If you truly want to dive deep into ancient history and art, you absolutely have to pay Rome a visit. The eternal city is home to some of the best preserved ancient ruins dating all back to the first century and the beginning of the Roman Empire. Explore the works of some of the greats such as Michelangelo and Bernini, visit the ancient sites to get a glimpse into the history of the Roman Empire, and explore one of the most iconic destinations in all of Europe. Here’s my first timer’s guide to visiting Rome!
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See the Colosseum
You can’t visit Rome without taking a trip to one of the most important symbols of the Roman Empire. The Colosseum was built in the first century and still holds the title of the largest amphitheater in the world.
Gaze over the ancient ruins and imagine the events that took place there. Gladiators fighting to the death in contest, dramas telling the stories of mythology, or mock battles and battle reenactments depicting the stories of the battlefields. Picture the 80,000 spectators the Colosseum could hold watching on as the excitement unfolded. The stadium really gives you a glimpse into what life in Ancient Rome might have been like.
I highly recommend taking a guided tour of the Colosseum. It is incredible on its own, but a tour will provide you with all the rich history of the site and. transport you back in time to the Roman Empire! Here’s a great tour that covers the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill!
Roman Forum and Palatine hill
Once you finish exploring the Colosseum, head just down the street to the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. These ancient ruins are in the same archaeological area as the amphitheater, and many tickets/tours will grant you entry to all three!
Here, you will find the heart of the Roman Empire. Ancient remains of public buildings, sacred temples, and basilicas are all situated here.
There are plaques describing most of these remains, but again – I highly recommend taking a tour to get the full experience.
Toss a Coin in the Trevi Fountain
You can’t visit Rome without tossing a coin in the Trevi Fountain and marveling at the incredible artwork of Nicola Salvi and Giuseppe Pannini. The fountain was created in the 18th century as a water source for the city, connecting three large aqueducts. Now, the water is just for show and is recycled so don’t drink it!
Here’s the legend of the coins: if you toss one coin into the fountain, you will return to Rome. If you toss two coins, you will meet and fall in love with an Italian. And if you toss three, you will marry the person you met! The legend also states to toss the coin with your right hand over your left shoulder.
Even if the legend doesn’t hold true, the coins still go to an incredible cause. About a million euros are taken from the fountain each year and donated to charity!
WHEN TO VISIT
The Trevi is one of the most visited monuments in the world. For this reason, timing is everything if you want to actually get close enough to the fountain to take in its details and snap a photo. Early in the morning (before 8am) and late in the evening (after dark) are generally the best times to visit. However, you will still not find the place empty! I often get up before sunrise to get these types of places to myself, and despite arriving before 7am there were already quite a few people there. I’ve even seen videos of crowds at 5am!
Please keep in mind, the Trevi is cleaned every Monday and Friday starting at 8am. The fountain is drained and all the coins are removed for donation, so plan your visit outside of these times!
Visit the Pantheon
There are a lot of old churches in Italy, but the Pantheon takes the title of the oldest in the WORLD. It’s one of the best preserved monuments in all of Rome. The structure was initially built in the first century, then reconstructed in the second century. This reconstruction is what we see in the present building today, meaning this temple has survived through nineteen centuries perfectly intact! This is especially impressive after seeing other ancient areas of Rome from the same time period, virtually in ruin.
I recommend a tour here for two reasons: one, to get a full history of the ancient church; and two, to skip the line. This was one of the longest queues I have ever seen. We visited early one morning to get pictures before the plaza began filling up, but the queue was already wrapping around the square – despite the church not even being open yet!
Here’s a great 45 minute tour of the Pantheon with skip the line entry!
NOTE | Like other churches in Italy, please make sure you are dressed modestly before entering. This includes covering your shoulders and knees!
Stroll up the Spanish Steps
In my opinion, the Spanish Steps aren’t nearly as interesting as many of the other landmarks in Rome. However, it’s still an interesting piece of architecture to see! The steps were built in the 18th century to link the embassy and church above to the plaza down below. These steps are shaped like a butterfly and are the widest in all of Europe!
NOTE | As of 2019, you can no longer sit on the steps. Failure to comply with this policy will result in a 400€ fine. I don’t remember seeing any signs about this and didn’t actually know this rule until after leaving Rome (oops) so I’m passing this on here so people will be more aware than I was!
Piazza Navona
The Piazza Navona was built atop the Stadium of Domitian (dating back to the first century) and still follows the open form of the stadium. From the 17th to the 19th century, the plaza was flooded on the weekends in August to create a “pool” for refreshment and entertainment.
