Rome Itinerary: The PERFECT 5 days In Rome
August 31, 2024
italy
By guy yefet
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Spending 5 days in Rome? My Rome itinerary will help you plan your perfect trip to this ancient city!

Rome Itinerary: The PERFECT 5 Days In Rome

Rome was not built in a day, according to a well-known saying.

Against the background of the variety of attractions of the city, it is challenging to explore it in one day. Even five days in Rome will probably not allow you to see everything that Rome has to offer but certainly exposes you to its main attractions and leaves you wanting more.

My first visit to Rome was exciting for me. I arrived in Rome in a slightly different way. I walked to Rome from Switzerland. I made the pilgrimage to Rome, known as the Via Francigena.

After the long journey, I spent five days in Rome admiring this historic and impressive city.

If you visit Rome for a family trip, as a couple, or with friends - get ready to enjoy it.

A trip to Rome is a combination of one big museum, magnificent buildings, picturesque alleys, magnificent culture, art, and delicious food.

To make the job easier for you, I share a detailed itinerary for 5 days in Rome with all the sites, the most popular attractions in Rome, and all the most worthwhile recommendations like transportation and ways to get to every site.

view over the colosseum

How to get from the airport to the city center?

Fiumicino airport, whose official name is Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci, in honor of the fifteenth-century Italian inventor, is located in the town of Fiumicino, about 31 km west of the center of the city of Rome.

Fiumicino Airport has 3 main terminals. Fiumicino Airport allows passengers to enjoy various public transportation options - bus, taxis, train.

Besides all these, private companies provide shuttle services and premium transportation by pre-booking.

Shuttle

A shuttle is the most convenient option to get to Rome's city center.

The shuttle bus departs regularly and on time from Fiumicino Airport to the central station of Rome (Termini) and the opposite from Termini to the airport.

From Termini station, you can take a subway to Piazza di Spagna, Colosseum, and Atabiano (not far from the Vatican). In Rome, there are 3 main operators for shuttles: SIT, TAM and Terravision.

Terravision

Exiting Terminal: 3

Station location: in front of Gate 6 at Arrival. At platform number 14.

Destinations: Termini train station.

Hours of operation: from the airport to the city center from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m | From the central station to the airport from 4:30 - 19:20.

Children up to 4 years old are free.

Click here to book the shuttle

SIT

Exiting Terminal: 3

Station location: in front of Gate 6 at Arrival. At platform number 12.

Destinations: The Vatican, Via Aurelia and Termini.

Hours of operation: - from the airport to the city center from 8:30 a.m. to 9:55 p.m. | From the central station to the airport from 4:55 - 8:00 p.m.

Children up to 4 years old are free.

Click here to book the shuttle

TamBus

Exiting Terminal: 3

Station location: in front of Gate 6 at Arrival. At platform number 13.

Destinations: Termini and Ostiense neighborhood.

The shuttle operates at all hours of the day.

Train

Another popular option to get to the city center is by train.

There are 2 types of trains, express trains and slow trains. The difference between the trains is mainly the travel time, cost, and comfort.

All trains arrive at Termini.

The fast train travels without any stops for about 30 minutes, while the slow train takes about an hour. In addition to the slowness, the train enters the last platform of the train station (platforms 24-28) and the walk to the station itself is about 10 minutes. I recommend taking the fast train.

The train does not run at night. The last train from the airport: 11:53 p.m.

Click here to book a train ticket

Taxi & Private transfer

Taxis are always waiting for the passengers. Taxis can be tricky, according to the price list of the Municipality of Rome, the price is 50 euros. Always make sure you agree on the price before getting into a taxi.

Another convenient option is a private transfer from the airport in Rome to the hotel. Advantages of the service: the driver is waiting with a sign with your name, and the vehicles are of a high standard. The service is active 24/7 with free support and cancellation service.

The best time to visit Rome

Rome enjoys transitional seasons - spring and autumn - incredibly comfortable. These are the ideal times to visit Rome. May-June is characterized by a pleasant temperature of 23-28 degrees, and the months of September-October are also favored by tourists in the Italian capital.

Rome in summer: the Roman summer is characterized by very high humidity, which may make it hard to walk around the beautiful streets of Rome. The temperatures in July-August reach 30 degrees and even more, including very high humidity. Fortunately, Rome is full of museums, so both in summer and winter you can escape the heat or cold and enjoy air-conditioned or well-heated spaces.

