Rome’s landmarks are numerous. Its squares and palaces countless. There’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to great works to hunt out, timeless galleries and museums to wander through, Roman ruins to gasp at. That’s only the surface. Discover our guide below to all of Rome’s best bits.
The A-list
It’s not just first-timers in the Eternal City who make an itinerary of all the major sights. Even those who’ve been several times are enchanted again by the scale and splendour of the Colosseum, Forum, St. Peter’s Basilica and Pantheon.
As a rule of thumb, if somewhere requires a ticket to get in, it’s best to book online in advance. This way you can often get timed entry, which means less time spent in queues and more time enjoying the city. Some free venues are busy too, such as the ostentatious Trevi Fountain – join the crowds in the tradition of tossing a coin into the water.
Climb up to the Palatine Hill to see the city from above, an area where emperors once resided. It’s rich in ruins with brilliant, panoramic views of the city.
What to eat in Rome
Italy’s regions each have their own specialties, and while tourist haunts might serve you up Neapolitan pizza or ragu alla Bolognese, you’re better off trying Roman specialities in the place they were first imagined.
The pasta here is sensational, and if you find a spot popular with locals then there’s rarely a bad dish of carbonara or cacio e pepe to be found. The latter, the deceptively simple combination of pasta, pecorino cheese and pepper, punches well above its weight here, and is especially good at Trattoria da Danilo on Via Petrarca.
For a more rarefied experience, La Pergola holds three Michelin stars and its chef Heinz Beck is world-renowned. The menu sounds simple – turbot with asparagus, cacio e pepe with shrimps – but is anything but, and the views of the city have to be seen to be believed.
Roaming from Rome
Outside of Italy’s capital, the area is teeming with fascinating towns and villages to visit. Ostia Antica is one such, a stone’s throw from the airport and an archaeological treat. The extensive ruins tell a tale of a former port town that once housed 50,000 people before finally being abandoned and falling into disrepair.
You can wander as you like, but highlights include the Baths of Neptune and even a café complete with menu fragments. As the city was empty by the 9th century, it speaks volumes about how the place has been preserved.
To really get a feel for Roman life you also need to sample the city as the locals do, in trattoria, osteria and cafes. With Rome Fiumicino Airport car hire, you can discover everything this city has to offer at your own pace.