The time has come, ladies & gentlemen. Italy has opened its borders to American tourists for the first time since March 2020!!!

You can now visit as a tourist if you are vaccinated, or have proof of a PCR molecular test within 48-72 hours of your flight. Airline rules differ, so double check before flying. That being said, I can finally share with you everything I have learned over the past year and a half of living here in Rome, whether it be iconic landmarks, how to get around, or even where to eat.

I have broken this post down into six sections; feel free to scroll through or click on one of the topics below. And don’t forget to subscribe and share this with your fellow wanderlust-ers!

• Map
• Iconic Landmarks
• Parks and other sights
• Nightlife
• Where to Eat
• How to get around

I will start this post by giving you a couple of tips:

1. If you are coming here as a tourist, wear good shoes. Yes, Italians wear fancier shoes (especially the women), but they live here and are not walking as much as you are. Not to mention the roads are uneven, and you need as much stability as you can get. I promise you will thank me. Leave the heels at home and make up for it with a cute outfit!
2. Do not keep too many valuables on you. The city center of Rome is overall pretty safe, but the pickpocketers are ruthless. Keep an eye on your belongings. When walking around, I always keep one hand on my purse and never put anything in my pockets, especially in the metros/public transportation.
3. Water – particularly if you are coming in the summer, the heat here is no joke. Stay hydrated, loves — don’t worry, you can still have a spritz after your tours. I also want to point out that Rome has water fountains all over the city and, yes, they are safe to drink from! They usually are cold and refreshing, as well. Below is what you should look for:

4. If you plan on visiting any of the basilicas or churches, keep in mind that you will have to be appropriately dressed. Otherwise, they won’t allow you to enter.

Map

I have marked all of the iconic landmarks on the map below for you to get a feel for where everything is located, more or less:

Iconic Landmarks

Colosseum

The most iconic – it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World! The first time I saw it, I was overwhelmed by the thought of the 2,000 years of history that happened in and around this incredible structure. Book your tickets ahead of time if you’d like a tour because there are a lot of scams if you try to book on-site.

Roman Forum

The Roman Forum is a stunning display of ancient ruins right next to the Colosseum. The best way to see everything is to book the tour that has the Colosseum and Roman Forum combined. If you want the best view of the Roman Forum, take a stroll up the small street directly behind the Altare Della Patria and walk to the top! You won’t regret it.

Piazza Venezia

The heart of Roma. Piazza Venezia is the home of the iconic Altare Della Patria that, some say, resembles a glimpse of what the ancient city used to look like. From the piazza, you can find Via del Corso which has great shopping and easy access to the Pantheon & Trevi Fountain. If you are willing to walk a bit more, you can easily reach the Spanish Steps and Piazza del Popolo from this location, as well.

Pantheon

If you happen to be in Rome on a day that it is raining, visit the Pantheon! There is a purposeful hole in the dome of the building, and it a magical sight.

Trevi Fountain

Throw in a coin and make a wish! I would say this is the second most popular landmark in Rome after the Colosseum. It’s a must-see.

Piazza del Popolo

Piazza del Popolo, literally meaning the People’s Square, is where you can find one of the oldest obelisks in Rome! If you want an even better view of the square, walk up the stairs to la Terrazza del Pincio. The best view of this is at sunset.

Spanish Steps

These steps are in one of the richest corners of Rome and also one of the most beautiful. The piazza surrounding the steps is always hopping with people and is a breathtaking sight. You also have very easy access to Villa Borghese from here!

Vatican Museums & St. Peters Basilica

This one goes without saying, but this is one of the most incredible things you will ever see. The amount of history, religion, art, detail, and GOLD in this place will blow your mind. Be sure to book tickets ahead of time. I highly suggest a tour with a real tour guide rather than an audio tour. While I am usually a fan of audio tours, these museums are too large and it is easy to get off track. Speaking from experience, once you are off track, good luck getting back on!

Parks and other sights

Villa Borghese

This park overlooks Piazza del Popolo and expands pretty far back. You can go to see the gorgeous villa, have a picnic in the beautiful gardens, or even rent a small boat for a romantic experience.

Villa Pamphilli

This one is a bit harder to get to, but it is so elegant. When you enter the park, it feels like you have left Rome and are now in a lush oasis. There is a beautiful path, outdoor gym, gardens, cafes, and, of course, the breathtaking villa.

Piramide

A bit outside the tourist center in one of the more residential areas called Testaccio, you will find an Egyptian-style pyramid that stands tall right next to part of the old Roman city wall. This is super easy to get to off of the metro that is only 2 stops from the Colosseum. See more on how to use the metro below.

Aventine Keyhole

Located a short walk from Circo Massimo, you will find this keyhole. When you look through it, you can see St. Peter’s Basilica perfectly surrounded by gorgeous greenery. There will most likely be a line, but it is worth the wait.

Aqueducts

Side note, because I think this is funny: Yes, the Romans built the aqueducts and it is incredible. But when it rains here (it does not happen often) the entire city floods and some of the streets are almost impossible to drive on. They can get the water into the city, but they cannot seem to get it out! In all seriousness, you should take the time to visit the Parco degli Acquedotti to soak in the history and beauty of it all. Read more about it on their website here.

