City trip Rome: The Ultimate Guide

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Rome was the most popular destination for a city trip in 2018. This Italian capital has many impressive sights. Think for example of the famous Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. In addition, Rome is known for its pleasant terraces, many shops, nightlife and restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal.

1. Rome: characteristics

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Rome is almost 2800 years old and has no less than 49 attractions registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It will therefore come as no surprise that Rome is one of the 30 most visited cities in the world. The city attracts more than 7 million international tourists every year. Going on a city trip to Rome? Maybe a week or a long weekend? The characteristics of the capital of Italy can be found in the table below. In this article we have listed the most popular sights of Rome for you.

2. The most famous building of Rome: the Colosseum

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When you think of Rome, you think of the Colosseum. This impressive structure is the largest amphitheater in the Roman Empire. Since July 2017 it has been one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Gladiator fights used to take place in the Colosseum, but also fights with wild animals and other games. Sometimes the entire arena was filled with water to simulate naval combat. The round theater could seat as many as 50,000 spectators. It is estimated that 700,000 gladiators have died in the arena.

The Colosseum is an impressive piece of history from Roman times. Near the Colosseum are the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. You can possibly visit the three sights on the same day.

3. The ancient center of Rome: Forum Romanum

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In addition to the famous Colosseum, the Forum Romanum is also a real must-see during a city trip to Rome. In ancient times, the Forum Romanum was the centre of Rome. It was the central place in the city for parades, markets, gladiator fights and other games, criminal cases and speeches. The Forum Romanum is located in the centre of Rome. A ticket for the Forum Romanum is also valid for the Coliseum and the Palatine Hill.

4. Sights of Rome: Palatine Hill

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The Palatine is one of the seven hills in Rome and is located next to the Forum Romanum. Here you will find impressive ruins of palaces and temples. Especially the imperial residence of Augustus is excellently preserved. The Domus Tiberiana is also a beautiful former residential complex to visit. In the museum of the Palatine you can admire excavations. The Palatine has not only beautiful ruins, but also beautiful green gardens. So you can stroll in the famous Farnesian Gardens with beautiful trees.

5. Vatican City and St. Peter's Basilica

Vatican City

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During a city trip to Rome, a visit to the Vatican City should not be missed. Vatican City is the smallest independent state in the world. The pope is at the head of this dwarf state. Vatican City is located in the centre of Rome and is full of special historical buildings and monuments. Think of the Apostolic Palace where the Pope lives, the famous St. Peter's Square, the various Vatican museums and the St. Peter's Basilica.

Saint-Pierre is a well-known basilica in the Vatican City

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The Vatican Museums is a group of museums in the Apostolic Palaces. It is possible to visit the art treasures of the Vatican. Some important works of art are for example the Sistine Chapel, the Maps Gallery, the Laocon Group, the Stanza della Segnatura and the Vatican Pinacotheque. St. Peter's Basilica is one of the largest basilicas in Italy. Here you will find various statues and paintings that are absolutely worth seeing. Each decoration also has a symbolic value and its own story.

6. Rome as a film set: Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps

Trevi Fountain

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During a city trip to Rome, you'll soon find out. Rome is the city of fountains. The largest and most famous fountain is the Trevi Fountain of no less than 30 meters high and 20 meters wide. The Trevi Fountain has become famous because of a number of films, such as the classic La Dolce Vita and Angels and Demons after the book by Dan Brown. If you throw a coin over your shoulder into the fountain, you will return to Rome. At least, that's the saying. The fountain is a well known attraction in Rome and is often full of coins. The money is fished up every week and donated to charity. In 2016, 1.4 million euros was taken from the fountain.

The Trevi Fountain sets the scene in the film La Dolce Vita

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Also the famous Spanish Steps can regularly be seen in films. The most famous movie is the classic Roman Holiday with Audrey Hepburn. Also in more recent movies like The Talented Mr. Ripley and When in Rome the famous Stairs appear. The Spanish Steps in Rome were designed by Allessandro Specchi and Francesco de Sactis and built between 1723 and 1726. The stairs are located around the church Trinita dei Monti. The distance from the Spanish Steps to the Trevi Fountain is 500 meters.

7. Villa Borghese & Galleria Borghese

Villa Borghese

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Villa Borghese is one of the parks in Rome. During a city trip to Rome you can take a break from all the impressions in this park. Villa Borghese is perfect for a walk, running route or bike ride. In the middle of the park is a large pond. You can rent a rowing boat here. For children there are several playgrounds around the pond. In addition, the park has a zoo, beautiful statues and fountains and several museums.

