Just starting to explore the idea of a vacation in Rome. What time of year should I go (we are very flexible with dates)? Where to stay (would like a nice hotel convenient to public transportation with breakfast available)? Any tips people have (great food places or sites)?
I believe very late September through October is the best time. Weather has cooled down considerably and school is back in session. We went the middle of September and there were never hordes of crowds nor did we have to wait at a restaurant. I think we lucked out with weather because sometimes it can still be quite hot, that’s why I said late September. I believe April to mid- May (before school is out), is also very good.
There is so much to do, I’d advise you to pick up a travel book. Here is what we did our 4 nights in Rome
Walks of Italy tours: Pristine Sistine and Colluseum/forum/palatine hill
Piazza Novana for lunch/appetizers
Pantheon
Spanish steps
Travestere twilight wine and food tour through Eating Italy
Trevi Fountain
Just meandering and walking around was wonderful.
So much more to do, that’s why we have to go back.
Can’t help you with hotel. We just took taxis. We stayed at Albergo Del Senato right next to the Pantheon. It has a great 360 degree rooftop bar. There is a restaurant, but I’m not sure if breakfast was included. We liked the outdoor cafes.
Kiddie, I went to Rome a few years ago. This is locked now but has great information http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/1787341-rome.html#latest
2 things I think are a must. Book the scavi tour as soon as you have your dates and plan the rest of your vacation around it. Go to the Borghese museum, you must make reservations.
Also the Smithsonian channel has a series right now, 8 days that made Rome. My H and I have been enjoying it, especially since we’ve been to Rome.
I follow this blog and instagram account https://www.travelangel.me
Vatican. A friend went to the coliseum at night. less crowded, cooler and you could go down below.
I also did the catecombs.
We liked Rome in mid-May. We stayed at wonderful airbnb (4 persons) near Plaza Navona - loved the location!
I suggest you get a Rick Steves book (or borrow from library or check his website). He had great tips. For example, when the line at the Colleseum was reallllly long mid morning, I knew we could start our day at one of the other nearby sites on combo ticket (Forum, Palentine Hill) - zero line.
Rick steves also has a discount to Walks of Italy tours. You have to buy the book to get the code.
We also stayed at the Hotel Albergo del Senato (within steps of the Pantheon) and were extremely pleased with the location and service. https://www.albergodelsenato.it/ If I remember correctly, breakfast was included.
Near the Pantheon is great. An you can go to La Palma after dinner for ice cream. We used to go in January and that’s fine. Cooler eves, but you bring a light jacket. Just not August, too hot.
You really don’t need anyone to recommend restaurants in Rome. Stay away from obvious tourist traps and you will find great food everywhere. Find an apartment rental in the heart of Rome. Books tours so you don’t have to wait in line ( you can often book directly and not pay fees). Stay far, far away from Rick Steves suggestions. They will be filled with other Americans ( Californians) and not be authentic. His suggestions turn places from great finds into tourist traps. Walk a street or two over and you will find great places. Go where Italians are, not where the tourists are. Take some time to walk around and see things. If you have time drive to Pompeii and Herculaneum for an couple of nights. Try to see less and see each things well.
I’ll strongly second @conmama and her suggestion to do the Twilight Trastevere Food Tour, which starts from an easy-to-find spot on Tiber Island (Isola Tiberina). My favorite stops on that food tour were tasting wines in the ancient cellar of Spirito Di Vino (Via dei Genovesi 31), food at the trattoria called Casa Mia ( Via della Renella,88/89/90), and pizza at Mattarello (Parioli Viale Liegi 64). Also, wonderful porchetta at Norcineria Lacozzilli (Via del Natale Grande 16).
We arrived in Rome the last days of September, taking the Trastevere food tour starting mid-afternoon after getting off the airplane that morning. A great way to adjust to the time change. Rome was great, but I soon discovered my true love is rural Tuscany.
We did Rome in March. Still chilly but zero tourists.
We just loved walking around. Seems like around every corner is a hidden gem.
@MinnesotaDadof3 , that winery 3 stories below that used to be a Jewish residence was incredible. I loved every single stop we made. I was just stuffed!
@conmama: Perhaps an encore self-guided Italy trip for CC members should be organized in the coming years. Heck with just sending our college kids to all those exotic places that they simply take for granted!
We also did Rome in March a few years ago. The weather wasn’t too bad - my Florida kids were fine but we did bring light down jackets and those thin stretchy gloves for the mornings. My brother who spent a semester there and has been a few times says his favorite time to go is fall - better weather and less tourists. He said he would never go in the summer, way too hot and crowded.
We stayed in an Air BnB near Piazza Navona and also loved the location. It is right by a cute street called Via dei Coronari which also happens to have the best gelato in Rome at a little place called Gelateria del Teatro! We went every single day we were there and one day went twice. :)) I remember the tip about gelato is do not go to the places where the gelato is piled way up high in peaks, that is not the “real” stuff they are just trying to lure in tourists with the pretty display. The real stuff should be flatter - my brother taught me that and we never had a bad gelato so maybe it was true.
I agree with the fact that it is almost impossible to find bad food. The day we went to the Trevi Fountain we were hungry at a time that the restaurants are often closed. We just wandered a few clocks away form the fountain and stumbled across a place called Nana’s that happened to be open. We were a little worried that it might be a tourist trap since it was open at the unusual hour but it was delicious! One night we were tired from all of the walking so we decided to just eat at a local restaurant at the end of our street, Serafini all Pace. Once again, delicious, we ended up eating there twice.
One tip, unless you are huge wine lovers and have certain things you know you like then just ask for a glass if the house wine, it is usually about $5 and always really good.
I have tickets to Rome for first week of May which I have made zero plans on as of today. Probably should start booking hotels soon. I have a thread on this, http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/2104096-rome.html
- Book a private tour guide for Vatican...well worth it.
- We also booked a private guide for a day to take us around to many sites....he was a history major and was so informative. We got the overview and went back to further explore many sites on our own.
- Read Rick Steve's book, lots of info in there.....and then STAY AWAY from all restaurants he suggested. Get out into
the 'hoods and explore there....excellent food everywhere! And house wines are usually delicious and cheap! - Take the food tours.
- St. Ignatius church...poor man's Sistine!
- Get Maps.me app for your phone. Think we also used Rome2Rio app....
Enjoy!
I have to disagree with one restaurant Rick suggested. We loved it. We sat outside, but if we go again we are going inside. Al fortunato by the Pantheon. It was so warm looking inside.
Hmm, I’m not sure about the best gelato in Rome, ours was near Pantheon. And the place were locals go is Gelateria Fassi near the train station.
This was the apartment we rented (May 2015) near Plaza Navano. We loved the location, and it was great to have 2 bedrooms (one with big bed, one with 2 twins - great for our 2 grown kids). Having a little kitchen was handy, but the main advantage over hotel room(s), other than cost, was plenty of space to hang out and plan our excursions.
Note - The stairs up to bedrooms are very steep. It is not a good choice if any travelers have mobility challenges.
@yucca10 OK, ok, I’ll admit it was our favorite gelato in Rome! It does usually come up first on Yelp too I think. We were only by the train station once so never got to try Gelateria Fassi but I am willing to treat it out if someone wants to send me back to Italy. 