Rome is an ancient wonder with a ROMantic ambience.
In Rome, you will experience a journey through history. We show you all highlights in the capital of Italy, which is one of the most visited cities in the world.
- Travel period: 5 days
- Best time to travel: April/May and September/October
- Main dish: 14 €
Arrival
Rome has two international airports. The Aeroporto di Roma-Fiumicino is the largest airport in Italy. It is 33 kilometers from the "Roma Termini" railway station. Closer to the centre is the Aeroporto di Roma-Ciampino, which is mainly used by budget airlines. Shuttle buses run from both airports to the city centre.
We recommend to buy in advance the Rome City Pass including airport transfer and local transport ticket for train, metro, bus and tram. Free admission with reserved access to the main sights and a hop-on-hop-off city tour are included, too.
Hotel
In Rome we recommend the RomAntic Dreams*. The 3-stars B&B is located near the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano and only 5 minutes on foot from the bus and underground station.
Places of interest
The entire city centre of Rome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as it is home to countless ancient treasures and works of famous architects, painters and sculptors dating back some 3000 years.
Landmark of the eternal city on the Tiber is Colosseum. The largest amphitheatre ever built was the scene of Roman gladiator fights and naval battles, because the arena could also be flooded. The gigantic building is one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
The Forum Romanum was the central market place for over thousand years. The excavation site leads you through several epochs and is connected to the Palatine , one of the seven hills of Rome. Here are the ruins of the imperial residence. On the freely accessible Circo Massimo the Roman chariot races took place.
The Capitol on the smallest of the seven hills and it was the power center of Rome. The Capitol Square was designed by Michelangelo and can be reached via a large stairs. Here you can find the town hall and in two palaces the Capitoline Museums, which host the oldest public museum collection in the world.
At Piazza Venezia you will find the gigantic white Monument für Vittorio Emanuele II, built in honour of the first King of Italy. The visit and the museum are free of charge. The lift to the panoramic terrace costs 7 Euros, but the fantastic view over the city to Vatican is worth it.
The Campo de’ Fiori is the most famous Roman market. Here you can buy limoncello and fresh pomegranate juice. Typical for baroque Rome is the Piazza Navona with its three fountains. The Pantheon , dating from 27 B.C., is one of the few completely preserved buildings from antiquity. The former temple has the world's largest self-supporting dome made of cast concrete. Nearby is the oldest and most famous ice cream shop in Rome. The ice cream from Giolitti is delicious.
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The baroque Trevi Fountainis not only world-famous as a film set. Throw a coin in it and make a wish. Afterwards you can go shopping in the Galleria Alberto Sordi and admire the magnificent interior. The Via del Corso is also the trendy shopping mile for Roman fashion labels. One of the largest rococo buildings is the 68-meter long Spanish Steps. In the nearby park of Villa Borghese you can relax between lakes, temples and sculptures. The largest park in Rome is also home to the zoo, which is over a hundred years old. The visit of the Galleria Borghese with the extensive art collection of Cardinal Borghese is limited and must be reserved online.
The Castel Sant'Angelo was originally a mausoleum in which numerous emperors were buried. Later the castle was also a prison, whose most famous inmate was Galileo Galilei. There are 58 rooms with impressive frescoes and the 128-meter-long path to the burial chamber of Emperor Hadrian. In Dan Brown's thriller, Castle of Angels functions as the Illuminati headquarters. Illuminati tours all over Rome are offered.
The Vatican City is the smallest country on earth and the last state with Latin as official language. A narrow stair leads to the dome of St. Peter's with a fantastic view. The Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel are best visited in the early afternoon. The 26 museums with their art treasures from Roman and Egyptian antiquity are among the largest museums in the world. The highlight is the ceiling in the Sistine Chapel painted by Michelangelo, which depicts the story of creation and the Flood. Afterwards you can have a relaxing walk through the Vatican Gardens.
In the evening the eternal city shines in a romantic light. In the picturesque and lively Trastevere district, you can dine authentically and inexpensively, as at Grazia & Graziella.
Excursions
Cycling along the Via Appia Antica, the oldest ancient consular road in Rome, is relaxing and leads to numerous places of interest. Next to the bus stop Appia Antica/Domine Quo Vadis there is a Punto Informativo with bicycle rental. A map is available free of charge. On Sundays the road is closed for motorized vehicles.
Ostia Antica is the former port city of Rome. The extensive excavation site offers deep insights into history. Only a few kilometers away, beach and sea are waiting for you ;-)
