a recap of our adventures in roma!
Our original itinerary had us in Rome for a total of 2.5 days. We ended up coming back to Rome at the end of our trip for a couple extra days because we loved it so much! However, if you’re planning a trip with limited time (like us) I would give yourself a minimum of 2 days to see Rome! We were able to see all the main attractions in this amount of time, while not feeling super rushed & still being able to enjoy ourselves. Of course if you’re able to spend more time, do it!
You’ll see a theme through most of our Italy adventure that we book morning guided tours and then had our afternoons free for eating and exploring!
WHERE WE STAYED:
We booked airbnbs for our entire trip to Italy and loved it! We had amazing experiences (always read the reviews!!) and would definitely do it again!
Campo de’ Fiori
Our airbnb was located just a few steps from the square + was the perfect location. Be prepared to climb stairs at this place, but it was perfect for us. Campo de’ Fiori is an adorable outdoor market by day, and a romantic piazza by night – surrounded by cozy eateries + close to all the major sites in Roma! We could walk to all the major sites within 30 minutes from this area – or you can be adventurous and rent scooters!
Trastevere
Second to this area, we fell in love with the Trastevere area! We ended up coming back to Rome at the end of our trip and staying in this area + this luxury apartment. The area has tons of amazing eateries and the most romantic, cozy vibe! Small cobblestone streets and definitely a younger, more authentic Italian feel!
MUST SEE SITES:
Colosseum + Roman Forum/Palatine Hill
We did a guided tour for this which included all three areas. Included in our specific tour was a tour of the undergrounds portion of the Colosseum – which we loved and definitely think was worth the paying extra to see!
We also loved Palatine Hill + Roman Forum — which are the ruin portion next to the Colosseum. We learned a lot about Rome’s history and loved seeing (what once was) squares filled with palaces, beautiful gardens, + Roman life 2,000 years ago.
Trevi Fountain + Spanish Steps
We visited both of these in the same evening, close to sunset. Yes, prepare for crowds at both locations (unless you go early in the morning), but we thought both were absolutely breathtaking + must sees!
Take a coin to throw in the Trevi Fountain so you’ll be sure to return one day!
Pantheon
Before we visited the Trevi Fountain, we stopped by the Pantheon. We didn’t end up going in (the lines were insane both days we tried), but the view and energy in the piazza surrounding it was amazing in itself!
Vatican City: Vatican, St. Peter’s Basilica, + Sistine Chapel
We did a guided tour of the Vatican City, which included visiting all three buildings (Vatican, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica). We were absolutely blown away at how breathtaking and awe inspiring these buildings were. Regardless of religion, you need to see these buildings for yourself! The ceilings, windows, art, sculptures.. everything is just amazing.
St. Peter’s Basilica is the largest Christian church in the world and one of our favorite parts of our entire trip. Chills seeing this in person!
The only other (big) thing I would have loved to see in Rome was the Galleria Borghese! Next time, next time!
Make sure to checkout my Rome IG Story Highlight — I documented every moment of our trip there so you can watch back + get inspo!
EATS:
Tonnarello — Located in the heart of Trastevere! This was easily my favorite pasta dish of the entire trip – you MUST go and get the carbonara. Thank me later! The lines can get long, but we showed up for dinner & lunch early both nights, without reservations, and were able to get seated quickly.
Dar Poeta — Unreal pizza! And a cozy lunch spot in Trastevere!
Forno — Located in one corner of Campo de’ Fiori and had amazing take away pizza by the slice! Super cheap and yummy, traditional Roma pizza.
We loved all the cozy breakfast spots near Campo de’ Fiori! Tons of small mom + pop shops to swing in and snag a pastry and espresso (or cappuccino) in the morning! One of our favs was Il Fornaio – the cutest little shop with amazing pastries!
I hope this helps inspire your own trip to Rome in the future! If you have any questions, I’m just a message away!
xo, Brooklyn