Galleria Borghese is, for example, a well-known museum of Renaissance art. GNAM (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea) is a modern museum with art from the last 200 years. Think of van Gogh, Mondriaan and Monet.

8. Centro Storico: Pantheon, Piazza Navona & Campo de Fiori

Pantheon

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The historic center of Rome is a district for real city lovers. The so-called Centro Storico is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will find sights such as the Pantheon in the historic centre. The Pantheon is an ancient temple. It is one of the best preserved Roman buildings in the world and has been in use for centuries as a Roman Catholic church. In addition, Centro Storico is teeming with cozy shops, coffee bars and restaurants. The ideal place to buy souvenirs and sit down on a terrace.

Rome has many beautiful squares, including Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori in Centro Storico. During Roman times, the piazza Navona was an athletics track with surrounding grandstands.

Piazza Navona

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The bleachers have made way for houses. In Piazza Navona you will find the famous church of Sant Agnese in Agone and three impressive fountains. The Campo de Fiori in Dutch means flower field. This square in the historical centre of Rome owes its name to the original flowery meadow in the Roman district Parione. The name is still applicable today. Every week a flower market takes place here.

Campo de Fiori

9. Visiting museums in Rome during the city trip: MAXXI and Central Montemartini

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MAXXI is the first national museum of modern art in Italy. Not only the art is special, but also the architecture of the building. It was designed by the British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. You can take a tour past big names in contemporary art. Think of Andy Warhol, Piero Manzoni and Giulio Paolini.

Central Montemartini is a special museum complex with works from the depot of the Capitoline Museums. The works of art are exhibited in an old power station. The ancient statues of marble stand beautifully among the imposing machines.

10. Experience the nightlife of Rome in the trendy district of Testaccio

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Testaccio is a working-class district in Rome where slaughterhouses used to be. Nowadays it is a popular attraction in the Italian capital. Every Sunday you can stroll along the 2 kilometers long market along the Tiber. There is a wide choice of both new and second hand stuff. You will also find a museum of modern art in one of the older slaughterhouses: MACRO. What Testaccio is known for is the delicious food. In the morning you can buy fresh products at the indoor market. In addition, there are many restaurants where you can enjoy the most delicious snacks until late at night. From luxury restaurants for true connoisseurs to popular bars.

The nightlife of Testaccio is really worth it. You will find several trendy clubs, discotheques and ristobars in the area. A ristobar is a restaurant where you can dine and dance. The music is diverse: house music, R & B, hip hop, Indie, alternative, electro and much more. You can have fun in Testaccio until dawn. For example, the Akab Club in Testaccio is very popular and attracts many young tourists (between 20 and 30 years). ConteStaccio is a nice bar where you can enjoy live music. The audience here consists mostly of artists and lovers of punk and alternative.

11. The historical ruins of Ostia Antica

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Ostia Antica was once the most important port of ancient Rome and was situated directly by the sea. Nowadays the city is situated on the estuary of the Tiber. Due to silting up, the Tyrrhenian Sea is now a few kilometres away. Ostia Antica was regularly renovated in Roman times. New buildings were simply placed on top of the old dilapidated buildings. Since the fourth century A.D. the city has been abandoned. Residents then left because of malaria. The historical ruins of Ostia Antica are definitely worth a visit.

12. Enjoy the Italian charm in the streets of the Trastevere district

Trastevere is a district in Rome south of the Vatican City. It has the character of a small village with narrow streets and medieval houses. Trastevere has many excellent restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. The district can call itself one of the cosiest and most popular neighborhoods of Rome. There is plenty to see and do in Trastevere. Visit for example the Apothecary Museum, Villa Farnesina, the Museo di Roma, the flea market in Porta Portese or the beautiful park Borgo.

Flea market Porta Portese in the Trastevere district

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In Trastevere you'll find the oldest Maria church in Rome. This Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore on the church square forms the centre of the district. The basilica is one of the four papal churches. Inside you can enjoy beautiful mosaics, paintings and sculptures.

13. Vesuvius and Pompei

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One of the highlights of a city trip to Rome is a visit to Vesuvius and the town of Pompeii. Vesuvius is the only active volcano on the European mainland. The crater at an altitude of 1000 meters can be reached by car and a cheap shuttle bus. You can also take a walk to the top of the volcano. Pompeii is a historic village that was buried under ashes about 700 years before Christ after an eruption of Vesuvius. The town is one of the best preserved historical monuments from this distant past.

The ash layer has kept the buildings in very good condition. The ruins of Pompeii are not included on the world heritage list of UNESCO for nothing. You will also find casts of deceased people in the village. Scattered throughout Pompeii you will find several beautiful viewpoints over the city and the volcano. By the way, Pompeii is not close to Rome. For a visit to Pompeii you can take a full day trip. It is about 250km drive from Rome.