Rome in winter: the winter in Rome is cold and rainy, strong winds blow and the temperatures may reach 0 degrees. However, the average in January-February ranges from 5-11 degrees, so most likely you will be able to enjoy a romantic and welcoming Rome even in the winter days.

How many days to spend in Rome

Depending on your goals, budget, and flexibility in dates, the amount of time you should spend on your stay in Rome can vary. Some visit Rome for a short weekend, and others for a week.

In my opinion, it is recommended to spend at least 4-5 days in Rome. Rome has a crazy amount of historical sites, museums, places for shopping, and a developed culinary scene.

Getting around Rome

Bus

The most efficient way to get around Rome is by bus, but note that most lines are very crowded, especially those that leave from Termini station.

The bus lines in Rome operate all week during the day.

Several lines operate at night, with low frequency, and are marked with N in the hours 00:00-05:30.

Please note that to get on one of the bus lines in Rome, you must find tobacco or explosives shops and buy the tickets there.

We didn’t like this method, so after spending quite a bit of time looking for tobacco shops, we decided to purchase a card called Roma Pass for 72 hours (there is also a card for 48 hours).

It's a card that allows free travel on all Rome's bus and train lines and at all times of the day (and you also get free entry to 2 attractions), so we didn't have to get into trouble and pay each time before traveling. It was an excellent decision that helped us get around efficiently and easily, so we highly recommend you purchase the card.

You can purchase the ticket physically at the central station of Rome, Roma Termini, at one of the metro stations (there is an automatic machine that can be purchased through it) or you can pre-purchase the ticket online and pick it up there.

Hop-On Hop-Off Bus

The tourist bus tours between all the main attractions, each passenger has personal headphones through which you can hear instructions in several different languages.

The buses usually have two floors, with the second floor being open and allowing excellent observation and photography. You can get off the bus at any of the stops along the tour and get on the next bus.

The card is free for 24 or 48 hours. Several companies operate the buses, usually, the start of the line is at the central station Termini, and they leave every 10-15 minutes, between 9:00 and 19:00.

The prices range from 12-25 euros per ticket. You can buy the ticket on the bus or book in advance.

Metro

These days, the third line in the city, the yellow color - C, is being paved, and this is due to the many archaeological remains hidden at the bottom of Rome.

The red and the blue line intersect at the central station - Termini.

The first train leaves at 5:30 am and the last at 11:30 pm.

How do you buy a metro ticket in Rome?

Tickets are sold in cash (bills and coins) or by credit card, Google Pay, and the like are also possible, and this is done through automatic devices in the entrance lobby before going down to the trains.

You can also buy tickets in tobacco shops for the metro and the city buses.

Remember that in the metro, the card can only be used once.

In the meantime, you can use trams and buses. The entrance to the stations is marked with a big red letter M, there are ticket booths with an entrance control system.

A fine on a bus, tram, or train can reach 110 euros. The ticket holder issues the fine on the spot and in the presence of a police officer, which is paid at the postal bank.

Taxi

As in most major European cities, the most expensive way is by taxi. If you have no need, get around in other ways.

Bicycle

Despite the hills in Rome, it is nice to visit its many beautiful sites and corners by bicycle. The paths adapted for riding can be found in the parks scattered throughout the city.

You are also welcome to join a bike tour, a fun way to see the city.

Roma Pass tickets will save you money

If you intend to visit many museums and attractions, several cards will allow you to do it at a significant discount.

Roma Pass card - will give free travel on Rome's public transport and free entry to one or two museums, to those who purchase a 48-hour or 72-hour ticket, respectively.

Among the attractions you can choose are the Colosseum and Castel Sant'Angelo, but not the Vatican Museum or St. Peter's Basilica.

Free entry to the public toilets (P.Stop) scattered throughout the city.

The card will start from the moment you enter the museum or pass the card inside the punch machine on public transport.

Click here to book a Roma Pass card

Tourist Pass card - a more expensive card, but includes many more options, so it will save you money if you plan to enter many museums or attractions.

The ticket gives you priority entry to the Colosseum, entry to the Forum, skip-the-line entry to the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peter's Basilica, and other discounts in other places.

