10 Best things to do in Rome

10 Best things to do in Rome

“Rome is the city of echoes, the city of illusions, and the city of yearning.”- Giotto di Bondone, Renaissance painter

My thoughts about Rome

Rome was our last stop in a whirlwind vacation consisting of a Mediterranean cruise and a tour of Italy's major cities.

It left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, it was fascinating. A city with many layers, Medieval, Renaissance, Imperial and Republic. History oozes out of every cobblestone. There are historical sites around every corner and you find yourself wondering - am I supposed to recognise each one? We downloaded Rick Steve's audio guides and explored the attractions under his guidance. We also did the "free" (no charge but tip expected) walking tours in Rome but were not as impressed as we were with them in Venice. Nevertheless, if you're heading to The Eternal City and are wondering how to plan your time,  here's the perfect 3-day Rome itinerary .

On the other hand, I didn't realise how much I yearned for the South African bush until I was in Rome. The city was overrun with tourists and the chaos and crowds made me yearn for the solitude and serenity of the bush. We had some unsavoury experiences when my son forgot his new Florentine leather bag - containing his new tablet - on a bench near the Spanish Steps for a few minutes and it was stolen. Lightfingered Luigis also tried to open my husband's backpack on more than one occasion, on the Pickpocket Express (Bus 64) - while looking for valuables which they didn't find.

Nevertheless, Rome is a photographer's dream, with so much to see and capture.

10 Best things to do in Rome

1. Visit the Colosseum

2. See the Roman Forum

3. Tour the Vatican Museums

4. Stroll through the Borghese Gardens

5. Take in a show at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma

6. People watch at Piazza Navona

7. Marvel at the Trevi Fountain

8. Explore Trastevere

9. Learn about the city's history at the Capitoline Museums

10. Enjoy some gelato!

Good to know

1, First and foremost, pack comfortable shoes. You'll be doing a lot of walking, and there's no shortage of cobblestone streets.

2. Speaking of walking, take advantage of Rome's many pedestrian-only areas. They're great for people watching and doing some window shopping.

3. If you are sightseeing in summer, do carry a sunhat and use sunscreen. It can get very hot.

4. If you still want to do some sightseeing before you check into your hotel, or after you check out of your hotel, it's a great idea to store your luggage in a safe place while you explore.

Some photos of Rome

Inside the Colosseum -  the most famous structure in Rome
Roman photos

Inside the Colosseum, the most famous ancient Rome attractions

Two gladiators have a conversation while waiting for customers
Roman photos

Gladiators

Castel Sant'Angelo
Best things to do in Rome

Castel Sant'Angelo

Arch of Constantine
Roman photos

Arch of Constantine

Horse and carts await customers
Roman photos

Horse and carts

The levitating man impresses tourists. See how he does it here.
Roman Photos

The levitating man

Forum of Augustus
Roman photos

Forum of Augustus

Tiber River
Roman photos

Tiber River

The Pantheon -The painter Raphael is buried here as well as two kings of Italy and a queen
Roman photos

The Pantheon

Fresh fruit stall in Rome - the grapes and watermelon we bought were delicious
Roman photos

Fresh fruit stall

The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain was undergoing renovations. The pedestrian bridge had a long queue waiting to walk on it. We decided to go and eat gelato instead.

Roman photos

The Trevi Fountain

Pyramid of Cestius

 Did you know that there is a pyramid in Rome? It was built in 12BC

Roman photos

Pyramid of Cestius

The National Monument of Victor Emmanuel II

The Vittorio Emanuele II marble monument, built at the end of the 19th century is relatively new, compared to the other famous monuments in Rome.

IMG_3341

Vittorio Emanuele

Spanish Steps

The Spanish Steps were covered with tourists.

Spanish Steps

Spanish Steps

Villa Borghese Gardens

We spent half a day at the beautiful Villa Borghese Gardens, Rome's largest park. where we rode these family bicycles. There were also segways available.

Roman Photos

Villa Borghese Gardens

Pizza a Taglio

Of course, you can't go to Rome and not enjoy some Pizza a Taglio - Pizza by the slice!

My thoughts about Rome and some photos of Rome

Pizza a Taglio

Have you been there? What are your thoughts about Rome ?

Here's how to see Rome in two days .

Find accommodation in Rome.

Download Rick Steve's audio guides.

5 comments on “10 Best things to do in Rome”

  1. Hi, very nice post. I was looking for something similar to this. Thanks for this useful information.

  2. Hey,

    I liked your photos, they bring back wonderful memories from my trip to Rome and Florence several years ago. Rome is magnificent, so many places to visit but my favorite was St Peter's Basilica and Michelangelo's Pieta.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Get your free South Africa bucket list guide

    Things you must do in South Africa

    Subscribe to blog form

  • Get the best accommodation deals



  • Subscribe

    Join 50,000+ Fans

    Subscribe to blog form

  • Design a safari
  • Copyright © 2023 by Sara Essop. 
    The content on this website may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Sara Essop.
    search linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram