Posted on Monday, 27 March 2023

With its incredibly well-preserved ancient buildings, world-beating museums and fabulous cuisine, Rome could be the perfect getaway destination.

Steeped in 3,000 years of history, Rome is a living, breathing museum - yet it is as vital, enthralling and relevant as any city in the world. The Italian capital is as much about enjoying the cafe lifestyle and thin, crispy pizzas as it is about the masterpieces of Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Raphael.

'The Eternal City' was so named because it was thought the city would never fall. Indeed, while the Roman Empire has long faded away, this three-millennia-old capital is as alive as ever. Its mighty architectural feats continue to astonish, from the majestic dome of St Peter's Basilica, to the crumbling grandeur of the Colosseum, to the superbly-preserved Pantheon.

Meander across Rome on foot and you'll stumble upon, entirely by accident, a treasure trove of ancient architectural and artistic treats. Add such delights for the mind and soul to world-class pizza, coffee and ice cream, and it's easy to see why Rome is so adored.

 

Enjoy La Dolce Vita on a post-Covid adventure

Whether you're looking for a romantic city to explore with your favourite person, an attraction-packed destination for the whole family, or a captivating metropolis for a solo adventure, Rome has it all. If you're plotting a getaway with a healthy dose of ‘la dolce vita', read on.

 

Is Rome expensive?

Rome is up there with London and Paris in the 'tourist trap' stakes - but it all depends how you go about planning your trip.

 

Rough daily budgets

• Low budget/backpacker: 45 euros
• Mid-range: 100 euros
• Upmarket: 200 euros

 

Accommodation

Spend a little time on Google and you may well turn up some hotel bargains - even in the heart of the city. You can go even cheaper by staying in backpacker hostels, sometimes to the tune of 10 euros a night. But if you have the cash to splash, Rome's upmarket hoteliers will gladly take your money - and give you a 'fantastico' experience in return.

 

Getting around

Rome is a marvel to explore on foot - you'll discover all manner of old buildings and details that you would miss going by mechanical transport. That said, it's a big city and your walking legs may give out at some point. Thankfully, a single trip on a bus, metro or tram is a super-cheap 1.50 euros, while a 24-hour ticket costs a very reasonable 7 euros. You can also hop in a taxi for around 6 to 8 euros a trip.

 

Food in Rome

There's plenty of street food and stand-up pizza-slice joints for super-cheap eats. However, this hardly typifies the best in Roman cuisine, so head to a local 'trattoria' and eat like a Roman. Such local restaurants may be cheaper than you think - and a lot more satisfying than fast food aimed at tourists.

Choose from simple but delicious pastas, seasonal artichoke, and meat, fish and vegetable dishes.

And if you have the funds, there is an abundance of top-class eateries, such as the two-star Il Pagliaccio, where a lunch time 'intermezzo' will set you back 85 euros, exclusive of drinks.

 

Attractions in Rome

Free Attractions

Free attractions in Rome include:

• Pantheon
• Saint Peter's Basilica (but €8 to climb stairs to the dome)
• Walking tour (but you should tip the guides)
• Basilica of St. John Lateran: (but access to cloisters €8)

 

Paid Attractions

Paid attractions in Rome include:

• Colosseum & Roman Forum (includes Palatine Hill): €14
• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: from €18
• Capitoline Museum: €12-€18
• Galleria Borghese: €13
• Paid walking tour €25-€40+
• Bicycle tour: €35-€45

 

A run down of must-visit Roman attractions

The Pantheon

The Pantheon is the best-preserved Roman building in the world, and is arguably the empire's greatest, too. Built 2,000 years ago by Emperor Hadrian, it boasts the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world, 20-foot walls and mighty bronze doors. A truly awe-inspiring structure and definitely a 'must-visit'.

 

Colosseum

This iconic Roman structure once hosted up to 50,000 people as they watched gladiators do battle with exotic wild animals - and each other. The biggest blood-fest was put on by Trajan, where up to 9,000 gladiators and 10,000 animals met their ends over a period of 117 days. It wasn't the city's biggest amphitheatre though - that accolade was held by the 250,000-seater Circus Maximus, the remnants of which are now a public park.

 

Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

At any one time, up to 2,000 visitors can be found peering up at the astonishing work of art that is Michelangelo's ceiling (1508–12). These stunning frescoes cover the whole 800-sq-m surface. The other must-see work of art is the Giudizio Universale (Last Judgment; 1536–41), also by Michelangelo.

 

Galleria Borghese

Only got time for one gallery while in Rome? Then we suggest you make a bee-line for the Galleria Borghese, where Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577–1633) put together one of the finest art collections of all time. It features a host of masterpiece paintings by Caravaggio, Raphael and Titian, as well as sculptures by Bernini.

 

Spanish Steps

This world-famous set of steps traverse the slope between the Piazza di Espana and the Piazza Trinità dei Monti - overlooked by the late Renaissance Trinità dei Monti church.

The perfect place to relax and people watch, ideally with a gelato in your hand.

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