What is unmissable in Rome?

[ManchesterBeatrice]

Hello,

I have a day trip, coming up in Rome in late May, and wondering what you would count as being unmissable ? I'll be there from about nine in the morning, until about eight in the evening, so a good nice long day to do things.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated, searching attractions in Rome, brings up a lot of websites, and providers. But it would be lovely to have some personal feedback.

St Peters.

In 7 days of sightseeing in Rome this was the most impressive and most unmissable thing we saw. It's also something you can wander around at your own speed rather than being constrained by tour and entry times.

Oooh yes this is a good recommendation, think you go up the Spanish steps and do a right on main road and it's about 10 minutes walk on left, Santa Capuchin crypt, something like that?

One of the many many things I adore about Rome is, if in doubt and provided you are properly covered, you can't go wrong wandering around one of the million beautiful churches too.

The cat sanctuary was a quite lovely and a bit different too.

I want to go back to Rome now ❤️

So much of Rome is very beautiful at night too, especially the Colosseum and outside of St Peters

following

WE booked the underground tour, but places are very limited and if someone with a lot of money comes along your tour will be cancelled, which happened to us last year. We still got the VIP tour with arena access which is definitely worth it.
The vatican and St Peters is also worth it.

We stayed

https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/catone-vatican-suites.en-gb.html?aid=311076&label=catone-vatican-suites-G6k0AI_Wt_5J%2AK1UdOToAAS442525407834%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2%3Aac%3Aap%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atiaud-146342137510%3Akwd-101835060006%3Alp1006625%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm%3Appccp%3DUmFuZG9tSVYkc2RlIyh9YSNxgVPQVI7AT3fx1WXiwSU&sid=d0a7ff98241beb58ed96d1fbd290c835&all_sr_blocks=127203603_376926014_2_0_0;checkin=2024-09-23;checkout=2024-10-03;dest_id=-126693;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=127203603_376926014_2_0_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=127203603_376926014_2_0_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=127203603_376926014_2_0_0__198000;srepoch=1714026289;srpvid=fa5c2d1574c302a8;type=total;ucfs=1&#hotelTmpl here which is very close to the Vatican , lots of nice little restaurants around

On word of warning - the driving is mad. I remember the taxi from the airport about two feet behind the car in front as we sped down the motorway. The driver then seems oblivious to traffic lanes and signalling, but so did everyone else. Don’t think I saw a car without a dint. Fortunately Rome is very walkable.

Feeling a bit sorry for the OP who has 11 hours and we have given recommendations enough for a week!
Torre Argentina cat sanctuary is a lovely stop and set in ruins (beware the Ides of March!)

The good thing about Rome is that on a longish walk you can take in most of the sites without actually going in/queuing up.
I prefer the outside of the colloseum to the inside but appreciate you might think it's a must do.
I think I a day I'd start at the colloseum, then a morning bimble around the forum for a bit ( my favourite part of Rome). Then past trajans column and the Victor emanule monument towards the trevi fountain and Spanish steps with lunch on the go/ ice creams.
After lunch I'd go the pantheon ( you must queue up and go inside) via piazza navona and at least see the Vatican even if the queues are huge and you don't go in. Then I'd walk along the river for dinner in travestere and home! If I got chance I'd pop into any small interesting looking churches on the way.

Really rather jealous! Watch out for pickpockets and scammera in the busy areas but it's my absolute favourite city. Enjoy!

Thank you so much everybody! Just taking all these messages in! Some really good ideas, and also interesting that people say it's not always worth going inside places.

I think the trick will be getting enough in in the day, but I'll make a really good plan, it's good to have some real personal information.

I need to have a think about the best bag to take with pickpockets in mind. Been looking at a cross body bag, I'm normally a rucksack person!

When we were in Rome everyone I saw with a rucksack carried it on their front.

I had a canvas cross body bag that I kept my hands on. I think if you look alert you will be left alone. We used the metro, which is one of the worst places for pickpockets, and were left alone.

Hi OP agree with a pp that actually if weather is ok you can do lots of sites without going in.

Cross body will be fine, or maybe a bum bag style one (very trendy now) worn high up with zip facing in.

And remember ... best thing about not seeing everything this time is you will just have to go back

Another vote for the Pantheon.

Takeaway pizza, gelato & arancini.

When I last went with my teenage daughter, we did a free walking tour with a great guide, v entertaining. You give a (discretionary, anonymous) tip at the end. It's a good way to see a lot of Rome, but not necessarily the obvious bits.

Cross the road behind a nun, they say!

Actually, I found the traffic at crossings very good at stopping, albeit often very abruptly! Apart from scooters and bike who would swerve around you at speed.

It was definitely a culture change though: I had to almost push dh out into the road while reminding him "we have to just go - they're not going to stop just in case!"

So if you're uncomfortable about stepping out into moving traffic at the many, many zebra crossings, don't stand at the side of the road like a fanny - you'll be there all day, just cross behind a braver soul (like a nun). But not at the ones with the lights! They obviously expect you to wait at them, and they'll not stop if you mistakenly try to cross on red (don't ask how I know).

And yes, lots of tiny cars with lots of dents and scrapes. I wouldn't fancy driving there. It felt like there was a definite set of rules being followed involving multiple speedy lane changes into tiny gaps, but I wouldn't necessarily have understood what was going on and would probably have pranged or been pranged within a few minutes.

If you confidently walk out into the road the traffic does stop around you.

The first time is definitely a leap of faith though.

I had to almost push dh out into the road while reminding him "we have to just go - they're not going to stop just in case!"

I love the confidence you had that you (almost) pushed your dh out in front to stop the traffic! 😂😂🤣😂 Does he know to let someone taste his food before he eats?

I was gutted the pantheon was closed last time I went, I’ve been a couple of times before but really wanted another visit, it really is stunning! Check opening times.

You can’t miss Trevi and Spanish Steps, just because. Vatican is amazing but busy, but it’s another country to add to your list! I also love the forum and Coliseum (catch the underground at Spanish Steps to get there).

Cargo pants or shorts with closeable pockets are perfect for city breaks, keeps your valuables on you all the time.

Yeeaah, about that "almost"....

You absolutely can miss the Trevi fountain and the Spanish Steps.

But you might as well for the sake of a few minutes!

A little bit off the beaten track but the Borghese Gallery and Gardens were fabulous.

Definitely worth seeing if you have more than a in Rome.

Otherwise:

San Luigi dei Francesi for the divine Caravaggios.

Santa Maria supra Minerva for LOTS of stuff - including that cute elephant statue. And it's right next to the Pantheon. Which is an absolute must-see.

So much more exciting than Trevi, Spanish steps and that wedding cake/typewriter monstrosity.

For me, it would be the Colosseum, forum and Pantheon. Coffee and pistachio cream cannoli from Saint Eustachio coffee bar near Pantheon. Trevi fountain lit up at night was wonderful.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe-travel/italy/rome/tracing-caravaggios-secret-history-in-rome-mz2v27mbc

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (Caravaggio, in Lombardy was his home town) painted three masterpieces devoted to St Matthew here — The Calling, The Inspiration and The Martyrdom (1599-1600). A shaft of sunlight that falls across The Calling, illuminating the faces of five men, has been painted to line up with the real spring sunshine that floods through a high window.

If you do one thing in Rome....... this is it.