14. Restaurants, shops & nightlife

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In Rome you can eat delicious food. At any time of the day. The Italian kitchen guarantees delicious dishes. Meat dishes, Italian pizza, cheese boards, bruschetta's and much more. Of course you can also enjoy delicious wines and Italian ice cream. You'll also find plenty of shops in Rome. The big famous department stores, small souvenir shops, delicatessen shops, expensive shops of famous designers. Famous shopping streets are for example Via Condotti and Via del Corso. There are also regular markets in various neighborhoods of Rome.

Galleria Alberto Sordi is a beautiful indoor shopping centre in Rome. It is named after a famous Roman actor. Here you will find several nice shops, coffee bars and a restaurant. The Art Nouveau architectural style and the glass ceiling make an absolute impression. Did you know that the very first shopping mall in Rome stood? The Mercatus Traiani, the Markets of Trajan, were built around 100 AD. The complex had 170 shops and offices, concert halls, a library, pubs and apartments.

Getting out is fine in Rome. Everywhere in the centre you will find clubs, pubs, discotheques and ristobars. Especially the districts Testaccio and Trastevere are known for their exuberant nightlife.

15. Rome accommodations

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In Rome you can spend the night in different accommodations. You can stay at one of the many campsites outside the city. Cheap and away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Do you prefer to be right in the centre, so you can easily reach all the sights of Rome? Then there are several possibilities. From simple guesthouses to luxury star hotels with extensive wellness facilities. Each accommodation has its own price tag. A night on the campsite in a small dome tent costs little. For a night in a normal hotel you pay between 50 and 100 euros. For a very luxurious hotel you will pay between 100 and 500 euros. The more luxurious, the more expensive.

[penke text= Nice to know: Hotel Sole al Pantheon is the oldest hotel in Rome and almost the oldest hotel in Italy. It was built in 1467.

16. Rome: accessibility

On a city trip to Rome? Then it's best to take the plane. From various Dutch airports you can fly directly to Rome in an hour or two. You can already book a plane ticket for a few tens. There are two airports in Rome: Fiumicino and Ciampino. Both airports are not far from the center. It is also possible to go to Rome by train or car. However, you will be on the road much longer than by plane. For a short city trip or a long weekend in Rome this is not ideal. The distance from Utrecht to Rome is over 1600 kilometers. The travel time by car is about 16 hours. By train you can count on a travel time of about 18 hours.

17. Tips and tricks if you go on a city trip to Rome for a week or weekend

Below we share with you some tips, tricks and trivia for city trip to Rome.

• Best travel period: Rome can be very hot in summer. During a summer city trip to Rome it is therefore wise to pack light clothing, sunglasses and sunburn. In terms of temperatures, spring and autumn are better months for a week or weekend in Rome.
• Good shoes: During a week or weekend in Rome you walk a lot. Therefore, wear sturdy and comfortable shoes.
• Price level: The price level in Rome is fine. In terms of restaurants, shops, places of interest, accommodation and places to go out there is enough to choose from for every budget.
• Queues: Rome is a tourist attraction. At many places of interest, such as the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum, there are often long queues. Tips for a city trip to Rome: Join an organised tour of places of interest. You will then see the most important highlights and guides do not have to queue up. Another option is to buy a ticket online, so you can walk straight through.
• Open transport: You can choose a Roma Pass. With this pass you can use public transport for 3 days. You also have access to two places of interest where you don't have to queue up.
• Museum pass: Another possibility is to choose the Omnia Rome & Vatican Pass. With this pass you have access to the Vatican Museum, the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's Basilica. You can also use public transport for free and get discounts on other attractions in Rome.
• Fountains: Please note that it is not the intention to seek cooling in one of the fountains of Rome. There is a zero tolerance policy for this. You may not even sit on the edge of a fountain or put your hands in the water. Fines can amount to hundreds of euros's per person.
• The best travel period for Rome is autumn and spring. Temperatures are often pleasant in spring and the city parks are in bloom. In autumn, the weather is usually also lovely. Rome is also beautiful in summer and winter. In summer it can be unpleasantly hot. And in winter it is sometimes very cold and chilly.

18: Book a city trip to Rome

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Rome is an ancient city with many historical sights. It is a beautiful city to visit if you are interested in the history of the Roman Empire. Rome also offers a lot of cosiness in the form of restaurants, shopping streets, markets, bars, terraces and nightlife. Book a week or weekend city trip to Rome! Enjoyment guaranteed!

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