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There’s a million blog posts about Rome. Maybe more? And there’s a very good reason why so many people write about it and why over 10 million people visit this city each year. The city is simply magical. I fell in love with Rome as soon as I stepped out and started exploring. And since my first visit, Rome has stayed at the top of my list of favourite cities in the world. Let me tell you about it.
My first visit to Rome was in February 2018. It was quiet, cool and rainy. I so clearly remember wrestling with my umbrella and trying to take pictures of the colosseum simultaneously. Even though the weather wasn’t perfect, Rome certainly left an impression on me. Enough so, that since that trip, I started calling Rome my favourite city I’ve ever been to.
If you don’t mind travelling when it’s cooler (I am not a hot weather lover myself), then I’d highly recommend travelling to Italy in the off season. It’s blissfully quiet, with a fraction of the tourists that you see in the summertime. This means the lines are shorter for everything from the attractions to the restaurants.
Now that I’ve been to Rome in both the winter and the summer I can say that I am really glad I got to experience Rome during this slow season. In June 2022 I went back to Rome and tourist season was in full swing. We asked our taxi driver if they are seeing the same amount of crowds as pre-Covid and he answered that they were at about 80% pre-Covid numbers. So she’s bumpin again after lockdowns have ended.
So, it is true. Rome gets really busy. The crowds can be a little wild. Disrespectful tourist toss their trash at ancient monuments and the weather is scorching. The walk to the Colosseum is particularly memorable due to the lack of shade on the route from the Centro Storico (pro tip: bring lots of Gatorade). During my summer visit, I was thankful that I had previously visited Rome in the quieter winter season. But, even though the horde of tourists existed, I still fell in love with it all over again.
Rome is enchanting. The city is huge, bustling, loud, energetic, hectic, stunning, towering, and exquisite. The most poignant thing about the city is the ancient ruins that pop up all over the place. You may look to the right and see a modern building and to the left, an ancient ruin being excavated – columns, stone and carvings poking up out of the ground. The city is cloaked in so much history and constantly reminds you of that as you wander the cobbled roads. I love the way the city makes me feel.
On both occasions I’ve been to Rome, I recall it being difficult to capture in a photograph. I can’t exactly explain why, but maybe it’s because the scale of the buildings is so drastically offset by the narrow streets. Or maybe it’s because the city is so dreamy, you feel that a photo just can’t possibly capture how you are feeling in that moment. That sounds cheesy even as I write it, but it’s truly how I feel.
Via del Governo Vecchio, 74-75
Piazzale Flaminio, 10
Via della Rotonda, 22
Via del Piè di Marmo, 32
Rome is a city that I’ve barely done justice; having only spent a week there in total. It deserves months or years (or a lifetime) of exploring in order to even scratch the surface of what that city has to offer. Each neighbourhood is unique and beautiful in its own way. We stayed in Trastevere on our first trip to Rome and it’s everything that the guidebook said it would be. With cobbled streets, beautiful architecture and stunning restaurants it felt like you were walking and dining (back in time) with the locals. I loved this neighbourhood and when (not if!) I go back to Rome, I will probably chose to stay here again.
On our second trip to Rome we stayed in the Centro Storico. The historic centre is great for hotels and has easy access to all of the main sites in Rome, however, I did prefer staying in Trastevere compared to staying in the centro. When you stay in the centro, it can be a little tricky to avoid the tourist trap restaurants. And the hotel prices are more expensive. There’s certainly nothing wrong with staying in the centro, it’s stunning and convenient. But, if you’re looking for a bit more of an authentic experience, I’d recommend staying in an adjacent neighbourhood like Trastevere.
You know how you sometimes go on a trip and the big tourist sites are a bit of a letdown because they’ve been overhyped? I feel like Rome just cannot disappoint. The Vatican, Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, Spanish Steps, Roman Forum, and Piazza Navona are all very popular tourist attractions in Rome. And they all blew my mind despite my expectations. Firstly, the scale of the ancient buildings is unreal. Everything was older and grander than I expected it to be and it left a real imprint on me.
I love all the big tourist sites in Rome, but to be honest, it’s the small memories created that make that city so special. Dodging scooters and motorcycles in the streets. Sipping a cappuccino in the morning and an Aperol Spritz before dinner. Wandering down quiet, cobbled alleys. Snacking on slices of pizza. Gazing up at the stunning architecture. Window shopping at antique stores. Savouring tiramisu and cones of gelato. People-watching Roman friends gather in the square and chat with their hands. Devouring plates of carbonara and cacio e pepe. Just perfetto. Roma, I love you. And I cannot wait until we meet again.