Click here to book a Tourist Pass card

Rome itinerary 5 days: Overview

Day 1: The Old City - Fontana di Trevi, The Pantheon, Campo di Fiori, Piazza Navona

Day 2: Piazza Venezia, Spanish Steps, Via del Corso, and Piazza di Popolo + Villa Borghese

Day 3: Monti neighborhood, The Colosseum, Roman Forum, The Orange Garden, and the keyhole

Day 4: Day trip outside of Rome

Day 5: The Vatican, St. Angelo Bridge, and Trastevere neighborhood

5 days Rome itinerary

Rome itinerary: Day 1

Let's start with the pearl of the city, the old city. Rome is an open museum that will take you on a journey back to 753 BC. Besides endless wanderings in the most beautiful alleys in the world, here is a brief description of the places worth visiting.

The Pantheon is an ancient Roman temple that has been restored 3 times but has been active since its foundation. Perfect and precise in its dimensions, the Pantheon dates from the reign of Augustus (27 BC).

The meaning of the name from ancient Greek is "common to all the gods" but the meaning behind the name is not clear to researchers to this day.

The Pantheon in rome
The Pantheon from inside

The Pantheon is the final resting place of the famous painter Raphael and also of the first two kings of united Italy - Emanuele Vittorio and his son Umberto who was buried together with his wife - Queen Margherita (in honor of her birthday, the Margherita pizza was invented with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil leaves - red white and green - as the colors of Italy). ​

Entrance to the Pantheon is free. Opening hours: 8:30–19:30.

If you are hungry and looking for a place to eat near the Pantheon, try Armando al Pantheon.

About a 5-minute walk to Piazza Colonna, you can get an impression of the Marcos Olios column.

A Roman victory column that you can't help but be impressed by while wandering around the city.

A few more minutes of walking will take you to Fontana di Trevi.

The Trevi Fountain is the largest of the baroque fountains in Rome and one of the most prominent tourist sites in the city. Almost most hours of the day, the fountain and the steps around it are crowded with visitors.

The construction of the fountain was completed in 1762. Since then it has been one of the most beautiful sights in the city.

In the center of the fountain is the image of the Titan Ocean inside its shell. In 2013, the fashion company Fendi donated an amount worth more than 2 million euros to the renovation of the fountain.

The Trevi Fountain  rome

The fountain is very touristy but not for nothing, it is hard to find competitors.

You will surely see crowds of people throwing a coin into the fountain that will guarantee them their return to Rome.

Rumor has it that about 3,000 coins are collected every day from the fountain, all of which are donated to the city's poor.

If you want to enjoy the fountain without many people you will have to get up early in the morning or late at night.

After visiting the fountain you will arrive at Piazza Navona.

This square is also very touristy, magical, and exciting.

In the center of the piazza is Bernini's Fountain of the Four Rivers, which was built by order of the Pope in 1640 and symbolizes the four continents over which the Vatican planned to rule.

Legend has it that the historical feud between Bernini and Burmini (the architect of the historic church in Piazza Navona), is the reason why Bernini sculpted the figures of the fountain with their hands up as if protecting themselves from the collapse of the church or hiding their eyes from its ugliness.

piazza navona rome

Piazza Navona was built on archeological remains, and in its place stood in ancient times the stadium of the emperor Domitianus from the first century AD. If you walk beyond the piazza towards its north, you will reach the entrance to the museum underground showing the ancient remains of the stadium, Stadio di Domiziano. ​

Right behind Piazza Navona, is the church of the French community in the city - Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi where are 3 of the paintings of the famous (and infamous) Italian artist Caravaggio from the Renaissance period.

You can get an impression in his paintings of the style of light and shadow that characterizes him (known in Italian as the Chiaroscuro style).

next to the square is Campo di Fiori.

Campo de Fiori, one of Rome's oldest markets and today probably the most visited of them all, is on the south side of Piazza Navona. Every day of the week except Sunday, a large food market with Italian products, fresh produce, and of course flowers is held in the complex.

windows in rome street
Campo de Fiori market in rome

Around the market, there are many restaurants and bars, and note that the surrounding streets are named after different professions, a reminder of the important trade center that this market was in Rome.

Campo de Fiori was also the city's place of execution, where criminals or opponents of the church were hanged or burned to death.

In fact, in the center of the market, there is a statue of the well-known scientist Giordano Bruno who disputed the church's position on the universe and space, and because of this he was tortured and burned at the stake in the middle of the square (Bruno supported the heliocentric model following Copernicus).

What else is worth seeing?

