I searched and I searched for the must list. You know, the list of places I should visit, the list of food I should try and the list of things I should do when I go to
Rome, especially what I should be careful of. Just like my blog there are numerous sites where you can find answers, and if you visit Rome for the first time and you are only going for a few days you should probably know how to spend them, where to go, what to see, were to eat and of course your transportation options.
My first list was: what do I wanna see list, so I made a map plan with Google’s Earth software. And here you can have the file in .kmz format.
Must visit:
- Villa Borghese, 10 minutes walking from metro Flaminio-Piazza de Popolo station. Worth the walk.
- Piazza de Spagna, Spagna metro station. Worth going at night since lots of people gather around the steps and sing.
- Colosseo, Colosso metro station, or maybe better go with hop on-hop off busses. It drops you there and picks you up from the very same location. Take a lot of pictures. We might not like the history very much, but the remainings of the building is an art. Roma Pass will let you bypass the line and get in without paying. I’ll write about
Roma pass later and explain as much as I can.
- Piazza del Popolo, again you can go with the same hop on-hop off bus and take a walk to via del Corso where you can buy jeans for only 20 euros, I bought two.
- Vatican city, many metro stations to go there. We all know that the line for tickets is big, so the best thing you can do is to book your tickets in advance from their site, Vatican,and go around 10:00 in the morning, so you won’t wait in the line.
- Castel Sant’ Angelo, near the Vatican and just across the Tiber river. You’ll have spactacular views from the Castel and you can drink a glass of wine on the last floor in a beautiful small cafe. About the tickets, it is not expensive but you can pre pay a roma pass and you can go for free, you just show your pass and you get in.
- Fontana di Trevi, metro station Barberini, you’ll have to walk a little, but since you are in a new city you won’t mind. You’ll see plenty of fountains in Rome, I couldn’t believe my eyes but fontana di trevi is the one you shouldn’t miss. We arrived at the fountain around 21:00 and we had ice cream from a small shop across, many flavors you’ll
have the chance to taste there. Make a wish and throw a coin in the fountain. I hope my wish comes true.
Capitolio, you can go with the hop on-hop off bus as well. That
was my favourite of all buildings in Rome. It was night, we were on the bus returning from Trastevere to our hotel, when I saw this beautiful big white building, illuminated from the lights around it. I felt so moved that I wanted to cry. I couldn’t believe everything I saw on the internet and movies or photos, I was there.
Must do:
- All the above, when you visit all you wanna visit is doing exacty what you should have.
- It’s a must to go for a tiber river cruise, it cost’s like nothing and it’s sth I should have done but didn’t have the time to. Hope with Easy Jet I fly for a weekend to take that cruise.
- Take the hop on-hop off bus, it will take you everywhere, from early morning to late afternoon.
- Buy a souvenir.
- Throw a coing to fontana di trevi.
- Eat ice-cream across fontana di trevi.
Must eat/drink:
Unfortunately I didn’t have a plan on where to eat, I thougth “hey, two couples, we’ll find sth in the way, let’s not plan everything“, well that didn’t turn so well. On our last night we ended up in a cheap (all the way cheap) restaurant, that I don’t remember it’s name and I don’t want to ever. It was near piazza navona and that I remember because our friends weren’t that excited to spend lots of money at an expensive restaurant there, well we walked and walked until it was too late for kitchen. Let me tell you sth, 20 euros per plate is expensive but then again, you are in f…Rome. As much as you would like to be on a budget, give your self a treat. It is your last night there. Indulge your self. Generally 10 euros per person at a restaurant is pretty good. 4 euros for sandwich, 7 euros for pizza, it’s ok. Coffee is little expensive near Colosseo but it’s Colosseo, what can you do.
- Spaghetti alla carbonara, the famous and very differnet from the Greek one (good for me I learned how to cook it)-ate it at a nice-small restaurant near Piazza de Spagna called Vitti Pizza, the most famous italian pizza with mozzarella and tomato-ate it allmost everywhere. All around Rome you’ll have the change to taste it and from anywhere it will be delightful.
- Drink Espresso/Cappuccino opposite the Colosseo, no milk or with milk it will become your favourite coffee (buy some for home).
- Sandwich traditionally with mozzarella and tomato, it’s tasty and big and it will keep you full. Cheap & chic.
As far as your transportation options, actually you won’t need options, the metro and bus line works perfect in Rome. I do recomend using them and pre pay your tickets, it worths it.
Roma Pass gives you free access to 3 museums and/or historical attractions and discounts for all your other visits. It did come handy. You have options for the days you’ll use it and what you’ll pay. You get your passes when you arrive at the airport, just ask in the information where the roma pass office is. But of course if you love a piaggio you can rent a motorbike. We didn’t even think about it since, we didn’t actually need it. Subway worked fine for us.
I hope someone finds my posts helpful, have a nice trip. Rome is beautiful.
I believe our trip has been fabulous. Suvenirs, memories and lots of photos to remember. The return wasn’t bad, but I was definitely sad for leaving so soon.
aris, I had a great time.
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