Visit Rome, Italy

People only visit Rome for three reasons: the food, the ancient architecture, and to have a Lizzie McGuire moment. Not in any particular order. Obviously, Lizzie McGuire comes first.

I went to Italy with a couple of friends while I was studying abroad, and I had the most glorious time!! Although I couldn’t eat ALL the pasta and pizza I wanted, I sure did try. The good news about Rome is that you walk everywhere, so if you have a pastry for breakfast, a pizza for lunch, and pasta for dinner and a gelato for dessert, there is an 87% chance that you will walk it all off during the day. If you have 2 gelatos, it’s ok; carbs don’t count outside your zip code.

Where to Eat in Rome, Italy

Just like in Florence, everywhere you go is Italian food. I remember I ate paninis or pizza for lunch and pasta for dinner. And wine for all. I didn’t want to OD on anything. One tip for you is if you can see a famous landmark or monument from a restaurant.. it’s probably touristy. But SOMETIMES, it’s good.

Let’s Start with Dessert

Two Sizes-Tiramisu
Gelateria Giolitti– BEST GELATO. Literally we went here 3 times.
La Gelateria Frigidarium – Get it dipped in melted chocolate! Behind Piazza Novona
Gelateria La Romana– natural, fresh ass, delish gelato
Gelateria della Palma– Gelato!
Di Luna– Gelato
Grom – More gelato

Cafes/ Breakfast in Rome, Italy

Feffo – Pastries!!!
Faro – Coffee and pastries
Trecaffe– Great coffee, easy/quick breakfast
Homebaked – If you are in the mood for a bigger breakfast. Pancakes/ Waffles
D’Angelo – Gastronomia Caffe – Cozy breakfast place
Sciascia Caffe – Huge coffee selection

Lunch in Rome, Italy

Pane e Salame – Lunch or snack. Meat/ cheese boards and sandwiches and hot Italian men. Near Pantheon
Donkey Punch – Cheap, quick lunch as well
Alice Pizza– Easy pizza! Near the Vatican
Likeat – Fresh sandwiches near Vatican
The Loft – Another great meat/cheese place

Dinner in Rome, Italy

Cul de Sac– Dinner, near the Piazza Novona
Osteria dei Cappellari- Dinner, near the Piazza Novona
Mimi e Coco– delish, with cute, homey interior, near the Piazza Novona
Osteria Barberini– Shit be fancy, make a res, near the Spanish Steps
Ciacco&Bacco – We stayed in San Lorenzo and loved this place
Renato e Luisa– Try the carbonara!
Roscioli – And then come here and try their carbonara!
La Taverna Italiana– Great dinner, near the train station
Il Tempio di Minerva– Another good dinner near the train station
Nannarella – Authentic Italian
Pierluigi – Seafood
Da Armando al Pantheon – Authentic Italian
Per Me Giulio Terrinoni – Fancy dinner recommendation
Ristorante Aroma at Palazzo Manfredi – Now, this is that type of restaurant you make reservations for for a super special occasion, cause it’s $$$$. It’s a Michelin Star restaurant. And it has the BEST views. I’ve never been, cause I’m poor, but consider it for that anniversary or honeymoon dinner, if ya feeling fancy.

Restaurants in Trastevere, Italy

Eat With – NOT a restaurant but an experience! An Italian couple opens up their home and cooks authentic Roman food for you and provides a wine tasting for your group on the rooftop of their home!
Grazie e Grazella– cheap, quick lunch
Carlo Menta– cheap, quick lunch as well
La Scaletta – dinner
Da Enzo– dinner
Obrmè Rosse– fantastic dinner
Dar Poeta– pizza
Marco g– Higher end dinner

What To Do in Rome, Italy

THERE IS OLD STUFF TO LOOK AT EVERYWHERE. In my tips below, I mention getting the Roma Pass. This will save you time and money so you can look at MORE OLD STUFF.

The Roman Forum, Ruins and Palatine Hill– My favorite. Just so much history beneath your feet.

Vatican Museum/ Sistine Chapel – Another obvious must-do
St. Peter’s Basilica – If you are already at the Vatican, OBVI
Museo Nazionale di Castel Sant’Angelo – Again, near the Vatican. And the bridge is pretty
Trevi Fountain – Lizzie McGuire moment DUH
The Colosseum – sing to me, Paolo – an obvious must-do.

Pantheon – Not to be confused with the PARtheon.
Spanish Steps – It’s just steps… but like, give it a lookie-loo.
Santa Maria della Vittoria – Basilica
Galleria Borghese – For when you want to look at old stuff INSIDE.
Trastevere – Cute part of Rome. Really recommend this area if you have time
Santa Maria – If you have time when wandering around Trastevere
Piazza Navona – Cute area. Lots of street artists and vendors
Campo de’ Fiori – I loooooove markets
Catacombs of Rome – ooooh SpOoOoOoky

Where to Stay in Rome, Italy

SOOO since I was a poor, traveling student, I stayed in a cheap personal room in an airbnb. And now that I am a grown-ass adult, I probably wouldn’t stay there again (lol). But I would stay in one of these Rome hotels below.

Tips for Rome, Italy

Make sure to see the Colosseum at night too! And the Forum at sunset!

We bought the Roma Pass, and we could skip the line at the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. And buses were included! We also visited a shit ton of extra places cause we got in foooo freeeee.
Visit the Vatican on a Wednesday when the Pope gives Mass in the morning, if he is in town. Double-check his schedule, though. We got to see him cruising in his pope-mobile.

I also suggest righhhhht, before the Pope finishes, to sneak out and go over to get in line at the Vatican Museum. Beat the rush.
This is one of Rick Steves’ tips: (I feel like my mother when I recommend him, but he knows what’s Gucci) when you are in the Sistine Chapel, there is a “secret” door that goes right into St. Peter’s, and YOU GET TO SKIP THE LINE. So do the museum first and go straight into the Basilica without exiting and having to get back in a whole new line. You can read about the tip HERE. Note that this is for tours, and we pretended we were with a tour, so it might not work. Or they might have realized by now the secret is out!
Be wary near and in the train station. Scammers everywhere.
At all the major monuments, there are scammers and pickpockets. Don’t let anyone tie a bracelet on your wrist or give you a rose. ACCEPT NOTHING.
Don’t bring/wear heels. It’s pretty much all cobblestone.
Eat all of the carbs.

The End!

That concludes my Visit Rome, Italy list!! The city is huge, and there is plenty to eat, see, and do! If you are visiting Florence, check out my Florence Destination Blog as well. Make sure to check out my Travel Diary about my time in Rome, HERE! I have tons more blogs on other destinations around Europe as well! Enjoy your Visit to Rome!

Ciao!