Largo di Torre Argentina, the site of Julius Caesar's assassination, is also a short walk away, east of Piazza Navona and Campo de Fiori. In this central square are the remains of four Republican Roman temples, the oldest of which dates back to the 3rd century BC, and the remains of Pompey's theater are also on the site.

The Romans believe that Julius Caesar was murdered in the center of this square after being betrayed by those closest to him.

Today the square is a refuge for the city's cats with a small and neat shelter of the municipality that takes care of the abandoned cats, so don't be surprised to see dozens of cats crowding the ancient remains.

Don't forget to pamper yourself with a fine Italian ice cream. I recommend Gelateria del Teatro next to Piazza Navona.

Rome itinerary: Day 2

Piazza di Popolo, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese, and Piazza Venezia

The main gate to Piazza del Popolo goes through the arches of the ancient wall of Rome directly into the People's Square!

From this central square, there are three main streets - Via di Ripetta, which is the most extreme, full of workshops, small local shops, and restaurants, Via del Corso, the middle and best known with the big chains for successful shopping, and on the right-Via del Babuino, the street where all the super brands and leading Straight to the Spanish steps - Piazza Spagna and the sunken boat fountain.

Between these three main streets are countless small streets connecting them. All of them have stores of fashion brands, stores of mass chains, and several small boutiques that are a real gem, a wonderful location to do a shopping trip in Rome.

The Spanish Steps and the piazza below them are probably one of the most famous sites in Rome and certainly one of the richest in it.

The piazza is full of luxury brand stores with impressive flagship stores. The oldest of them is a luxury store of the Bulgari company from 1905. All the major fashion institutions are in and around the piazza and you can't help but stare at the shop windows that are especially invested during the Christmas period.

The stairs were built in 1723. and their purpose was to link the city to the Spanish embassy located at a height, hence oil.

At the bottom of the stairs is the fountain Fontana della Barcaccia, built-in 1627 by Bernini's father. According to the legend, the Pope at that time asked to build the fountain after the floods of the Tiber River dragged a half-sunken boat to the place.

Villa Borghese Park is located up the Spanish Steps and at the very beginning is an open balcony overlooking Piazza di Popolo, Terrazza del Pincio, with a magnificent view of all of Rome.

The huge park, which used to be in private hands and is now a public park, is full of lakes, museums, hidden corners, and countless sculptures. Locals and tourists fill it every day of the week and you can walk around it for hours and still not see it all.

At the end of the park is the Museum of Modern Art (Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna), where you can admire contemporary works by local artists as well as famous works by Picasso, Pollock, Klimt, Mondrian, Modigliani and even see Van Gogh's Gardener Portrait and Monet's Water Lilies.

Borghese Gallery Museum

Probably one of the best-known museums in the city, the gallery presents an impressive exhibition of works of art from the Borghese family's private collection from the 16th century, including early works by Caravaggio, Titian, Raphael, and Bernini.

The most famous work is that of the sculptor Canova - a statue of Pauline, sister of Napoleon Bonaparte (yes, the conquering French), who married a member of the Borghese family.

In addition, it is worth stopping in front of Bernini's statue of David from 1624 depicting the scene of David throwing the stone at Goliath, the statue of the rape of Persephone depicting the Roman mythology scene of the rape of Persephone by the god Polotto, also by Bernini.

As Bernini's talent and skills are well illustrated in this sculpture, notice Pluto's hands holding the flesh of Persephone, in what appears to be a living human body. And of course, the statue of Apollo and Daphne depicts the scene from mythology in which after Apollo pursues Daphne because of his desire for her and she rejects him, she calls upon her father, the mythological river god, to save her and transform her into something beyond Apollo's reach. Her father obeys her request and turns her into a laurel tree.

Bernini sculpted the statue at the exact moment when Daphne begins her transformation, the metamorphosis when her fingers and feet turn into leaves.

For further reading of the mythology stories, you can refer to the book "Metamorphosis" by the Roman poet Ovid from the first century AD.

The tickets must be booked in advance according to the specific date and time.

The tickets to the gallery can be downloaded directly to your mobile phone without the need to print the tickets. Just show the smartphone at the entrance, and enter. The tickets include full entry to the gallery including changing displays if there are any.

Piazza Venezia is at the end of Via del Corso (the shopping street that leaves Piazza di Popolo) and not far from the ancient Roman Forum and the Colosseum.

Despite its central location and the heavy vehicle traffic, there are no traffic lights in the square and sometimes you can see a policeman directing the traffic, just like in the opening scene of "To Rome with Love" by Woody Allen.

