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Does anywhere compare to Rome?

72 replies

sarahb083 · 19/01/2024 10:09

I loved the history, architecture, and sheer number of historical sites to visit. Plus the amazing food. Does anywhere compare? Ideally within a few hours' flight of London?

OP posts:
BeaRF75 · 19/01/2024 10:18

In my view, no. But there are a number of very enjoyable cities in Italy, plus Vienna, Amsterdam, Berlin etc.

3WildOnes · 19/01/2024 10:19

Athens?

StoneColdAlibi · 19/01/2024 10:22

Lisbon is the perfect city break destination IMO.
A beautiful city with great food and plenty of historical interest. Palermo is also great for architecture and churches etc but a bit grubbier, which may or may not be your vibe (I quite like it but it's more similar to Naples than Rome)

Anxhor · 19/01/2024 10:23

Prague, Munich, Paris, Vienna, Seville, Madrid, Amsterdam

Anxhor · 19/01/2024 10:24

Rome is particularly stunning though

muddyford · 19/01/2024 10:26

No, not even Jerusalem.

WhenWereYouUnderMe · 19/01/2024 10:27

Athens blew my mind.

muddyford · 19/01/2024 10:29

For a smaller town, Assisi is tops. Beautiful, gorgeous walks nearby.

chipsandpeas · 19/01/2024 10:31

madrid, barcelona

DRS1970 · 19/01/2024 10:34

You could try Italy...

cheezncrackers · 19/01/2024 10:41

No OP, there is nowhere that is quite like Rome, and I've been to most the major cities in Europe and a lot of the smaller ones too. That doesn't mean that there aren't amazing places to visit though.

If you love Italy, then Florence is full of wonderful museums and there are lovely places you can get to easily on public transport - Fiesole, Pisa, San Gimignano, Lucca and many more.

Naples has masses to see - within the city there are some fabulous museums and then there's Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum, etc nearby.

Sicily is incredible, but it's big. I've been four times (fifth trip planned for this autumn) and I've only scratched the surface - but if you rent a car and have two or three weeks you could see more treasures than you can ever imagine. It has Phoenician remains, Greek temples and Roman ruins, the walled citadel of Syracuse, Baroque towns, incredible churches and monasteries with fabulous mosaics and frescoes, to say nothing of its gorgeous islands and fabulous food. It's so archaeologically rich that even if you just go and stay in one place you'll find that within day-trip distance there will be more than enough to occupy you.

exttf · 19/01/2024 10:53

muddyford · 19/01/2024 10:29

For a smaller town, Assisi is tops. Beautiful, gorgeous walks nearby.

I loved Assisi. It's very small but I loved the location and the walks and seeing where St. Francis lived and worked.

I preferred Florence to Rome, though of course, Rome was amazing.

I love Budapest. Stunning architecture and location on the Danube.

Vienna is also very beautiful and interesting with a lot of museums/galleries to visit. I find it quite snooty though (l live in another part of Austria so maybe it's just the typical anti-Vienna bias rubbing off on me that the people around here have!)

But my favourite city of all is St. Petersburg. I loved Moscow too but they can't be visited at the moment and I think it will be a very long time before this is possible again.

budgiegirl · 20/01/2024 09:59

No OP, there is nowhere that is quite like Rome, and I've been to most the major cities in Europe and a lot of the smaller ones too. That doesn't mean that there aren't amazing places to visit though.

I agree with this - Rome is amazing, and there's nowhere else quite like it. Rome makes be a bit emotional, and that's not really like me. It's my favourite place in the world, I've been four times, and can't wait to go again.

But my second favourite city in Europe is Budapest. I really enjoyed it - great architecture, interesting history, and lots to do. Plus very good value and easy to get to

Passingthethyme · 20/01/2024 10:02

Turkey! Ephesus is spectacular (amd so much more). So much shared history and architecture between Turkey, Greece and Italy I thought

professionalnomad · 20/01/2024 13:57

Istanbul! Amazing history, culture and the food is wonderful too

DibbleDooDah · 20/01/2024 16:27

Seville / Cordoba has heaps of stuff. The Mosque-Cathedral in Cordoba is one of the most impressive buildings you will ever see. It’s a very different vibe to Rome but, honestly, we spent 8 days (including day trips to Jerez, Cadiz, Rhonda and the White Villages) and there were still things we didn’t see.

betnis · 20/01/2024 16:29

Athens is a shite city. Most disappointing place I’ve been.

CharlotteStreetW1 · 20/01/2024 16:32

betnis · 20/01/2024 16:29

Athens is a shite city. Most disappointing place I’ve been.

See, I loved Athens (and Rome) and would go back - for a third time - in a heartbeat.

incognito50me · 20/01/2024 16:35

I am similar to you, OP. There is nowhere like Rome - I think I left my heart there.
I also love Lisbon, Barcelona and like many other European cities.

Werenearlytherexmas2024 · 20/01/2024 16:44

I'm another lover of Rome.

Budapest has amazing architecture but doesn't have the food Rome has.

I want to try Lisbon next but am tempted to go back to Rome again first.

betnis · 20/01/2024 16:47

It’s funny isn’t it. Think maybe if I went when it was a bit cooler I might have liked it more.

Great username by the way @CharlotteStreetW1 ! I used to have a flat on that very street!

Kazzyhoward · 20/01/2024 16:49

I'd say Venice or Florence if you want somewhere similar to Rome for history, sights, architecture, etc.

GrimDamnFanjo · 20/01/2024 16:53

Athens for the history.
Naples for the food and for the easy access to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum and other remains such as Nero's wife's villa.

NewYear24 · 20/01/2024 16:54

Obviously not at the moment but I was blown away by St Petersburg (now you’d be blown up).
I was also really impressed with Istanbul.

MrsSkylerWhite · 20/01/2024 16:55

Can’t stand Rome.
Paris or Lisbon?