Rome • Italy

4 days Trevi Fountain • Colosseum • Roman Forum • Vatican

🇮🇹 Good to know 🇮🇹
☕️ Coffee are really strong
🚌 Public transportation might not be accurate (metro are okay though).
💦 Fresh and free drinkable water is available all around the city
🤌 Don’t cut your pasta or you’ll be judged harshly

Day 01 • First steps

We arrived a day before, late in the afternoon. Since we’re great adventurers we went for public transportation to reach the city center. Well don’t make the same mistake we did. ⛔️

There is a special bus that goes straight to the city center for about 7€, just go for that one. (and read the story time section to know what happened with the public bus services). We still managed to reach our airbnb

Ask the locals
The first thing we did was a walking tour of the city. I do this in every city I visit and I never regreted it. Usually I find free ones (based on tips). Guides are often people who love and know their city. It’s also a good opportunity to spot cute streets, ask for good places to eat, drink, hang out… Really, I definitely recommend taking a walking tour when you arrive in a new city.

We ended the day with our first Italian dish at Ce stamo a pensà, delicious and affordable.

🚌 Story time : bus 🚌
First, we were unable to find information about those buses; we only knew they existed. After waiting at the bus station, a bus finally arrived. We asked the driver if it was possible to buy tickets inside the bus; he responded (rather rudely, not nicely) that they were available at the airport. We went back to the airport, approached the information office, and found a place where bus tickets were being sold. Now back at the bus station, we waited for almost an hour, uncertain about the somewhat shady schedule.

We boarded bus number 720 to reach Metro B at Laurentina. I attempted to confirm with the driver if we were on the right bus, but he simply ignored me—no response, not even a glance—despite being right beside him and staring. I politely said « Per favore » (which is Italian for please), but he still didn’t acknowledge me. Not the greatest first impression of Italians. Fortunately, our data services worked in Italy, allowing us to use Google Maps to locate ourselves.

Day 02 • Get the most out of your first full day !

Piazza di Spagna
And its beautiful stairs. Fun fact (or not), Piazza di Spagna was at some point in History, a Spanish territory. Also the upper part of the stairs was French.

Wake up early to visit the Trevi Fountain!
We arrived at the fountain around 7 am, and there were only a few people there. It was truly delightful, especially with the magical ambiance created by the morning sunrise. When we visited in the afternoon, it was a different experience. The Trevi Fountain is a highly popular spot, and given its size, it can get crowded, so it’s good to be aware of this.

We stopped at a tobacco/bakery/coffee shop, a type of establishment easily found throughout Rome. They offer a variety of sandwiches and serve excellent (and strong) coffee. ☕️

The Pantheon.
Once known as an old political building, is now a basilica. We visited it on our third day because we weren’t aware of this change. As it is a religious site, it’s essential to wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Despite its transformation, the massive construction is still worth a visit.

Piazza Navona.
Gorgeous place, splendid with its 3 fountain.

Colosseum, Palatine Hill, and Roman Forum.
We booked a ticket that included entry to these sites and a guided tour of the Colosseum. It was a delightful visit. (Please check the website, as this information may have changed). Our first stop was the Colosseum. As you can imagine, it’s a truly impressive piece of history that is definitely worth a visit. The Roman Forum, situated right next to the Colosseum, was also a fantastic experience. Honestly, I believe this place deserves a full day for thorough exploration. If you’re not a big fan of ancient civilizations, an afternoon is still worthwhile. However, if you have a deep interest, I recommend taking your time for this visit. The Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum are huge, and I felt that the time we planed was too short to explore every corner.

Day 03 • Culture and nature

Initially, the plan was to spend the entire day in the Vatican, visiting the museum in the morning and exploring the rest of the city, including St. Peter’s Basilica, in the afternoon. However, as St. Peter’s Basilica didn’t offer a booking option, the queue was exceptionally long when we arrived. Additionally, the restaurants in the area were quite expensive. Therefore, we opted to find a park and relax in the shade instead. (Summers can be particularly hot in Italy.)

Vatican Museum.
I’m not going to spoil it for you; it’s incredible! 🤩 Just be aware that you will need to dress appropriately to visit. While it’s a museum, it’s also a religious place, so wear something that covers your shoulders and knees, and you’ll be fine. I wore jeans and a crop top. I was a bit concerned that the crop top might not be acceptable, but the weather was still hot outside. Apparently, showing your belly is okay, but shoulders aren’t… Anyway, who am I to judge? 😅

Take your time; the museum is really HUGE!! We spent around 4 hours, and honestly, we could have stayed even longer. You’ll encounter a multitude of corridors filled with paintings, sculptures, and all kinds of art from floor to ceiling.

🍕 Pro tip 🍕
Don’t eat in the museum restaurant, it’s expensive and the food didn’t seem that good. Actually restaurants in the area might be expensive because of the location, just go a little bit away from the Vatican and you’ll find affordable and good restaurants.

Villa Borghese Gardens.
After a lengthy visit to the Vatican Museum, it was refreshing to simply wander in this park. We came across numerous art installations on display, creating a relaxing atmosphere. We began at Piazza del Popolo, reached the Passeggiata del Pincio, a balcony providing a view of Piazza del Popolo and a section of Rome. We then entered the park and exited near the Spanish Steps.

Day 04 • Embrace the dolce vita

St. Peter’s Basilica
Once again, we woke up early to be the first in line at the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica. The day was scorching hot, and since we planned to explore Rome afterward, we opted for light clothing. I chose a skirt, and my boyfriend wore shorts, but, our outfits were not VA* (*Vatican approved 🤣). The fashion police at the Basilica entrance (no kidding, there are actually people who check your outfit) informed us that we couldn’t enter dressed like that (quite judgmental, right?). They suggested we could buy paper pants and rejoin the line. But, let’s be honest, no matter what you call them, to me, they’re Shame Pants! We didn’t want to waste more time and money by rejoining the queue and purchasing non-reusable pants, so we decided to leave. I guess I’ll never know what’s inside the Basilica. Anyway, I’m not a fan of religious places; they make me feel uncomfortable for some reason.

Trastevere district.
We sought refuge in the Trastevere district, where we embraced the dolce vita at a restaurant, indulging in pasta. Afterwards, we wandered around to the Acqua Paola Fountain. Although not as massive as the Trevi Fountain, it was still beautiful. Additionally, nearby, there is a viewpoint overlooking Rome, the Belvedere de Gianicolo.

We concluded our last night in Rome by savoring some Italian food at Mizio’s Street Food in the lively district of Rione I Monti.

However, our trip in Italy wasn’t over yet. The following day, we took a train to Naples.

🇮🇹 Thoughts about Roma 🇮🇹
I really like the atmosphere; there’s truly something about the dolce vita. You should learn how to say the basic words, even though your pronunciation may not be perfect – it shows respect. I suggest taking your time to explore the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Vatican Museum thoroughly.