The Capitoline Hill is just to the right of Piazza Venezia and overlooks the entire ancient Roman Forum.

The Capitolium was the administrative and social center of ancient Rome, the seat of the main temple to the gods Jupiter, Juno his wife, and Minerva his home.

Every victory convoy would come to the temple when the soldiers returned to Rome from the battles and there the leaders of the war would be received with jubilation.

Later, during the Renaissance, Michelangelo redesigned the square on the hill and built three connected palaces known as the Campidolio.

The famous staircase designed by Michelangelo and known as the Cordonata leads to the square.

The steps were designed so that horses could easily go up the hill so that the Roman nobles would not struggle too much to get to the meetings.

Rome itinerary: Day 3

Monti neighborhood, The Colosseum, Roman Forum, The Orange Garden, and the keyhole

Monti neighborhood, the "hipster" neighborhood of Rome, undoubtedly competes for the title of the coolest neighborhood in Rome. The easiest way to reach it is from the Cavour metro station on one side or the Colosseum on the other side of the neighborhood.

Between the picturesque streets and the hustle and bustle of life all day and night, there are mostly worthwhile second-hand stores (try Pifebo), concept stores (like the old record store Radiation Records), and restaurants and bars with a light atmosphere.

On Saturdays, there is a small designer market in Via Leonina. You can easily reach the Colosseum on foot via Via Degli Annibaldi.

The Roman Forum - when you get you will not be able to miss the huge gate "Gate of Septimius Severus" - the Gate of Septimius Severus is a triumphal gate located at the northeastern end of the Forum of Rome. And from there is also one of the entrances to the Roman Forum.

You can view some of the preserved buildings and antiquities within the area of the Roman Forum without entering the complex.

But It's better to enter the Roman Forum to view the remains of the center of ancient Rome and the center of the Roman Empire.

Please note! You can't book tickets at the box office, only online.

The Colosseum in Rome was built in about 70 AD, is almost 2000 years old, and is the largest amphitheater in the ancient Roman Empire. It was used as a complex for arena games watched by about 50,000 Romans.

Needless to say, the Coliseum used to be even more impressive, with statues in each of the arches on the top two floors and flags flying proudly from the compound.

Most of the contestants in the amphitheater were most of gladiators who were worthy of war, slaves who were sentenced to it for crimes they committed ordinary citizens with a death wish who were tortured for a fee, and sometimes even gladiator women.

The warriors faced each other, sometimes in front of wild animals specially brought from all over the world, which amused the inhabitants of the empire.

The well-known expression "bread and amusement" was a kind of political strategy of the emperors of the empire to take care of the economic well-being and entertainment of the inhabitants in their free time to prevent rebellion against the emperor.

Jubanellis, a Roman poet and satirist from the time of Emperor Augustus, coined the phrase when he saw the gladiatorial arena as a symbol of the empire's moral decline.

Another thing worth noting during your walking tour is the(Roman) numbers engraved above each of the lower arches, it's the entrance number to the amphitheater.

Imagine that just like today, you get a sitting number to enter the football stadium, so the residents of the Roman Empire who came to watch the games in the arena were given a bleacher number to sit in when buying the entrance ticket, and this is according to their social status.

Click Here to book a ticket for the Roman Forum+Colosseum+Palatine Hill

Get ready for the crazy amount of tourists in the area. Arrive when you book the combined entrance ticket and start from the Colosseum.

If you arrive after the time you ordered or want to take a good photo without all the rush of people, wait until closing time.

You can end the day in the orange garden - Giardino degli Aranci.

The garden is located up the Aventino hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. It is an isolated and quiet lookout and is less known to tourists, it is apart from other lookouts. We met mostly local people there.

It is romantic and relaxing, thanks to the fragrant orange trees. The view from it includes the west of the historic center, Trastevere, the Tiber, and St. Peter's Basilica. The hill also has a church, fountain, statues, and ancient ruins. It's worth coming to the orange garden for a picnic or any other couple meeting. A romantic viewpoint. Address: Giardino degli Aranci

A few meters from the lookout is the square, from which there is the famous keyhole through which you can see the Vatican. Location of the keyhole.

Day 4: Day trip from Rome

In 5 days in Rome, you can spend a day outside the city, who wants to find places outside of Rome, that are not necessarily cities like Florence or Naples but places with green, quiet, pastoral, towns or rural areas

The town of Tivoli - there is no doubt that Tivoli is the most visited town around Rome thanks to the villas (formerly used as palaces) and the magnificent gardens.

