Rome is my favorite city in the world and I’ve put together everything you need to know to plan your trip to the Eternal City. In this travel guide to Rome, I outline the best time to visit Rome, neighborhoods and where to stay, things to do, a sample itinerary, and more!
This travel guide was updated on August 10, 2024 for travel to Rome in 2024 and 2025.
When to Visit Rome
High season for visiting Rome is May through mid-September. Although Rome is incredible year-round, it can be hot and busy in the summer months of June, July and August. Because of this, I recommend visiting in the spring or fall, if possible. The weather is gorgeous and the crowds are fewer – the best of both worlds.
Neighborhoods and Where to Stay in Rome
Rome is divided into 22 neighborhoods, or districts, each with distinct personalities. I love Trastevere, pictured above. The streets are narrow and winding, lined with ivy-covered medieval buildings. You can find my complete travel guide to Trastevere here. To see popular landmarks, visit the Trevi and Campitelli districts – home to the Colosseum, Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. A newer favorite is the Ponte neighborhood, a gorgeous district lined with unique and cozy restaurants, boutique hotels and shops.
Getting Around in Rome
Rome is a very easy city to get around in. From the airport, unless you have a car service pre-arranged, grab a taxi to your destination. You’ll want to find the clearly labeled taxi stand at the airport. Fares are transparent and your driver should have a printed table in their cab listing the fare to the part of the city you’re headed to.
Once I get to my hotel, I prefer walking whenever possible because I enjoy sightseeing along the way. When that’s not possible, ask your hotel to call a taxi, or look for designated taxi stands. Another option is to Uber which worked great on my last trip to Rome.
Where to Stay in Rome
There’s no shortage of great hotels in Rome; here are a few notable properties:
Hotel de la Ville, by Rocco Forte Hotels: Located in a renovated 18-century palazzo, designed by architect and interior designer, Tommaso Ziffer. The location, near the Spanish Steps, is fantastic, and I love their rooftop bar, Cielo. (Sister property, Hotel de Russie, with their secret garden, is also incredible.)
Buonanotte Garibaldi, a B&B and Guesthouse: Located in Rome’s eclectic Trastevere neighborhood, this botanical, three-room property features original artwork by its owner, textile artist Luisa Longo, in each room.
Travel Guide to Rome: Sample Itinerary
There is so much to do and see in Rome. Here’s a sample, two day itinerary to help you get started:
Day 1
- Breakfast at a cafe then tour the Colosseum, Forum and Palatine Hill (recommend booking a tour)
- Lunch at Roma Sparita in Trastevere; reservations recommended
- Explore Trastevere after lunch. Don’t miss one of Rome’s oldest churches, Basilica di Santa Maria, or the main square, Piazza di Santa Maria.
- Let’s be honest… you’ll probably need some downtime or a nap here
- Stroll the Villa Borghese Gardens
- From the gardens, it’s a quick, 10-minute walk to the Spanish Steps
- Rooftop drinks at Cielo, a rooftop bar right by the Spanish Steps
- Dinner at Mirabelle, a seven minute walk from Cielo; reservations recommended
Day 2
- Breakfast at a cafe then tour St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums (recommend booking a tour)
- Take a cab to Rosamunda’s, my favorite pizza in Rome. Rosamunda’s is a casual, counter-service restaurant; no reservations required.
- Grab gelato at Gelateria del Teatro, right down the street from Rosamunda’s, and enjoy the four minute walk to Piazza Navona
- Enjoy Piazza Navona, one of the most famous piazzas in Italy
- From Piazza Navona, it is only a four minute walk to the Pantheon. Admission is 5 euros; a tour is 20 euros.
- After you visit the Pantheon, enjoy the eight minute stroll to the Trevi Fountain
- Obligatory downtime or power nap!
- Aperitivo on the terrace, weather permitting, at Stravinskij Bar
- Dinner and drinks at Adelaide Restaurant, located in Hotel Vilòn; reservations recommended
Where to Shop in Rome
While you don’t have to spend a lot of money to find quality items in Italy, if you’re looking for luxury shopping – or great window shopping – check out Via Condotti. Similar to Magnificent Mile in Chicago or Fifth Avenue in NYC, Via Condotti is home to countless designer brands. Stroll this street and you’ll find BVLGARI (flagship store), Celine, Ferragamo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Valentino (flagship store) and YSL.
Just off Via Condotti are Fendi (flagship store), Hermes, Pucci, Chanel, and more.
The Best Restaurants in Rome
This wouldn’t be a very good travel guide to Rome without one of the most important sections…where to eat! Below are a few favorites.
Pizza: Rosamunda’s | Casual, counter-service pizzeria with great flavors and combinations
Gelato: Gelateria del Teatro | After extensive taste-testing throughout Italy, this is one of our favorites
Sunset aperitivo: Cielo Terrace | Classic red and white striped umbrellas and an amazing view of Rome make this my favorite rooftop in the Eternal City.
For fine dining, Mediterranean: Mirabelle or Adelaide Restaurant | Two great options for seasonal Mediterranean
In Conclusion
Thank you for visiting my travel guide to Rome! If you’re heading to Italy, you may enjoy my travel guides to Amalfi, Capri, Castelmuzio, Florence, Lake Como, Montepulciano, Pienza and Positano. You can also find more travel tips and inspiration on my Instagram.
