About Rome
Rome was founded, according to legend, by Romulus in 753 BC on the Palatine Hill, and nearly three thousand years of history are visible in its streets: Republican temples, imperial forums, early Christian basilicas, Renaissance palaces and Baroque fountains often stand side by side, sometimes literally built on top of one another. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city also surrounds an independent state, Vatican City, the smallest country in the world, home to St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.
The Romans themselves are what make the city more than an open-air museum. The rhythm of the day is set by coffee taken standing at the bar, a long lunch, the evening passeggiata and dinner on a cobbled piazza. Each rione, or historic district, has its own personality: Trastevere across the Tiber with ivy-covered lanes, Monti with craft shops and wine bars beneath the Colosseum, and Testaccio, the old slaughterhouse district where Roman cooking traditions such as coda alla vaccinara were born.
In our three guides you will find which neighbourhood to base yourself in, how to plan the Colosseum, the Vatican and the less-known treasures, and practical advice on transport, seasons, water fountains and budgeting in the Eternal City.
Rome city guides
- Where to stay in Rome
Rome's historic centre is walkable but sprawling, and its metro serves it poorly because almost every excavation uncovers ancient remains. That makes choosing a well-located base more important here than in most capitals. These are the main areas visitors should consider. The bend of the Tiber enclosing the Pantheon, Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori is the dream location for many first visits. You can step out of your door into Baroque piazzas, reach the Trevi Fountain in ten minutes and walk to the Vatican in twenty. The Campo de' Fiori hosts a morning market and turns into a bar scene at night. Accommodation is expensive, rooms in old palazzi can be small, and noise from late diners echoes in the narrow streets. Choose a side street off Via dei Coronari or Via Giulia for more calm. Rome's oldest residential quarter, the ancient Suburra, sits between the Colosseum and Via Nazionale. Today Monti is a hip village of vintage shops, artisan studios and wine bars clustered around the fountain in Piazza della Madonna dei Monti, where locals sit with a drink in the evening. You can walk to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum in minutes, and the Cavour metro station on line B is close. It's a good mid-range choice.
- Things to do in Rome
Rome has more major sights than anyone can see in one trip, so mix the unmissable with time to wander. Here are the essentials, with tips to avoid the worst queues. The Flavian Amphitheatre, inaugurated in 80 AD under Emperor Titus, could hold an estimated 50,000 spectators. One ticket typically covers the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill, and tickets must be booked online with a timed entry; they are released about 30 days in advance and go fast. Options to visit the arena floor, the underground hypogeum or the upper tiers cost extra. Allow a full morning, wear good shoes and bring water. The Vatican Museums stretch for kilometres and include the Raphael Rooms, the Gallery of Maps and the Pio-Clementino collection of classical sculpture such as the Laocoön. The climax is the Sistine Chapel with Michelangelo's ceiling, painted between 1508 and 1512, and his Last Judgement. Book online, ideally for the first slot or for a Friday evening opening in summer. The museums are closed on Sundays except the last Sunday of the month, when entry is free and crowds are huge.
- Practical tips for visiting Rome
Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino (FCO) is around 30 kilometres from the centre. The Leonardo Express train runs non-stop to Termini in 32 minutes for €14; the regional FL1 line is cheaper and stops at Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina. A flat taxi fare of €55 applies to destinations inside the Aurelian Walls; insist on it and use official white taxis. Ciampino (CIA), used by low-cost airlines, is linked by shuttle buses and by train from the nearby Ciampino station; the flat taxi fare is €40. Rome has three metro lines: A, B and the partially opened C, which reached San Giovanni in 2018 and is being extended through the centre. Buses and trams fill the gaps, though they can be slow and crowded. A single BIT ticket is valid for 100 minutes and you can now tap a contactless bank card at metro gates and on many buses. Passes for 24, 48 and 72 hours are available. Above all, Rome is a walking city; the distance from the Colosseum to St Peter's is about 4 kilometres through fascinating streets. Wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles (sampietrini). April, May, late September and October offer warm, pleasant weather. Easter and the Jubilee years bring vast crowds of pilgrims. July and August are hot, often above 33°C, and many Romans leave the city around Ferragosto, 15 August. Winter is mild, around 12 to 14°C by day, with occasional rain; it's the best time to see the Vatican without crushing crowds. The Estate Romana summer festival offers outdoor cinema and concerts.
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