel Sant’Angelo and have lunch at Coffee in Castel Sant’Angelo. It will take you 15-20 minutes to walk. After lunch, you can explore the castle and the museum and take beautiful river pictures. This is a 2nd-century castle that houses furniture & painting collections in Renaissance apartments.
You can walk over the River Tiber by crossing the Bridge of Angels. The overview of this bridge is unique; it’s worth walking around, and the atmosphere and surroundings are lovely.
Now you can continue exploring Piazza Navona and Pantheon; they are located a 5-minute walk apart. After all the walking, you deserve to sit and have a glass of wine. And what better place to do it than a wine bar just 8 minutes away? Visit Cul de Sac and let your feet rest for the rest of your trip.
For dinner on your second day, I recommend you visit Mr. 100 Tiramisu, which serves 100 different Tiramisu. What impressed me the most was the food. They don’t serve dinner dishes, but they make lovely bruschetta of a different kind, fantastic prosciutto, and have a great wine selection. The place is tiny; you can’t make a reservation, but it is super cosy, and I would go back there. This place is perfect if you have had a late lunch, wine, and snacks. The tiramisu is premade, but you get different toppings and glazing, and I loved mine.
Check reviews for Mr. 100 Tiramisu here
If you are a foodie, you can read about our food tour in Hong Kong, which was amazing! Or, if you would love to do a cooking class in Rome, check Meghan’s review.
Day 3, an additional day
Visit Florence and Pisa on a day trip from Rome. It is a 12-hour tour, including 2 hours of a guided tour in Florence. FIND PRICES AND AVAILABILITY FOR A DAY TRIP TOUR FROM ROME TO FLORENCE
I hope you enjoy Rome! Be a doll and be a responsible traveller. In collaboration with four other major Italian cities, Rome created a campaign #enjoyrespect to remind travellers to behave while travelling. One last thing – don’t leave a trail, especially a garbage trail, after yourself on your travels.
Suggestion: If you are a big city lover, you can read my article on Paris, which arrondissements to stay in, and what attractions you can see in every arrondissement
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