The town is located on the slopes of the Sabine Mountains, about 30 km north of the city. It has been a favorite resort town for the rich and famous since ancient times and the Renaissance. The view from the town is breathtaking and there are many water sources in the vicinity.

You can visit the town by public transport. There is a train from Termini station: Roma-Pescara train line to get off at Tivoli station. The train ride takes about 50 minutes.

Alternatively, take a guided tour that departs from Rome.

Another day trip from Rome is a visit to Pompeii. Visiting Pompeii is a popular day trip from Rome despite the distance.

The reason for this is that this is a very unique site. There are not many like it. It is suitable for those who come to Rome for more than four days and can spend one day visiting the site.

This trip lasts a whole day, starts at 7:30, and lasts about 12 hours. That's why you should prepare for a busy day of time travel.

Rome itinerary: Day 5

The Vatican, St. Angelo Bridge, and Trastevere neighborhood

I can write an entire blog post about the Vatican and the museum.

The Vatican is protected by high and gray walls that hide behind them enormous amounts of art treasures whose size and importance are difficult even to grasp. Yes, just treasures.

Inside a host of palaces and an internal labyrinth of 1,400 rooms! And over 14 km of indoor hiking trails. Is it possible to see everything? Maybe if we dedicate a few years to it.

And yet, the Vatican, the smallest country in the world, is a little less than half a square kilometer.

The government is an elected monarchy (the monarch ruler is elected and not inherited), with the Pope at the head. The country is completely independent, has its currency, a passport for citizens (a little less than 1000), an independent post office, and of course a flag.

The country exists without taxes, the entrance fees to museums are the main money used by the Vatican, as well as the sale of souvenirs and donations from around the world.

The massive St. Peter's Basilica stands out prominently in the Vatican, and its dome can be seen from all over Rome. This is the place where Peter was crucified and buried, it is the focus of the Catholic Church and the burial place of many popes, including Pope John Paul II. The magnificently decorated basilica is the largest church in Italy and the Christian nation.

The basilica is considered one of the most popular attractions in Rome!

The entrance there is indeed free, but it does not include going up to the Dome. Many choose to visit the place through a guided tour that includes entry to additional complexes that cannot be entered with the free entrance.

In the Vatican Museum, you can find permanent exhibitions of ancient Rome, ancient Egypt, and changing exhibitions.

At the end of the visit to the museum, you can enter the Sistine Chapel and be impressed by Michelangelo's crazy ceilings that he painted between 1508 to 1512 including the painting of the creation of man, the most familiar part of the ceiling.

Pay attention! The entrance to the Vatican Museum is not through the main entrance in this large square.

You must book tickets online and arrive about an hour before because of the lines for the security check and go straight to the entrance to the Vatican Museum located at 00120 Vatican City, the walk from the main square to the entrance to the museum is about 15 minutes.

After pre-ordering a ticket online, you must go to the entrance of the Vatican Museum. You have to go through a security check there like at an airport, so keep in mind that there may be long lines, so you should arrive at least an hour before the time you will order the ticket.

After that, convert the card you purchased online into a normal card through the machines or cash registers inside the complex.

It's also nice to go to Ponte Sant'Angelo, it's impressive, and sometimes street artists appear there.

The bridge was built around 134 AD and statues of angels symbolizing different periods in the life of Jesus are placed along it. In the past, the castle was used as a prison and the bodies of criminals who were sentenced to death were hung along the bridge as a warning.

You will reach the Trastevere neighborhood via the Ponte Sisto bridge. The bridge leads straight to Piazza Trilussa at the entrance of Trastevere, and the streets leading from it are even more beautiful.

The neighborhood is magical, with all the little shops and cool cafes, probably the most favorite neighborhood in Rome.

Admire the magnificent facade of the Basilica of St. Mary in Trastevere, then stroll through quiet winding streets until you reach Isola Tiberina, the island on the Tiber.

A temple to Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, once stood on the island. There is already a church and a hospital on the island from hundreds of years ago.

If you go down to the island itself and walk to its end, you will be able to get a view of the "broken bridge" (Ponte Rotto) or in its real name - Ponte Emilio. This is the oldest bridge in the city (the bridge was built in wood and later rebuilt in stone in the second century BC).