One of my favorite sculptures in Rome sits in the center of this plaza. The Fontana do Quattro Fiumi (fountain of four rivers) was created by Bernini in 1651. The fountain depicts rivers of the four continents known at that time: the Nile for Africa, Ganges for Asia, Danube for Europe, and the Rio de la Plata for the Americas. The history behind this fountain is so interesting, I highly recommend reading about it!
Take a walking Tour
If you’re in Rome for a short time and really want to see as much history as possible, I highly recommend taking a walking tour of the city!
This eight hour fast paced tour will cover most of the main historic sights in Rome in a day. It’s also with one of my favorite tour companies!
Rome is also a great place to take a food tour. There is plenty of delicious food here, but it can sometimes get a bit hard to differentiate from the touristy places.
Here’s a great food tour through Rome! You can choose a tour in Trastevere or the Jewish Quarter.
Visit the Vatican City
Vatican City is not actually a part of Rome – it gained its independence in 1929 as its own country (and is the smallest in the world)! It is governed as an absolute monarchy with the Pope at the head.
The Vatican is now comprised of essentially three parts: St Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, and the Vatican Museums.
The original St Peter’s Basilica was built in the 4th century, but was then replaced by Pope Julius the II. The new construction was started in 1506 and took over 100 years to build! It is now the largest church in the world.
The Sistine Chapel was built a few decades prior to the new construction of St Peter’s, but Michelangelo famously painted it around the same time construction of the basilica began. The ceiling depicts the most important stories of the Bible, painted in fresco in only four years. On the side of the chapel is the Last Judgement, my favorite art piece of all time. It is illegal to take photos in here, so you will just simply have to see it for yourself!
How to Visit
I know I have recommended quite a few tours throughout this post, but listen to me – do NOT visit the Vatican without taking a tour. It is absolutely overwhelming and incredibly busy. A tour will also provide you with incredible details of the history of the Vatican, interesting facts about the artwork, and most importantly – keep you from getting lost in the sea of people.
I took a tour with Take Walks (an incredible tour company) and I highly, highly recommend it! My tour guide actually had the honor to assist in painting the marble outside of St Peter’s Basilica, so she spent quite a bit of time within the walls of the Vatican!
Know Before You Go
GETTING THERE AND GETTING AROUND | You can travel Rome mostly on foot. The Colosseum and the Vatican are about a 25 minute walk from the city center. Unlike many major European cities, there is no underground metro in Rome (construction of one would disturb the ancient structures). Taxis can be found nearly anywhere, just use caution when taking taxis from touristy areas – they might try to scam you. There are public buses that run throughout the city as well, but I truly believe walking is the best way to experience Rome!
DRESS CODE | Remember there is a dress code for entering churches – knees/shoulders should be covered.
SIESTA | Many restaurants and shops observe siesta hours. This means they will close around 2:30 or 3pm and open again around 7pm for dinner.
SCAMS | As with all touristy areas, beware of pickpockets and scams. Do not carry valuables with you and make sure your bag is zipped and secure.
CASH | Many businesses prefer the use of cash, and some do not accept cards. It is always a good rule of thumb to carry some euros with you!
Where to Stay in Rome
FOR FIRST TIMERS
CENTRO STORICO | This is the historical center of Rome, and where you will find many of the most important landmarks in the area. The Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, and Piazza Navona can all be found here. It is also a fantastic place to base yourself as the Vatican and Colosseum are both still within walking distance!
Otivm Hotel | A gorgeous hotel right in the center of all the historic sites. Has a gorgeous rooftop bar + terrace and breakfast is included!
Umiltà 36 | A luxury hotel with beautiful amenities. Some rooms include a private terrace or incredible views over the city!
H10 Palazzo Galla | A new hotel in the city center with adorable furnishings and spacious rooms (something hard to come by in Europe).
FOR YOUNG ADULTS
TRASTEVERE | A beautiful neighborhood of Rome known for its foodie scene and nightlife. It’s walking distance to Centro Storico and the Vatican, but is a bit of a hike to reach the Colosseum and Roman Forum.
MONTI | A hip area near the Colosseum. It feels a bit younger than Centro Storico, and is still a good central location (to everything but the Vatican).
Leon’s Place | A trendy and beautiful stay in Monti, featuring a free spa and fitness center, as well as a café!
UNAHOTELS Trastevere | A beautiful boutique style hotel with a gorgeous rooftop for drinks and breakfast.
Il Giardino del Colosseo | A spacious apartment in Monti, just steps from the Colosseum!
FOR FAMILIES
PRATI | A residential area near the Vatican. This is the quietest of the areas in Rome, especially the further you get from the Vatican. However, it’s not the best if you’re looking for a central location to everything.