What are your top tips for visiting Rome

[poppy3761]

Hi
I'm off to Rome for 4 days and I have never been before.
I would love recommendations of things to do and nice places to eat. My birthday is when I'm away.

https://www.dellapalma.it/the-150-tastes/?lang=en

Have the best time! I took my DCs in Feb and they just couldn’t believe the sights. And DD loved the lavender ice cream from here (each to their own! 150 flavours to choose from mind!)

Vatican Necropolis tour - fab and no better way to understand how the ancient and not so ancient meet

The Trevi Fountain is a must. I loved Rome.

We had an amazing week in Rome last year. Highlights for us were St Peter's and an e-bike tour we did out along the Appian Way out to the aqueducts.

Food-wise we found menus quite same-y, but didn't have a bad meal in our whole time.

If you're into seriously good food that doesn't break the bank check out the non-starred places on the Michelin website: viamichelin.com. You should be able to search by neighbourhood using the map function. Never gone wrong with it yet, including a fantastic Ramen joint in NYC.

One of the best out of the ordinary things I have done in Rome was the Eating Italy walking food tour of Testaccio. As well as walking round a lesser known neighbourhood and tasting lots of delicious things, they teach you how to distinguish between real and fake gelato. Has put me in good stead for all my Italian trips since then. And you learn some unusual and fascinating local history. I went in 2012 but I am pretty sure it’s still going. I go to Rome quite frequently and sometimes think about going on the same tour again because I loved it so much!

If you are a bit of a foodie, I suggest researching carefully. Rome is one of the few places in Italy where you can get bad food because there are so many tourist traps. Do not use Tripadvisor for restaurant research/recommendations! You need recommendations from people who actually live there.

The Nero’s Golden Palace tour is amazing. It’s open all week but some days more is open than others. Book it on the CoopCulture.it website.

Wear comfortable walking shoes and carry smarter ones.

We went before covid but we based our itinerary on the Audrey Hepburn movie Roman Holiday.... it made it a lot of fun. Definitely seek out side streets to eat.

Book your excursions in advance, particularly the colosseum. Be conscious if scammers trying to sell you tickets (lots of videos on YouTube about this) and pick pockets in the crowded areas.

In restaurants remember that they serve starters, first plates and then second plates. I got funny looks when I only ordered a "first plate" thinking it was a main! The waiter thought we were being tight.

We did a cookery class which was probably my highlight. It was with a company called InRome cooking. We make our own pizza and gelato then we got to eat our own meals in the restaurant with some complimentary wine and Prosecco.

There are also extra buildings to visit on the Palatine if you prebook.

Thank you all so much. I have been really nervous about going and now I can't wait.
So many ideas.
I have booked the colosseum and the idea of a food tour or cooking experience sounds amazing.

Galleria Borghese is fantastic but you must book in advance.

If you are not doing the Vatican Museum tour (pre booked) then be prepared to queue for approx an hour to access St Peter's directly, as you have to pass thru airport style security.

After the Colosseum, make sure you go up onto Palatine Hill and into the Forum (should all be included in one ticket).

Recommend San Ignazio church near the Pantheon for the amazing ceiling.

Have coffee at Cafe Greco on Via Condotti (closed Wednesdays).

Go down to the market at Campo Fiori and walk around the nearby streets then up to the Theatre of Marcellus.

Go over the river to Trastevere and just wander around the little streets, stopping for coffee (but never order cappuccino after late morning, as it marks you out as a tourist 🤣).

You don't need to use public transport at all, but I second that comfy shoes are essential.

Don’t let the people dressed up as Romans etc grab you for a photo by the Trevi fountain, Colosseum etc. they’re quick, your phone is in your hand and it’s very easy to say OK, then they sting you for euros.

Walk everywhere, there’s some amazing monument around every corner.

There is a lovely Victorian style tearoom at the bottom of the Spanish steps (with the Keats/Shelley house the other side) which is nice for special occasions!
My favourite place was under the Vatican, the tomb of St Peter tour, it was brill, very very warm though! It does have to be booked in advance.
Also, take very good walking shoes but the hop on/hop off bus is a good way of getting round (our hotel was on one of the stops so it was perfect for transport).
Also, watch out for pickpockets, the worst place we had was just outside the Vatican but I know the Spanish steps are bad too.

Watch Mary Beard on catch up or read one of her books. I love her tv programmes on the Romans.