A Guide to the Eternal City

Ciao, Roma!

Known in its Latin form as Urbs Aeterna, Rome is bursting full of history, art, and, of course, incredible Italian cuisine. Having been there one summer, I can confidently say that Rome is one of, if not my favourite cities that I have ever visited, and I would move there in an absolute heartbeat. But what makes Rome such a special location, and what can you not afford to miss?

History is in abundance in Rome, with something of historical significance visible around every corner. This statement is truest when exploring Vatican City, serving as the administrative centre for the Catholic Church, and home of the current Pope Leo XIV.

The Vatican is the world’s smallest independent state, making Rome the only city globally with a country located entirely within its borders. Home to the Sistine Chapel and the incredible paintings of Michelangelo adorning its walls, the Vatican, in my opinion, is a MUST-do when visiting Rome.

The entirety of Vatican City is a UNESCO World Heritage site, showing its immense cultural and historical importance. I booked the tour on GetMyGuide, which included a tour of the Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica, and skip-the-queue privileges.

With these tickets beginning at only £28, I would highly recommend. It is hard to put into words how awe-inspiring being inside the Vatican is, with no room quite as jaw-dropping as the Sistine Chapel, the home of the papal conclave (yes, like the film!). The Last Judgement by Michelangelo towers above you as you walk through the room and makes you feel small in comparison to this larger-than-life art piece.

Another thing that makes Rome such a special location is the plethora of restaurants and eateries, lining the streets and Piazza’s of the city centre. My number one piece of advice would be: do not search for restaurant recommendations on google! If you love Italian food as much as I do, you will have no problem finding food in Rome. Often times, I’ve discovered the best meal by wandering down a little side street off the main square, and seeing what catches my eye.

In terms of lots of restaurant reviews and especially social media recommendations, they tend to focus on the aesthetics of the restaurant and how well it will come across on their corresponding TikTok account. However if you wander, you can form your own opinions, and stumble upon hidden gems that you otherwise wouldn’t have found. My favourite restauarant that I found was called ‘Antica Birreria Vienesse‘ by the Spanish Steps, and their Margherita pizza and calamari was to die for!

After your evening meal, take the time to explore the city without the bustling noise of the crowds and the beating heat. In summer, Rome is hot and busy, and this often impacts on how well you are able to see tourist attractions, especially with large crowds blocking your view. At night, however, this is not the case. The city remains warm at night if you are visiting in late spring, summer or early autumn and is a perfect temperature for your wandering. For example, in one day exploring Rome I did over 27,000 steps (trust me, I was aching!), showing you just how walkable the city is.

The Trevi Fountain is one of the attractions that lends itself to being visited at night – when I went in the day, I could not even see the front of the statues due to the insane crowds and tour groups. But when I visited at night, I was right at the front and one of the only people there. Did I take the opportunity to admire the stunning architecture of Ancient Rome? Yes. Did I also get the most amazing photo for my Instagram profile? Also yes.

In Rome you need to walk, walk, walk!! When you are out exploring, do not find yourself just sticking to the city centre. Instead, have a wander and explore the other neighbourhoods that Rome has to offer. A good way to get to these neighbourhoods is via the open-top bus tours available all over the city. For a cheap price you get a little microphone pack and headphones, with many languages, including English, to choose from. The views from the top deck are unbelievable, especially as you cross the Pont Sant’Angelo bridge heading towards Vatican City, looking down the river.

Alongside the views, the tour operators have a wealth of knowledge regarding the founding of Rome and the Roman Kingdom by the twins Romulus and Remus and historical facts regarding gladiatorial contests in the Colosseum. It really is a history nerd’s (i.e., mine) dream! After this open-top bus tour, I got dropped in Trastevere, a neighbourhood in Rome near the Vatican City.

So… are you feeling inspired? Let me know in the comments or on my social media if you have been to Rome or are planning a trip!.

Happy travels ✈️