Roman poet, Tibullus, first referred to Rome as the Eternal City based on the sentiment that the city has seen empires rise and fall, yet remains an important historical and cultural centre. In fact, you can’t avoid the history which will surround you on a Rome city break – no matter where you go, you’ll come across ancient ruins and relic from the days of the Roman Empire. Be prepared to be amazed….
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Why book a Rome city break?
The city of Rome is epic, and there is a long list of reasons as to why you should plan a Rome city break, or longer stay, such as:
- History – Rome is one of the oldest cities in the world and once the centre of the Roman Empire, so it is steeped in history. Walk in the footsteps of gladiators and Emperors, as you learn about the triumphs and tragedies of this magnificent city.
- Buildings and ruins – there seems to be an incredible building, fountain, sculpture, or ancient ruin at every turn in Rome. My favourite find along the way was a huge stone foot clothed in a gladiatorial sandal, just randomly discovered on a side street. You will get ‘photo fatigue’ on your first trip to Rome as there is just so much to capture and take in.
- Food and drink – as the birthplace of Carbonara you won’t struggle to find good pasta dishes in Rome and there’s a gelateria on every block to help cool you down in the heat of the city.
- Pilgrimage – As the Pope, head of the Catholic Church, resides in the Vatican within the boundaries of Rome, then the city is a place of pilgrimage for those who follow. For those who don’t, a visit to St Peter’s Basilica and/or the Sistine Chapel are still usually on the ‘must see’ list for a Rome city break.
- Art and Culture – the city displays a lot of art in its churches, whilst also having a number of large museums and galleries, including the Museum of Rome, Capitoline Museums, and Borghese Gallery. Choosing one museum or gallery to visit from a long list might be your problem if you like art.
- The general Italian vibe – without trying, the Italians generally appear to be a stylish bunch, so people watching is a great activity. Their style spills over into the shopping opportunities which you may want to schedule time for in the itinerary for your first trip to Rome.
Platinum Travel Planning Roadmap for a Rome city break
Companions – perfect for everyone!
You can carve out a Rome city break to suit all manner of companions:
Couples – Rome is a romantic city and so is perfect for a couples getaway.
Older children/young teens – as soon as your children are happy to walk for decent distances, then they will love a trip to Rome. To be able to explore the city and visit the Colosseum where the Gladiators fought will ignite their imagination and bring history to life for them.
Older teens/Young adults – they will love exploring Rome and taking in the style of the city, seeing the main sights and topping it off with heaps of spaghetti carbonara.
Empty nesters – if you have more time to spare then a longer stay in the city would be perfect for empty nesters. Rome is also well located to allow you to explore Italy on day or short trips from the city using the effective train system.
Type of trip - City break
For the purposes of this blog, I am talking about a trip to Rome as a city break, rather than a longer stay.
For me, there is so much to do and see in Rome, that a weekend never feels long enough. So if you can plan a Rome city break over 4 nights/5 days, this will allow you more time to fall in love with this incredible city.
You will however need to pace yourself when you visit Rome as you are likely to be on your feet a lot exploring, which can become tiring in the heat and amongst the crowds. So, make sure that you plan in plenty of rest breaks, coffee stops and gelato breaks, people watching and photo stops, and your time be much more rewarding.
When to take a Rome city break
Rome is a year round destination, literally the Eternal city. So you can happily plan a trip at any point throughout the year.
Summer – my caveat to that is that the summer months of July and August are likely to be incredibly hot, which can make sightseeing rather exhausting in the heat.
Shoulder seasons – the shoulder seasons are therefore much better, when you will have some warmth and still be able to enjoy the warm glow of the sun on the buildings, but without heatstroke! So consider May/June and September/October as good options.
We visited in the last week of May/first week of June (two years running) and had beautiful weather on both occasions – no rain, and perfect weather for walking around the city. It was even hot enough to use the outdoor swimming pool at the hotel.
Winter – for fewer crowds and a different vibe, you could visit throughout the winter months. It won’t be too cold, although there is greater chance of rain, but this might mean that you would be happy to spend more time indoors visiting the museums and galleries. There are good Christmas markets in December.
To help you plan your Rome city break, I have written several itineraries to help you navigate the main sights, with some extra bits thrown in. I’ve written a separate blog about visiting Rome with teenagers.
You can choose to follow the itineraries in any order, but when planning your time be aware that:
- Sundays – the Vatican Museums which house the Sistine Chapel are usually:
- closed on a Sunday, but
- open on the last Sunday of the month, when it is free to visit on that day. As a result, it is also the busiest day to go and should be avoided if possible.
- Wednesdays – the Pope also has a schedule of Public Blessings which often take place on a Wednesday morning, so the area will be busy and is not the best day to visit St Peter’s Basilica. Alternatively, it is the best day to visit if you want a chance of seeing the Pope!
Where to explore on your Rome city break
Rome, a city to explore on foot
Rome is best explored on foot which allows you to truly experience the beauty of the buildings, piazzas, fountains, and ruins which fill the streets. As you walk, soak up the atmosphere and take your time. In my opinion, this is not a city for the Hop-On Hop-Off bus or you’ll miss things.
