Italy is quite possibly my favourite country to visit and I’ve been lucky enough to head there quite a few times. Rome was my very first and my very last experience in the country. There’s something special about the city steeped in so much history and Roman ruins. I think Rome is a great city for a weekend break as it’s very easy to get to and if you’re sightseeing 3-4 days is enough to do absolutely everything. There’s a good amount to do in Rome but it’s not overwhelming like some cities.
Here are seven of the top things you need to do in Rome.
Visit the Colosseum
Perhaps the most well known and iconic thing in Rome is the Colosseum. So you can’t come to Rome and not visit. I’d recommend booking a ticket in advance so you can avoid the queues as it can get busy. I think the audio guide is enough to give you a good insight around the iconic building. But you can choose to pay more for a guided tour, but you probably won’t see much more than you would self guided.
The Colosseum dates back to 70AD which is why it’s so crazy that so much still exists today. Yes it’s not in the best shape, but how many things this old still exist? If there’s one thing you do in Rome make sure you head here.
Look at the sky through the Pantheon
The Pantheon is another iconic part of Rome and something you need to do in Rome. You don’t need to spend ages here either. 20 minutes is enough to enough it’s beauty. The curved ceiling tower high above with an open top where you can see the sky. I’d love to go here for sunrise or sunset as I think it would be even more stunning.
To do in Rome: Take an open bus tour
I’m a massive fan of open top bus tours as I think they’re such a great way to see an overview of the city. They’re a good first day activity when you may be a little tired so don’t want to walk loads. And you’ll get a good overall feel for the city and where things are. Big Bus operates in Rome and it takes 90 minutes in total. You also get some great information and history of the city throught the audioguide.
Eat ice-cream from Giolitti
Giolitti is a pretty unassuming bakery/ cafe from the outside but it’s reported as one of the oldest ice-cream parlours in Rome. It dates back to 1890 when it was opened by Giuseppe and Bernardino Giolitti. And the nice thing is it’s still run by the family which is lovely. The choice of flavours is amazing, I was stuck for choice. And the icecream was some of the best I’ve ever eaten.
To do in Rome: Make a wish at the Trevi Fountain
Yes the fountain is super touristy but it has to be done when you’re in Rome. If you’re an early bird I’d head here as early as you can as there’s more chance you’ll get a good picture. Throw a coin into the fountain and make a wish. And then see the hundreds of other people doing the same thing. But it’s tradition to do in Rome.
Explore the Roman Forums
You can access the Roman Forums for free if you’ve been to the Colosseum and it’s well worth the trip. There’s so much stunning architecture that you can see and it really shows the size of the Roman city. And on a nice day it’s a really lovely to walk through.
To do in Rome: Take a day trip to Pompeii
If you’ve got a bit longer in the city then you should book a day trip out to Pompeii. The ancient Roman city was destroyed in 79BC when Mount Vesuvius erupted and covered the city in volcanic ash. Due to the eruption the city was perfectly preserved o you can see what it would have been like all the way back then.