Rome travel guide

Rome is Italy's capital and one of the most historically dense cities on earth: three thousand years of history packed into a few square kilometres, from the Colosseum to Vatican City. It works well both as a focused 3-4 day trip around the historic centre and as a longer stay to explore its quieter neighbourhoods.

Best time to visit

April-June and September-October are the best months: mild weather and noticeably smaller crowds than summer, when temperatures can top 35°C and queues at the main sights get long.

What to see and do

Colosseum and Roman Forum — book a timed online ticket to skip the entrance queue.
Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel — go early morning or book an evening slot to avoid the crowds.
Trevi Fountain and Pantheon — close to each other, perfect for an evening walk through the old centre.
Trastevere — the most authentic neighbourhood for a traditional dinner and a stroll through its lanes.
Villa Borghese — park and museum, a green break minutes from the centre.

Indicative budget

For a mid-range trip, budget roughly €70-110 per day per person for food, accommodation and local transport, flights excluded — more in the historic centre, less in the off-season.

Figures are purely indicative and do not represent real or guaranteed prices.

Getting around

Rome's historic centre is best explored on foot, but the metro (lines A and B, with line C underway) is the fastest way to cross the city, backed up by buses and trams on routes the metro doesn't reach. A daily or weekly ATAC pass pays off if you'll take more than 3-4 rides a day; renting a car isn't worth it — traffic and the city centre's restricted zones (ZTL) make it impractical for visitors.

Where to stay

The Centro Storico/Pantheon area puts everything within walking distance but is the priciest; Trastevere has a more authentic feel and lively nightlife, still a short walk from the centre; Prati, near the Vatican Museums, is quieter and well connected; Monti, steps from the Colosseum, is a trendy area with good value for money.