5 walking itineraries for your Rome city break
This relatively short walk (2 km) starts at the beautiful Trevi Fountain, before sampling pistachio croissants for breakfast, climbing the Spanish Steps, learning about the Romantic Poets, window shopping in the Tridente, enjoying a picnic in the gardens, admiring world class art or biking around the park.
Start your day with a showstopper tour of the Colosseum arena to stand in the footsteps of gladiators. Then explore the Monti neighbourhood stopping for lunch along the way. Finish your day with a visit to the top of the ‘Wedding Cake’ or drinks at a rooftop bar for stunning views.
Start your day by exploring the Roman Forum, the hub of the Roman Empire back in the day, and climbing Palatine Hill to see where the emperors used to live. Discover the treasures of the Capitoline Museum, such as its courtyard of giant statues, and seek a quick bite for lunch. Walk through Il Ghetto (Jewish Ghetto), before crossing the River Tiber to the Trastevere neighbourhood for dinner.
Experience the bustle of a famous city market, before spotting stray cats amongst the ruins of sunken temples, admiring an elephant sculpture, visiting the wonder of the Parthenon, before taking a leisurely lunch in stunning Piazza Navona. Once recharged, stroll to Castel Sant’Angelo to explore this treasure on the banks of the Tiber.
Make an early start to climb to the top of St Peter’s Basilica, before taking a tour of the Vatican Museums to admire the Sistine Chapel. Explore St Peter’s Basilica at ground level before seeking lunch nearby. Then take a taxi to L’Aventine Hill for a surprise ending to your Vatican centred day.
If you’ve been to Rome before and are looking for ideas off the beaten track, then check out my blog about looking beyond the main sights.
Note – we didn’t do ‘posh Rome’ as we were travelling with our kids, so if you’re planning a romantic couple’s trip, then you might want to supplement the walking tours with some more luxurious or romantic extras.
Practical tips and packing for your Rome city break
The following are practical tips for your first trip to Rome:
- Take refillable water bottles and keep them topped up at one of the numerous old water fountains throughout the city.
- Pack your most comfortable walking shoes – on paper the distances don’t look far, but you will end up winding through the streets and walking further than you think.
- Prebook all of your museum or tour tickets to the main attractions in advance to make the entry process as stress free as possible.
- Don’t over schedule – the idea is not to pack too much into your days, so that you have time to enjoy all the sights along the way.
- Take regular breaks – take breaks whenever you want, particularly when the weather is hot, as sightseeing can be exhausting. Also depending on the location of your hotel, you might want to pencil in a couple of hours before dinner to return to your hotel to refreshen up.
Budget and bookings – flights, cars and accommodation
Getting to Rome, Italy
Rome is the capital city of Italy, and is in the Lazio region of Italy, 274 km south of Florence and 227 km north of Naples. If you’re flying to Rome, there are two airports:
- Leonardo da Vinci Airport – used by most major airlines (located in Fiumicino about 30km from the centre).
- Ciampino Airport – used by budget airlines such as Easyjet and Ryan Air (about 20 km from the centre).
Italy also has an excellent train system and so Rome is well connected with the other major cities, and the trains are a great way to get around.
Hiring a car
There really is no need to hire a car for a Rome city break – as mentioned before, Rome is a very walkable city. If your feet hurt, it’s easy enough to pick up a taxi or other form of public transport such as buses or the metro. If you want to see further afield, then consider using the efficient train system, rather than hiring a car.
Accommodation options in Rome
There’s no two ways about it, Rome is expensive, but with some research, you can find reasonable accommodation for your Rome city break.
Booking.com is a great resource for looking at accommodation across the price brackets. The cost of your accommodation will generally be higher if you stay right in the centre.
City Tax – Rome has introduced a City Tax which is currently around 7.50 euros per person per night. This will be added to your hotel bill at checkout time.
We were travelling with two of our children and took a strategic decision to stay slightly outside the Centro Storico at the Crowne Plaza St Peter’s Rome, 4 km from St Peter’s Square.
This was so that we could head off early in the morning for sightseeing, and then return to the hotel after lunch to chill by the pool and regroup before dinner. The hotel has a large outdoor pool, and also a bus which runs between the hotel and centre of the city. It worked well for us with the kids, but if we were travelling as a couple we might have looked for somewhere in the centre.
Find what works for you!
Travel in confidence
Make sure you have the correct documentation for Italy
Italy follows Schengen area rules.
Passports – please note that for UK citizens travelling on a full British passport, it must:
- have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive. This rule is catching quite a few people out so double check your dates.
- be valid for at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area.
Visas – at the time of writing, UK citizens can enter Italy for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for a holiday without needing a visa.
Make sure you check what is required for your nationality and requirements before travelling as the rules change from time to time and may be different to the above.
Final thoughts...
I hope that you fall in love with Rome when you visit, like I did on my first visit in my early 20s with very little money on an interrailing trip. Having returned with my family in recent years, the magic of the city has not worn off, and in fact the opposite has happened, and I would love to visit for longer to explore beyond the main sights.
A Rome city break it all – history, art and culture, amazing food, style, and heart!
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