Holidays in Rome

Although every corner of Italy is imbued with the distinctive flavor of the Italian nation, and you can feel its temperament even in the most unassuming town, a full acquaintance with the country is impossible without visiting Rome. Legendary and majestic, it captivates with a combination of breathtaking scale and an extraordinary sense of coziness, without a hint of the oppressive tension of a capital or the pressure of historical heritage.

What you need to know about Rome

Rome is one of the oldest and most famous cities in the world, whose role in the course of history is hard to overestimate: at one time it was the capital of the great empire of the same name. The city boasts a record number of legendary architectural, sculptural and pictorial monuments, thanks to which Rome has become a true center of cultural pilgrimage for millions of travelers every year. The city has a well-developed tourist infrastructure and offers a huge variety of activities — from relaxed get-togethers in local cafés and visits to museums to New Year’s dives into the Tiber and explorations of the mysterious underground passages of local churches.

Where Rome is located

Rome is located on the River Tiber, in the center of the Apennine Peninsula, in a natural valley formed between the foothills of the Apennines and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Rome is separated from the seaside by the town of Fiumicino, where Leonardo da Vinci Airport is located. It handles the absolute majority of international flights to and through Italy. In addition, 15 kilometers from Rome there is also Giovan Battista Pastine Airport, better known as Ciampino Airport, which mainly receives charter flights and serves low-cost airlines.

Rome is also connected with other regions of the country and the outside world by a large number of railway routes, thanks to which over many years the city has become the most important transport hub in central Italy.

When it’s best to go to Rome

Given the subtropical Mediterranean climate characteristic of the Italian capital, it can be safely said that the most comfortable months to visit Rome are April, May, June, September and October, as well as the period from late December through February inclusive. Generally speaking, the weather in the city is conducive to pleasant leisure almost all year round, but you should take into account the months of increased rainfall (November, late February and March), peak heat (July), as well as the mass influx of tourists (from late June to August and during the Christmas holidays).

What to do in Rome

Even if you choose not to do anything in Rome at all and limit yourself to walks, visits to local venues and picnics in parks and gardens, you will still get a lot of vivid impressions from visiting this extraordinary city. But if you want more, here is just a short list of what you can do in Rome:

• Visit the city’s main “power spots” — the Pantheon, the Roman Forum and the Colosseum.
• Head to the city-state of the Vatican and see St. Peter’s Basilica and the famous Sistine Chapel with your own eyes.
• Throw coins into the Trevi Fountain and the Turtle Fountain.
• Sit on the Spanish Steps in the evening and watch the locals.
• Walk through all the main squares of the city — Piazza Navona, Piazza di Spagna and Piazza del Popolo.
• Rent a Vespa scooter and ride around the city, feeling like a real Italian.
• Go up to the roof of the Vittoriano and enjoy the best view in the city.
• Have a cup of coffee on top of Palazzo Caffarelli while admiring the city panorama.
• Try real Italian ice cream in the oldest gelateria in the city — Palazzo del Freddo Giovanni Fassi.
• Enjoy evening aperitifs and traditional Italian snacks.
• Visit the museums of Rome and the Vatican.
• Visit Cinecittà, the largest film studio in Europe.
• Have dinner in the Trastevere district and try real Italian cuisine.
• Have a little picnic on Tiber Island, which is considered one of the most romantic places in the city.
• Taste the best local cheeses and wines.
• Watch a reenactment of gladiator fights on Rome’s Birthday (April 21).
• Feed the Roman seagulls on the Tiber embankment.
• Go for some first-class Italian shopping!
• Head out of town and relax on the Tyrrhenian Sea coast.
• Enjoy the vibrant nightlife in the capital’s bars and clubs.

Which hotel in Rome to choose

• The H'All Tailor Suite Roma 5*
  Located in the area of the picturesque Villa Borghese, this small hotel of 14 luxurious suites is an excellent choice for connoisseurs of high-class, highly personalized service, privacy and exquisite signature cuisine. Incidentally, the hotel is owned by one of Rome’s most renowned chefs, so things could not be better when it comes to food. Among other things, you can rent a car at the hotel, which is an additional argument in its favor.
• Casa Fabbrini Boutique B&B
  A stay at the tiny B&B Casa Fabbrini Roma is a wonderful way to experience the atmosphere of a real Italian home, with its characteristic hospitality. It is located in the historic center of Rome, a five-minute walk from the Spanish Steps, and is decorated in a cozy, traditional Italian style.
• Palazzo Navona Hotel 4*
  The four-star Palazzo Navona is located on one of Rome’s most famous squares and is therefore ideal for those who intend to thoroughly explore all the city’s main attractions. Well-equipped rooms in a modern Scandinavian style and a spacious rooftop terrace with panoramic views of the historic center have earned this hotel a place in the rankings of Rome’s most popular accommodations.
• Singer Palace Hotel 5*
  Singer Palace is a luxurious five-star hotel in Art Deco style, located on the famous shopping street Via del Corso. Its main advantages include modern, stylishly designed rooms, a two-level rooftop restaurant terrace with panoramic views, proximity to attractions and shopping locations, varied breakfasts, as well as lunches and dinners with seafood.
• Babuino 181 4*
  This refined hotel of 24 elegant rooms is situated on the famous Via del Babuino, which connects Piazza del Popolo with Piazza di Spagna. Its excellent location, marble bathrooms and in-room coffee machines, exceptionally tasty breakfasts with snacks and sweets, as well as the rooftop bar clearly provide an additional reason to consider this accommodation option among the first.

Where to eat well in Rome

You don’t even have to plan a gastronomic tour to Rome on purpose: no matter how you come to this city, the trip will in any case be full of amazing culinary impressions! And here is where you can get them:

• Wine and aperitivo bars, which are best visited in the afternoon for snacks, wines and light cocktails based on liqueurs and vermouth.
• Gelaterie and patisseries, where you definitely need to try as many varieties of local pastries as possible, as well as tiramisu and Italian ice cream!
• All sorts of restaurants with Italian and Mediterranean cuisine located outside the main tourist areas and the most popular squares. We especially recommend the venues in the Trastevere district and on Via de’ Maddalena.
• Street stalls selling roasted chestnuts.
• The famous department store Eataly, where you can stock up on and properly taste countless amazing local products.

What to combine a trip to Rome with

If, as part of your trip to Rome, you plan to get the maximum number of impressions and, in addition to the capital, visit as many interesting locations as possible, we recommend including in your itinerary:

• Florence and Venice, which will introduce you to the poetic side of the Italian temperament.
• Milan, the main city of northern Italy, without which your idea of the country will not be complete.
• Naples and Pisa, each of which can boast its own set of iconic attractions.
• Tivoli, known worldwide for the palace and park complex of Villa d’Este.
• Seaside resorts on the Tyrrhenian coast, including our favorite Lido di Ostia.