The historical area in the city center is much bigger than people think, it could take 3/4 days just walking around to see everything, without stopping for a visit, so take that into account.
Also, it's pretty hot right now (around 35-37 degrees Celsius), mind that too.
I won't give you the usual list of monuments and such, you can find all about them in any travel guide or IG/tik tok account, but don't miss the visit to Colosseum and the forum (especially the forum),book tickets in advance it'll save you a lot of time at the ticket office under the sun, do the same if you thought about visiting the Vatican museums.
A spot that's not usually under the radars is Terrazza Caffarelli (https://www.terrazzacaffarelli.it/) on top of Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), you'll find a nice rooftop bar there with a beautiful view.
Edit: I totally forgot about the Museum and Crypt of Capuchins in Via Veneto, there's a San Francesco painting by Caravaggio and, if you are not disturbed by that stuff, a crypt entirely decorated with monks' bones and skulls. There are literally hundreds of them and thousands bones.
It's pretty unusual, but kinda great if you ask me.
I'm biased because I live there, but if you wanna eat near the Colosseum my advice is to try Taverna Romana for roman recipes and Tettarello for pizza. Those are two of my favorite places to eat in Rome in general.
I don't know how long are you staying but if you get the chance go to the beach one day. The south is the best, especially Sabaudia that is just below Odyssey's famous Mount Circeo, but you gonna need a car to go there.
I’ll add recommendations for good gelato - Frigidarium and Gelato del Teatro, both near Piazza Navova / Campo cello Fiori (areas worth a visit as the side streets there aren’t as insane as most of the center, often quite peaceful).
Also, if you can get reservations, Armando al Pantheon is super good traditional Roman food. We also love a small hole in the wall across the Tiber called Il Miraggio. It’s a small local trattoria that is popular with all the local families and has good basic Roman staples.
There’s also a church called the Basilica of San Clemente which is kind of near the Coliseum, and it’s super cool because it’s actually three churches built on top of each other. The first one dating to the earliest days of Christianity, then one more middle ages and one more modern. There is also even an ancient Roman cult temple under all that. You go down way deep into the ground to see it all, it’s very interesting.
If you want to visit St. Peter in the vatican, it's free, but there can be significant waiting time for entry. But you can rent an audio guide (online in advance) and skip the line.
Similarly, if you want to visit any museums, especially the vatican museums, book in advance and skip the lines.
Ostia Antica is worth a visit. It's the lost and "sunken" harbour city of ancient rome. You can roam there freely and explore a ruined city and discover 2000 year old mosaics and wall art.
Romans (and italians in general) like to eat late in the evening. So if you want to go out for dinner, but have no reservation, you can try to arrive early (6pm) at the restaurants or pizzerias and tell them, that you are just interested in some quick dinner and will be gone before their "regular" patrons arrive. That usually works.
If you need to drive a car in Rome: Don't. If you must, avoid the oldest parts of the city with the narrow streets.
The Colosseum had until recently night tours, but I think were suspended due to the pandemic. Might want to check out what options they have now.
Also, if general admission tickets for the Colosseum are sold out check for tour tickets in specific languages. Those are almost never sold out and you don’t have to stick with the tour guide ;)
Stay away from restaurants with a “view”, they tend to be tourist traps. Google reviews are very helpful here.
And last, check the menu prices vs. the receipt charges. I was unfortunately hustled a couple times, never for more than 10 or 15 euros, but it made the experience sour a bit.
Never been to Rome but quite a few other tourist hot spots in Italy (because Venice, Pisa, Verona and the whole Toscany reguon are nice!), avoid restaurants with people in front of them / at the streets urging you to eat there. Taking a couple of side roads usually leads to better places!
Yes, I also highly recommend the night tour of Colosseum.
I've done day tours several times. Last time was was in October last year, and it was insanely crowded so I can't imagine how it is now. Definitely feel like there are more and more tourists in Rome.
There were a lot fewer people during the night tour, and we got to see more (getting below the floor of the arena), but it was also quite a lot more expensive as I remember.
The inside of the st Peters basilica was probably one of the most awe inspiring things I have ever seen. And I'm saying that as an atheist purely appreciating the architecture and scale of the insides.
Carciofi alla giudia, but I think the season for artichokes has just ended. Check for the right restaurants well: there are thousands of Professionals, yet also the complication and noise of the temptation from tourism (i.e. literal customers ("customary customers") mandate and, conversely, fleeting visitors tempt into laxity and "for the stakeholders" business ways).
The City: walk around a lot, with pace, enjoy the corners. Notice the palaces. Enjoy the big and the small. Most of the City is an open museum.
Notice: what about seeing in the evening an artist with a canvas under his arm in conversation with the antiques dealer in front of his shop, the living Culture physically moving in the streets? Were Italy properly managed, Italy would be everything.
Buy your tickets in advance online for everything that requires a ticket in Rome, especially if you want to step onto the Colosseum arena (it’s a separate ticket from the general admission). Same with Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Everything sells out quickly.
One memorable site is the Church of Saint Clement (Basilica San Clemente). What makes it remarkable are excavations which have revealed so much more than the 12th century church on ground level. Below it is another church from the 4th century. Below that, Roman buildings from the 1st century. So much history on one small site, descending through various stages human settlement below. Giving a taste of what has been repeated over much of the city for millennia.
You've probably heard this already but go to see the Trevi fountain - it's just there in the streets, you don't need a ticket; and in fact, a walkabout of that whole area is beautiful.
I also really enjoyed an afternoon walking around St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City - the museum is stuffed to the gills with ancient relics that the catholic church 'collected' from around the world, and the architecture of the building itself is awe inspiring.
The underground parts of the Colosseum require special tickets for entry so make sure you get those ahead of time if you want to see those.
In the nearby Forum, look for the Temple of Caesar which is where Caesar's body was cremated and don't miss the Palatine Hill Viewpoint overlooking the Forum.
Across town, don't miss the Pantheon, the nearby Curia of Pompey where Caesar was assassinated, and the statue of Giordano Bruno.
Get on the walking tour. If the tall handsome blond man Paolo is doing it then lucky you. Until you do the tour you cannot imagine how much context you'll miss just by walking around on your own.
The historical area in the city center is much bigger than people think, it could take 3/4 days just walking around to see everything, without stopping for a visit, so take that into account.
Also, it's pretty hot right now (around 35-37 degrees Celsius), mind that too.
I won't give you the usual list of monuments and such, you can find all about them in any travel guide or IG/tik tok account, but don't miss the visit to Colosseum and the forum (especially the forum),book tickets in advance it'll save you a lot of time at the ticket office under the sun, do the same if you thought about visiting the Vatican museums.
A spot that's not usually under the radars is Terrazza Caffarelli (https://www.terrazzacaffarelli.it/) on top of Campidoglio (Capitoline Hill), you'll find a nice rooftop bar there with a beautiful view.
Edit: I totally forgot about the Museum and Crypt of Capuchins in Via Veneto, there's a San Francesco painting by Caravaggio and, if you are not disturbed by that stuff, a crypt entirely decorated with monks' bones and skulls. There are literally hundreds of them and thousands bones. It's pretty unusual, but kinda great if you ask me.
I'm biased because I live there, but if you wanna eat near the Colosseum my advice is to try Taverna Romana for roman recipes and Tettarello for pizza. Those are two of my favorite places to eat in Rome in general.
I don't know how long are you staying but if you get the chance go to the beach one day. The south is the best, especially Sabaudia that is just below Odyssey's famous Mount Circeo, but you gonna need a car to go there.
https://www.viaggiando-italia.it/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/...
Anyway, enjoy the visit!