Basilica San Paolo

Like Piramide, a bit out of the historical city center, but also super easily accessible by metro (see below). This basilica is also dripping with art and gold, but something particularly interesting about this place is that there are paintings of every Pope lining ceiling!

Circo Massimo

Ancient ruins, that were once a place for horse racing in ancient times, are just one metro stop away from the Colosseum. This spot is super beautiful, especially at golden hour.

Gianicolo Overlook

You can see all of Rome from up here! It is truly spectacular.

Nightlife

Piazza Trilusa (surrounding bars)/Trastevere

This is one of the most popular, especially for younger people who are studying abroad. It is also known for the famous stairs that lead up to the fountain in the piazza.

Campo de’ Fiori

This is also super popular and probably for a little bit older age range in most places; however, there are still a few bars geared toward students that have beer pong and things like that. This is probably the easiest spot to access if you are staying in the historical center.

Scholars Lounge

If you are looking for an Irish pub that turns into a karaoke bar at night (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Sundays are karaoke nights), this is your spot! Right off of Piazza Venezia, it is also super easy to access if you are staying in the historical center.

Via Libetta

These are proper nightclubs, but some of them have turned into restaurants since COVID. A little bird told me that nightclubs will be opening up this summer – fingers crossed. These are a bit far from the center. You could metro there, but would have to take a taxi or Uber home. (more on taxi and Uber below).

Via di Monte Testaccio

This is also a strip full of clubs that is a bit further from the center but is always a good time. These, unfortunately, have also turned into restaurants, so we will see what happens when the clubs are allowed to reopen.

Where to Eat

Rome has a few specialty dishes, much like most cities/regions of Italy. Some of my favorite Roman dishes are Cacio e Pepe, Amatriciana, and supplì. Another thing you may not know is that Rome is known for its thin-crust pizza. I have indicated the different styles of pizza below between Neapolitan and Roman styles, as Neapolitan is made with a thicker crust. It is all about preference! It’s hard to stumble on bad food here – you really can’t go wrong. However, definitely avoid dining near Termini train station because it is a tourist trap. The food is overpriced and not the best in the city.

Special thanks to my lovely friends here in Rome for helping me finalize the list of what we think are the best! (Roman approved, as well).

Best Restaurants:

Pasta

1. Osteria da Fortunata: Homemade pasta restaurant. You can watch them make it in the window!
2. Da Oio – Amazing Cacio e Pepe pasta. You could also try the chicken dish there — it is incredible, as well.
3. Da Tonino – Amatriciana pasta.
4. Il Ciociaro – Pasta restaurant.
5. Da Enzo al 29 – Great Cacio e Pepe pasta.

Pizza

1. Gino Sorbillo – My personal favorite pizza, it is Neapolitan style.
2. Seu Pizza Illuminati – Most of my friends’ favorite pizza in Rome. Neapolitan style.
3. Nuovo Mondo -Roman Pizza.
4. Da Remo – Roman Pizza.
5. Gatta Mangiona – Roman Pizza.

Others to try out

1. Supplì Roma – Supplì is a type of Roman street food – try it while you’re here!
2. Ristorante Dillà – Mediterranean Food
3. Trapizzino – not really a restaurant, it’s more like street food – but super delicious!

Best Dessert/Gelato:

1. Pompi – Tiramisu
2. La Romana – Gelato
3. Two Sizes – Gelato & Tiramisu

Drinks:

1. Johnny’s Off License: Italian craft beers
2. San Calisto – Super small and inexpensive place, but it is always crowded and often with street performances in the piazza.
3. Bar del Fico – Cocktails
4. Bars in Campo de’ Fiori or Piazza Trilusa are mostly all great for aperitivo/happy hour

How to Get Around

But how do you get around Rome? You can view my post about this linked here: Best Ways to Get Around Rome. This post mentions taxis, Ubers and busses, and how to use each of them. But let me walk you through the metro in more detail because, in my opinion, it is the most useful.

As far as the metro goes, it is pretty simple and is my preferred method of getting around, when possible, because it is the most reliable – the trains come every 3-5 minutes! Below you can see the route Linea B (blue) takes – you will use this metro line the most. If you are going north you want to take either the Jonio or Rebibbia train (they both go north, and you most-likely won’t have to worry about which one you are taking as you are not going past where they split at Bologna). If you are going south, you will take the Laurentina train – easy!

Usually, I would just take a Bird or Lime scooter, but if you would rather take the metro to the Spanish Steps and/or Piazza del Popolo, you will have to change from Linea B to Linea A. To do this, you will have to take Linea B to the Termini stop and switch there – it is pretty simple, you just get off at Termini and follow the orange signs leading you to Linea A (orange). You’ll then go in the direction of Battistini and get off at the Spagna stop for Spanish Steps or Flaminio for Piazza del Popolo.

Now you know the basics of Roma! Have more questions? Leave them in the comments below — let’s chat! For more about my life in Rome, follow my adventures on Instagram and don’t forget to subscribe to my blog.

Ciao for now,

Chloe