During the summer, the wide banks of the river host festivals, restaurants, alcohol stands, and more.

If you are already walking around the Ponte Sisto area, pay attention to the huge murals on the walls of the Tiber River (at least 10 meters high).

It was created by the South African artist William Kentridge.

The artist came to Rome to clean the walls and during the "cleaning," he left certain parts dirty and thus created 550 meters of different scenes from the history and myths of ancient Rome.

This cool piece of art will remain on the river walls until the walls return to their natural state over the next few years! Another example of the fact that Rome is an enormous open-air museum.

Essential Tips for Rome

// Rome is a fairly safe city. At the same time, be aware of pickpockets, especially on public transport and in busy tourist areas. Therefore, you should keep an eye on your belongings and keep valuables and large sums of money in your inner pockets.

// Although the magnificent churches of Rome are full of tourists, it is important to remember that these are, above all, religious sites, so you should approach them modestly.

// Wear comfortable shoes. There is a lot of walking in Rome, and in many areas of the city, the streets are paved with unhewn stones, such that every step is felt on them.

// Not all sites in Rome are open every day of the week. You should make sure of this before visiting them. The Vatican sites, for example, are closed on Sundays, while the Borghese Gallery and Barberini Palace are closed on Mondays.

// The Colosseum and the Vatican have particularly long queues and the wait can sometimes last several hours. It is worth investing a few more euros in Skip the Line tickets. When ordering the ticket online, you can choose an exact day and time and enter at the designated time without waiting in line.

// Stay away from the touristy areas. Allow yourself to get lost, enter alleys and side streets

// The locals usually drink their coffee standing at the bar. If you do like them, you will save the payment collected for service fees from those who sit down for coffee.

// And more about coffee - Italians drink cappuccino only in the morning, and drinking cappuccino at any other time of the day is considered a culinary crime. If you want to end the meal with coffee, order an espresso.

// In Italy, it is customary to eat dinner late. We usually meet for dinner at 20:00 or 21:00, and on weekends it is common to arrive at the restaurant at 22:00 as well.

// In Rome, there are different types of restaurants and you should know how to differentiate between them because each type offers a different experience (and is also priced differently).

// A Trattoria is a popular, often family-run restaurant that offers local food (in Rome, for example, it could be Roman artichokes, Roman gnocchi made from semolina, or spaghetti carbonara). Osteria is largely reminiscent of a trattoria - a country-style restaurant, with generous servings of local food and informal service. A restaurant (Ristorante) offers a sophisticated (and more expensive) menu, formal service, and a formal and meticulous atmosphere.

// It is better to stay away from the Termini central station area, despite the relatively attractive prices in this area. It is a less sympathetic and safe area, especially in the evening, and it is also far from the historical center of the city.

// If you still want to stay close to the central station (and enjoy the cheap prices of the area), and at the same time stay in an inviting and lively area, go for the Monti district. The first district of Rome is a regenerating district, full of bars, restaurants, cafes, and shops, and many young people and students alongside the old residents of the neighborhood.

// You can drink potable water from all 2500 decorated taps scattered throughout the city. It will save you money buying water bottles every time and is also more environmentally friendly

// In Italy, it is customary to greet the owners of small shops when you enter the shop. In the morning, they said Buongiorno, in the afternoon and evening Buonasera, and when you left the store they said Arrivederci.

10 Bucket List Experiences in Rome

1/ Look for gladiators in the Colosseum

2/ Return to ancient Rome in the Forum and the Palatine Hill

3/ Aperol spritz, snacks, and atmosphere in Piazza Navona

4/ To eat ice cream near the Spanish steps in Piazza di Spagna

5/ Tossing a coin into the Fontana di Trevi

6/ Sermon of the Pope in Piazza San Pietro

7/The Pantheon

8/ Vintage and junk at Porta Portese huge flea market

9/ Taste real Italian food in Trastevere

10/ Find the lamp at the Titus Gate

Thank you for reading!

This Rome travel guide will help you plan your trip to Rome in the best way!

Travel Resources

Here are some websites I use when preparing for my next journey worldwide.

  • Book Affordable Flights On Skyscanner, A Great Website That Shows The Best Routes And Flight Deals To Your Destination.

  • Find A Budget-Friendly Deal On All Sorts Of Accommodation Types On Booking.com.

  • Buy The Most Flexible And Budget-Friendly Travel Insurance At SafteyWing.

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